Different kinds of obscurity

Obscurity — noun. The state of being unknown or unacknowledged.

There are different kinds of obscurity that a writer can experience. The most common is when your work is published but no one reads it. This type of obscurity can be frustrating because you put a lot of time and effort into your writing, but it’s out there, unseen.

Another kind of obscurity is when you write something that is well-received, but no one remembers it. Your work might get a lot of likes or shares on social media, but it quickly fades from people’s memories. This type of obscurity can also be hard to deal with because you want people to appreciate your writing, but they don’t remember it. Writing is a competitive field and you need any edge that you can get in order to succeed.

This type of obscurity really stings when someone else writes something similar and becomes successful while the original writer’s work remains underappreciated. Sometimes, a writer can become stuck in this type of obscurity because they keep writing the same types of pieces.

Unfortunately, some writers never escape from these three different forms of obscurity and their work is always unseen by others. Writing takes a lot of time and dedication — it is not something that most people are willing to put effort into unless they truly love it. Writing what you enjoy and being your authentic self can help to avoid this type of obscurity.

Is obscurity bad? Maybe it has some benefits. For instance, if you’re obscurity is based on quality, it means that your work is worth reading. It might take some time for people to find and appreciate your writing, but eventually, they will. On the other hand, if obscurity is based on lack of quality, then it’s best to keep your day job.

Obscurity also allows you time to develop your writing style and figure out what you want to say. It’s a time for exploration and growth — something that all writers need. So, if you’re feeling frustrated because of your obscurity, remember that it might not be all bad.

As writers, we often find ourselves wanting to be seen. Writing is a personal act, yet it can feel strange when other people are reading what you’ve written — especially if they don’t “get” your work or if they think that you’re someone else entirely.

Perhaps this desire to be seen isn’t all it’s meant to be. Maybe, the obscurity of our work is a good thing. It means that we can write for ourselves and no one else. We can experiment with language and structure without fear of judgment. We can take risks because no one is watching.

In the end, it’s up to you to decide whether obscurity is good or bad. But, remember that obscurity is just a part of the writing process and it can actually be beneficial in some cases. Writers need to experience all kinds of obscurity — both positive and negative — before they are ready for success.

Have you experienced any forms of obscurity? What do you think about them? Do you agree that experiencing different types of obscurity is necessary for writers?

Conclusion

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