For as long as I can remember I've always liked to be creative.  I mostly engage in writing stories and making music, but I think making any kind of art is good for the soul.  I know I always feel better when I've done a good chunk of writing or recorded a song.  I think it's important to keep in mind that that feeling right there is the biggest reward you're likely to get for it.  It's natural when you create something to want to share it with others.  Stories want to be read, songs want to be heard, paintings want to be looked at.  But the reality for most artists is you're probably doing most of it for yourself.

It can definitely be the most disheartening part of the whole process.  After all, you pour a lot of yourself into your creations.  You work hard at them and a lot of times it's not easy.  To finish something is a real accomplishment.  It would be really nice to get it out there and hopefully others might enjoy it.  But unless you're Beyonce or Stephen King or someone who has a lot of fame and promotion behind them, your work is probably going to be met with a lot of indifference from the world.  It's hard to get anybody to even take a look.  Even your friends, especially as you get older.  I get it.  They're busy and it takes time to listen to a song or read a story.  Especially if it's a book-length story.

It used to bother me a lot, but I've definitely moved past the stage where the world's indifference to my efforts discourages me.  Whether anyone listens or reads my work, and if they actually do whether they like it or not, I'm not going to stop creating stuff.  I do it because enjoy it, and also because I kind of have to.  I wouldn't be me as I know myself if I didn't write stories and songs.  I honestly don't feel good when I go too long without doing it.  

In a weird sort of way, there can be something cool about having some of it just for yourself, too.  I'm 100% sure I'm the only person who's ever heard every song I've recorded and read every story I've ever written.  Only I know all the places I've been to creatively and some of them are richer and more special for belonging to just me.  

I will say though it always makes my day when someone reads a story or listens to a song I wrote and I'm sure that's true for almost every artist.  So if you have friends that create stuff, do them a solid and check out their work once in a while.  Unless they're one of those really private types that don't want to share with anyone, they'll probably really appreciate it.