So… You Do Read My Writing?

So… You Do Read My Writing?

by Andy Lee

I’ve been thinking about something lately—something that’s both surprising and, if I’m being honest, a little frustrating.

For years, I’ve written about a lot of things. Nostalgia, personal experiences, history, observations about life. And while I know there are a few dedicated readers who regularly like, share, or comment (and I appreciate you more than you know!), for the most part, I wasn’t really sure how many people were actually reading. Sure, I could see the number of “views,” but that doesn’t tell me if anyone actually read my words.

Then, I wrote about politics.

And suddenly, engagement exploded. People who had never acknowledged my writing before were now commenting—sometimes publicly, sometimes in private messages. Some agreed with me, some didn’t, and some just wanted to let me know that they used to enjoy my writing… until I started writing about politics.

Huh. That’s interesting.

Because before now, I had no idea you even liked my writing. Never saw a like, never saw a comment. But the moment I wrote about something you didn’t like, here you are, making sure I know about it.

Look, I get it. Politics is a messy subject. It stirs emotions. But here’s the thing: If you never engaged with my writing when you did enjoy it, how was I supposed to know? If the only time you interact is to tell me you don’t like something, what kind of message does that send?

As writers, digital creators—whatever you want to call us—we don’t have mind-reading abilities. The only way we know people are reading, enjoying, and connecting with our work is through engagement. A like. A comment. A share. Something that says, Hey, this resonated with me.

But silence? Silence is impossible to interpret.

So, if you want to see more of what you do like, speak up. Don’t wait until you’re unhappy to finally say something. Let me (or any writer you enjoy) know when a piece resonates with you. Because if you don’t, the only voices we hear are the ones telling us what they don’t like.

And honestly? That’s just not a great way to shape a conversation.

Just sayin’.