Do you find it difficult to write? Then try freewriting. All you have to do is write down everything that comes to mind for ten minutes. If you do this daily, it will become a habit and if you tell yourself that it is a writing exercise, to prevent writer's block, then the end result will be better than expected. ![solen-feyissa-n8995_pCb7s-unsplash.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmfZ91YxiP3Qvx2jHn8NnabKt2jGutHi1UfZEqHp4nEPv7/solen-feyissa-n8995_pCb7s-unsplash.jpg) _{[](https://unsplash.com/photos/a-close-up-of-a-piece-of-art-with-a-white-background-n8995_pCb7s) Steemit - digital wasteland}
### Do You Vote? Or Do You Not Care? Do you upvote others, or do you ignore the chance to support fellow Steemians? If you don’t bother upvoting, let people know so they don’t waste their votes on you. Remember, Steem is about mutual growth, and upvotes cost you nothing—in fact, you can earn from them! That’s right—when you upvote someone, you receive a percentage of their rewards as a curation reward. So why the stinginess? You could even upvote someone you dislike just for the curation payout (yes, you’re the curator when you vote). If you’re too lazy or grumpy to upvote, you’re only hurting yourself.
### How to make earnings Many who profit from others’ work don’t upvote manually—they automate it. Who do they upvote? Usually, the richest users: investors, Steem Representatives (SRS), and top curators. If you take the time to build/use a fanbase—following active, highly rewarded posters—you can earn, even when you are absent. Today I went through my list of names. I'm leaving a few names on my list even though these people are not active due to circumstances. Simply because I know they write well and of course, also because I like them (that's how it goes, friends come before backstabbers). If you read posts, leave comments, and engage, you’ll naturally build connections.
### Without engagement, there's no gain Over the years, I’ve made friends on Steemit simply by reading, commenting, and showing interest. If you just post, self-vote, and leave, you’re missing the point. This is not how Steemit works. What will you do when Steem’s curators stop supporting? Will you leave? To be fair, I hope you will if you belong to those abusers who are only present to farm and aren't smart enough to understand that they are breaking down their source of income.
>Without reading or commenting, you don't get to know anyone here. Of course, you can quickly post something and give yourself a 100% upvote and then leave, but this is not, I repeat NOT, how the Steem eco-system is created. I'll say it for the umpteenth time: what are you going to do when the Steem curators stop? Unlike the Steemit Team or witnesses, I’ll say it plainly: if you’re not willing to invest in the platform, while expecting rewards, you’re a parasite. Not the symbiotic kind, but the kind that takes without giving back. _Returning to the subject of "self-voting" I asked @heriadi who said that 10% is allowed which doesn't help most of us and you might as well leave it out._
### A Reality Check I spoke with several Steemians this week, including a witness and a wanna be developer/curator. The latter admitted he doesn’t engage with writers, read posts, or comments, claiming he’s "only here to develop..." Seriously? Are developers not part of Steemi? His excuse? "I already pay for internet and a server. So what? As if others don't pay. Shame on you! **This response made three things clear:** 1. If developers are not interested in voting, why should I support them? 2. Why should I vote for a proposal to pay the developers who work for a witness who earns if they never engage? 3. It's time to pull my votes back

The Choice Is Yours Engage, and Steemit thrives. Ignore, and it becomes a ghost town. Don’t let this platform turn into an empty shell. Vote. Comment. Be part of the community.

_{20.4.25
_Prompt: self-voting provided by @freewritehouse_}