[Current & Culture] Does the Author Read What You Write?

There is something I do several times a day. I search for my name, Kim Minseop, on portal sites. Many writers around me do the same. Some do it whenever they have time, others dozens of times a day. The reasons are similar. They wonder if anyone who has read their book might have written a review. After spending months or years writing a single book, they are very curious about how people have read it. Then, when they suddenly find that someone has read their book and left even a short comment, that day becomes a happy one because of it. The belief that someone is reading them motivates writers to keep writing.

Once, a few writers gathered and talked about how they discover readers’ reviews. Some search on portals, others check posts tagged with #KimMinseopWriter on Instagram, each with their own method. But poet K said that at some point, he just started looking without liking or commenting. When asked why, he said that once he happily liked and commented on someone’s Instagram post that featured his poem, but the person soon deleted the post. Ah, so maybe the writer’s attention felt burdensome even though the writing was well read. So now he quietly looks at such posts and quietly feels happy. Hearing this, other writers all had a new worry. Ah, should we also secretly read reviews? I also wonder what to do when I find someone has read my book on blogs or Instagram. Should I just pass by quietly, like the post, or even comment?

At book talks, I have asked readers directly. What if you leave a comment after reading a book and the author comes to like and comment on it? Everyone said that would be amazing and very appreciated, and they hope authors would do that. So whenever I find a review, I like it or comment to show that I visited. Not always, though?I sometimes think deeply depending on the content of the review.

There is no one sadder than a writer who cannot imagine their readers. I wrote many such works during graduate school. I knew well that only three people read my thesis: my advisor, the examiners, and myself. Those were days when no one said they read it well, and I could not find anyone who had read me anywhere.

If you read a book and leave your thoughts somewhere, the author will definitely see it within 24 hours. You might even be the first to see it. Every writer knows well that they exist because someone reads them. So I want to ask you, the reader of this text, to please leave a sign that you have read the book, even if it is not a positive reaction. If you have a favorite writer and want to keep reading their work, the best way is to buy their book, read it, and show that you have read it. When you tell them that their readers are here, the writer will find you and find a reason to keep writing tomorrow.

Kim Minseop, Social and Cultural Critic

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.