The Stories that Don't get Read
My experience trying to create content
My stories don't get read.
Maybe it's all in my head.
I pour in all I have left to give.
Maybe that's not how I should live.
But sometimes it's fun to put my words on a screen;
sometimes it's sad, angry, something in-between.
I tell myself that it's all in good fun
but maybe it's more: a competition to be won.
And maybe that's why it gets in my head
the numbers don't tick up and it fills me with dread.
My stories don't get read.
Maybe it's all in my head.
The problem is I'm not here for the money,
I want to share my ideas, get feedback, be funny.
I spend the rest of my time working so hard
I fear only working has left me quite scarred
With so little time left for fun and game
maybe thats why I seek sometimes to grow fame.
As if that would help free up my time,
but time is too scarce for that kind of climb.
My stories don't get read.
Maybe it's all in my head.
Maybe I'm not worth the attention of you
But you read this story, so that may be untrue.
Author's Note:
No I'm not a fantastic poet but, in my time on this planet I've tried many things that revolve around ones popularity, and the truth of the matter is I'm not popular. I've tried social media, I've tried Youtube, I've tried this, I've tried Twitch. I don't know what I'm doing wrong that makes it so my content just doesn't grow. It it because I'm not spending money? Am I just unlikable? Am I out of touch? I honestly have no idea and I don't get any feedback so I can make changes to improve. All my past "improvements" have been shots in the dark.
Everything I've tried has all been based around things I genuinely enjoy. I used to stream my favorite video games from my childhood so I can share that with people who've maybe never seen that before, or share with other people who have that nostalgia. I organized a Dungeons and Dragons campaign that streamed once a week. I made videos about education, renewable energy, and environmental solutions. I still stream games with my friends on Twitch, and thats okay because they distract from the numbers of it all. I don't even do it for money, I make okay money working long hours in a lab. Maybe that's part of the problem, I don't view it as a business. But I also don't want to view it as a business and those are cold and profit driven. I want to create a warm and welcoming space where people can come, take a break, and just hang out for a while.
It's also frustrating seeing my friends and peers become more successful in their attempts to do the exact same thing I've been trying for years in a matter of weeks or months. I'm happy for them, but there's also some jealousy. Maybe its something out of my control and I just don't have the magic touch or the planets weren't aligned, but it also makes me start questioning everything about myself and makes me think incredibly negatively.
I like to try and end all my stories with some message of positivity. Despite my negative outlook currently my advice will be don't give up. It's something I'm going to remind myself of as well. Don't give up. There are so many other amazing things and this too shall pass. Don't give up.
-L.S.
About the Creator
The Coffee Ghost
Come weary traveler and sit beside my fire. The world is cold and harsh; this I know all too well. I cannot offer you much besides a cup of tea or coffee and a brief respite from reality.
I'm a "ghost writer", get it?
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More stories from The Coffee Ghost and writers in Poets and other communities.
It Only Took One Minute.......
It only took a minute. I was sitting at the computer in my office when the phone rang. I picked up the receiver and then laid it down my desk as I went to find the student who the call was for. Within seconds I was back at my desk, ready to resume typing, when I heard the student yelling obscenities at me for listening in to his call through the handset that was still lying on the desk. Sick and tired of the lies he was spewing, I was up running down the hall, ready to kill him. By the time I reached him, I had calmed enough not to hurt him, but as I turned back towards my room, I knew that I couldn’t go on like this any longer. The decision was clear. I had to leave.
By Gail Wylie5 days ago in Motivation
Comments (74)
I really liked this! Don’t give up! Thank you!
This piece was well written and resonated with so many, congratulations on serving such a wonderful read. Thank you for the incredibly relatable read L.S.
So relatable
Love the rhyming and how much you can feel the emotions just through your words. This is extremely relatable in today's world feeling unheard or unseen and just trying to get through your day. Don't give into the pressure of today's world, keep doing you and I'm sure it'll be worth it in the end.
Ooof that hit hard. I feel you buddy!
I'm so glad this popped up in my email. You are so relateable, and your work is more enjoyable than many of the cliche pieces I see going on about "daggers in hearts and something like an ocean..." Keep being you. It's a marketing game here for better or worse. We have to bring our followers from other social media platforms and build off of their views and comments, that's the actual algorithm of this site. I wish that Vocal would just highlight new writers and newly submitted pieces instead of the favoritism based on fan based viewer ratings; featured creators that get showcased such as 'Writers We Love' is typically writers that have a lot of Instagram followers and the like (I've done some homework on this because it's weird how unbalanced it is right) so don't feel down, this poem really hits the nail on the head and that means you've done you're job ♥️
I feel like this about my work so this was a good read for me. You do have a talent so keep persevering :) I think maybe in this community we need to support each other a little more. I wish you all the best.
I enjoyed your poem and your thoughts about writing. You asked if you are unlikeable or out of touch, and after reading just this one piece of your writing, I would say definitely not! I can relate to your comment about being unpopular because I feel the same way. Since I haven't been sharing my writing on Social Media, my reads are much lower than those of some of my Vocal friends, and being older than many,.my writing style is different, too. But the best thing about a place for all writers to.meet on common ground (like Vocal) is that we each write what nobody else can, because it comes from our unique mind, heart and soul. I want to read more of your work, so I have subscribed to you and hearted, too.. Keep writing!
Hang in there - never give up - you’ve got a wonderfully distinctive voice - keep using it!! X
Wow.. I love a good rhyme but usually they’re like cat in the hat and silly. Very nice raw messages in your writing. I hope you build the community you’re looking for!
No problem.
keep writing, because I enjoy your work.
You have a beautiful soul. Don't give up
I can so relate cuz i published a story and nooo views i post videos on face book and othas as well to wake my pple up to the truth
Okay, it just happens that I could relate with this, and it sure does feel bad. But I don't think you are doing anything bad, you are just being yourself and keep it real. But in the online world, you simple need more than being yourself. You need to create an online persona that is somewhat crazy enough to attract people.
Hey I understand how u feel. I enjoy writing stories I sit at My computer hours coming up with material by being inspired by a movie or a Playlist I created on my Spotify. I Also published books on Amazon 16 books mind you not one damn purchase but many books was taken for free. I know I won't get rich I just want feedback good or bad to know if I an interesting or do I need more work. But Writing Is good therapy for me and you keep on writing some how or some way we get to where we need to be
I'm paraphrasing as I can't remember the exact wording..... but of all people, Seth Rogen dropped a bomb in his book "Yearbook." - It doesn't matter if anyone ever sees or reads my work or not. It exists just as much as anything else, and all these things are pretty fleeting anyways. I always like to remind myself of that when I create something I'm really proud of that no one has seen (or I assume on one will see). The experience of creating is the most exhilarating and rewarding part anyways.... in spite of the frustration that comes from possibly never being recognized for your efforts.
yes ,i also have the stories , which dont get any reads. whereas in my eyes these r superb
I actually loved your poem. Sometimes I feel the same way. I quit the social game and can't stand the begging for views in social media groups, so it's hard to get the same traction. I have ghostwriting clients to pay the bills, but here, it's just about writing for fun, whether anyone else reads it or not. So, have fun and keep "ghost" writing.
Beautiful poem!
I felt every word of this piece.. I haven’t tried all the social media outlets and I don’t subscribe to popularity but I’m going to keep doing what I love to do .. as should you!! Ignore the naysayers and continue doing “you”🫶🏽
Don’t listen to anything stupid. Your poem is EXCELLENT! Delete the author’s notes. They detract from your work. Put that stuff in a journal. The coffee ghost is even better. Publish it in another thread and make it first so no one misses it.
The cynic in me says that you, like I, are not connected to the influencers on the platform. It's not what you know, it's who you know.
A brother in arms! ☺️ this was fun to read & poignant too. All artists suffer in silence at some point!!
Thanks for writing this. We all feel the same way, passion and care and thought for what? Tossing ideas into an apparent void. I know that published authors tell us that rejection after rejection is a part of the process. Now, instead of rejection letters we get stagnant, unbearably small reads. But the act of writing and thinking and sharing is important. Don't count yourself out.