@Antol8133: That balance you talked about – writing, family, the money side, the energy drain – it’s so real. I really felt that line about how fewer readers means fewer chances for your work to mean something to someone. It’s not even about fame, just about resonance. And yeah, it gets heavy when the return isn’t there. But the fact you still write says a lot. Do you still have moments when it feels like you're writing toward something – a future reader, a version of yourself – or is it more like you’re writing because it’s just part of who you are at this point?
[/quote]

@planingkoala, It's kind of both and I'm still enjoying it.