I am a silent but committed consumer of many creatives’ work

#9 What this means for my writing, and the importance of telling people when their work has impacted you

Hi, friend! 💌

The first few times people told me that my writing had had an impact on them, I was baffled. I was just documenting a little of what I was going through, doing it for me, because it helped me. I was just using Instagram as an outlet, writing and sharing about what was on my heart and mind, and I definitely wasn’t considering myself a “writer”. Never did I think what I was doing could help anyone else in any way.

To be honest, things haven’t changed that much in that regard. I still get baffled and overjoyed every time someone says something complimentary about my writing. Whether it’s about the topic or the style or something it’s taught them or made them realise; whatever it is, I still get just as giddy every time. It never gets old.

Once I began to realise how much writing meant to me, I created a photo folder on my phone (which has evolved into a whole Notion page and database) dedicated to screenshots of every single nice thing anyone says about my writing…😅, and from that day to this, it’s been there for me to look at when I’m doubting myself.

Particularly once I started taking myself seriously as a writer, realising the impact of positive feedback has encouraged me to tell other creatives when their work has impacted me, when I love their writing, when it has evoked emotion or deep thought, when it has helped me in some way. In doing so, I have connected with some really cool people! And even been told my kind word gave them a little nudge to just do something they had been overthinking.

Telling people the impact they’ve had on you is so important

I am a huge believer in the value of telling people when they or their work has positively impacted you. Not only does it bring joy to that person and yourself, but it can encourage them to do more of it, and therefore help more people the way they helped you.

I’ve come to learn that no matter how brilliant you think a writer/creative is, they doubt themselves, they overthink, they underestimate their impact, and you taking a few seconds to tell them the value their work has in your life could be exactly what they need to hear.

I remember the feeling I get when the tables are turned, take a deep breath, and try to put into words what they have done for me (and I try to keep my cool when I’m commenting on other people’s work even though inside I’m often like “oh my gosh thank you so much for this you are amazing I admire you so much”😂).

BUT

I don’t always tell people. In fact…most of the time, I don’t!

Ooooo that’s an uncomfortable truth for me!

I am a silent but committed consumer of many creatives’ work

As big a believer as I am in telling others when they’ve impacted you positively, sometimes I don’t have adequate words or the energy or the time, I suppose; sometimes I’m simply not able to. And sometimes…I just…don’t?

I will read, watch, listen to the incredible piece, be forever changed by it, and the person will never know!

But if I’m a silent consumer…👀

As uncomfortable as it was for me to admit all of that, and as much as I am working on not staying silent when things impact me, this truth, alongside receiving the occasional heartfelt message that’s either prefaced with or implying something along the lines of “I’ve been a silent but committed reader of your writing”, has caused a transformative realisation for me.

Because…

If I am a silent consumer of other people’s work…

Logically…

I must have quite a few silent consumers of my own, no?

I mean, I say “no” at the end as a rhetorical question. I know for a fact that I have because, as I said, I get the occasional message about it.

It all helped me to realised that everything I write could help someone who never ever says a word to me about it.

The way I quietly wait and long for some creatives to share their words, checking to see if they have posted, and get excited when they do…maybe some people feel that way towards me, too?

The way I deeply admire many creatives, maybe people look at me that way, too?

That piece I’m overthinking or doubting anyone wants to read might be exactly what someone, somewhere needs to hear, the way some writers seem to know exactly what I need.

Who knows?

Even though I write and share for me, knowing that in doing that, I’m impacting others, is something that fills my heart with so much joy, and remembering this is one of the things that help me to keep my focus where it should be and carry on doing what I feel called to do.

What I’m saying is…

Being told that the piece you’ve been called to write (or whatever your work is) had a profound impact on someone or even just that they got something valuable out of it, is truly one of the best feelings in the world every single time, and we should bring that feeling to as many people as we can.

AND even when I feel like the work I pour my soul into might not have impacted anybody (besides me, which is and always will be the most important thing), I have to trust that it is reaching and impacting whoever it’s meant to, even if they can’t find the words or courage to tell me.

Lots of love,

Cyrene💘