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Roland Millward's avatar

Thank you for expressing yourself here. You make some excellent points for all writers here on Substack.

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Coffee Times's avatar

I appreciate your recognition of my thoughts. It's great to know that my points resonated with you, Roland. I believe in fostering a supportive and inclusive community where we can learn from one another, so your feedback means a lot to me. Let's continue to inspire and empower each other in our writing journeys.

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Thomas Cleary's avatar

I agree with you completely on this. Most writers, including myself, fall into the category of which you speak.

It’s always reassuring that messages like yours reach those who might otherwise give up, thinking they’re alone in their pursuit of some recognition.

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Coffee Times's avatar

Thank you Thomas, It's gratifying to hear that my words resonated with you. Writing is a solitary journey, and it's easy to feel isolated or discouraged at times. However, knowing that there are others who share similar experiences and aspirations can provide a sense of belonging and encouragement. Keep writing, and may your words inspire and touch the hearts of many.

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Karen Schwartz's avatar

This is highly inspirational, Winston, and I saw myself in much of the lines. Us Not-So-Successful Writers have lots of value, if only we'd believe in ourselves.

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Coffee Times's avatar

Thanks Karen, I'm glad to hear that you found the content inspirational and could relate to it. It's true that writers of our levels have a unique perspective and valuable contributions to offer. Believing in ourselves can be a challenge, but it's essential for personal growth and creative expression. Keep pursuing your passion for writing, and remember that your voice and experiences matter.

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Dave Karpowicz's avatar

Winston, Well done. I have begun looking at each piece with its own measure of success. Did I present something to think about? Did I elicit an emotion? Was I clear? All of these are within my control. Readership is not part of the mix. Gaining readers involves different skills that I have not yet developed like social media skills, SEO, headline creation, and content analysis of what is popular now. Quite honestly, those skills do not excite me. Maybe someday they will, but not today. D

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Coffee Times's avatar

It's great to hear that you're focusing on the intrinsic qualities of your work and evaluating your success based on the impact it has on readers. Keep focusing on what ignites your passion. Success can be defined in many ways, and it's admirable that you're valuing the qualities that resonate with you personally.

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