Your Work vs. Expectations of Readers

[sknox]

There are plenty of movies (and books) that underperformed upon release, but enjoyed later success. Sometimes that was a result of changing popular tastes and in some cases it was piss poor promotion by the production company or publisher. There are also plenty of just plain lousy movies and books.

 

[Astro Pen]

There are plenty of movies (and books) that underperformed upon release, but enjoyed later success.

Classic example:
"Although Casablanca was an A-list film with established stars and first-rate writers, no one involved with its production expected it to be anything other than one of the hundreds of ordinary pictures produced by Hollywood that year. Casablanca was rushed into release to take advantage of the publicity from the Allied invasion of North Africa a few weeks earlier."
(wikipedia)

 

[JadeW]

Ultimately, I think the only important thing about writing is enjoying the game. That's like faith, or being in love, something that only one knows. It is something pure that comes from your heart, and while that happens, I assure you that there will always be someone willing to read what you write.
Because, as other colleagues said, there are no formulas that guarantee success. The only thing you can do is your best and most honest effort, and be true to what makes your heart beat and lift it as you write. Because if sometimes tears roll down your cheeks while you write, I also assure you that someone somewhere will also get excited when they read it. And that is the key to everything.
Remember that first day when you discovered that serene beauty.

I definitely agree with this. I want to write what I feel and always go down that route. It has to give me joy.

 

[Ambrose]

Robert Louis Stevenson was asked if he liked writing. His reply: I like to have written.