Having writers block for a long time, not sure what to do.

[S.R Arrkewey]

I've had writers block for a long time now. And I've come to the understanding that it's doubt. I've gotten negative feedback on my work from people I hoped would have supported me. Things that have fed that doubt for a long time. And now, I'm close to publishing, my book will be out in October and all I can think is that my book is not good enough, it will never be good enough, and no one will enjoy or like it. The negative feedback has created this wall of doubt that I can't get through. I'm not looking for fame or instant recognition. My wish is for people to find hope in my stories, to find joy, and meaning. But I'm so filled with doubt that I can't even finish the other books I've started. I've been told by people in the past that my book wasn't ready, so I tried to fix it, but i still fear it isn't ready. It feels like it's all crashing down on me. I've had the feeling that perhaps what I should do is let this book get published and then disappear. But I love writing, I love my stories that I have created. I want to grow as a writer, and edit my second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth books. I want to continue with my universe I've created. But I can't even write a sentence without feeling like the whole world is closing in on me telling me I'm the worst writer in all of reality. What would you suggest I do? Also I apologize I haven't been here much. I've been trying to get my book published and it has taken a lot of my time. But this doubt is becoming too much to handle. Any advice on how to move forward, past this overwhelming doubt would be greatly appreciated.

 

[lizmonster]

I don't know if I have any good advice for you. The confidence problem is one that a lot of us have, I think. It never really leaves you, it just comes and goes.

As far as moving forward goes...the only thing that's ever worked for me is to cultivate an internal sense of when I think my work is good enough. Because there will absolutely be bad reviews and haters, and the thing is, those reviewers are all telling the truth. A book is different for every reader, and there is no book out there that resonates with everyone.

For me, it's important to write for myself first. I write something that I love, and I make it as good as I possibly can. That works for me. It's not going to work for everyone. The point, I think, is to find some way to distract yourself long enough for your writer brain to engage. That can be much easier said than done.

I think I found you on Amazon. Are you self-publishing, or trade? I ask, because I'd advise absolutely that you do not read reader reviews, and that's harder to do if you're self-publishing.

 

[Infinimata]

One of the corollaries of developing a thick skin as a creator is learning when to stop listening to people. There's this sense that if we stop listening, we will miss out on good advice. But not all advice, or feedback, is worth taking. At some point you do have to say, "Thanks," and do whatever it is you think is the correct thing to do. Maybe that negative feedback is valid (I have no way to tell), but maybe it's also from people who are not capable of giving you the kind of feedback that will be genuinely constructive -- that instead of saying "Don't do this, it's terrible," they say, "You've done this, and it seems to be having this kind of an effect; is that what you wanted?"

If a publisher has said yes to at least one of your works, that's something most everyone who has a negative critique of your work cannot hold a candle to, IMO. EDIT: And if you're self-published (as I have been), that's still more than many others ever do. And yes, reader reviews are for readers, not for authors. Not every book is for everyone, and you are not obliged to make everyone happy.

 

[Woollybear]

What would you suggest I do?

First, I always feel my suggestions are off target, so feel free to ignore.

A simple thing to do is to look at the reviews on some of your favorite books. Most have plenty of one-star reviews. So, even on the books we love, other people feel the opposite. It's so subjective! You can also do the reverse--look at the reviews on a book you thought poorly of. Those will have five star reviews.

There's a saying, that for every book there's an audience. The idea is that you do have an audience. Big? Small? Who knows, but that audience will truly enjoy your book. So the question isn't whether your book is good enough, but whether you can take on some negative reviews in order to deliver the book to people who will enjoy it.

I'd also say it helps to set expectations. How many readers do you hope to find? How do you plan to find your readers? Be pragmatic in your plan--I find it helps me to see this as a business instead of a child of my heart, although the books are children of my heart.

Also I apologize I haven't been here much.

None of us are under any obligation to be here! It's nice to see you, though.

I've been trying to get my book published and it has taken a lot of my time. But this doubt is becoming too much to handle. Any advice on how to move forward, past this overwhelming doubt would be greatly appreciated.

I don't know if it would help for you, but there are legitimate review services like the Itsy Bitsy Book Tours, (and others), which will deliver some reviews if you provide the PDF. I tried this service on one of my novellas, and while I won't use them again, other authors I know felt the service gave them a bump in visibility and the reviews were positive.

Keep the faith.

 

[alexp336]

I can't promise failsafe advice either, but what I can do is reiterate the idea that "good" is hopelessly subjective. What one reader loves, another will hate, or merely feel 'meh' about. On top of that, their ability to express that reaction in a way which is useful to you, as the writer, also varies dramatically. Someone deeply touched by your words might only have sufficient of their own to say "I really liked it!" while someone who wasn't a fan might have the vocabulary (and inclination) to be ruthlessly cutting. That doesn't mean the latter opinion has any greater worth, just because it was expressed with greater technical polish.

There's nothing wrong with never publishing a thing, and having your stories be for yourself alone. Just like there's nothing wrong with setting an (arbitrary) release date and saying "this will be at the level of goodness it needs to be then." And if you're self-publishing, and suddenly realize "oh, wait, I don't like this as much as I thought I did," then there's nothing to stop you from pulling it from sale. I realize we often don't talk about taking that (semi-nuclear) option, but it's there. Sure, you'll no longer have first-publishing rights, but perhaps the knowledge of being able to ease it back onto your workbench will make up for what you sacrifice in the process.

You've achieved a lot. Subjective reviews don't change that.

 

[Harding]

This reminds me of the problem with selective comparison. We compare ourselves to the final results we see and not the work it took to get that result. Let's put things in perspective for a moment. The creator of Squid Games on Netflix was rejected for 10 years. 12 publishers rejected Harry Potter. Dune was rejected 20 times. Lovecraft was dead by the time his work became famous. You should prepare for a bumpy ride to your destination.

But I'd hate to learn you're stressing yourself out over this and you don't even have a contractually obligated deadline. Cause if you didn't, my first piece of advice would be to take a break from your writing. Take a day, a week, 6 months, a year if needed. They say you shouldn't go grocery shopping when you're hungry. Or don't go into a first date horny. So, don't force yourself to write during writers block. Creating an entire universe from scratch is not a small feat by any means. You're essentially creating your own DnD, Warhammer, or Star Wars from imagination. Maybe not to the extent of game mechanics, but similar in size to the lore. There's nothing wrong with taking your time and letting it flow naturally. Your work will come out better for it.

 

[buz]

I've had writers block for a long time now. And I've come to the understanding that it's doubt. I've gotten negative feedback on my work from people I hoped would have supported me. Things that have fed that doubt for a long time. And now, I'm close to publishing, my book will be out in October and all I can think is that my book is not good enough, it will never be good enough, and no one will enjoy or like it.

I totally get it. Do you like it, though? I stopped writing for a long time because I felt like no one was going to like what I wrote much and neither did I; writing always started out fun and ended like dragging my brain over broken glass. I thought I could find nicer things to do with my time. So I did.

But a few months back I really wanted to write again and, weirdly, it was just fun all the way through. I’m now at the very unfun part of trying to fix it up and toss it out into the world, but you know, even if no one reads it or everyone who does hates it, I will still have enjoyed writing it; it won’t have been wasted time. (I mean the publishing effort might be wasted time, but I have done so many things that ended up being a waste… this is pretty meh in comparison )

The negative feedback has created this wall of doubt that I can't get through. I'm not looking for fame or instant recognition. My wish is for people to find hope in my stories, to find joy, and meaning. But I'm so filled with doubt that I can't even finish the other books I've started. I've been told by people in the past that my book wasn't ready, so I tried to fix it, but i still fear it isn't ready. It feels like it's all crashing down on me. I've had the feeling that perhaps what I should do is let this book get published and then disappear. But I love writing, I love my stories that I have created. I want to grow as a writer, and edit my second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth books. I want to continue with my universe I've created. But I can't even write a sentence without feeling like the whole world is closing in on me telling me I'm the worst writer in all of reality. What would you suggest I do?

Hmm. I don’t know what your situation is, if you have a publisher or deadlines or if self publishing, but…is there a way you can isolate yourself from any feedback for a while? Take a little break, do something else, don’t think about writing or publishing, come back and just wall yourself into your own world and roll with it until it’s done?

If not…ok, well, here’s something weird that has helped me at times, I don’t know if it will help anyone else, but: a kind of messed up radical acceptance. Expecting failure, expecting the worst, and just…accepting it. Thinking “okay I suck and am the worst and people will hate this and I accept that. Fuck it. I want to do this anyway and I am going to crash on being a weird little explosion of failure and try to find some amusement in it while I’m doing it because that’s what I am and I’m not going to get away from it so that’s what it’ll be” or “okay yes I have no respect for myself and believe myself to be an unsalvageable fuckup but that doesn’t mean I can’t go have a nice time dammit” and that sort of thing. Of course, one can easily move into a “why publish at all” sort of mindset — the answer to that for me is that I am bad at judging these things and I really have no idea how other people will receive it so I might as well give it a shot — but the other way to go is to think, well, what if I just don’t publish it, and just write it for me? (Mind can be changed later if necessary)

None of this completely solves things; I still have Emotions about stuff, but I don’t get stuck in them as much.

Also I apologize I haven't been here much.

I wasn’t here at all for years, so. Hey