Lindsay Flanagan's Blog - Posts Tagged "magic"
Battling Creative Depression
Most creators I know go through spells where they believe their art isn’t good enough. Sometimes, even the most successful people think they simply aren’t doing what they should be doing or creating what they should create. I think it’s something artists struggle with at various times during their creative careers. I recently felt this way about my next manuscript in my young adult series, titled ASHES, ASHES FALLING DOWN. I’ve been stuck for several weeks on it.
And even though AnnaGrey and the Constellation has garnered high praise from industry experts, even though it was awarded the first runner-up in the middle reader category of the Eric Hoffer book award, even though I successfully completed the next installment in the AnnaGrey series, ANNAGREY AND THE RED FOX GIRLS, and even though LITTLE RED WRAITH is going to be published on October 29th, I still had moments of self-doubt that I could actually “be” a writer. But… isn’t that what I’ve been doing for most of my life?
I had expressed my doubts to a colleague because he was also suffering from bouts of creative depression. I look at the book covers he creates and am simply blown away by their beauty. But it’s one thing to try and reassure another creative that their work is beautiful and valid. It’s another thing to empathize with this feeling of insecurity about the art we create. We commiserated, and we both knew that it was just a moment and that we’d get back on the wagon and create more (even if it was “crap,” which can always be revised).
And then, he sent me this message:
“Remember how you said you were down about your writing the other night? I just got this from one of our galley editors regarding Little Red Wraith… “I usually don't care for this genre, but I became totally engrossed in this story. This lady is a serious talent.”
This was from a woman who is not only an editor but an author I admire and respect. She had no idea he was going to share that with me, and I can’t tell you how it has boosted my confidence to keep writing on. My story engaged a reader who doesn’t normally read in my genre. She praised my talent–which has been hard-won with a ton of practice and study. It made me think about how I want and need to start simply boosting other creators even if they’ll never see my comments (although I hope they do).
So to Kiersten White, you simply are awe-inspiring, and I will read anything you write. To Brian Fallon, your songwriting skill and knowledge and the fact that you continue to study it even though you’re a master inspires me to learn more about the type of writing I do. And to Wanita, you are a prolific writer who saw my talent and gave me the boost I needed at a time when I was low.
And to you, fellow writers and readers, remember that even though you’ll have moments of creative depression, you are an artist, and your work is valid.
And even though AnnaGrey and the Constellation has garnered high praise from industry experts, even though it was awarded the first runner-up in the middle reader category of the Eric Hoffer book award, even though I successfully completed the next installment in the AnnaGrey series, ANNAGREY AND THE RED FOX GIRLS, and even though LITTLE RED WRAITH is going to be published on October 29th, I still had moments of self-doubt that I could actually “be” a writer. But… isn’t that what I’ve been doing for most of my life?
I had expressed my doubts to a colleague because he was also suffering from bouts of creative depression. I look at the book covers he creates and am simply blown away by their beauty. But it’s one thing to try and reassure another creative that their work is beautiful and valid. It’s another thing to empathize with this feeling of insecurity about the art we create. We commiserated, and we both knew that it was just a moment and that we’d get back on the wagon and create more (even if it was “crap,” which can always be revised).
And then, he sent me this message:
“Remember how you said you were down about your writing the other night? I just got this from one of our galley editors regarding Little Red Wraith… “I usually don't care for this genre, but I became totally engrossed in this story. This lady is a serious talent.”
This was from a woman who is not only an editor but an author I admire and respect. She had no idea he was going to share that with me, and I can’t tell you how it has boosted my confidence to keep writing on. My story engaged a reader who doesn’t normally read in my genre. She praised my talent–which has been hard-won with a ton of practice and study. It made me think about how I want and need to start simply boosting other creators even if they’ll never see my comments (although I hope they do).
So to Kiersten White, you simply are awe-inspiring, and I will read anything you write. To Brian Fallon, your songwriting skill and knowledge and the fact that you continue to study it even though you’re a master inspires me to learn more about the type of writing I do. And to Wanita, you are a prolific writer who saw my talent and gave me the boost I needed at a time when I was low.
And to you, fellow writers and readers, remember that even though you’ll have moments of creative depression, you are an artist, and your work is valid.
