Does anybody else feel this way?

[SeanDSchaffer]

I originally was going to put this into the Goals and Accomplishments section, but felt it would be more fitting here.

I have a question:

I feel like my writing talents are all dried up. Like I'm scraping the bottom of the ink bottle searching for something to put to paper. To say I'm depressed would be an understatement right now.

I had a whole bunch of stories ready to write and I was so happy....then PublishAmerica got hold of my first book and all the works I've just mentioned are derivatives of that particular book. I've worked for over twenty years on the world and subject matter of the PA book and I feel like I can't do it over again.

This bodes the question: does anybody else feel this way? Am I the only writer in the world who doesn't have the energy within to build a whole new world?

What should I do? Does anybody have suggestions as to what I can do to revive my writing passions? I feel like the Fantasy I've always written is completely dried up within me, and I'm not sure what else I could write.

Does anybody have any ideas?:Shrug:

Thanks.

[Tiaga]

Leave writing alone for a couple of months. Enjoy summer and maybe even fall. Do something you haven't tried or something you enjoyed but haven't done for a while. Sometimes we forget to stop and smell the roses and when we do our energy and passion can be rejuvenated. Give it time you have been working it for twenty years a new approach or angle will surface and then you will be able to run with it.

[Aconite]

Sean, all writers go through spells like that. They pass.

PA has the rights to publish your book, but they don't have the rights to your created world. Why not consider the events of your first book backstory, and just move forward as if your next book were the first book in your world? I know it's not the way you planned it, but the alternative is not to write at all, and look at how unhappy that's making you.

[mdmkay]

YES other writers do go through this....esp after a run in with Publish America....they got 2 of my books before I wised up. But just like any other disappointment in life you step back, reassess and then move on. If you need to take a bit of a vacation to get back your perspective then do it but don't let one mistake take you away from something that you obviously love. I think Aconite hit it right on the head. Besides the best revenge is to continue to write and get published by a real publisher. We all know this takes time and patience and occasionally we all have to take a bit of time off just to smell the roses a bit and get our creative juices renewed. I find when I'm started to overfocus on the goals and not on the writing I will just take some time to "chill out" and get my priorities straightened out again and when I come back I have a whole new perspective on things and I'm up and running again and once again enjoying the process.

[Nateskate]

There's only one way to look at it. You have to see it as an opportunity. As long as you look back with anger and resentment, you will end up locked into the past, and "What could have been." That will not only demoralize you, but it will rob you.

Instead, take it and turn it around, and see that event "Your origional idea being taken from you" as being your launch pad to something better. Obviously, you feel like you've been robbed of something. And you have to accept that.

I had a great book going once. And I'll just say for "Legal Licensing" reasons, I found out I had a great book that would never go anywhere. The idea was owned by someone else. At first, I was really discouraged. But then I used it as a launchpad to create something so entirely unique.

If you were creative enough to get the first idea, with some tweeks, you'll have a whole new universe and a whole new way of making your other storylines fit. And someday you'll look back and realize that those who meant you harm had actually done you the greatest favor.

[trebuchet]

I think aconite gave you some very good advice. PA can't take your world away from you, and all the disappointment in the (real) world cannot take away your effort and your experience in building that world. It's yours, it's part of you; take a breather and then run with it.

[JerseyGirl1962]

Sean,

Tiaga is right in that you should take a step away from your writing for awhile. A couple of weeks or a couple of months, you owe it to yourself to clear your mind and wake up refreshed and renewed about your writing.

I also think Aconite came up with a good idea for you once you return to writing...look at your first book as backstory and your second book as the true first book. You do enjoy the world you created, right? You've spent all those years developing it, only to have the scam known as PA take your first book.

Well, pardon my French, but screw them.

After you come back from your well deserved rest, why don't you look into what Aconite suggests? It would be great revenge to get back at PA by having a contract with a legitimate publisher, wouldn't it? :)

If you don't want to take off for a couple of months and need something to jog your mind or whatever, how about looking thru a writing prompts book (I don't know how else to explain it)?

The Pocket Muse, by Monica Wood is a small book that I picked up when I was the most foggy and dry for stories; I won't credit it for getting me totally out of my funk, but I did manage to crank a story out of one of the ideas in it (rejected once, but I need to edit it some more).

And besides that, Jenna has gave it a 5 star review on Amazon, so don't just take my word for it! ;)

I hope you get writing again, and soon. Take care.

~Nancy

:TheWave:

[aadams73]

What should I do? Does anybody have suggestions as to what I can do to revive my writing passions? I feel like the Fantasy I've always written is completely dried up within me, and I'm not sure what else I could write.

Does anybody have any ideas?:Shrug:

Thanks.


Read. Read outside of the genre you write in, read everything you can get your hands on. Read for the pleasure of it. And relax.

This always gets me back on track.

[sunandshadow]

Is there nothing in your original worldbuilding that you think might be better or just new and interesting to do differently? You don't have to throw it away and start over, you could just twist it a little, change the names but not its basic nature. Maybe there's a book you read since you designed your worldbuioling which had a new worldbuilding element you'd like to incorporate into your own? But, I also agree with the other posters that if you are depressed and burnt out at the moment you should rest and recharge.

You might try reading Italo Calvino's _If On A Winter's Night A Traveller_, it's particularly good at frustrating the reader into picking up a pen and writing.;)

[PattiTheWicked]

I had a whole bunch of stories ready to write and I was so happy....then PublishAmerica got hold of my first book and all the works I've just mentioned are derivatives of that particular book. I've worked for over twenty years on the world and subject matter of the PA book and I feel like I can't do it over again.

This bodes the question: does anybody else feel this way? Am I the only writer in the world who doesn't have the energy within to build a whole new world?



I think it's perfectly normal to feel this way once in a while. I go through phases where I'll write like a demon, nonstop, day in and day out... and then I'll go two months without working on ANYTHING, just because I can't get motivated, or I feel like my work sucks, or whatever. I use that opportunity to do other creative things -- build stuff, remodel a room, paint, sew, whatever. As long as I'm creating SOMETHING, I'm good to go.

In your particular case, the whole PA thing blows, and I'm sorry you had to go through it. However, PA only got hold of one book, right? Certainly you've got more than one book in you?

Think of the first book as the prologue that no one ever reads. Now start outlining the second book, and find a way to incorporate that backstory into it without creating a huge information dump.

They may own that one book, but they don't own subsequent titles, nor do they own your muse. Take some time away from writing, and then when you're feeling better about things, use this crappy experience to motivate you into writing something even better. Write the book that editors and publishers want to see. If you do this, you'll be able to look at your PA problems as a learning experience rather than something that ended your career before it even began.

It WILL get better, Sean. You just have to make the conscious decision to MAKE it better.

[icerose]

Both of the books PA have of mine are first books in their own series. You can imagine how hard that was for me to realize that not one but two series are tied up with PA. I was sad, depressed, angry at them, angry at myself for being so stupid, then I moved on. I have been working on other books outside of this. Talking to others about my ideas really gave me back my spark. So do as others have said, take a couple of months off, read, enjoy yourself, then start talking to your friends, family, anyone who will listen about your ideas, more will come. Also think of Anne McCaffrey, many of her books can be considered stand alone yet they there is a group of them that all take place on the world of Pern. Just because they have one book with this world, does not mean you cannot write other books with that same world. Someday you might be able to get your rights back. On the bright side the industry considers PA a self publisher, and many of them will consider publishing self published novels.

Chin-up. They have one of your books, but not your writer's soul.

Sara

[arrowqueen]

You're in mourning for your book, Sean. You're entitled to feel like this - but iit will pass.

I haven't anything to add to the excellent advice already given above, but I do hope you feel better soon.

:Hug2:

[azbikergirl]

I feel like my writing talents are all dried up. Like I'm scraping the bottom of the ink bottle searching for something to put to paper. To say I'm depressed would be an understatement right now.
I feel like that from time to time. No matter how I try to write one of the stories rattling around in my head, they suck. In fact, there I sit now, all dried up. So as aadams73 suggests, I'm reading. Devouring the books accumulating in my To Read stack.

This isn't the first time I've felt like this, and it won't be the last. Judging from the responses to your post, it seem many (most?) writers go through this from time to time. I take a break for a few days or a few weeks and then, one day I wake up and have to write, can't stop writing, no time to eat or sleep, damn job, let the machine answer the phone...

[James D. Macdonald]

I feel like my writing talents are all dried up. Like I'm scraping the bottom of the ink bottle searching for something to put to paper. To say I'm depressed would be an understatement right now.

Everyone feels that way.

Bull your way through. The second draft will fix the sucky parts.

[Garpy]

what's the scam with PA? I live in the UK and I've never heard of this publisher. It might be useful to find out what they're up to?

[zornhau]

Writing is a craft, not a one-off chance to give birth. If your 1st two novels were good, then you should be able to repeat the exercise to the same quality ad infinitim. I say: mourn, let go, then get back to it.

[Trapped in amber]

Garpy, in the U.K. they're hurting authors under the name 'Publish Britannica'. You can find out more on the Bewares and Background Checks board.

Sean, everyone seems to have said all the useful stuff, so you just get a hug from me.:Hug2:

[aruna]

Garpy, in the U.K. they're hurting authors under the name 'Publish Britannica'. You can find out more on the Bewares and Background Checks board.

Sean, everyone seems to have said all the useful stuff, so you just get a hug from me.:Hug2:

I've never heard of Publish Britannica, but I did a google and found this enlightening thread on a British writers' forum. The two ARE connected.

http://www.writewords.org.uk/forum/48_11115.asp

[Aconite]

Garpy, aruna, there's information from people who've dealt with PA and PB in The Neverending PublishAmerica Thread in the Bewares and Background Check forum.

Be warned that it is a long thread. You may wish to use the Index to it, in the same forum.

[BenMears]

Yes, in a word. I often feel that I have no talent. So what? I have decided that I want to write, so I do. There are a lot of things in life I may have no particular talent for, but I like them and so I do them.

You are putting too much pressure on yourself, IMO. Get on with book two because you love it, and stop worrying about the publishers. When the book is done, go out and sell it, and someone will advise you how to deal with the book one problem. For now, don't even worry about it.

Best wishes.

[tjwriter]

Yes I do feel that way. Right now at this precise moment. I haven't written anything in weeks. A part of my mind keeps nagging me to go open my file and start typing, but I never make it that far. I have so many things going on and I am so burnt out. I feel...depressed actually. I am going to rant now because I need to let off some steam, so feel free to ignore me.

I am pregnant. It's the first time and it's different.

I am moving. It was decided for us, not by us, but it is a good thing. Just lots to do.

My husband isn't the most supportive right. I need that from him.

I need to find a job. I am done with college and need to get a move on. I just don't really know what I want to do or how I am going to accomplish it.

I need a vacation or a break. I have been overwhelmed for a long time and by a series of events that began in April and have continued have worn me down. I need to get away from everything and just breath. My husband doesn't understand this and refuses to acknowledge that I need anything of the sort. I have busted tail for the last 5 years going to school full-time and working part to full-time to make ends meet, without much relief. If it wasn't school, it was work and vice versa. Not to mention trying to do all the housework and maintain something of a relationship with my husband. I was 18 the last time I took a real vacation. I need to rest, relax, and recharge.

Okay, now I feel better that I have told someone, and I plan to go work on my novel some today.

Keep your head up Sean. I know I can work through my issues, and I have faith that you can too.

[mdmkay]

Geez you have got a rough ride right now tjwriter. Please try and find some time for yourself and your baby (I know how hard that can be). I've been so overwhelmed myself the last few years if I hadn't dug my heels in a few times and said to everyone "I've had enough give me some room to breath" I would have gone mad.......mad I tell you. Thing are still really tough but I know that even if I can just go into my bedroom and shut the door threatening to kill anyone who bothers me I can have some time alone with either my music or a book or both for an hour or two I can at least recharge enough to make it a few days more. I also found that my attitude about what is going on has made a big difference also. When I get to the point that I swear that God has something against little ole me it's time to recharge and I do. I used to run away for a night and go to another town and rent a motel for a night and baby myself with take-out, long baths, facials..etc and watch a movie. P.S. I would tell my family I was going to run away and when I'd be back though so they wouldn't worry, but they knew they weren't going to be able to talk me out of it. Sometimes you just have to insist...........

[jdkiggins]

Sean,

Every writer feels that way from time to time. Just a few months ago, I was writing several stories a day. I have a pile of work that I need to edit, critiques finish, books to read for reviews, you name it. The pile has been on hold since I moved in to take care of my mom. It’s not that my writing has dried up; it’s that my energy has been zapped.

I’ve found the easiest way for me to get back into the swing of writing and get my creative juices flowing again is to read. After reading several books, I find myself wanting and needing to get back to my own work.


Take your time. I’m sure you’ll find yourself again. :)

[SeanDSchaffer]

The majority of you guys have told me I should take a break, which I don't believe I've ever really done. So I think I will. I'll probably be around the boards the whole time, just not working on any writing for the time. Probably about a couple weeks to a month.

You guys are right, and I had forgotten it. My energy's gone, and it just needs to be replenished.

Also, for some reason I had been thinking that PA owned my world, not just my one book. But my contract with them doesn't say that. It says the one book.

And I admit, sadly, that I have not been reading hardly at all these last several years. I have a large number of books, and I've been wanting to purchase a couple for a long time. I think I will purchase a couple of new stories and read for the sheer joy of reading.

I remember when I first started out, that, like many of you guys said, my best inspiration came when I was avidly reading good books--or at least watching movies--for the simple pleasure of it. I must admit I have not been enjoying either my writing or even sitting down with a good book. This is proving quite bad, now that I think about it, for my muse and for my overall enjoyment of my life.

So like I said above, I will take a short break, and like many have said, I'll smell the roses for once.

Thank you all so kindly for your advice and your well-wishing. I'll be hanging around the boards, but indeed, I'll be taking some time off from my writing so I can learn to enjoy not only my life, but my writing, again.

Talk to you all later.

[A.REX]

I've had to let go before and I think we all have. Don't worry, when you're rested up, a story will come looking for you and hunt you down until you're again slaving away at the keyboard to tell it. All you need is time off, and maybe a good meal...

[Sunny7L]

I'm just getting started and I hate to stray from my main story/world, even for brief moments. Everything else just feels like a distraction. But, I've decided to start some work on a short story (hopefully to get my foot in door in the fantasy genre) and it has been incredibly challenging because I don't want it to steal any of the thunder from my primary story, which I'm pouring my all into.

I can't imagine how difficult it would be after 20 years!

[zornhau]

I'm just getting started and I hate to stray from my main story/world, even for brief moments. Everything else just feels like a distraction. But, I've decided to start some work on a short story (hopefully to get my foot in door in the fantasy genre) and it has been incredibly challenging because I don't want it to steal any of the thunder from my primary story, which I'm pouring my all into.

I can't imagine how difficult it would be after 20 years!

You can do it.

Your primary intellectual capital is in the craft you've learned, not in what you've written so far. The craftsman might grieve if he accidentally lost his apprentice piece, but that wouldn't stop him making more tables.

[SeanDSchaffer]

Your primary intellectual capital is in the craft you've learned, not in what you've written so far. The craftsman might grieve if he accidentally lost his apprentice piece, but that wouldn't stop him making more tables.


Now that is something I never thought of before. My primary intellectual capital being in the craft I've learned, instead of what I've written so far, I mean. I honestly never thought of that. If writing is a craft, like many writers say, then as a writer, I'm a craftsman. I've always considered craftsmen to be something special, because they take huge pride in their craft. I can't believe I never put two and two together.

So I've already crafted my first book and lost it to a scam company, but that shouldn't stop me from crafting more, better books. Honestly, this is an amazing comparison to me, because when I was younger, I wanted to be a craftsman, building magnificent furniture and other wonderful wooden items. So this is the perfect example to me as an individual of how I should view my writing.

Zornhau, that is a wonderful example, and even though it was not directed to me, I'd still like to say I highly appreciate it. Thank you.

[Kiva Wolfe]

Sean, don't discount an idea that might pop into your head. Write it down and tuck it under your dream pillow or into a new projects file. If you start a novel or short story, keep it in the back of your mind. You never know when you might import it into another project.

It happened to me ten years after the idea.