Inactive but just wanted comment on this:
Baby steps.
Walk before you run.
- First you write and practice.
- You write offline.
- Then you write on an online writing platform for feedback.
- Then you get a better idea and can start working on a writing that is not going to be on writing platform since you want to publish it.
- Then you hit send your manuscripts to publishers. Then you get crushed again and again with maybe some sliver of hope and light that you actually get published.
You are likely not going to jump from writing on an online writing platform to getting that story published traditionally.
Its idealistic, not realistic.
Some take years to market their book, many story scripts get rejected. Rowling had to try many times before harry potter get any success. And maybe you could be the few exceptional, but that is like a needle in the haystack kid.
Unless you're on the right platform, or your story is SO exceptionally
good that its like a JK Rowling/Rick Riordan/Brandon Sanderson amidst a sea of cliche and story tropes and a bunch of other "unique storytelling" stories that people claim are truly something out of this world, its gonna be miss.
When you start out, you should be open up to new ideas and ways to grow. Once you're established, then you can be more nit-picky.
Be more open-minded. You're starting new, don't limit things here and there. You need to grow, not cut snips you don't like it. To sell a story:
- Writing Platforms. Get noticed at least more than just some friends viewing it. (you're already doing this step, bravo).
- Start with Patreon. Self-publishing. Don't cancel it out. Its at least something.
- Then you make another story separately just for traditionally publishing.
If the story you want to go to traditionally publish, is on a writing platform, maybe its a bad idea, but I would take off that story then. And finish it offline and see if you still save it and submit it to a publisher. But this you'll have to contact people who know more about this cause I don't.
Contact person in field. Connections.
Which you are already doing it seems. It sounds like you got someone who gave you a few pointers. Talk to more who know more about the publishing process. Build a connection somewhere, get tips and pointers. Who knows, maybe someone may say where to go to get your story published.
Expect less, to feel happier and more satisfied.
The main reason why I don't feel bad about my stories here is because I don't care for them as much as my other story ideas I want to focus on more. I worried for story will get copied, story I want to especially save for making it real good, etc., etc. - and so I save the good for the right time and opportunity. The ones on here is a practice; if it's good then great! If its not so great? Well yes, its not my best.
To see views like even a 100-soaring to 300 views is awesome enough. I don't ask/expect for much, so I'm much happier.
Reality-focus
I'll be honest here. I write to procrastinate and it is probably just a writing phase that may go away permanently or a very long time.
Writing as escaping I've heard before and many of us do it. But putting everything all on writing?
I think it best to focus on some priorities first.
Not about just getting a date with a girl. Or getting published traditionally anytime soon.
You still have bout a year left in uni. You still got time in college and you got time in your life after that college stage to find that one person. But the time to learn things when mistakes are more okay cause you're a rookie so they don't expect you to know a whole lot? College is more than just scoring a date with someone. Its about trying to find a way to be independent yourself.
Some people have even less of a time than you do bc they grad in 2020. Make most of what you have and what you got. You lament on some things that are trivial to others because they have more concerning things to think about, something that might resonate with you in the coming future too.
Practice
If you liked writing, make it habit. Not something to overtake your life or completely fill whatever void in reality you're facing a 110%.
But write. Practice. A Rough Outline of a Goal. Baby Steps.
Once you write and keep on writing and improve, there's more chance a publisher will look upon you and see you're a great potential market to tap into. And you keep writing stories so it shows
you'll keep making them the buck you will continue putting forth more stories and not just one story. They want to find a good author with potentially lot of stories to tap into. So you have to keep writing somewhere and improve. I'm sure your biggest model, Brandon Sanderson didn't just write a one or two novels but many novels.
Half the time people lament about stuff they don't have. But do they really take the time to go beyond and fix and improve themselves so they can get that stuff they don't have but wish to have?