JB's Aphotic Scriptorium

Hey everyone,
Today this is more of a personal blog to begin with (I do have a point at the end, I promise), but I wanted a place to write down all of the possibly stupid things I have done over the break (and it's probably not what you are thinking), and share a little bit of my experiences. Hopefully they can relate to you, and I hope even more that you don't make the same mistakes!

So, I made a writing forum called Writer's Draft. Personally, I think it's pretty nice, and put a lot of work into making it. In a nutshell; it a place for aspiring writer's to come and talk about everything about writing (wow that was quick).
Now, I was checking up on it when I was at my cousin's house over the holidays (we slept over and I had only opened it up the day before). I was checking it, and lo! and behold a member of my family asks me about it. Well, I tell them the nutshell explanation of it, and eventually I told them that I was writing a book. I didn't want to, but it was one of situations that I knew I wasn't going to get out of unless I just got it over with and told them. Naturally there were a few others in the room (all adults, although no parents, grandparents, aunts, or uncle so thank goodness), and I'm fairly sure they think little of it. What stock can they put in someone my age who probably;y knows so little about anything, much less the world of writing?
Well, I intend to prove them wrong naturally.
So that pasted with only the slightest amount of conversation, which I found both disappointing, and relieving. I wanted them to be interested; they are my family and main source for support, so if I can't get encouragement from them, I know I'll be hard-pressed to find it elsewhere! Only one comment (well argument would be a better description actually) was when an immediate member of my fairly said that they would go on my computer, and read what I have.
This shows the ignorance and ineptitude of my family no doubt. I'm sure many of you are feeling the horror of just the though of it; having someone go on your personal computer, and read you work. Work that you have poured you heart, energy, time and effort into creating, and just letting some person that has no idea what good literature entails, read it and make a mockery of all you have done.
I was hurt, shocked, and so very nervous.
I avoided much of the persistence of this individual, and told them I had written it by hand, and didn't keep it in the house. They said that they didn't believe it, but I repeated it, and the subject dropped (for the record I have a hard copy and soft copy and they are both in the house).

Now, last night I was up very early (five in the morning) talking to friends of mine, and I brought up the topic of dream jobs. Eventually we veered from that, but one of my friends ask another friend if she had ever thought of writing a book. I sat there and debated for a while before deciding that it would be alright to tell them. I wouldn't let them see it, but I could simply tell them about it.
So I did. Apparently they had tried writing a book (although neither getting past the first page), and I told them that I was currently writing one. They asked how long it was, and I had the privilege to tell them the length (which I am so very proud of, but more on this later). They seemed vaguely impressed, but we moved on to other things.

I am not going to lie and say that I was expecting both parties to react in that fashion. I was expecting genuine intrigue and long conversations on my works and choruses of support and well-wishing.
Alas, that was not so.
I didn't right out think I wanted these, but it was more subconsciously wanted. I wanted approval and enquires (which I would deny of course) so I could feel like what I was doing could be important to other people besides myself. I was basing every future reader on their reactions, and I know now that that wasn't fair. The people that tend to value reading, writing and authors either weren't in the room, or would be too quite or reserved to say anything (mind you, I could be mistaken). Sure I could have planned telling people about it better, but it's not exactly the thing you plan for, and regardless, the disappointment would still be there.

I really do implore you; don't let people make you, or what you are doing, feel insignificant. People are going to be unimpressed, jealous, uninterested, or not take you seriously. Trust me, I didn't think it would happen to me, but it did. I really wish it could have turned out differently, but this way you can learn something from me. Perhaps if I had the hard copy with me I could have showed them and threw it in their faces and told them that I was really doing this and I am proud of it, but really, what would that have done? I can't change how they feel about it now, but hopefully once they see the final copy (which will get done) they perhaps appreciate my work and me a little more.

So, I march on this under-appreciated path in hopes that my journey will lead me somewhere where I can be amongst people that care enough about my work to take it seriously. For now though, I am stuck here, surrounded by uncaring people.
DO NOT get stuck! Sure, you can tell people about it, but don't have high (or even mediumly placed) expectations because you do not want to be let down like I was.

I hope that in this new year you reach your writing goals, and never give up on them.

Happy Writing, and a Happy New Year,

JB