Any creative writers out there?
In the professional sense, I'm mostly a nonfiction writer. That said, my passion is with fiction, but when the rubber meets the road, I freeze up. Although I have three fully-developed story lines, when I sit down to write, my anxiety gets the best of me and I buckle under my personal expectations and fears of failure.
While it's easy to tell myself not to worry about first drafts, that nagging sense of being not good enough doesn't respond to logic. Even getting positive feedback doesn't help much.
For the creative writers out there: do you have similar problems? How do you deal with worried about inadequacy, especially unfounded ones? Does routine help? Something else? I'd love to hear your experiences.
#fopp writing
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Comments
WordChazer wrote on February 16, 2015, 4:35 PM
Sorry, can't help here. I've tried until I am blue in the face to write fiction, but have come to the conclusion that I WRITE factual articles and EDIT fiction.
MsBiz wrote on February 16, 2015, 4:37 PM
I'm in the same boat... but I haven't accepted the reality yet. I feel like there has to be a way to outsmart my brain.
Galeforcewinds wrote on February 16, 2015, 4:53 PM
I've written fiction most of my adult life. In fact, I have more problems writing non-fiction, like when I occasionally accept a copy job. I have problems just letting the creative juices be jaunted and write only facts.
I don't really have any set rules. I sometimes will be moved by something I've read, something I've dreamed about or as recently based off some actor I admire but would like to see in a different kind of role. (You've heard of some people writing a whole book or script with one actor in mind....that's about how I do things.)
It's only been in the last two or three years I've decided to work on a couple of projects and if I have to, I will figure out how to actually just self publish.
WordChazer wrote on February 16, 2015, 5:01 PM
I gave up on outsmarting that thing a long time ago. It does what it wants, whether or not the rest of me prefers it. At least when you read someone else's book you don't have to plan the plot yourself, just nod sagely when boy catches girl or the one you suspected all along is charged with the murder carried out in the first 10 pages.
MsBiz wrote on February 16, 2015, 5:28 PM
Thanks for sharing your writing process! I'm always inspired to want to try more when I hear from creative writers who "walk the walk" so to speak. I think I may need to think more about my characters than worry about (prospective) readers.
Galeforcewinds wrote on February 16, 2015, 5:41 PM
I have been lucky enough to meet some of my favorite writers (life in early convention goings gave me that often.) There was one thing each one said. Don't worry about if someone else will read what you wrote. Write for yourself. Enjoy your own characters and stories. The words will find their audience if it is written well. I mean just look at Anne Rice and her relationship with Lestat. She still calls him her Brat Prince and you can hear the love in her voice (writings) even today about this character. Even though he isn't my favorite vampire I adore the way Rice feels about him and that makes it more enjoyable for me to read.
bestwriter wrote on February 17, 2015, 12:06 AM
I am no authority really although with a bit of tenacity I could finish some work. I share the same thoughts as you. Having read stories about writers who waited for years to be recognised that does not encourage me in the least bit to become a writer.
MsBiz wrote on February 17, 2015, 10:49 AM
How very cool that you got to meet your favorite writers! That is good advice they offered. Today I'm going to pick up some old stories and focus on *my* relationship with the characters, some of whom I've "known" for well over a decade.
MsBiz wrote on February 17, 2015, 10:52 AM
It is discouraging to think about the state of the publishing world these days. I've considered self-publishing on Amazon if all else fails, but I'm still a traditionalist in the sense that ebooks don't feel like "really publishing" to me.
PegCole17 wrote on February 17, 2015, 11:13 AM
I've been doing a bit of research into the self publishing world. Amazon Direct Publishing has a program that allows a writer to create a paper copy of their book as well. I'm pursuing this with my novel that I'm hoping to publish soon. I'm in the final editing stages now. With the encouragement I received by publishing a few chapters on another writing site, I was inspired to write the remainder of the story.
As someone said above, write for your own enjoyment as a cathartic experience. Get those thoughts down on paper before they slip away. If it turns out to be a great story, it will sell, hopefully to a lot of people.
MsBiz wrote on February 17, 2015, 11:46 AM
Wow, I like the idea of being able to create a paper copy. I think I'll look into that (once I let go of my expectations and just enjoy my story).
crowntower wrote on February 17, 2015, 12:30 PM
I alwasy think of the happy memories or sad memories of my life or of a friend or somebody's life that I witness. But with mystery like yours, maybe you can get idea on the newspaper and on television watched some news about it.
There is a prostitute nearby where I work and she was murdered. Other prostitutes says that maybe she got caught of stealing something from her customers, and others says that maybe the customer is on drugs... hope you can get something in it.
30 mins later, maybe not long enough when the prostitute leave the person who got killed, there is really someone stalking them, or maybe the wife, or a thief, or an enemy. Or maybe the prostitute got insulted by the man and got hit by the prostitute and leave without knowing she got killed him by accidentally fall in a very sharp thing on the floor. Heheheh...
bestwriter wrote on February 17, 2015, 6:43 PM
Some hope there!!