Yeah, it’s all a pursuit of feedback, and what qualifies as useful feedback is different to everyone. A share from someone you know personally could feel like they’re pitying you or that you “begged” them, when it’s the exact same mechanism as someone you don’t know sharing you (which someone may weigh as more valuable, since there’s a lack of attachment involved).
Some people might make money, but it might not be “enough.” I don’t know if a site like Substack can really provide an objective metric because it comes back to individual confidence and self-esteem.
I think an underrated but extremely important metric for people who aren't relying on writing for their livelihood, also, is social network AND social proof. IMO that makes or break writers. Social network can help you make money; social proof helps you become popular. You really need both.
Yeah, it’s the “are you being advocated for without playing heavy social games that undermine your authentic growth”, but in a lot of cases you can’t plan OR force it. If you do, it’s no longer as authentic. It’s “someone bought me this from my Amazon Christmas list” vs “someone knows me well enough to think I’d like it, and I really wanted it, too.”
It’s a reward of “genuine” connection with an audience (or friends/family, with the Christmas gift example), but everyone gets to decide individually how much that matters or how much they “need” it. “It’s nice that this happened” vs “I need this, in this specific way, for me to believe I deserve to share my writing.”
I think it's hard for people to evaluate themselves is my point. I wonder if part of that is the amorphous nature of the Internet, too.
Yeah, it’s all a pursuit of feedback, and what qualifies as useful feedback is different to everyone. A share from someone you know personally could feel like they’re pitying you or that you “begged” them, when it’s the exact same mechanism as someone you don’t know sharing you (which someone may weigh as more valuable, since there’s a lack of attachment involved).
Some people might make money, but it might not be “enough.” I don’t know if a site like Substack can really provide an objective metric because it comes back to individual confidence and self-esteem.
I think an underrated but extremely important metric for people who aren't relying on writing for their livelihood, also, is social network AND social proof. IMO that makes or break writers. Social network can help you make money; social proof helps you become popular. You really need both.
Yeah, it’s the “are you being advocated for without playing heavy social games that undermine your authentic growth”, but in a lot of cases you can’t plan OR force it. If you do, it’s no longer as authentic. It’s “someone bought me this from my Amazon Christmas list” vs “someone knows me well enough to think I’d like it, and I really wanted it, too.”
It’s a reward of “genuine” connection with an audience (or friends/family, with the Christmas gift example), but everyone gets to decide individually how much that matters or how much they “need” it. “It’s nice that this happened” vs “I need this, in this specific way, for me to believe I deserve to share my writing.”