This probably sounds super entitled

[Chairubplay]

As a creative with a decent measure of skill, it's always hard having people look at your work and then go, "Wow, this is so good!" (which is fine!) but then follow it up with a sentiment like, "I'll never be as good as this/I feel bad about my own work now/I'm so jealous/some other similarly negative statement." Don't get me wrong, compliments are nice and I'm incredibly happy that people enjoy what I do, but hearing them put themselves down in the same breath doesn't make me feel happy or proud, it just makes me feel sad.

I used to be in a position where I look at other writers who were far above me in skill level and I'd go, WOW, I'll never be able to attain that, I'm so bad, et cetera. It's a tough mindset to get out of, but the sooner you break the habit of instantly delegitimizing your own work and progress, the happier you'll be and the more comfortable you'll make the people you're complimenting. Nobody likes to feel that their success is making somebody else unhappy, so while you think it might be an ego boost for somebody you admire, it's far more likely that you're only making them feel sorry.

Instead of saying that, going for something to the effect of, "This makes me want to get better!" or "I hope with enough hard work, I'll be able to reach this level!" is much more positive and helps you reaffirm that while you might be below somebody in skill, there's nothing stopping you from getting there and going even further.

I want to see people who are inspired by my work, not people who see it and immediately kick themselves for not being quite there yet. It's a process. You'll make progress. All you need to do is give it your best and keep going, and a good way to help keep burnout at bay is by being positive and gentle with yourself.

[Nepeta]

Actually! It's not entitled. It's something a lot of creative folk deal with, I see it a *ton* with art.
People think by saying that they're like being humble, or praising you. But they don't really see that it just makes you feel bad? Like I always feel like a jerk when people do it and it's almost always a like, an instant colorer of the RP for me. It always makes me kind of see the RP in a negative light, because I know that his person feels bad seeing my writing. Plus I never know how to respond?

[Chairubplay]

I suppose I just feel bad because of an imagined potential onslaught of, like... "Oh, poor you, it must be SO hard, getting complimented all the time!"

But you're right, this is exactly how I see it, too, and responding to it never gets any easier.