A Million Thanks

Okay, I admit it, I goofed up. I went and posted in the NOVELS category without first introducing myself, so I'm here to correct that mistake. I wanted to start off by thanking all the current members (especially the prolific posters) for all they give to this community, and to tell you that you have inspired, educated and corrected me in more ways than one.

I am a 35 year old graphic designer and artist that has been writing short stories and plots for games and comics for going on twenty years. Yes, I know that it's very likely that the stuff I started with, twenty years ago, was pretty bad, but I'd like to think I've come a long way in the time since. Largely due to advice given by you folks to one another (that I was able to lap up in my frequent lurkings hereabouts), my storytelling has become more cohesive and tighter, and I think I have managed to avoid the worst of the newbie mistakes in writing.

Right now, I'm working on my second novel, having completed (what I think to be) my final revisions on my first novel. I don't have any definite plans to have them published as of yet, because I want to make sure I really know what needs to be done to prep for it. That, and I have to admit I'm a bit of a pessimist. I finish something, then look at it and think, "Who's going to want this? Nobody!" From what I hear, this is a common thing among writers. And though I can't go so far as to call myself a writer as of yet, I'd like to think I'm getting there.

My only problem at this stage boils down to blindness and yes-men. For those of you with good, kind and wonderful friends, you know exactly what I mean when I say 'yes-men.' Yes-men are those friends of yours that believe that everything you touch turns to gold, and that it's physically and metaphysically impossible for you to do anything that isn't 100% brilliant and perfect. On the one hand, I love that kind of positive reinforcement, but at the same time, I recognize the fact that this kind of feedback does not assist me in identifying my weaker areas, nor does it assist me in reinforcing those areas or making corrections to eliminate them entirely. I love my family and friends, and I love that they want to lavish praise on me, but sometimes I need a kick in the pants!

As for the blindness, this comes mostly due to my own self-doubt. I finish something, then think about it ad nauseum, and start feeling that there was something in there somewhere that I could have done so much better. So I go back, change it, and then think some more. After ten or twelve rounds of this, I simply can't see what I wrote anymore. There's no other way to describe it. I know it's there, I can read the words, but my objective ability to decide whether or not it's good enough is utterly gone. I just stare at it, wondering whether or not what I just did made it worse. That, combined with the yes-men that surround me, I fear are making me a bad writer and a bad storyteller.

I'm hoping that, in posting some more in here and getting to know some of you, you all can help me the way you help each other (and, quite frankly, the way you've unknowingly helped me in the past), and help me become a better writer. Because I really love telling stories. It's just that I can't seem to be able to tell whether or not I've got what it takes to keep doing it.

Anyway, that's all. Thanks again for everything, guys and gals, and I'll be seeing you around.

Suzanne, the gum analogy just completely changed my world view. I've been gnawing on this sillyputty-tasting wad of eighties Bazooka Joe for long enough. Though the story may not be perfect, it is done. Thanks!

EDIT: The more I think about it, the more I think that maybe Fantasy wasn't really my genre to begin with. And when I look back on the stuff I keep changing, it's all stuff to make the story more frightening. Maybe that is the root of the problem... anyway, thanks again.