Problems with the practice of writing....

Old Hack · Jul 7, 2005

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 · Jul 7, 2005

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 · Jul 7, 2005

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 · Jul 7, 2005

Old Hack said:
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.

Old Hack said:
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.

Old Hack said:
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.

Old Hack said:
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 · Jul 7, 2005

Old Hack said:
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 · Jul 7, 2005

Procrastination is my biggest problem.

I just wait it out.

Thekherham · Jul 7, 2005

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 · Jul 7, 2005

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 · Jul 7, 2005

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 · Jul 7, 2005

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 · Jul 7, 2005

aka eraser said:
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 · Jul 7, 2005

Sharon Mock said:
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 · Jul 7, 2005

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 · Jul 7, 2005

Notice I said Tomorrow? will tomorrow ever come?

Azure Skye · Jul 7, 2005

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 · Jul 7, 2005

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

katiemac · Jul 7, 2005

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 · Jul 7, 2005

reph said:
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 · Jul 7, 2005

reph said:
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 · Jul 7, 2005

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 · Jul 7, 2005

reph said:
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 · Jul 7, 2005

aka eraser said:
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 · Jul 7, 2005

"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 · Jul 7, 2005

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 · Jul 7, 2005

cwfgal said:
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.

Problems with the practice of writing....

Such a nasty woman

Impractical Fantasy Animal

On the rocks

Fear the Death Ray

Fish Whisperer

The Alien Writer

I Tried

Good to be back

Wing nut

Impractical Fantasy Animal

Sassy haircut

Sassy haircut

Huh?

Fig of authority

Five by Five

Elder Scrolls devotee

Neverending WIP

On the rocks

Old kid, no need to be gentle.

Stand in the Place Where You Live

Fig of authority