posted
*sigh* Lately, I've not been able to write. I just don't feel motivated enough and I don't know why. Does anyone else have times like that? I think for me, I've lost some confidence in my writing skills. See, one of my major downfalls is that I'm a perfectionist. When I write something, I expect it to be wonderful on the first draft. But this is something that is nigh on impossible to do on the first draft, is it not? I know this and yet, I am still always disappointed when it's not perfect the first time through.
The other thing is that I feel like I'm just a mediocre writer. I'll have someone read something and they always reply that it's okay and some people never bother to comment. It discourages me and I know that I shouldn't let it, but I just can't figure out what I have to do to make my okay writing great.
I'm also having a hard time getting motivated to write because everytime I sit down to do so, I start thinking about all the rules and methods I need to follow in order to make the story make sense and be interesting. Like, can readers sympathize with this character? What's this character's reason for doing what he does? And so forth. I know these are questions that I should be asking while writing a story, but instead of helping me, they start to hinder me. I lose all motivation once I start thinking like that. Before I knew about these rules and methods, I used to just write and was fine with it. I hardly gave any thought to the issues going on with my story. I never stopped to think about whether or not the story would make sense or be entertaining to others. I just wrote so that I was pleased with it, but then when I had other people read it, they just smiled and said, "It's alright..."
Oy. I'm just wondering what to do next. Should I keep writing? Of course I should, and I will...if I manage to find the motivation to do it again.
So I suppose my next question is: How do you find motivation to write?
posted
Well, one method that often works for me is to read a book on writing. I find myself getting inspired. Then I put the book down and actually write. If I use something from the book, great, if not, fine.
Also, and I think you already know this, don't worry about the process as much. Concentrate on just getting the words on paper.
Have you ever done timed writing exercises? Those are great for getting you going. I along with several other people from Hatrack participate in a weekly flash fiction challenge, where you have 90 minutes from when you see a trigger word or picture to turning in a finished story. Sounds difficult but actually most people manage to do it, and we're all getting better every week. If you would like more information, email mikemunsil or read the topics called "Flash Challenge" whatever number it is that week.
Have you stopped writing just to thrill yourself or someone you care about? Are you trying to write things that you think everyone else will like? Stop that! Making your stories work for others is what the revision process is for. But if it didn't get you off first....
Find something you're passionate about, something that really moves you, and then write--a story, a vignette, a scene, a poem...whatever. It doesn't matter what, just write. Then, put it away and never show a soul. Keep it just for you. If that doesn't get the dry-throat out of your writer's voice, rinse and repeat.
posted
Just write the story, and on the second draft worry about the rules and methods. That way you have something written that you can polish up.
Posts: 266 | Registered: Mar 2004
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Flash 6 is open. Why not give it a try? Set aside a 90-minute period between now and midnight Sunday and send off for the trigger. At the end of that time you'll be writing again. If you're not comfortable with submitting it, no one ever said you had to!!
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If we had to come up with an official motto for the Hatrack River Writers Workshop, I think the best candidate would be what Dude said.
Posts: 8826 | Registered: A Long Time Ago!
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posted
Try Mike's advice. I was in the doldrums this weekend. I thought I was fooling myself. You know the drill. "Who am I kidding? A writer?" That sort of stuff. So I did the flash challenge just to get out of it. Now I have a story I like and might have a solution to the story I was stuck on.
Now, I'll have to admit that I'm kindof a sucker for signs and portents, but once I did the flash challenge I got three sort of "See, don't be an idiot," signs from on high. But I wouldn't have been in a place to get them if I hadn't done the groundwork first.
Bottom line. Write something. The flash challenge is fun. Go. Shoo. Stop yer whinin'. Write.
posted
We sound like an infomercial "I began using the flash fiction challenge simply out of curiosity--all my friends were doing it. But over the weeks I began to notice real results. I've lost two dress sizes and my back never hurts anymore. Also I've noticed lately that my friends think I'm God."
Posts: 818 | Registered: Aug 2004
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Two things in particular you said sounded familiar to me:
1. Your writing has to be perfect. 2. Your writing needs to come into the world fully edited.
Oy, is right! How could anyone live up to that? Or have any motivation to face up to trying? These two bald-faced lies undo me anytime I forget what they are! Lies.
Here's what I heard about #1 at the Whidbey Island Writers Conference this March:
Perfection is paralyzing and unworthy as a goal because perfection can't exist in reality. Excellence is both empowering and worthy as a goal because it is attainable.
Here's what I learned about #2--I believe from WRITING DOWN THE BONES, by Natalie Goldberg.
The mind has two parts, the creator and the editor. The job of the writer is to get the editor to shut up long enough to create something. After you let your mind go skipping and laughing across the page (or weeping and angsting as the case may be), eventually, it's time to bring out the editor to make sure all the fun (or delicious misery) is beaten into a shape the reader can "get."
posted
I wish I had a miracle cure to offer, but unfortunately I don't. I think we all go through these episodes of self doubt from time to time. It's like a kidney stone. You just have to wait for it to pass. In the meantime, though, don't allow yourself to succumb to the discomfort. Even if it's the last thing you want to do, keep trying. And I'll agree with those who have already suggested it: give the flash challenge a go. It helped me out of a whopper of a slump last week. Also, if you are looking for a book that talks about these ups and downs, you might want to check out "Seven Steps on the Writer's Path: The journey from frustration to fulfillment."
Posts: 270 | Registered: Jan 2005
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posted
Let's see. You wrote about 386 words in your post above. Hmm. I have an 83 word story that I am submitting.
Posts: 2710 | Registered: Jul 2004
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posted
Wow. I got a plethora of advice in such a short bit (and I'm not sure I just used the word "plethora" correctly...). I think I will try and do some of the flash challenges. I can't this weekend, however, as I have to study for finals, but the next time, I will definitely give it a go.
Posts: 202 | Registered: Mar 2005
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posted
When I'm stumped I like to research. That always gets me going, gives me ideas. Just pick a topic of interest and have at it.
Posts: 1672 | Registered: Apr 2004
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posted
Guess what! I was studying for my finals today and then I felt like I needed a study break, so guess what I did. I decided to try and write a monlogue for a character in one of my novels. It was great because I was writing and at the same time I was working out more aspects of this character. It turned out to be rather sad, though , but that's okay because this character is a tragic character anyway. What I mean by that is he constantly experiences sorrow and tragedy, so it was only fitting that his monologue would be so depressing, filled with his grevious thoughts as he awaited death.
Posts: 202 | Registered: Mar 2005
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posted
You know, I had a writing slump during finals, too. It might be a natural reaction to sitting at the computer and pounding out hours of quasi-academic papers. Sometimes you just need a break.
Posts: 1041 | Registered: Aug 2004
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, but that's okay because this character is a tragic character anyway. What I mean by that is he constantly experiences sorrow and tragedy, so it was only fitting that his monologue would be so depressing, filled with his grevious thoughts as he awaited death.
