half the world's writing should remain unpublished

half the world's writing should remain unpublished

on crafting in silence, aka relying on time over audience

Anastasia Krogh

Nov 16, 2025

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I wrote my first short story when I was seven. From what I can recall, the plot resolved around mythical creatures that lived high up in trees, always having to rely on the branches to travel, as they couldn’t fly. Until one did. “A terrible story,” I might think if I were to find the notebook I wrote in.

A decade later, I wrote poetry every day. Most of it inspired by Maya Angelou. I got inspired by a French author to write another short story, which was part of the reason I was admitted into a half literature and half creative writing degree a year later. “A terrible story,” I might think if I were to find the pdf file I submitted.

Now, I write here. Most of it not terrible, but not all of it gets published. I wouldn’t necessarily say I’ve been selective when it comes to what I’ve shared on this corner of the internet, and you might agree if you were to dig deep. But perhaps it’s a good thing most of my early writing on paper was never shared, and most of my early writing online was not successful.

Had I been immediately met with an audience, I’m not sure I would’ve found the love and energy for writing I have in the last two years. I’m not even sure most writers I admire would have the talent they have if they had been meticulously scrutinised early on either.

When I consider that half the world’s writing should remain unpublished, I do not mean that half the world’s writing is unqualified. What I do mean is that quality writing improves with time, not an audience.

Some of the best writers of each generation perfected their craft in silence. Many never published themselves.

Emily Dickinson’s poems were published by her sister Lavinia, Sylvia Plath’s

Ariel

was published by her husband Ted Hughes, and Franz Kafka’s

The Trial

was published by his best friend Max Brod, despite him having been instructed to burn them after his death.

Emily Dickinson’s handwritten version of the poem that would later be titled “Forbidden Fruit,” from the Amherst College Collection

Sylvia Plath’s handwritten version of the poem “Stings,” from the

S

ylvia Plath Collection at Smith College

How can we be entirely sure that they would have not destroyed their own work while alive, had their work been shared amongst others? How can we be certain that the world’s best writing hasn’t been tarnished, torn or burnt from being in the wrong environment?

As a writer, allowing yourself a space to grow and nurture your voice will be the most important task you will ever have to accomplish. I might argue that it is more important than the writing itself.

The modern chase to immediate recognition can be crushing for some. It can mean the difference between relying on your opinion and relying on the opinion of others. On being satisfied before you publish and on being satisfied once you see the reaction to the publish.

The best writing I’ve read on this platform is not what has gathered the most attention. It is what gathered

my

attention. Just as the best writing that you’ve read is what gathered your attention. I might consider my best work to lie in one of my articles you dislike the most, or never bothered looking at, and that’s okay.

It is okay because I decide to publish when I enjoy what I have written. When I know that regardless of its reception - negative or positive - I will remain proud of my work. I have been writing for more than a decade, but I have only shared my writing the last two years. I believe that that is the case for many writers on this platform.

Many writers publish after years of writing. And while I am often curious of their earlier work, I recognise that the craft is sacred, and cannot be exposed before it is protected, nurtured.

Love,

Anastasia

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