So I Read YOUR Stories, But You Skip Mine

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I told my partner I was considering writing a story about people whose stories I constantly read, but they ignore my mediocre lame efforts. She responded “So you want to whine? Don’t do it.”

I tried to defend my position with a rather feeble “Well, I’m curious. I want to find out if I am the only writer here who feels shunned by a lack of reciprocity. That’s not whining.” The look on her face told me that she saw right through my weak, infantile justification.

I did not write the story.

However, the question kept spinning in my head. So I’m writing it now. (Shhh…) Let me frame my question with these observations:

• There is no obligation for you to read my stories because I read yours. I fully and completely understand that. The crap that I write about, may not be of interest to you. Fair enough.
• Read-for-read schemes do not work. I have supported efforts by a couple of publications to create that atmosphere and I’ve found that the model does not work. It is unsustainable.
• Reading for charity is disingenuous. If you comment on one of my stories, or become a new follower, I will check out your stories. If I see a boatload of stories about making money, or “how to” or…