I'm taking myself less seriously. Is it working?

Ever since joining Vocal, I’ve had this notion in my head that in order for me to publish a story, it has to be the best, most original, most well-written idea I have ever had. I was under the impression that people only wanted to read stories that were going to invoke the deepest emotions or reactions, inspire and move them in ways they have never been inspired or moved before.

Honestly, that’s a load of bullshit.

Readers don’t always want to be left sobbing or questioning their existence after they read something. That requires commitment and emotional energy, which, frankly, I don’t feel like a lot of us have after we get home from work and are eating straight out of a family-sized bag of Cheeto puffs on our couch in our sweats (just me?).

Sometimes people just want to read to read. Maybe they’ll get a laugh out of it or learn something cool they didn’t know about. Maybe they want a distraction from the real world or maybe it’s just fun to read another person’s inner thoughts and perspectives.

So, I vow to the Vocal Gods and readers to take myself less seriously. I’ll write what’s on my mind. I’ll write about the silly things possibly nobody cares about besides me. But at least I’ll be writing. And who knows, maybe someone will like my stories, maybe someone will actually read a couple.

See, I’ve tried the previous method of taking myself very seriously for a while now, like if-every-word-you-write-is-not-a-profound-new-combination-of-words-then-it’s-not-good-enough seriously, and I’ve got to say, it hasn’t gotten me anywhere.

Now, I would love to say the only reason I use this site and publish my stories here is because I just have an endless love for creating and writing and I don’t care at all if anyone reads my work or likes it because this is for me, but I would be lying. Because while I do love creating and writing, a girl likes a little recognition, feedback, and maybe some money every once in a while, too.

But mainly, I want my writing to get better, and the only way to do that…is to write. And the whole taking my stories so seriously thing drains me to the point where I’ll stop writing for months after publishing a story I’ve spent weeks pouring my soul into, only for it to never get any reads, never win a challenge, never become a “Top Story.” Which would be fine if it wasn’t so exhausting getting my hopes up, putting everything in, and being met with disappointment time and time again. It puts me in a complete rut every time.

Therefore, I’m just going to write to write. I am going to write for me, without the pressure of believing it needs to be incredible every time, and see what comes out. Because this way, I’ll continue writing more stories, more often, with less expectations, and consequently, less disappointment and emotional burnout

Well, that’s the hope at least. But so far it seems to be working. I have published five new stories in the last two weeks alone, which for some on this site is a normal feat (I don’t know how you guys do it), but for me is momentous, and I don’t feel the slightest bit of burnout yet. In fact, with each new story I post carefree, I feel satisfaction and renewed inspiration, just for having done

Thanks for reading. :)