Writers block with a mix of despair

Vaxil · Jul 18, 2007

I promised myself I'd write the entire summer, and I've barely done anything with any of my three WIP. I have finished my short story, all I need to do is revise the sucker to death, cause the last time I read it I discovered a ton of mistakes through-out.

I feel confident about my short story, but not about any of the others. All of them are long, complicated, and are going to take every ounce of talent that I feel that I just don't have. It's not even persistance, it's whenever I think about them or reread what I've written, I get so depressed over how pathetic it is compared to other works. Only my short story have I felt any kind of confidence in, and now it's just a matter of getting up the courage to send it away after I finish it.

And it doesn't help that I only read nonfiction. Interesting isn't it? I have an attraction for it 95% of the time I read a book. How can I become a better writer by reading when I'm so picky about fiction I only read one of those like twice a year?

I just feel so discouraged about my WIP's. I have all the story, plots, endings, I see mind-movies constantly in my head, but I'm always scared to write them incase I 'miss' something. Like today, I got inspired to write a scene of sorts, and I felt like, "If these keep happening, what will happen if I write it and later I can't fit it in?" Another deal with writers blocks is one of them is going to invovle a huge amount of research and understanding of the setting. It's probably laziness on my part, and I have no right to complain about that.

I'm considering focusing all effort on the short story, seeing as it's the only thing thats finished and I feel has any merit to it at all.

JamieFord · Jul 18, 2007

Hang in there. Sometimes you just need to slog through it. Even bestselling authors have trunk novels--stuff they just had to get through as part of learning the craft of writing.

mscelina · Jul 18, 2007

Vaxil,

Just write. Write something. write anything. If your WIPs aren't working for you now, write a new short story. Start a journal, blog, whip out some really bad poetry--whatever it takes. Look, writing is intimidating. It is a lot of work--more work than people realize. What it takes on your part is the desire to write something every day. Use the energy you're using to second-guess yourself and turn it to something productive!

As far as the complicated nature of your plots, spend some time building your world and characters. That always helps me to figure out the schematic my plot is going to follow--simply because I know more about the players in it...if that makes sense.

Good luck.

Go write something and stop being so hard on yourself. You'll be fine!

joetrain · Jul 18, 2007

i'd say get a dozen novels, one's you've always wanted to read or ones trusted sources suggest, and read all of 'em. if your not grabbed by a couple, that's okay, put them down if you want, but you'll find some good'uns. reading works that are better than mine helps the block, if i can avoid getting discouraged over their greatness. a great work is more useful as a teacher than as a personal goal.

Simon Woodhouse · Jul 18, 2007

I've never been very good at juggling more than one writing project at once. As I'm writing, I like the characters to draw me in and have my undivided attention. I often find that when I'm in the middle of a project, I can hardly remember anything about the other things I've written.

When I first started I didn't dare compare my own output with any of my favourite novels, because I knew I'd be discouraged to the point of giving up. I just kept pushing forward and ignoring the fact that what I was writing probably wasn't all that good.

I'm not very good at research, which is one of the reasons I write sci-fi – I can make it all up. Though even that can be taxing, because the world has to be consistent. I have toyed with the idea of writing something set in Victorian Europe, and I have done quite a bit of research. But it was relatively easy, because I'm interested in that era anyway.

IrishElim · Jul 18, 2007

You know what you need?

One of those posters of the kitten hanging from a washing line with the caption, "Hang in there buddy!".

I'm pretty sure Sadame Hussein had one of those in his prison cell. (Bad taste?)

leenakincaid · Jul 18, 2007

Vaxil, your situation sounds terribly close to mine. I kept telling myself I would finish the novel I am (not) working on this summer, before I moved, and I sat at the kitchen table for hours upon hours. Nothing. I feel as though I have hit a dead end and I am considering not writing the book at all.
So I daresay I know how you feel!

JasonChirevas · Jul 18, 2007

Vaxil said:
I promised myself I'd write the entire summer, and I've barely done anything with any of my three WIP. I have finished my short story, all I need to do is revise the sucker to death, cause the last time I read it I discovered a ton of mistakes through-out.

I feel confident about my short story, but not about any of the others. All of them are long, complicated, and are going to take every ounce of talent that I feel that I just don't have. It's not even persistance, it's whenever I think about them or reread what I've written, I get so depressed over how pathetic it is compared to other works. Only my short story have I felt any kind of confidence in, and now it's just a matter of getting up the courage to send it away after I finish it.

And it doesn't help that I only read nonfiction. Interesting isn't it? I have an attraction for it 95% of the time I read a book. How can I become a better writer by reading when I'm so picky about fiction I only read one of those like twice a year?

I just feel so discouraged about my WIP's. I have all the story, plots, endings, I see mind-movies constantly in my head, but I'm always scared to write them incase I 'miss' something. Like today, I got inspired to write a scene of sorts, and I felt like, "If these keep happening, what will happen if I write it and later I can't fit it in?" Another deal with writers blocks is one of them is going to invovle a huge amount of research and understanding of the setting. It's probably laziness on my part, and I have no right to complain about that.

I'm considering focusing all effort on the short story, seeing as it's the only thing thats finished and I feel has any merit to it at all.

Let go.

-Jason

Azraelsbane · Jul 18, 2007

Write something crazy just to get the juices flowing. For now, who cares if you're working on something you've already started? Start something new, chances are after a little while you'll get a jolt on one of those other WIPs. Grats on the short story at least. I've been working on a short story for about 3 years, and it's just not cooperating

Good luck and hang in there!

glendalough · Jul 18, 2007

I suggest you pick one thing and set it out to work on first thing tomorrow am. Don't log on, don't 'just check email' or 'just watch the news for a few minutes" You can have breakfast if you normally eat it, and coffee. That's it. I want you in front of you work first thing. If you have anything that must be done beforehand, do it tonight. No excuses. Plan on putting in a day until lunch...then you get one hour. If email leads to AW and other internet stuff, LEAVE IT.

I want to hear from you tomorrow that you followed this plan and accomplished the only thing you will regret not doing this summer. Other junk can wait.

PS This does NOT include short stories or new stuff..just the old projects you wanted to finish. Get a notebook to jot down worries of missing this or that as you go along...not in depth, just notes.

Scribhneoir · Jul 18, 2007

Vaxil said:
And it doesn't help that I only read nonfiction. Interesting isn't it? I have an attraction for it 95% of the time I read a book. How can I become a better writer by reading when I'm so picky about fiction I only read one of those like twice a year?

Maybe fiction, especially novel length, isn't your thing. If you only read a couple of novels a year, why are you trying to write one? Why not write non-fiction instead? It sounds like that's your first love.

Will Lavender · Jul 18, 2007

I wouldn't write fiction if I were you.

If you don't read it, you'll never write it well, and chances are you may never write it at all.

Writing is about reading. They're interconnected. One is the other. Reading nonfiction is good, and even necessary, but if you're a novelist there is no way you're going to succeed if you don't read up on what it is you want to accomplish.

The good news is that nonfiction is being published every day in a thousand different variations and guises. The better news is that people are making a lot of money writing it. (The not-so-good news is that it's hard as hell to get it published, probably harder than fiction because of the dreaded "platform.") Sounds to me like you belong there.

Scrawler · Jul 18, 2007

Simon Woodhouse said:
I've never been very good at juggling more than one writing project at once. As I'm writing, I like the characters to draw me in and have my undivided attention.

I'm with you on that. I can't imagine doing 3 novels. I can only manage some freelance articles or corporate assignments. How do you (or does anyone) do more than WIP 1 at a time?

Will Lavender · Jul 18, 2007

Scrawler said:
I'm with you on that. I can't imagine doing 3 novels. I can only manage some freelance articles or corporate assignments. How do you (or does anyone) do more than WIP 1 at a time?

I couldn't do it either. I also can't read more than one book at a time.

If you can pull it off effectively, then it's a good business decision. The more possible manuscripts to shop the better for your career.

WorldPlanter · Jul 19, 2007

Simon Woodhouse said:
I've never been very good at juggling more than one writing project at once. As I'm writing, I like the characters to draw me in and have my undivided attention.

I'm going to have to join the bandwagon on this one. I have two series that I've been toying with for the past fifteen years, but I've put one of them on hold until I finish the first. It's simply too distracting to contemplate both at the same time.

Simon Woodhouse said:
I'm not very good at research, which is one of the reasons I write sci-fi – I can make it all up. Though even that can be taxing, because the world has to be consistent. I have toyed with the idea of writing something set in Victorian Europe, and I have done quite a bit of research. But it was relatively easy, because I'm interested in that era anyway.

Whoa! Of all genres it seems to me that sci-fi requires the most research (aside from historical fiction), at least if you want to make it plausible. Space fantasy is a different story altogether, but for actual science fiction the author needs to know quite a bit about the natural world, basic scientific principles/theories, and any technology that the story might employ.

My current WIP is a YA sci-fi series that I've been ruminating over since I was twelve, but only just began working on in the last three years. I've conducted an enormous amount of research of scientific principles, theories, and technology that will undoubtedly contribute to the science-based concepts that permeate the series. I have a strong interest in science and technology anyway, so this is by no means a burden. However, it requires a good deal of effort and time.

I remember when I was studying special and general relativity that in order to acquire a firm grasp of the concepts that I actually created computer animations depicting specific situations where these principles would apply. I could actually see how time slows down as the speed of light is approached. It clicked. I had always accepted this principle as true but never truly understood it. This was important because I had developed a fictional form of travel technology that I needed to understand. I was pleased to discover that the form of travel technology I had devised (if it is possible) would be free of undesirable relativistic effects that would cause significant time lapses in my story.

This is just one example where research paid off. Of course, most readers are unlikely to confirm whether or not a particular type of travel technology would inherently possess relativistic effects, but this little bit of realism helps maintain the suspense of disbelief for more ardent sci-fi fans.

There are obviously some subjects of research that will never be used in my stories, at least not directly. For example, my knowledge of String Theory is unlikely to ever be of practical use in my stories, but having a broad understanding of science and technology in general greatly enhances a sci-fi author’s toolset.

I just realized this all sounds very preachy, but this is not my intent. I’m simply arguing that sci-fi deserves more research than most writers would like to admit.

Claudia Gray · Jul 19, 2007

I work on more than one novel project at a time, but that's because I'm a big outliner -- I can be outlining a couple of things while writing something else, but my main energy, my writing energy, has to go to only one novel.

My personal feeling, Vaxil, is that you're thinking about writing a whole lot more than you're writing, and this is not a good place to be. Take a step back and read some fiction, preferably in the genres you're trying to write. See if you really do have enthusiasm for it and if your review of the books helps straighten out some of your worries about pacing/execution -- familiarity with genre can lead to familiarity with technique.

I, too, enjoy reading nonfiction -- I may even prefer it to novels -- but I read many novels too, and when I made the commitment to writing fiction I upped fiction to a much larger percentage of my overall reading. My nonfiction reading right now is limited to research for the fiction, though that keeps me busy enough, let me tell you.

I think that if you rediscover the joy of reading, it will be the biggest step toward rediscovering the joy of writing.

ccarver30 · Jul 19, 2007

It almost sounds like you should be writing shorts instead of novel length items... maybe you are forcing yourself to write something that you don't want to write...

Vaxil · Jul 19, 2007

I hope not, because theres no way I could make my novels into short stories.

Glenda, I took your advice, and only further discovered how much less I am capable when it comes to good writing. Only good thing is, I did get a little writing done, less then a page, and some editing. Spent more of the time rereading what I had all ready written.

AJ Clare · Jul 19, 2007

This is probably going to sound really unhelpful, but did you say you had a whole heap of research to do? I know how hard it is when you're feeling bummed out about your output and its quality, but I find sometimes it helps to go and do some Googling and whatnot and just put your research bookmarks in order, (even if you don't get fully stuck into the research yet) or order the books you need for research. That way you feel virtuous about having done something and break the vicious circle of not-writing which leads to you feeling incapable about writing and so on. It can occasionally give you a jump-start too, when you're researching and a newly discovered fact takes you off on a whole new plot twist.

OddButInteresting · Jul 20, 2007

Vaxil said:
And it doesn't help that I only read nonfiction. Interesting isn't it? I have an attraction for it 95% of the time I read a book. How can I become a better writer by reading when I'm so picky about fiction I only read one of those like twice a year?

I very rarely read novels at all these days. The occassional graphic novel, but I haven't the time or patience for anything lengthy. I'm now writing my own 100,000+ word novel and it's coming along really well.

I wasn't educated by literary fiction, I was educated by films, television, and computer games. That is where I derive my technique from. My aim is to tell a solid, coherent and believable story. You can be inspired by another's style, but ultimately it has to be your own.

Judging by your original post, it seems like your writer's block is born of the expectation to live up to the standards of published works. Your primary goal is to finish your works, refine them, and see them in print on the bookstore shelf. Your goal shouldn't be realising your wish to best the top sellers.

Pamster · Jul 20, 2007

I wish I had an answer for you Vaxil, but the best advice I can offer is to try outlining the novels you want to finish, that helps me a lot when I feel stumped or depressed about my abilities as a writer. I outline and can outline multiple projects while writing on one.

Have you tried outlining before? I find that when I am stuck or blocked, returning to my outline, either fleshing it out more or just rereading inspires me to return to the project the outline is for which I was stuck on. I hope that this helps Vaxil, hang in there, you can write whatever you want, and if you can see the novels and outline them, just make yourself finish the first draft.

Editing is where the really hard work comes in if you ask me. I can whip out a first draft in good time, but editing it to be submittable is another story. It takes me much longer to edit and revise then it does to draft out chapters. Don't give up if you want to get published. It takes a lot of work to get there, but like my siggy says, I believe persistance pays off, so don't dream about it, go do it!

Writers block with a mix of despair

Vaxil

JamieFord

giving resonant directions

mscelina

Teh doommobile, drivin' rite by you

joetrain

blank

Simon Woodhouse

IrishElim

leenakincaid

JasonChirevas

Azraelsbane

Agony is defeat

glendalough

Not so new as all that, really

Scribhneoir

Reinventing Myself

Will Lavender

Everything is what it seems.

Scrawler

Bored fanatic

Will Lavender

Everything is what it seems.

WorldPlanter

Claudia Gray

ccarver30

Nicole Castro

Vaxil

AJ Clare

Don't get me started

OddButInteresting

Officially a practicing Novelist!

Pamster

Counting Stars