Problems with the practice of writing....

[Old Hack]

I was wondering today what the most common emotional problems people have with writing (I'm talking about the act of writing now, not the product of it). This is what I came up with:

1) Trouble getting started--I've seen people do almost anything rather than actually sit down and write. I've even been known to do the washing up rather than write words down on paper.

2) Writers' block: not being able to write, and/or writing lame stuff instead of one's usual high quality work (!).

3) Taking criticism. How many of you get upset when someone criticises your work, even when the criticism is justified?

What else can anyone add? And how do you all deal with each one?

[sunandshadow]

I've met people who are afraid to reveal their secrets/themselves in their writing, and people who are afraid to show their writing to anyone else because they're afraid others will dislike it. And some people are afraid to write anything bad, they want to write something but only if they can get it perfect.

Myself, I have trouble being decisive - for example, I knew that my WIP would either have to operate on science fictional technology or fantasy magic, but for months I was hobbled because I couldn't decide which way to go, and even now that I've picked magic I have doubts about it.

So there's 4 fears for you:

1) Fear of giving up privacy by writing
2) Fear of being judged by readers
3) Fear of creating something that you yourself will judge to be bad
4) Fear of making the wrong choice

[MillyBecker]

My problems are not emotional or psychological at all. My problems are specifically:

1) 6 years old
2) 2 years old
3) 2 months old
4) 33 years old---yes, even the husband made it on the list.

When I was writing my first book, I used to tease my husband by saying that instead of a dedication page in my book, I was going to have an "in spite of" page. You know, this book was actually finished in spite of so-and-so...

[cwfgal]

I was wondering today what the most common emotional problems people have with writing (I'm talking about the act of writing now, not the product of it). This is what I came up with:

1) Trouble getting started--I've seen people do almost anything rather than actually sit down and write. I've even been known to do the washing up rather than write words down on paper.

I just make myself do it.

2) Writers' block: not being able to write, and/or writing lame stuff instead of one's usual high quality work (!).

I've never not been able to write. I certainly have written lame stuff but that's okay as long as I recognize it as lame and come back to fix it later. For me, writing lame is better than not writing at all.

3) Taking criticism. How many of you get upset when someone criticises your work, even when the criticism is justified?

I don't get upset with criticism. I learned long ago how helpful it can be and I've grown comfortable with my own instincts when it comes to determining which criticisms I should heed and which ones I can ignore. My writing is not, and never will be perfect. So there will always be valid criticisms to be rendered, there will always be room for improvement, and there will always be new things for me to learn. It's part of what makes writing so much fun for me.

What else can anyone add? And how do you all deal with each one?

I've tangled with myself a bit on writing for money versus writing for pleasure. For the most part, I no longer write for money per se. After doing so for five years so I could give up my "real" job, work from home, and write full time, I realized the amount of pleasure I derived from writing decreased considerably when I "had" to write to pay the bills. Now I work outside my home again (in a job I love and get endless writing ideas from) and write what I want, when I want.

Since I am seeking publication, I suppose I'm still writing for money to a degree, but it certainly isn't my primary motivation and if it doesn't ever happen again, that's okay.

Beth

[maestrowork]

I was wondering today what the most common emotional problems people have with writing (I'm talking about the act of writing now, not the product of it). This is what I came up with:

1) Trouble getting started--I've seen people do almost anything rather than actually sit down and write. I've even been known to do the washing up rather than write words down on paper.

2) Writers' block: not being able to write, and/or writing lame stuff instead of one's usual high quality work (!).

3) Taking criticism. How many of you get upset when someone criticises your work, even when the criticism is justified?

What else can anyone add? And how do you all deal with each one?


In summary, we are our worst enemies.

Always. We're wired that way.

[aka eraser]

Procrastination is my biggest problem.

I just wait it out.

[Thekherham]

1) Trouble getting started--I've seen people do almost anything rather than actually sit down and write. I've even been known to do the washing up rather than write words down on paper.

I have no trouble getting started, once I have the story firmly set in my mind. Its finishing I have trouble with... I just don't want my story to end.

2) Writers' block: not being able to write, and/or writing lame stuff instead of one's usual high quality work (!).

I've had a few of those days. Best thing to do is just write, even if it's lame stuff. After that you can edit it.

3) Taking criticism. How many of you get upset when someone criticises your work, even when the criticism is justified?

It depends who that "someone" is. If it's another writer who's ben published, or who's mroe seasoned than I am, hey, I'll listen. If it's family, or friend, who don't know doody about writing a story... well...

What else can anyone add? And how do you all deal with each one?[

I noticed that aka eraser mentioned procrastination.

That's my No. 1 nemesis. I put off until next month what I should have done a year ago.

[Maryn]

I'm a serious procrastinator, since I'm not on a financial or other deadline.

I also find self-doubt paralyzing at times. What if I write it and it's not as good as I think it is--if I'm not as good as I think I am? If I don't finish it, it can't be rejected.

Maryn, who isn't writing at the moment (typical!)

[AprilBoo]

My biggest problem is arrested progress - I have a tendency to write up to an important part in the plot (i.e. characters meeting, someone dying, etc.) and then just stop. It's not that I don't know what's going to happen, but because I know what's going to happen I feel like it's a good time to take a break. Those breaks can last weeks, unfortunately.

[Sharon Mock]

A couple of others I've run into:

Difficulty writing unpleasant or emotionally wrenching scenes. Because really, who wants to spend hours tied to the keyboard, channeling intense emotion, and end up a quivering and vulnerable mass of jelly at the end?

The dreaded and feared mid-book syndrome -- that point when your commitment to the book becomes real, and everything magically turns to crap. In the current WIP it hits at the same place in every draft -- between chapters 20 and 25 -- and at this point I can say with confidence that there's nothing particularly wrong with that sequence.

Revision -- where I'm at now. When you know what's wrong with your manuscript, but have no idea how to fix it.

I'm sure I'll think of more as soon as I send this message!

[CalicoBean]

Procrastination is my biggest problem.

I just wait it out.

LOL!!

I also have trouble getting started. Once I do, I'm good for a while and I enjoy the work -- until I stop for a potty break or whatever, then have trouble getting started again.

I hate to admit this, but I seem to be unable to meet self-imposed deadlines. This surprises me about myself because in school and work environments I've never missed deadlines. I suppose I'm not as self-disciplined as I thought (and hoped).

The worst is the self-doubt and self-castigation that seem to come with the writing territory (at least for me). I'm getting better at accepting where I am with my work and not beating myself up quite so badly, but it's still a battle at times.

[sunandshadow]

A couple of others I've run into:

Difficulty writing unpleasant or emotionally wrenching scenes. Because really, who wants to spend hours tied to the keyboard, channeling intense emotion, and end up a quivering and vulnerable mass of jelly at the end?

Yeah, writing grief I find to be especially bad, as well as writing a character who is ill, because I always end up feeling ill myself, not just during the initial writing but during revision too!

[sassandgroove]

1) What if it sucks (no one will read it)
2) What if it doesn't suck (someone might read it)
That is where I am right now. I've written myself into a corner and I can't get out. I unsuccessfully dealing with it by trying to map out all three books with the idea that if I know how 2 and 3 go I can finish 1. I fear I am really just stalling. Yeah, I'm stalling. Tomorrow I am writing the end of book 1 dammit!

[sassandgroove]

Notice I said Tomorrow? will tomorrow ever come?

[Azure Skye]

My biggest problem is my brain. Sometimes I can't focus long enough to write anything or sit long enough to write. The other problem I have is being worn out from working, like today. *sniff*

[reph]

I'd be more motivated to write if I thought somebody cared about what I was doing.

[katiemac]

2) What if it doesn't suck (someone might read it)

Wow! Isn't this my worst writing fear, right here. I couldn't care less if people I don't know read what I have to write -- great! Fantastic.

But the people I do know? Face to face, in real life, who I see and speak to every day? Umm...


Sidenote: Reph! I care.

[brinkett]

I'd be more motivated to write if I thought somebody cared about what I was doing.
Do you show people what you're writing? If not, you might want to find a few readers. They don't even have to be beta readers, though it would probably be best to ask for feedback.

[ANNIE]

I'd be more motivated to write if I thought somebody cared about what I was doing.Ah Reph, I care! You have to take the chance to find out if any one likes your work. Scary I know, but after years of keeping my writing to myself i took the plunge and now I write to please myself first.

Annie

[Mistook]

I've only just recovered from a bit of criticism that really blind-sided me. My rational brain knew the crit was dead-on, and on the outside, I managed to hold it together, but damn if it didn't sting like a b*tch!

I totally dropped where I was in the MS and went back to try and re-write the opening chapter, which was the one he'd read. I felt like there was no point in continuing with the novel unless I could prove to myself I could fix what was wrong with chapter 1.

For two weeks, every night was a fresh attempt at that chapter, and for two weeks every single version sucked worse than the one before. But in the process I learned a lot more about my main character. Having put her in eight different situations, and seen eight different sides of her, I began to come out of the woods.

I finally feel like I can move forward again, but I realize I've developed a mania about my work which probably isn't healthy.

[cwfgal]

I'd be more motivated to write if I thought somebody cared about what I was doing.

The only thing that should matter is if YOU care about what you're doing.

Beth

[AncientEagle]

Procrastination is my biggest problem.

I just wait it out.

I was going to respond to this with a humorous comment, but...maybe tomorrow.

[KTC]

"Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans" - John Lennon (And my reason for not writing more...which is my plan, to write more. Whoops! I'm going in vicious circles here. Yes, life happens...that's my writing plan's worst enemy.

[mudflat_marsh_hawk]

Problems writing...

Procrastination definitely can tie it up.

Scattered Mind -- actually, this can be a blessing in disguise....but, i have to keep several projects going at once. I guess this could be called short attentioin span syndrome. lol!

Leaving the writing alone...always have a tendency to want to tweak this or that....what would make it bettter. At some point, it's necessary to leave the writing alone -- so it doesn't turn mud.

But even given all these scenic byways, I just love to write. Inventing Charaters...giving them a voice. Seeing what will happen next... :)

[reph]

The only thing that should matter is if YOU care about what you're doing.
I know what you mean, in principle, but I've found that a powerful motivator for me is knowledge that I'm doing something useful, making a genuine contribution. What I currently write pays so poorly as to communicate to me that the clients don't value it very much. (They set the rates.) I end up putting in time instead on activities that amount to volunteer work and don't pay at all, because their goals seem worthwhile.

[cwfgal]

I know what you mean, in principle, but I've found that a powerful motivator for me is knowledge that I'm doing something useful, making a genuine contribution. What I currently write pays so poorly as to communicate to me that the clients don't value it very much. (They set the rates.) I end up putting in time instead on activities that amount to volunteer work and don't pay at all, because their goals seem worthwhile.

Money is only one measure of value and I guess you'll have to decide which values matter most to you. I'm confused by your determination that your writing doesn't matter because you're paid so little for it and yet you see value in doing something for free because the goal is worthwhile.

Beth

[Mistook]

Reph, I'm a little confused, probably because I'm thinking of things you said many months back, about not really knowing what to write as far as fiction. What kind of writing are you talking about right now? Short stories? Medical writing? Something else?

[reph]

I'm confused...

Reph, I'm a little confused...
When I hear "confused" from two sources, I must have said something confusing. Here's the deal. For seven years, I've written puzzles for magazines. Much of this isn't WRITING writing. There are many kinds of puzzles. One feature that I've probably done 300 times involves wordplay based on short phrases. For other features, I'm just manipulating letters. For still others, I write little stories. Another one is graphics only.

My enthusiasm has declined as I've learned how bad the pay is. It's all piecework; each feature has a standard rate. The first two items of mine that were accepted happened to have higher rates than average (in proportion to the time it takes to create them). I assumed the rates for other features were proportional. Nope. I've stopped doing one feature after another as I got the checks and saw a few dollars for an hour of work on this or that item.

Acquisitions editors like my work. I'm a great puzzle constructor, they'd hate to lose me, blah blah. But the pay will always be low: the corporate story is that this activity is a hobby and people do it because they enjoy it. (Some constructors don't ask to get paid. They provide the material free; for them, it is a hobby.)

I understand creating puzzles as a service (it's useful, it meets a need) in that I'm providing light entertainment for people who like to think. End users tend to be female and elderly; many are nuns. Some consumers are ill or injured and use puzzle magazines in the hospital because they can't do anything else. The idea of making something that somebody will enjoy motivates me. However, I feel exploited. Money is a measure of how much somebody wants or needs something. The low pay is a demotivator: I can't help thinking that if the publishers really needed (valued) my product, they'd pay decently. What I'm doing must not be important to them.

Donating my labor to good causes is easier because I can see for myself that what I'm doing is important.

[oswann]

Okay, this really is my last post. I couldn't help myself but to respond. Firstly because this is the longest post I think I have ever read from reph, and secondly to give my two cents to someone whose words have helped many others, myself included.

reph, being paid correctly for what you do should be a given. Only after an employee feels as if the paycheck corresponds to the work done, do they look for other areas of job satisfaction. Recognition for a job well done and a feeling of contribution to the organization (factory, school, whoever the employer may be) are important, as well as a sense of social participation, but these are appreciated when the remuneration is fair. You said in the post you prefer to do volunteer work instead of working and feeling exploited.

I'm responsible for an English Dept. and for the hiring and firing of teachers. One of the pieces of the equation I eliminate for the smooth functioning of the dept. is the impression of being underpayed. Everyone is paid very well so my job is to ensure the teachers remain motivated through recognition for the work done and active participation in the evolution of the school.

Real advice - get your teeth into a project which merits your attention and time. If you are stagnating - adapt. Pool your resources to develop something inspiring. Your writing skills are obvious (even if everyone thinks you're a man). So what are you waiting for? Go. Get 'em.

I really am on holidays now, and really am going to finish my WIP. :hi:



Os.

[AprilBoo]

However, I feel exploited. Money is a measure of how much somebody wants or needs something. The low pay is a demotivator: I can't help thinking that if the publishers really needed (valued) my product, they'd pay decently. What I'm doing must not be important to them.





I don't think pay always represents how valuable something is, I think more often than not it's a representation of the lowest possible rate the payor can get away with. That's where the exploitation comes in. Can you imagine if all of a sudden one Sunday there was no crossword puzzle in NYT? Reph, your product is valuable, but the person you're selling your puzzles to is lowballing you - they call that "business" where I work (as opposed to "unethical" which is what I call it). I think if you have a steady relationships, if you've produced satisfactorily for a while, you should try negotiating the rates. Maybe you'll feel like your effort is better spent.

[brinkett]

I don't think pay always represents how valuable something is,
I agree. Look how much nurses make compared to professional athletes, or teachers compared to movie stars, or...

[reph]

In response to the previous responses: Negotiation is unusual in this field. It happens if you make up a new kind of puzzle. That's why I get a reasonable rate for a variety of maze I invented – one of those two earliest acceptances I mentioned. Rates for established features rarely rise. A 15 x 15 themed Framework fetched $12 in 1997 (all rights, pay on publication, which may be years after submission); it still does. I don't do themed Frameworks anymore.

oswann, you're responsible for the morale of the people you supervise because they're employees. No one's really responsible for the morale of freelancers. We're outsiders. There's little to stimulate the sense of participation that keeps a loyal employee going.

I know I have a bad deal. I don't know what to replace it with. Most people who write stories don't get adequate compensation for their time, either.

[rich]

I find you, reph, quite rare in the scheme of things--in the "science" of things and the ability to express the art of that science.

Don't know how old you are, but stuff's gonna come your way. That I know.

[Button]

My problems are:

Editing
Rewriting

What? Emotional problems?

I don't like when I don't have time to write. Drives me nuts. I like to have a set schedule when I write. Like between noon and four pm. If I can't get into a schedule, I can't write like I'm used to and my work suffers.

[Ronda]

Maestrowork had it right - we're our own worst enemy a lot of the time.

I guess I'm not that hung up about writing. I just do it.

I love writing. Some people clean the house to avoid writing. I write and know I can clean the house if I need to de-fog my brain.

I flatly refuse to acknowledge or believe in writer's block, and therefore I do not have it. Why create a problem that doesn't have to exist? There are enough real issues, like having to deal with family, jobs, etc. I'd rather not make an excuse. I trust that the font of creativity is there for me whenever I need it. If I can't seem to "get into" a scene, I move on and come back. Usually that's a sign that some idea or element just isn't "cooked" yet. It will rise to the surface when it's done.

I said in my critique group last week that I don't think I'm diong anything as a writer if I don't get 2 rejections a week. No, rejection isn't fun, but it's part of any artistic persuit. I grew up as a child of performers, so I developed a thicker skin for criticism and rejection over time. Yeah, sometimes I get mad at a criticism, but after I let myself vent, I go back and often find a really good point. No, I don't always agree with criticism, and no, I don't always make the suggested change.

Whenever we choose to look for a block or a problem, we'll find one. :) I hope we can all take a breath and surge forward with passion in our writing!

Warmly,
Ronda

[Mistook]

In response to the previous responses: Negotiation is unusual in this field. It happens if you make up a new kind of puzzle. That's why I get a reasonable rate for a variety of maze I invented – one of those two earliest acceptances I mentioned. Rates for established features rarely rise. A 15 x 15 themed Framework fetched $12 in 1997 (all rights, pay on publication, which may be years after submission); it still does. I don't do themed Frameworks anymore.

oswann, you're responsible for the morale of the people you supervise because they're employees. No one's really responsible for the morale of freelancers. We're outsiders. There's little to stimulate the sense of participation that keeps a loyal employee going.

I know I have a bad deal. I don't know what to replace it with. Most people who write stories don't get adequate compensation for their time, either.


Is there some way you can publish a puzzle book of your own? Or are puzzle books themselves just conglomerations of work from different authors? And what about other markets like software? Are there dot coms or ROM publishers who might appreciate your talents a little better than the cheepy old newspaper?

[reph]

Is there some way you can publish a puzzle book of your own?...
Thanks for brainstorming about my situation. I'm not so in love with puzzles that I feel moved to do that, and I wouldn't want to handle the business side of it. Puzzles are a way to work with words (a strong point of mine) without having to think up plots (a weak point).

[Mistook]

Thanks for brainstorming about my situation. I'm not so in love with puzzles that I feel moved to do that, and I wouldn't want to handle the business side of it. Puzzles are a way to work with words (a strong point of mine) without having to think up plots (a weak point).


I dunno, maybe you're not seeing the forest for the trees. DaVinci Code is essentially the cathartic prose of a code-freak, and that didn't go so badly for him.

[triceretops]

A horrific justifiable fear of copy-editors. The rejection letter that comes back and says "your story's great, but the mechanics are screwed. Hire some beeeoch to help you."

Can't decide on the perfect idea for the next book. It's like a battle of the bands, who's gonna' win the right to see ink? Door #1, #2, or #3--which one's it gonna' be? Ever heard abou the donkey who couldn't decide between the two haystacks? Couldn't make up his mind so he starved between the both of them. Such is the quandry I'm in deciding what frikin book to write!

Know what brings it on?
DOUBT
FEAR
MARKETING CONSIDERATIONS
ORIGINALITY
GUILT

Tri

[Old Hack]

Thanks for that, all of you. A wide range of thoughts and considerations.

My main problem with writing at the moment is a big flare-up of RSI (aka carpal tunnel syndrome) so sorry if I don't post much more. I shouldn't be typing at all!