Keep trying and eventually you will find what works for you. Since you're only using play money anyhow, try out as many different approaches as you want. But especially do what suits your own attitude. p.s. have you tried poker or casino games? you can do these with play money too. You might at least have some fun with these while you're being frustrated with the market, and you might find them profitable in themselves, and maybe even helpful in your approach to trading.
Sadly, after many years at this I have found that people have other reasons to lie about their success as traders. Ego is the big one and it is very real. I can guarantee you that many of the claims you see on this and other forums are fabricated. Take all of it with a huge grain of salt. g
Can't have a defeatist attitude or you'll never succeed. If the things you're tried to date don't work for you then keep searching. Sit down and do some thinking on your own. What do you look for in a setup? Pullbacks? Bottom fishing? Breakouts? There's a lot of ways to trade and all it takes is one way that you feel comfortable with that works.
i'll give you some good advice for FREE screw the ES -- how anyone trades that random piece of shit off the floor is beyond me. i have a decent feel for where the broad market is going and i make money in stocks (usually) but anytime i trade the SPY or QQQ i get fucked 9 times out of 10 the ES is meant for institutional hedging
Kay, I watched your journal for a time. Again, you need to find ONE setup and trade that. Become a master at ONE setup. You also trade too much IMO. You get into trends late. I don't think you know whether you want to swing or scalp. If you don't have a "feel" for the market then you need to develop the patience to sit down and code and backtest a system that works. One more time. FIND ONE SETUP AND MASTER IT