Feeling frustrated

No, this is not another rant. I'm just discouraged.

I'm now writing what could be my debut novel. I would like to get some feedback so I can make the book worthy of publication, so I'm posting my rough drafts of the chapters. Problem is I've written and posted 5 chapters, and posted them on Quotev, Deviantart, and Fanfiction.net, and only one person has commented on any of them in the 2 weeks since I’ve posted them.

People don’t realize how authors (fanfiction or otherwise) appreciate feedback. Posting something anywhere now is so disheartening because you spend hours writing and editing (sometimes whole days) and get maybe forty views and two favorites. No comments, of course.

And whenever you complain about not getting any feedback, people take it as you whining about no one liking your stuff. People, you don’t have to comment on everything you read, but do it every once in awhile. It could really make someone’s day.

But what I’m writing is not fanfiction. And if I can’t get any feedback, I can’t improve on my book.

Carrie by Stephen King was rejected 30 times before it was published. One rejection letter read: "We are not interested in science fiction which deals with negative utopias. They do not sell."

No comments may be better than negative comments

On the other hand, lack of positive feed back does not sound good...

My daughter spends (or used to spend) an inordinate amount of time reading fan fiction, and other various writings, online. I will try to remember to ask her what her comment rate on such things was, the next time I talk with her

I suppose. Still, sometimes any word is better than no word at all. At least the person bothered to make his opinion known.

And yes, I've heard of stories like that. J.K. Rowling went from publisher to publisher when she wrote the first Harry Potter book. The only reason she got her break was because this one publishing employee's 8-year-old niece was allowed to read the first chapter, and she wanted the rest.

It was was also really King's wife Tabitha who convinced him to even finish the manuscript after fishing out the rough draft from the trash.

Well I'm not actually done with the book yet.

And the view counts from these sites are mostly the same thing. And about fanfiction, that was how I decided to be a writer. I've been writing and honing my craft since I was thirteen (25 now) and fanfiction is a good way to practice.

There seems to be a staggering amount of fan fiction online

Yeah 'cause a lot of teenage girls, and even twenty-something-year-olds wanna live out their fantasies.

Hey HP! What is your book about? What if you post it here for us to read and critique? Maybe you will get a better audience to help you.

I was actually just gonna ask.

The only problem though is...I've posted things here that I'm not proud of...and I don't want really want other people to see them and think wrong things about me...

Sis, you do whatever you feel comfortable with. Just know that we all make mistakes and post stuff that we regret later. I know I've done it myself! lol

Yes, but such things can also cost you a job or a publishing gig, not to mention reputation points.

Rather than look for this kind of feedback study the writings of those who you feel write well and learn some lessons. Then complete your manuscript and send it to the publishers who appreciate and publish the kind of book you have put together.

I've studied several different writers. I've been writing and learning about writing for 12 years. Besides, I'm not the only author who posts their rough drafts online for feedback.

Since you've been honing your writing skills since you were young, you are probably the best critic of your own writing. In fact, I wouldn't trust random people's opinions. I would try to find someone who works for a publisher or maybe a writer whose work you respect to look at it. Just make sure you are able to somehow copyright it first so no one can steal it.

In any event, I'm gonna ask for early opinions/critiques anyway. One author that I like a lot did the same thing and she ended up gaining a big following.

Besides, my book's not even done yet.