Tone Deaf's audience has shrunk almost to nothing. My fault, of course. There are four options.
(2) Continue, leading to many No Comment notifiers.
(3) Become inflammatory, insulting, libellous. Forcing responses.
(4) Trawl other new blogs for like minds. Leave comments.
Number One is simple but eliminates publicity for my books. Also, I’m an octogenarian writer. I haven’t enough time left for another novel; even short stories are a gamble. Tone Deaf’s 300-word limit suits my tired body and my much restricted waking life. Also, dialogue – real inventive dialogue, however small – is something I feed on.
Number Two: looking like a stoic who relishes failure.
Number Three might be fun but could be close to Trumpism.
I’ve tried Number Four. The process is exhausting and tends to be disappointing. Most people – other than me - are more than what they write. Mutual disapproval usually sets in after a couple of months.
It wasn’t always like that. Five or six years ago Tone Deaf (and before it, Works Well) attracted people with both time and stamina to engage in lengthy and inventive discussion. I learnt a lot and went on to verse and singing lessons.
Told VR about these options. She said, “Well I read it.” Hmmm.
One more post to go: explaining why the well has dried up, being brutally honest.