This discussion is for when you are wiped out, ready to quit. Like today, I had a great idea for the Port City writing challenge on New Orleans. My own story even made me tear up. I was so excited to write it, but then blah. It fell flat. Made me think I'm a shittty writer. I'm not, I know that. But do you ever feel that way. You submit stuff and nothing happens? You write a story you thought was great and its just Not. That is what this post is for. Support others when times are lean in writing. Also why do I crave feedback? Is that a flaw?
We all go through this, hun. Every writer doubts their own talent and skill at some point and not every story we write is going to be great. The idea is to keep on plugging away. Craving feedback isn't a flaw. It's something we all deal with. It's like a football team who's down at half-time. The coach comes in, gives em a pep talk and they come out in the 2nd half and whoop some ass. It's nice to know that someone appreciates your work, but with this business comes those that won't and will staunchly tell you so. I say, fuck em. I wrote a story I thought, along with everyone else who reviewed it here, was a shoe in for a particular mag. I submitted it and it was rejected. Shit happens. If you want, rework the story, submit here for some feedback and send it out. If you don't like it, write another one. Remember, no one has to see a story you wrote that you don't want anyone to see. I have a massive amount of stories that will never see the light of day, but that doesn't stop me from writing. Just keep writing and let the positives bring you up and let the negatives push you to achieve more. I've read your work, plenty of times, and I know you got it in you. You're in a funk and you're not alone. :-)
You aren't on a timetable. If the idea is good you can come back to in a year or five years and see if there is anything worth working with. Maybe now just isn't the time for that story.
Covewriter, I don't know you from Adam, or Eve, but that doesn't mean I don't want to give you a big hug and say I get you, boo. I crave feedback, too.
Which reminds me.
How did I do here?
:)
I was just going through this tonight. I'm working on a novel (amongst other projects). I have maybe 125 pages, mostly shit, which I'm cool with. But I do have some good scenes, a good background, potentially good characters and power struggle.
But what's on paper, is mostly shit. And tonight I wanted to throw it all away and say "FUCK IT" because I'm struggling with the execution.
I allowed myself that moment for just a moment. Then I stopped writing the scene and got back down to basics. I took out my pen and my notebook. Given that I've already written 125 pages, I know my characters and scenes reasonably well. So I started asking myself questions like "how will the shape of this novel work" and "what am I trying to accomplish here" and I just started brainstorming again - almost like when I started it. It's part of the re-VISION process.
Just boiling it back down to basics and drawing a little chart with a rough layout of how things could go helped a lot. It a) made me realize I have done a lot of work that's gotten me into this story and b) helped solidify the shape and structure of this story in my mind.
After asking myself some questions and figuring out some characters to get rid of and others to bring to the forefront, I wrote down my major characters and next to their names where they come in.
Again, none of this is ground breaking. But it's taking this mess of a story jumbled in my mind and on 125 loosely organized pages and allowing me to get it into a little bit of a better mold - which when I go to bed tonight, it's in a firmer place in my mind. Now I can work a little better away from the page.
Long winded story - but just an illustration of stepping back, getting back to those basic initial questions (now that you're better informed about your story since you wrote some of it) and doing some simple exercises can leave you in a better place and feeling more confident about it.
I hope that helps. Good luck.
Or, you could always fall back on the writer's stand-by, whiskey. ;-)
I've been toying with the notion of becoming an alcoholic to help me transform phenomenal ideas into phenomenal finished stories, instead of into steaming piles of dogshit stirred in with vomit which is where it always seems to be when I'm sober.
Never been a drinker. In fact, I've never been drunk in my life. Tried once in my twenties, and no matter how much I drank, I couldn't even get a buzz, so it just felt like a waste of money. I have freakishly high tolerance for medicines, so that must translate into alcohol tolerance as well. This is shitty as hell, since the past 6 months have been enough to drive a man to drink.
Anyway, Cove, I feel your angst. Obviously didn't offer anything helpful, but sometimes just being recognized is solace for me, and I hope for you as well.
Everyone -- Thanks for the feedback. I woke up at 5 am and thought I should delete the thread if nobody has responded, but I'm glad you responded and I didn't delete. You all offer good advice, and more than that you let me see I'm not alone. I knew that, but it's good to hear specific stories. Thanks so much guys. I may put the New Orleans story in workshop, when it's ready. Also I may rant here again before the night is done.
R Moon - I always listen to you. I've come to trust your advice and critiques.
Otis - Damn, you have a novel going. I'm jealous. Awesome. I'm sure you will get it done.
Strange - Don't become an alcoholic.
Dwayne -- You are probably right about the timing. That's a key thing.
Michael - Hugging you back.
True Moon. TY
Hey, that's a good title: True Moon. See, when you least expect it, something like that happens. It's yours. I give you permission to use my name. ;-)
Too bad it sounds like some bargain version of True Blood mixed with Twilight: New Moon.
True Moon: the story of a god-awful actress who teams up with a god awful writer, who both sell their souls to the devil for fame and fortune.
I think it could really sell!
That is below the belt.
Aw, Dwayne, I'm sorry. I didn't realize you were the president of the Twilight/True Blood Fan Club.
Of course, if I had known, it wouldn't keep me from speaking the truth, I'd just send you flowers afterward.
You know I meant implying that anything any decent person said was remotely like them.
LOL, my god Dwayne, I actually didn't even take it that way. I am having this really bad sickness the last few days, apparently, of not being able to read the meanings behind other people's comments in these forums. You're just the latest in a laundry list of folks I've totally misunderstood just in the last two days.
Ugh, sorry bro, not sure what is up with my reading comprehension lately, good thing I don't have to take the SAT's.
I took a major blow to the head two weeks ago, and ended up with a severe concussion. Other than making me lose a day and a half of memories, it also seems to have knocked the shit out of my reading skillz. I meant no offense, nor was I even half serious in most of the things I wrote. Just playin'.
Pardon me, now, while I go see if slamming my head into a wall will unring whatever bell I chimed before.
I have knuckles that choose their own coping mechanisms.
Everyone has a story.
A cigarette and a good night's sleep.
-
But by far the most important advice is to not give up or get scared. Sometimes one must beat a tactical retreat, but a tactical retreat is not a surrender. Maybe you can't handle working on that project right now but that doesn't mean you can afford to slow down on writing. Just write some really crappy stories until you break on back through to self esteem.
-
I'll let you know when I get there, so you can judge how long it takes.
Good advice Nick. I'm back on my NeW Orleans story. Got a bit of an idea what to do. This is going to keep happening though, loving/hating the words we write.
