I once asked man who has been blogging for over a decade which of his posts do best with his audience. He said it doesn't make any sense--some get crazy-shared and others rarely make a peep through a like or a retweet. He used to put predictions on which ones he was sure to knock out of the park, but after 12 years of writing, he is still in the dark.
Few things feel better than when you put your work out there and people care. They "heart" it, say it's smart; they have never seen anything like it and they "like" it. They really like it. Our ego will never tire of this flattery because to the ego it matters, but to the powers that be that live beneath, we know that it is unnecessary. Of course we are wary. Putting work out there is scary. But it will not affect whether I not I continue to create. That is innate. And the work is more for me. I aim to help a lot of people (eventually), but we have to start somewhere and that somewhere is here and it is process and play and trudging through muck, and wiping away the gelatinous sleep from the corners of my eyes that get stuck.
I think we know generally what get the crowd fired up. Sex and hot-button issues, underdog-takes-the-gold tales that may require some tissues, controversial political themes, Ryan Gosling memes, and when all else fails, vids of pugs and kittens attempting to bite their own tails. All the above are sure to get some attention if situated in the right place at the right time. But my intention is to move within and improve my improvisation on themes that mean something to me. This is the only way that I will continue to pray and offer work to the altar of my creative muse. Sacrificing lines and time that may not be my idea of good enough--not seasoned just the way I like, but will suffice. I will practice not for perfection and not to prove myself, but to improve the craft. Oh, and to enjoy it too. Who says you can't "heart" your own art? Start now.