Today I am feeling extremely low. I became addicted to Gather and at the start I loved it. I tried to keep up with all my contacts, (108 ) and apart from a select few (About 10 of them) a lot have never responded back. I realise now that fiction is not really a part of Gather, yet there are great articles out there. Lately I have seriously considered pulling the plug. I don't claim to be a great writer. I write because I enjoy it and the ideas are from something that just pops into my head. I also realise that articles get lost amongst the thousands of items published on Gather. I could publish articles on 'How great the weather is we are having at the moment' or 'How my cat takes a swipe at me if she is not fed when she wants to be fed" but I don't want to. I love to write fiction. The points are useless to me and I don't consider them any benefit to me whatsoever. So what am I doing here? At the moment I really don't know. Maybe i got out of bed the wrong way or maybe I should just go away for a while and concentrate on finishing the 3 projects I am working on. Some how I think my addiction is too strong and every morning, the first thing I'll do is turn the computer on and log into Gather, which takes forever to download with dial up anyway.
There are writers here that I think are wonderfully talented and I enjoy reading their articles (you know who you are). You make me laugh, you give me suspense and you make me sad. All the attributes of good writing.
Ah, I am starting to feel a little better now the third cup of tea has been washed down. The sun is shining, no rain in sight and here's the cat wanting to be fed. I better go and feed her before she decides to claw me to death and get ready for work also.
Considering my options:
1: Get rid of contacts that have never reciprocated
2: Not publish any more fiction. just read those I enjoy reading
3: See if I can surpass at least 15 comments on this
4: Forget gather exists
5: Get the Hell out of here!
A Good morning to you all.
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Comments: 43
So, I am going to look up a story of yours and leave a comment. Would you perform the same courtesy for me?
I have a short script "Assisted Suicide" -- A rock star wants to go out with a bang, not cancer deterioration, and encounters Murphy's Law. http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474976958642
And yes, if you comment on articles and the writers never reply to your comments, maybe you should disconnect UNLESS you just happen to enjoy reading their work anyway.
Above all - as hard as this is to do - try not to take those things personally, like snubs or being ignored. After all that, if you want to write, then write just because it's what you do!!
Your Fan,
Charles D
Fiction IS a big part of Gather, just as poetry is, just as any of the dozen or so other 'genres', games, whatever.
Please DO continue and please DO publish fiction.
Please email me when you publish - and include a subject.
It may take me a while, but I will respond.
I have never heard from a lot of my connections, either.
The best way to get read is to constantly increase the number of people you are connected to, because a lot of people are here one day, gone the next.
It's the nature of any social networking site (and let's face it, that's what Gather is) that you have to give out more than you'll ever get in, in terms of contact. Every day brings an avalanche of articles, most of which are ephemera.
I liked the idea of posting my fiction here as well, 'til I realised it was likely to be ignored by all but my best contacts. So now I don't, especially when I realised I could be prejudicing my slim chances of getting them published in print somewhere (many comps and mags count web posting as previously published).
So now I post the occasional bloglike article rather than the *serious* stuff. It's still fun, and it's still good practice, which I'm in dire need of. Like you, the ratings don't mean much to me, and I'm lucky to hit double figures with the comments. C'est la vie.
So hang around if you can. It's like smoking: cutting back is nearly as good as quitting.
P.S. I think I'm number 14...
Stan: I have bookmarked your article and will definetly read it tonight.
Dianna: Thanks for your comment. I am in Australia so couldn't post to the First chapters comp.
#2 Seek out authors who comment a lot, write a lot and offer positive input. See who THEY read, and connect to.
#3 Connect with some of them instead.
#4 KEEP writing!
#5 Listen to John O. (I haven't read you yet, but I will. However, a Three part series works better than one long one. And see #2 and #3 regarding John O!)
#6 When frustrated, don't hesitate to walk away for a bit. It's good to break the addiction once in awhile just to prove you still can. ;)
Stat with us!!
Your fan,
Charles D
Keep writing, continue to make more connection and join the GA. group. Drop in a Friday evening the meeting starts at 7:00PM. Oh, be sure to wake up tomorrow and get going on all three projects -- but, first say "good morning to gather."
One of the biggest problems on Gather by far..along with Good afternoon, Good evening and the other fifteen or twenty articles that one posts every day.
I regularly do this, and with my few contacts, who are wonderful people, it's rare I don't hit at least 15 comments. And I always know they are sincere.
Hang in there, we've all been at the point you're at now.
... to quote the film "if you build it, they will come" ...
If you write interesting articles (interesting is loosely defined and is ultimately determined by your audience, there is not set formula) post images that people want to look at, and you take the time to read and comment on other people's articles and images, then you will find that you have more than enough connections, you have lots of fun and a fulfilling experience on gather ... and the points will take care of themselves.
Since Saturday I've been trying to post the article and results to the HAMTRAC races, but time just is not there. I'm trying to comment on most things now because I've gotten so far behind.
It might not mean much when you don't get a comment, except for some the weather is getting nicer, and we are away from the PC and outside instead!
Maybe tomorrow. *Sigh*
Have a great day.
I think I share the same sentiments as you do. My forte is fiction and I continue plugging story after story with random peaks of notice here and there. I believe fiction is not as popular or as in demand on Gather as origingally thought. Sure, there are the contests, which are great, but throw money in any field and you're bound to attract people.
The reason why i'm here is to become a better writer. What Gather gives me is a venue to publish my writings and receive readership/critique, and even if it's from a minor few, it's still more than what I was receiving before. Also, prior to Gather, I had finished very few stories, so publishing stories for a year has been a victory for me.
Of course being published on Gather pales to being accepted by a magazine (online or printed) so why give Gather my best first?
I think you should still publish your fiction regardless of how many comments you receive, as long as you find finishing a story you are happy with a reward you won't care if it's being read or not.
I don't sign on everyday. Sometimes it's a couple days but I wouldn't want to see you go anywhere. Write for yourself, keep your own unique writing style. You're very good.... and besides, when I do sign on, you're usually one of the people I DO read!
Hugs,
Marilyn
Keep the faith and keep your spirits up!