So.... (looking for ways to improve writing)

Ren · Apr 28, 2010

I used to write a lot, but I haven't in a long time. Over a year actually. I recently read the first chapter of the last thing I was working on and its boring. Deathly boring. I hate it.

What can I do? I miss writing. I want to write. But I don't want to write crap just to write.

Is this a fixable problem, or if I suck, am I stuck sucking?

stormie · Apr 28, 2010

The fact that you can look back on your work and see that it was a boring piece, is a good start. And you want to write. So do it. Write. And rewrite. You also might want to read both books on writing and books for pleasure. In those books you want to read, what draws you in? What hooks you?

PoppysInARow · Apr 28, 2010

Um, just out of curiosity, do you expect us to say there's a magical cure to not sucking? Hell, some published authors still suck. ~~sucking~~ writing is subjective.

Just write. There's nothing you can really do. Write, try new things. The only way you'll get better is if you keep writing, writing, writing. Read a lot too. See what works in published novels and what doesn't. If you want, you can read how-to wkriting guides, but the best thing for you is to write, write, write.

cscarlet · Apr 28, 2010

If you think it's boring, try writing something not boring.

Seriously. In my humble opinion, this is exactly why it is best for authors to let their work "rest" prior to editing. It might suck, but many drafts suck the first go-around.

So fix it or write something else. Then while you let it sit, write something else. Then when you go back to the first thing you either tweak what you hate, or chuck it and start over completely. There's nothing wrong with starting over.

It's how we all learn not to suck.

semmie · Apr 28, 2010

Do you run a marathon every time you put on your tennis shoes? No? Me either. Don't expect everything (or even a majority of what) you write to be brilliant the first time it meets paper. Most of us do a lot of writing, rewriting, re-rewriting, screaming, and re-re-rewriting.

So...if you want to write, write. Share your work in the SYW section and use the feedback to push yourself.

As for that boring chapter you hate--axe it. Or rewrite it. The fact that you recognize it as boring is probably a good sign.

Don't give up! Keep writing!

sunandshadow · Apr 28, 2010

What have you been excited about reading or watching lately? Maybe you should try writing something like that.

RJK · Apr 28, 2010

I've written about 600,000 words since I started writing seriously. Each paragraph a tiny bit better than the one before. Probably after another 400,000 words, someone will want to publish what I've written.
You get better by writing, then editing and revising what you wrote, fixing the mistakes. Next time there are fewer basic mistakes, but you notice other, more advanced errors, and fix them. Eventually, you write with few mistakes and revise only for style.
If you want to get back in the groove of writing, select a book by your favorite author, and retype the first chapter. It will give you a feel for good writing.

dgiharris · Apr 28, 2010

One thing that helps is to write short stories and do writing exercises while experimenting with other genres, techniques, POVs, etc.

For instance. I'm primarily a Sci-Fi/Fantasy and humor writer. But for shits and giggles I decided to write a children's book (which I posted in the children's forum).

I had an absolute blast writing it and now I find that i'm more excited about that story/book than I am about my novella that i'm in the process of finishing.

The children's book was a great way to get my juices flowing again.

When I hit a funk a few months ago I decided to step out of my comfort zone and try writing a horror short story and again, I had lots of fun doing it, and it got my juices flowing again.

So, try experimenting as an exercise. Write something you normally don't write. Give yourself a challenge.

It's amazing how these sorts of things gets the writing blood pumping again.

Mel...

Namatu · Apr 28, 2010

If you haven't written for awhile, you're likely going to be oiling the squeaky wheels initially. But with every word you write now, you will be improving.

As far as what you wrote in the past being boring: pick a different topic/approach. Experiment. Write whatever crazy thing you want.

Matera the Mad · Apr 28, 2010

I won't even read a thread that has That Stupid Meaningless Word as a subject line.

Bufty · Apr 28, 2010

You have me stumped. Miss writing? Want to write? What can one do?

Hmmm. Hard one to answer, that is.

Maybe....just maybe....hit a few keys...start writing something...anything...?

What can I do? I miss writing. I want to write.

dgiharris · Apr 28, 2010

Bufty said:
You have me stumped. Miss writing? Want to write? What can one do?

Hmmm. Hard one to answer, that is.

Maybe....just maybe....hit a few keys...start writing something...anything...?

You know what also helps,

watch a few movies about writing.

Dead Poet's Society
Finding Forester
Freedom Writers
Just Write
Wonder Boys
Stranger Than Fiction

that also gets the writing muscle pumping again

Mel...

secretkitty · Apr 28, 2010

What always helps me is reading a TON in the genre that I want to write in. It inspires me to start tinkering again...and eventually, the writing becomes a habit again.

dpaterso · Apr 28, 2010

Ren said:
I used to write a lot, but I haven't in a long time. Over a year actually. I recently read the first chapter of the last thing I was working on and its boring. Deathly boring. I hate it.

What can I do? I miss writing. I want to write. But I don't want to write crap just to write.

Is this a fixable problem, or if I suck, am I stuck sucking?

Yup, sounds as if you're pretty much stuck sucking -- until you can focus on writing something that entertains you. What kind of stories do you like? Write one of those, no?

-Derek

shaldna · Apr 29, 2010

Writers write.

And that;s the only way you are going to get better. Writing crap is part of the learning process.

bonitakale · Apr 29, 2010

The trouble with poetry or fiction writing and other arts is that there isn't too much middle ground. You can be a beginner at sewing, or even lousy at sewing, and still make a pair of curtains that are good enough to hang up. (I speak of what I know, here.) You can be new to hammer and nails, and still make a bookcase that at least will hold the books. But beginning painters, musicians, and writers, I think, mostly make stuff no one wants to look at, listen to, or read.

The only sometimes-helpful way I've found to look at it, is that your first draft, you're making clay. Only after you've mixed the clay and squooged it and ripened it, and wedged it, can you actually make a pot or a house out of it.

So you're not making something that's no good; you're making the clay with which to make something great!

kaitie · Apr 29, 2010

I agree with the "then write something not boring" idea. I know it sounds kind of stupid to say that way, but just put aside everything you've done before and try something brand new. And it's okay if it sucks. It doesn't have to be any good. It's a first draft, and that doesn't have to be brilliant. Heck, sometimes I write thirty drafts and I'm still not brilliant.

Just write and you'll improve. Promise.

It's that awesome thing called practice. The more we do it, the better we get. In fact, that you now see your old work as not very good already shows growth.

DragonHeart · Apr 29, 2010

Basically, there are no shortcuts. You have to write a lot to improve and yes, sometimes what you write will turn out to be crap. There is no writer sufficiently brilliant/talented who can write non-crap work 100% of the time. At least if you've recognized the flaws in your work you can fix them in the next draft (or ten).

CaroGirl · Apr 29, 2010

Writing's like anything else. You'll only improve with practice. It takes most people a lot of words to produce something that other people would pay to read. If that's your goal, and you seem to care about the level of suck in your work, get in there and do the work to get better.

Libbie · Apr 29, 2010

Here's a secret: a significant portion of what everybody writes is crap. Seriously. When you are newer to writing, you produce more crap, and you tend to produce less crap as you become more experienced and practiced. However, even the best writers with the longest careers still write crap. It's just part of the process.

The best thing you can do to reduce your crap output is to write every day. Practice, practice, practice. Accept that what you write at first will have a high level of crap with some great stuff mixed in. As you get better, faster, and more confident, the proportion of crap to good stuff will begin to shift. But the surest way to get to the point where you are writing more good stuff than crap is to practice daily, just as with any other skill you want to develop.

Z0Marley · Apr 29, 2010

My blog is about that. If you can look back on your work and see that it has problems, you can look up individual posts about those problems through my blog. Some people have problems with characters, some have problems with plotting. Hope it helps =)

Jamesaritchie · Apr 29, 2010

Ren said:
I used to write a lot, but I haven't in a long time. Over a year actually. I recently read the first chapter of the last thing I was working on and its boring. Deathly boring. I hate it.

What can I do? I miss writing. I want to write. But I don't want to write crap just to write.

Is this a fixable problem, or if I suck, am I stuck sucking?

If you don't write, you can't improve. The problem you have to fix isn't the quality of your writing, it's the quantity. Stop going over a year without writing, and you'll probably get better and better.

Wanting to write doesn't mean anything. Sitting down everyday and writing means everything.

The Grump · Apr 29, 2010

Like many of the others, I'd say write -- even if it sucks -- until you get an end on the manuscript. Then, you can go back and edit/rewrite the H*ll out of it, ie: repeat the process many, many times.

If you're really stuck, why don't you concentrate on the action/movement of your idea. You can then go back and deepen your characters and settings and all that other stuff our fingers have to remember to do.

Rubicon · Apr 29, 2010

Ren said:
I used to write a lot, but I haven't in a long time. Over a year actually. I recently read the first chapter of the last thing I was working on and its boring. Deathly boring. I hate it.

What can I do? I miss writing. I want to write. But I don't want to write crap just to write.

Is this a fixable problem, or if I suck, am I stuck sucking?

First thing you should do is stop being unrealistic.
You have to write utter crap before you can write well.

Read all genres. Read how-to writing books. But the most important thing to do is to write everyday for a couple of hours.

So.... (looking for ways to improve writing)

I'm not clever enough for this...

storm central

AW = Procrastination.

barefooted

Impractical Fantasy Animal

Sheriff Bullwinkle the Poet says:

Disgruntled Scientist

Lost in mental space.

Bartender, gimme a Linux Mint

Where have the last ten years gone?

Disgruntled Scientist

Also in our Discord and IRC chat channels

The cake is a lie. But still cake.

With great power comes

Oerba Yun Fang

Living the dream

Worst song played on ugliest guitar

Hates Marketing. Loves Writing.