((Maybe sorta a feelings jam? My mind always goes all over the place with these))
I used to have a fanfiction.net account. While it's still there I've pretty much abandoned the account and the stories that I never completed. This thing was made while I was still living in CALI, a little over a decade ago in other words.
Occasionally I'll be on my email for various stuff and I'll see no less than ten '-insertweirdnametheyoungin'sthinkiscoolnowadays- has favorited/commented on/followed your story!' in a row. And...it'll boggle my mind.
Now, I've been on deviantart less years than my ff, and Ao3 only started last year.
Yet I still get comments and the din of 'please update!' for these...garbage scripts I wrote as an idiot child who didn't know she was shite at writing. I'll own up to it - my tweenage self had no fucking idea what writing really meant. But somehow it warms my frozen icicle of a heart when I see those reviews begging for updates.
A tumblr post says that the OP used to write for fun but became burned out because the lack of feedback and POSITIVE reviewing left them feeling like their content meant nothing, just being mindlessly consumed like food. They dropped their writing for a long time, too afraid of the backlash and cruel demanding of fans they felt they didn't want. But some time later, they picked up their pen and wrote again, and they received the most positive uplifting comment they never expected to have.
They proceeded to write three stories upwards of 3k words /per/ after receiving that comment.
And that story rings with me.
I stopped using FF because I was burned out by my writing. I was burned out on deadlines I'd made unreasonable, and on only ever getting 'please continue!' or 'are you ever gonna update?' I started a few stories here on DA but ultimately, my first ever story went nowhere. I always faulted myself for not staying hyped for it, but the first time I read OP's story, it clicked.
I trailed off on those stories because, well, why should I have bothered?
I made those stories for other people and...never really got anywhere. Sure there was 'oh this is so good/funny/awesome' but I never questioned 'why is it good/funny/awesome'? Where was the feedback for where I wanted to take it? Where was the 'You might want to change this/that and do this/that instead!'
The stories I wrote on Ao3 were for me, for myself to enjoy having made, and to my surprise, they're enjoyed by others too! The chapters were worked on when I had time and motivation, not by a set schedule. Sometimes I'd go for an entire month not posting a chapter, but it never bothered me. It was my content, my ideas, my drive that made the stories come to life to be posted where others could see it.
Getting comments has been only recent on my stories but it's no less encouraging. And even the stories I pump out on here sometimes get compliments or feedback and y'know what?
That makes me feel great.
I'm making Tale of TAL and TAL content for myself, but there's other people enjoying the ride too. Letting me know 'hey! I like what you're doing!' While I'm still not confident in either my art or my writing, I get told that my efforts are good enough, that my trying is enough. I still get burnt out sometimes, especially with having a job five days a week, but I love the content I make too make to stay burnt out. I love my characters, I love the ideas I'm applying to a story that I already was in love with, and I love everyone who's still sticking by me as this train keeps going.
I aim to finish Tale someday, though I know I'll need ya'll to complete the job. Everyone who's read the story and liked it and supported me through it, you don't know how much it means to me to see your words when I get on DA after I've put out my hard work and you've enjoyed it the way I want it to be enjoyed.
God this is a clusterfuck of word. Uh.
TL;DR, I'm very lucky to have support from the people who love my creations as much as I do. <3