The latest update for Ghost was last week, and the previous one was like, 2 months ago. Oops? It's been a really busy period for me, and fortunately, it's over (for now, at least).
But as of now, my story is kind of just like its name. A ghost. It's not easily found on Wattpad unless you put in my username, and there are very few votes and reads compared to others. Then again, it's still relatively new, so I guess I can't expect much. I don't even get that many reads on my blog posts, but that doesn't really matter. Still, as a writer, you want people to read your work and be like, "Hey, that's pretty good."
I mean, I do get comments like those and I really love them, but ultimately I only have one person who does that. There are currently 9 chapters in Ghost out, and they don't really have as many votes as readers. A writer's work is their pride, and I've really been struggling to make myself stand out. And I have just about no idea how. I've never even taken classes on "How to write" or whatever before, since they seem a little useless.
Not to mention, I'm practically competing against all the stories out there. Which is over 40 million, the last I checked. Sure, some of them are just a bunch of "no"s, but there are those that are already really renowned, or are just really popular because they appeal to the general public. And then there's mine. I don't even really know if it's good or anything, since I can't judge my own work, so that's one thing by itself already.
I honestly don't get comments saying any negative stuff, or many comments at all in general. It would really be nice if more people started reading my story, but it really not something I can control. I don't know if there are any of my readers out there who are also writers (AO3/Wattpad writers) and share the same sentiments as I do, but it's natural if you don't.
Another thing about this is that I suspect most of the Wattpad readers (or just any readers, in general) come from America. And so it is that much easier to write in the American culture instead of your own country's just to make it seem less foreign. And then there's also fanfic, where you're writing in another world altogether. But I'm not even American. So much effort has to be put into research just to make sure I don't screw anything up, but I don't even know if the readers know that.
I'm pretty sure most, if not all writers have also done much research in order to make their stories as perfect as possible, in terms of culture, amongst other things. And that's the thing. My character is American, and I'm writing in British English, where "amongst" is an acceptable and actual word, whilst most Americans are probably going "Dude, that's not even correct. Typo much?" But hey, it's a legit word, okay?
I suppose my blog is the place where I get to freely express my own country's "culture" and stuff instead of having to conform to what the readers would like best. Another reason I don't write in my country's "language" is because no one would understand. Trust me, not many people use proper English here, and often times, sentences are direct translations of Chinese mixed with Malay, and only the locals will understand everything. (AKA Singlish. Go look it up or something)
I would really love to write about a character in Singapore instead of everywhere else, because I would be able to relate to her that much more. Though if that were the case, I'd probably still be writing in good, proper English that people will understand. It's funny how your entire life, you'd be told by your teachers that "Singlish is not proper English, so it's bad and you should not use it." But when you get to University and go into Language studies or something, your professor will be teaching you how "Singlish is a very unique and wonderful thing that we should all embrace."
Anyways, I suppose this has been a rather long post, so I'll end off here. I'll keep posting to Ghost and just wait and see if the views/comments go up.
Alright! Live well, Love much, Laugh often!
-Midnight Flint
But as of now, my story is kind of just like its name. A ghost. It's not easily found on Wattpad unless you put in my username, and there are very few votes and reads compared to others. Then again, it's still relatively new, so I guess I can't expect much. I don't even get that many reads on my blog posts, but that doesn't really matter. Still, as a writer, you want people to read your work and be like, "Hey, that's pretty good."
I mean, I do get comments like those and I really love them, but ultimately I only have one person who does that. There are currently 9 chapters in Ghost out, and they don't really have as many votes as readers. A writer's work is their pride, and I've really been struggling to make myself stand out. And I have just about no idea how. I've never even taken classes on "How to write" or whatever before, since they seem a little useless.
Not to mention, I'm practically competing against all the stories out there. Which is over 40 million, the last I checked. Sure, some of them are just a bunch of "no"s, but there are those that are already really renowned, or are just really popular because they appeal to the general public. And then there's mine. I don't even really know if it's good or anything, since I can't judge my own work, so that's one thing by itself already.
I honestly don't get comments saying any negative stuff, or many comments at all in general. It would really be nice if more people started reading my story, but it really not something I can control. I don't know if there are any of my readers out there who are also writers (AO3/Wattpad writers) and share the same sentiments as I do, but it's natural if you don't.
Another thing about this is that I suspect most of the Wattpad readers (or just any readers, in general) come from America. And so it is that much easier to write in the American culture instead of your own country's just to make it seem less foreign. And then there's also fanfic, where you're writing in another world altogether. But I'm not even American. So much effort has to be put into research just to make sure I don't screw anything up, but I don't even know if the readers know that.
I'm pretty sure most, if not all writers have also done much research in order to make their stories as perfect as possible, in terms of culture, amongst other things. And that's the thing. My character is American, and I'm writing in British English, where "amongst" is an acceptable and actual word, whilst most Americans are probably going "Dude, that's not even correct. Typo much?" But hey, it's a legit word, okay?
I suppose my blog is the place where I get to freely express my own country's "culture" and stuff instead of having to conform to what the readers would like best. Another reason I don't write in my country's "language" is because no one would understand. Trust me, not many people use proper English here, and often times, sentences are direct translations of Chinese mixed with Malay, and only the locals will understand everything. (AKA Singlish. Go look it up or something)
I would really love to write about a character in Singapore instead of everywhere else, because I would be able to relate to her that much more. Though if that were the case, I'd probably still be writing in good, proper English that people will understand. It's funny how your entire life, you'd be told by your teachers that "Singlish is not proper English, so it's bad and you should not use it." But when you get to University and go into Language studies or something, your professor will be teaching you how "Singlish is a very unique and wonderful thing that we should all embrace."
Anyways, I suppose this has been a rather long post, so I'll end off here. I'll keep posting to Ghost and just wait and see if the views/comments go up.
Alright! Live well, Love much, Laugh often!
-Midnight Flint
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