I know how it feels to be inspired by other authors and suddenly feel like writing again. It’s the kind of feeling that’s really difficult to describe or even put a name to. And I can understand it because I’m an author myself.
I usually write straight stories, and I’ve been writing for quite a long time, but I never really showed my work to anyone. I never uploaded anything anywhere because I was always unsure about how people would react to it. Would they like it? What would they feel? Would they have different theories about it? I just wasn’t sure, so I kept my writing to myself.
One day, I finally showed something to one of my friends, but she isn’t really into reading, so her response wasn’t exactly what I had hoped for. She basically just said, “Okay,” and after that, I never showed my writing to anyone again.
Then, gradually, I downloaded Wattpad. I started reading stories, but I never used to vote on chapters, follow authors, or comment on anyone’s stories. It wasn’t because I was an introvert. Maybe I was just hesitant and wondered, “What if my opinion doesn’t matter?”
Because honestly, I’m a HUGE extrovert. Like, genuinely a very big extrovert. 😂 Even social anxiety doesn’t really stop me, but somehow, when it came to sharing my thoughts about someone’s writing, I was hesitant.
And then I came across a story that I loved so much that I genuinely couldn’t hold myself back. I voted on it, commented on it, followed the author, and just… everything felt different because the story was THAT good. It completely overwhelmed me.
Eventually, I suggested a few scenes to her based on her story, although I honestly wasn’t expecting much of a response. But she replied, “Of course, I’ll add your suggested scenes to my story.”
When I read that message, I was shocked and honestly so overwhelmed. I remember thinking, “If an author can actually take the scenes I suggested and write them into their story—into such a good story—then why can’t I publish my own work too