newsletter #14 | Hitting The Wall
The grim reality of writing and trying to get people to read it.
I appear to be hitting a wall. Despite posting regularly, engaging and following all the usual “How To” articles, I’m just not making any real gains with both new subscribers and readers.
It doesn’t help that I don’t use any social media to promote things but the thought of dipping my toe in any of those murky pools just fills me with dread down to the deepest recesses of my soul.
When I hosted on WordPress and used Twitter I had a really good set of regular figures so I can only presume it’s this lack of social media or the really grim reality is that no one wants to read it. I know my writing isn’t that bad given the compliments I have had over the years so it’s becoming a mystery I’m failing to unravel.
I know readers are gained organically, but it’s hard to not feel a bit shite when I’ve been at this since February 2022 and can easily spend a few hours writing something that gets maybe 10 hits.
At some point I’ll end up calling it a day and move on to the next project, until then I’ll keep at it.
Here’s a highlight of some things I’ve written since I last sent out a newsletter.
writing | Super Heavy
I woke after midnight feeling nauseous. Managing to get out of the tent in time I proceeded to puke up and then have the shits. When I was finished I cleaned myself up with wet wipes and swilled my mouth out with water. Looking out over the fields I could see the lights of homes, twinkling on the dark grey horizon. The smell of vomit and excrement linge…
writing | Castles
Dartmoor. An upland of high-rolling moors and hills. Forest habitats are rich in nature and wildlife. The skyline is tagged with weather-beaten tors and craggy outcrops. Paths wind past neolithic burial stones, and rivers cut through valleys carved out thousands of years ago.
writing | Hot Aches
We’d spent the last thirty minutes breaking a trail down from the snowy summit of Càrn Bàn Mòr. I was with Sally, my partner, enjoying a winter break in the Cairngorms. I have a love-hate relationship with winter mountain days. I love being out but hate being cold.
writing | Twitchers
We were sitting in the Pine Marten cafe in Glenmore. An old alpine-style place that’s stood there seemingly for a long long time. Part cafe, part bar and part shop serving the nearby campsite, it was empty when we arrived for breakfast. It had just opened and the fire was still yet to take.
music + words | Creep
In a future where humans are at war with AI, a man is asked to assist on a mission tracking down and destroying a new weapon developed by the AI. It's personal for him, his wife, whom he thought was dead, appears to be alive and working with the AI. He’d been undercover and fell in love, but it ended with his cover blown and her death in an assault on t…
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Thanks again. Take care until next time.
Paul x
Ach, I feel you. It isn't easy but I have to remind myself I'm doing this because I love it not because I need the validation from other people. It still feels like a good use of my time and energy even if I only get a like or two, but I know the frustrations, too.
If it's any consolation my social media isn't driving any readers, either. I think there's just seasons and cycles for everything and I'm going to stay with it for the long haul and hope it comes around in time. You just have to do what's right for you and decide what's worthy of your time. For me this also feels like a legacy of work that will outlive me, or at least this version of me, and I want it to be a place of remberance of who I was and what I lived for. I love having a place I can share that without having to pay to host it or any of the stress of managing it. Just my two cents 😊