Presently...at this moment...right now...

Lyxdeslic · Apr 21, 2007

How do you feel about your writing?

Whether your id/ego is on cloud nine 'cause you've written something recently that you're certain is going to make you millions...or you think you should burn all your work and flush it down the toilet.

We all, as writers, travel through and over many peaks and valleys with how we feel about our prose.

I, myself, have started my third round of edits on my manuscript and am going through a rough-patch, if you will. What was once, to me, a masterpiece that was sure to set the world on fire, is now, to me, nothing more than purple flowery dribble that was surely composed by a simple-minded fool.

Who knows, maybe tomorrow I'll think it's genius once more. Peaks and valleys, ladies and gents. But, I'm proud to be a part of this crazy club.

So, how 'bout it...currently, are you the greatest writer to emerge since the works of Plath, Ernest, or Salinger? Or, should your writing be put down on the carpet for the puppies?

Vent away.

Lex

kristie911 · Apr 22, 2007

I hate writing. 'Nuff said.

Kay_XX · Apr 22, 2007

I'm only on the first drafts stage so I'm thinking it's allowed to be bad. And trying very hard not to think about ALL the things I need to fix in the second draft. And the third. But to get there, I need to write, ignoring the nagging voice telling me it's all crap.

NeuroFizz · Apr 22, 2007

To me, this is an intellectual challenge. It's also a business. That means each step is an accomplishment as well as a opportunity to improve. I try to stay focused on the immediacy of the work in those terms. I don't look for riches, although it would be fantastic. And if a work falls flat, I look for the whys to make it a learning experience. I'm proud of what I've done thus far with this kind of creativity, but that pride doesn't come with a huge ego load. This business is too subjective to let me take myself too seriously. Don't get me wrong, I do take the work seriously. And I get frustrated and impatient just like everyone else. But it doesn't paralyze me because this is just one part of my life. It isn't everything, or even close. Sorry if I'm the strange one in the group, or if this sounds like I'm a half-hearted writer. I love to write fiction and poetry, but that's only a part of who I am as a person, and I have much to love in the other aspects of my life.

I do understand the feeling of putting something so personal and creative in front of others for their critique and approval. Nothing is more nerve wracking than having a completed work subjected to a professional review. It's kind of like standing on a busy street corner, removing all clothes and yelling at the top of the lungs, "Look at me. What do you think?"

scarletpeaches · Apr 22, 2007

I don't think it's genius, but at the moment I think what I write is much improved in recent years and bordering on 'just might be accepted'.

So that's good, isn't it?

Elektra · Apr 22, 2007

I'm at the last stage of querying, and pretty much just hate everything I've ever writte right about now. Even the thought of writing more makes me lose my appetite (literally).

maestrowork · Apr 22, 2007

My writing has improved over the years, and I'm glad. Other than that, I can't really objectively judge if my writing is bad, good, or great. It's up to my readers to make that decision. But I'm just bursting with ideas now so creatively I'm doing really well. It's the motivation part that is killing me -- I don't know why.

I used to think that way, L, that what I did must prove that I was brilliant, a great writer, a genius... Oprah was going to call and someone was going to say "He's the next Hemingway -- give him a Pulitzer already." And that was the purpose of my writing, to have people admire me and say, "Wow, he's a great writer." Not that there's anything wrong with validation, and I still would love it if someone says I'm a good writer. But something has changed. I just want to write a good story. And my style and prose reflect that. And in some ways, that sets me free...

san_remo_ave · Apr 22, 2007

I'm in the first draft, so generally I'm pleased when I get the time to write but grumpy because I'm not writing every day (work and school get in the way, dagnabit). I know there's TONS to be fixed, but that's ok because I'm saving that for round two.

Azure Skye · Apr 22, 2007

I'm improving with each edit in that I'm beginning to recognize when something works or not. Good/bad is pretty subjective and I'm way too close to my own work to judge that.

NicoleMD · Apr 22, 2007

maestrowork said:
I used to think that way, L, that what I did must prove that I was brilliant, a great writer, a genius... Oprah was going to call and someone was going to say "He's the next Hemingway -- give him a Pulitzer already."

Ha! Whenever I talk to my dad about my progress of my novel, he says I need to hurry up and finish so my mother can get tickets to the Oprah show when I'm on it. Apperantly that's the easiest way to get tickets or something? Dear me.

:Shrug:

I'm constantly going between feelings of genius and drivel, so I figure I just must be somewhere in between.

Nicole

Devil Ledbetter · Apr 22, 2007

One of my characters disses Oprah, so I think it's safe to say my WIP will never make her book club list.

I vaccillate between thinking my WIP is a great love story, to thinking it's 62,000 words of self-indulgent drivel.

Kristin Landon · Apr 22, 2007

I've always done the same up and down, hating my work with special viciousness during the last stages of every draft. I've learned to expect it and to put my work aside for a week or so (if I can) so I can regain some objectivity. It's never as awful as I thought it was.

I went through that with the book that sold, and I've heard writers who've published many novels say the same thing. It's not a sign of bad writing; it's a sign of caring a lot.

Shady Lane · Apr 22, 2007

I'm feeling groovy right now...just sludging through my 3rd draft. But I like the book, though I'm doubtful if there's any hope for it. My betas have all liked it....gahhh.

Claudia Gray · Apr 22, 2007

I'm between books one and two of my series, and taking a couple of weeks not to write a blessed thing.

Will Lavender · Apr 22, 2007

Lyxdeslic said:
I, myself, have started my third round of edits on my manuscript and am going through a rough-patch, if you will. What was once, to me, a masterpiece that was sure to set the world on fire, is now, to me, nothing more than purple flowery dribble that was surely composed by a simple-minded fool.

Hang in there, Lyxdeslic.

How we see our writing, I'm convinced, has to do with our own mood. Sometimes I can look at my novel and see crap. Sometimes I can see a glimpse of hope.

Depends on what vantage you're staring from.

herdon · Apr 22, 2007

I never think of a work as a potential bestseller. I suppose I just realize the randomness of such a thing and concepts like cumulative advantage which drive bestsellers (i.e. books that sell are books that sell).

I tend to think of them as either publishable (i.e. the writing and story is as good as some works I've read that were published) or unpublishable (i.e. something still inherently wrong with them).

Certainly, I understand the cycle from good to bad, I suppose I just have reasonable expectations to go alongside of it. As for the cycle, I'd say I'm closer to the top of it right now. I really like the book I am editing right now.

infinitus_kaze · Apr 22, 2007

I try my hardest not to criticize my work; instead, I let others do that. I start at the beginning and write clear to the end without looking back, unless I need to check something that I may have forgotten to put down in my notes. When I'm finished with the manuscript I go back to the beginning and read it as if I'm just a normal reader and not the author. I make the spelling and grammar corrections as well as changing anything I read that didn't seem to spark my fancy as a reader or didn't make sense. Once I've edited it the first time, I get someone else to read it to critique and correct. After which, I start over editing one last time.

I never think about the future of a book or my writing career when I write. I just try to make it something that I enjoy reading and hope that others will enjoy it as well. This is the only way I can continue to write without letting stress affect me. With my weak immune system stress hits me really hard and makes me sick easily, so I do everything I can in life to keep stress to a minimum.

sunna · Apr 22, 2007

Lyxdeslic said:
What was once, to me, a masterpiece that was sure to set the world on fire, is now, to me, nothing more than purple flowery dribble that was surely composed by a simple-minded fool.

I am right there with you. I was fine last night, and as of this morning I can't even enjoy re-reading it - it looks like it was written by a six-year-old. (I never thought it was a masterpiece, but I thought it was potentially publishable and I was having fun.)
I've been told this is a stage; I sure hope so. I'm just going to read a few books & watch a few movies this week and see if I can get back into it.
Hang in there!

imagegod · Apr 22, 2007

Lyxdeslic said:
I, myself, have started my third round of edits on my manuscript and am going through a rough-patch, if you will. What was once, to me, a masterpiece that was sure to set the world on fire, is now, to me, nothing more than purple flowery dribble that was surely composed by a simple-minded fool.Lex

Somewhere on the internet there's a fairly readable academic paper on the inability of people to assess their ability relative to the norm.
Generally speaking, it says we all see ourselves (or assess ourselves) as Lake Woebegonians: We see everything we do as being above the norm. Mostly because we ignore our own weaknesses and fail to passionately pursue our strengths.
Accepting this failure, fully accepting this weakness is the beginning of true strength.

Jamesaritchie · Apr 22, 2007

Work

I try my best not to judge my work at all. Experience has taught me that I'll likely be wrong, whatever I think.

The only thing I can say for sure is that it's never purple.

maestrowork · Apr 22, 2007

Even purple... one person's purple is another's gold. Michael Chabon has been accused of being purple for ages. Many find his writing simply lush and lyrical. Some people said my writing was purple, but I just don't see it. Sorry.

Button · Apr 22, 2007

But I like purple.

The other day I was at a point that I thought everything I ever wrote should be burned and buried.

So I knuckled down and started editing. Now I've got better prose and uber headaches.

I've had moments where I wanted to commit career suicide and find another job. Bounty hunters don't get depressed about their work, do they?

If only I could resist a blank page.

Anyway, right now I feel better, and comfortable with my editing. I'm hoping to keep this pace to have something to sell.

Zoombie · Apr 22, 2007

I'm too happy to get depressed about my work. Hehehe...I'm high on life. Right now I'm working through a second draft, and it just seems to keep getting better every time, making me feel all warm and bubbly. Yay.

blacbird · Apr 22, 2007

Doesn't much matter what I think about it, which tends to vacillate wildly, depending on time of day, phase of moon, etc.

What matters is what other people, such as editors and agents, think of it, but I can't post that on a family-oriented forum like this one.

caw

Alana Mortensen · Apr 22, 2007

Lyx,

Currently, this paranormal novel can goeither way. I am kind of between stages of love and hate. At this time it's pretty balanced.

My musician inspired erotic romance, I love but am discouraged by the descriptions. I will take care of that on editing.

And my third novel, inspired by two actors I have crushes on, is right now, in the love category but it stalled b/c I lack linear progression for that storyline. It is still circulating and getting clear but still a jumbled mess. I am not quite sure if I will ever hate it.

My writing, in general, falls in both categories. If I love the work I always will but if I hate it, that may only be a swinging door to better my writing and can go either way.

Someone here said something about pursueing strengths. BALONEY! For me anyway. I see, accept and pursue my weaknesses. That has been my only accomplishment so far that I am proud of. It has helped me in every aspect of life too.

Alana

Presently...at this moment...right now...

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