Re-collecting all my mutuals and artists on the other still-viable social media sites like they’re pokemon:
The father of John Wilkes Booth, Junius Brutus Booth, was the most famous Shakespearean actor of his day. He was also a huge animal rights believer before that was really a thing. Once he held a funeral where he buried a coffin full of 600-700 passenger pigeon carcasses as a protest.
CAKE is so fun!! I went for the first time this year (now that I live in Chicago) and it was such a lovely time.
(I'm considering starting ANOTHER shuake longfic even though I've gotten next to no engagement on my current one. But I'm having fun writing for the first time in ages, and that's literally the only thing that matters when it comes to creating. Chase joy!! Be annoying about it!!!)
There's something freeing about absolutely bombing with art you were confident about. Sure, everyone wants to please (and be pleased in turn), but it's good for the soul to create something that was just for you the whole time.
Tbh I think everyone should put out fic/art that has no audience at least once in your life. It's not typically a COMFORTABLE experience, but it helps you wrest free of the tyranny of The Numbers. Make something you enjoy and don't let the response dictate in post how you felt about the process.