When an Angst Writer Meets a Doting Writer - Chapter 26

【79.】

Tingting: Hello, everyone.

Tingting: Is anyone there?

Tangtang: Yep.

Xu Chi: ?

Tingting: Today I am here not for pushing Shortie to update. Instead, I want to discuss with you about how to increase the happiness of writing.

Xu Chi: ??

Tangtang: OK.

Tingting: OK, let’s start.

Tingting: One day, as I woke up, I realized that I suddenly became Shortie. And I had inherited his talent in writing. With it, I could write numerous excellent works. However, I was always upset, because I only had no more than 100 fans. Therefore, no matter how well I wrote, I was not popular.

Tangtang: Are there any other supplementary conditions?

Tingting: Yes.

Ting Ting: Although I had become Shortie, I kept my original personality and habits. In other words, I was still that smart Ting Ting.

Tangtang: ?

Tingting: Let me finish.

Tingting: One day there were a few more negative comments about my works. Attention: I mean the sort of comments which threw the baby out with the bathwater.

Ting Ting: At this time, three emotions rose in my heart, which drove me to deal with this matter in three different ways.

Tingting: Next, let’s analyze these three situations: First, I was angry, but I ignored these comments. I was a smart girl, so I thought the readers making these comments were stupid after I read them. Now that they didn’t understand my works, advising them was just like casting pearls before swine. As a smart person, the best choice was to stay away from these readers.

Tingting: Second, I was so angry that I decided to debate with them. I was a human being, which was more important than the fact that I was a writer. Every normal person would doubtless got angry, especially facing these people denigrating one’s works. Therefore, I finally argued fiercely with them.

Tingting: Third, I wanted to escape from this circle. After reading these comments, I began to doubt myself. Maybe they were right, and I indeed didn’t have the ability to write stories. Even if I was confident with my works, more and more negative comments made me less confident. At this time, I read the works of other writers, which surprised me and let me know the big gap between me and the legendary writer, which finally crushed me. As a smart person, I should let it go and give up writing. Also, I thought I had no talent in writing, so I chose to quit writing. Now that writing was just one of my hobbies, I wouldn’t be angry or upset with the negative comments any more as long as I gave up writing. Then, I would be relieved.

Tingting: However, Tingting appeared at this time, who was my fan and encouraged me with other fans every day. Although they didn’t post too many comments, I at least felt relieved. Due to that, I’d like to continue writing.

Tingting: So that’s what happened to me. While some people were supporting me, I was denying myself, which made me painful. I couldn’t find a way to get rid of the pain.

Tangtang: One day I woke up and became Guinea Pig. Then I knew Shortie and made friends with him. After I read his works, I didn’t think his work was as bad as he said. If he continued writing, he would certainly get more good comments and more fans. He was smart, but he was no longer so confident in himself.

Tangtang: Well, let me interview Short-Tailed Cat. I’d like to ask you a question: When will you forget that person you love?

Tingting: You didn’t mention this when we rehearsed.

“Tingting” drew back a message.

Xu Chi: …

Tangtang: Just like when you find it hard to fall asleep at night, if you keep thinking “When will I be able to fall asleep?”, You can’t fall asleep the whole night. Similarly, if you keep thinking “I’m gonna forget that person”, it means you haven’t really forgotten him. Therefore, if you keep thinking “I want to be relieved”, that means you haven’t really been relieved.

Tangtang: What does “being relieved” really mean? That means you don’t think of this matter. You couldn’t fall asleep unless you stop thinking “When will I be able to fall asleep at night?”. You couldn’t forget him unless you stop thinking “I am gonna forget that person”.

Tangtang: The real reason Why Shortie is so painful is neither he has nothing to do with those readers nor he denies himself. Instead, it is because he cares about others’ comments on his works. Since you finally chose to give up writing, how did the idea come into being? It was those negative comments or excellent works of other writers that drove you. They were seemingly telling you that you were not cut out for writing, which caused you to come up with the idea.

Tangtang: You must think you will be relieved as long as you stop writing. But the choice that “quit writing” revealed that you cared about this matter. Since you cared about it, how can you achieve real relief?

Tangtang: Since the source of your pain is caring about this matter, the real way to be relieved is “not care about it”, that is, “you won’t be relieved unless you quit thinking of it”.

Tingting: What should I do? If there’s no way, then I’m not gonna be relieved forever?

Tangtang: We can’t rely on thinking “I don’t care” to be relieved. The only way is to find an eternal, but always ongoing activity that is full of charm. It can make Shortie focus on it so as to forget other unimportant things. Well, this activity is not for the pursuit of those unimportant things. Instead, the aim of it is to immerse yourself in it and enjoy the inner happiness and the tranquility of this process.

Tangtang: Let me ask Short-Tailed Cat. Are you happy when you are writing?

Xu Chi: Yes.

Tangtang: So have you found this activity?

Xu Chi: Yes.

Tangtang: What is it?

Xu Chi: Writing itself.

Tingting: Crying. We don’t know how to comfort you. Tangtang said the reason why you stopped writing recently was you want to quit it. So that, we found this way to enlighten you.

Tangtang: My dear writer, just enjoy the process of writing and forget anything else, ok?

Tangtang: I know it’s difficult for you not to care about it, but I couldn’t find any other way to make you feel better.

Tingting: Crying. Even Tangtang said she wanted to hire a group of people to post more negative comments. After reading more and more negative comments, you will be get used to it and won’t care about it anymore.

Tangtang: When did I say that???? Stop talking nonsense!

Tingting: You did!!!

Tingting: Crying. Shortie, if you are really unhappy, just take a break, okay?

Tangtang: I know writing is a lonely journey for writers, but you won’t be alone because we’ll always be there for you.