To Clap or Not to Clap: that is the question.

I have been thinking about why I write today as I sit ready to put pen to paper. The question I ask myself is do I write for claps or do I write for writing’s sake?

I love getting claps for my writing. When I get an email saying someone has clapped for my post I am thrilled. I like knowing he/she has enjoyed or resonated with what I wrote. For someone like me, new to writing and new to posting, it is so validating. I feel a bit like Sally Field receiving her second Oscar. “You like me- you really like me.”

Then there are the times no one claps and I wonder why. Did I miss something? Did I post during the week and not on the weekend?Does the day of the week matter? Did I miss something that was very important? I am left wondering as they don’t leave comments or feedback. Do I just tell myself that it doesn’t matter, as not everyone will like my posts? Not everyone will be interested in the subject I write about or what I have to say. Do I review the work and edit it to make it clearer and more precise? Actually, I do all of the above.

I reflect on why I clap. I realize I always clap at least once. I believe that the writer deserves one clap for actually writing and putting it out to the world — so always one clap. But then the question becomes how do I decide if the piece gets more than the one acknowledgement clap. What moves the dail from one to two or three or God forbid 50 claps. I realize that for me it becomes a rating of how I was moved intellectually and emotionally. Did I learn something? Could I relate to the experience? Was I entertained? Did it touch my heart? These are the measurements I use when weighting my claps. I must admit the most important one is “Did it touch my heart?”

Now I realize I could research what generates the most claps on the site and become very good at following the format, writing to it and generating numerous claps. However, somehow that feels hollow. I think I will continue to write what comes from my heart whether it receives claps or not.