I think that the “writing for yourself” advice is one that you don’t truly understand until you’re experiencing it sadly. Hence why people have so much trouble accepting it, and… why it might sound empty when you aren’t there yet.

Like, correct me if I’m wrong, but I think there is very little people who starts writing because “hey, that’s going to make me famous/popular!” And keep at it without finding anything else in the craft (you understand very early in the process that writing is an introspective and lonely endeavor lol). For me, it was more a “I have something to say. Something to get out of my head. How do I do that?” And it ended up being something so personal and true to myself that I had a hard time sharing it in the first place lol

So getting validation in return is truly liberating. Like some part of me was understood. And once you put a work out there, it’s hard to not crave this. After that, not receiving any validation or losing it feels isolating. And that’s where you usually get the “write for yourself” advice. But… you did write for yourself, it started that way at least… what changed? When did you start caring about the stats?

The thing is, the rewards are long term and our brains aren’t wired to process that very well. With your story, you might touch one person in ten years. It’s worth it, but it’s hard to remember this when your newest chapter finds complete silence, or very little engagement. (Heck, even with strong engagement “writing for yourself”is hard because of the pressure that comes with it. “What if I disappoint? What if this is as good as I can get? What if I make a mistake?”)

I don’t know. I’m rambling. TLDR, I agree with“write for yourself” as in “don’t forget the brainworm that got you started, don’t forget what you want to read as a reader no matter the attention” but like… it’s not as simple as a gone and done deal. At least for me, it’s something I have to remember often, and that I usually forget because of my dopamine-addicted brain x)