Struggling Writers discussion
Stuck on Your Writing?
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What happens when writing is no longer fun?
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I sort of understand what you mean. To me, revising writing seems like the most difficult part. It never seems like I can revise enough or if I change a small detail, it ends up contradicting a part later in the story. I usually put off revising for a long time until I just finally feel like looking over my work, and then I procrastinate anyway.
Oh dear, Jen, you are in a bit of a tiz! As for revisions why don't you try my method. I plan the minimum and then commence writing, usually up to chapter 5 or 6 and then I write my synopsis, and if I think it necessary a prologue and sometimes even the end. Each time I leave off writing for a break I mark down the plot line, and then when I come back to write I read everything I have written up to that point and commence editing. Spelling errors, grammatical errors, order of words, sometimes complete paragraphs, and when something is bugging me like a particular scene, each time I log into it I go back over it until I am 100% happy with it.
I call this my knitting project, because with every plot line recorded for prosperity, red herrings to you never forget to go back and tie off the loose threads.
I am about to finish my third novel, the first two are published, Cally's Secret a romantic comedy, a tale of life, love, and unplanned events; and The Menorah Murders - Murder mystery - The beast is back, and seven innocent women will die. But who will be the final candle...the sacrificial lamb...supper!
Take up cooking, bake cakes, embroider a tablecloth,or make a rug - all of these pastimes help calm me, and if writing makes you feel this bad, stop or change your genre to comedy romance, chick lit or even childrens books!
JenI think maintaining your routine is a good thing. I do think however, that on the days you are unmotivated to do the work on the bigger work, writing ANYTHING else could have a spot in the interim. So, if the deal of the day is say 2 hours total - revision, actual new work on existing and brand spanking new never thought of before material...maybe you could manage %'s for the day..if you are taking a break from the 'real work' today, cool, spend the time doing something else. Break throughs do come from change of paces, and sometimes change of scenery...switch up where you do the work.... listen to different music ..or any music if you don't normally... banging your head on the work at hand likely isn't fun or productive.
It is always fun, unless I'm stressing about other things in life, which is always. I just have to persevere, because that is what good people do.Of course, if I had the money, I'd be holed up in some resort alone, with lots of peace and quiet!
I agree that revising is boring.
I find it hard juggling two children as well as writting, a 7 week break when my latest book is nearly finished is killing me. I hate re-reads the writting I love. If you think the plot line is the problem get a few ideas from beta readers, maybe you are looking at your work with too much doubt and it is fine. Try to take advice even if it is bad because that is the only way to improve but you are not going to please everyone. But if you really hate your work try something else, I write because I love it not to please anyone. This is for me and everyone else who like my work is a bonus.
Jen wrote: "So...this is sort of a long story, and a depressing one. Last summer I had a MAJOR breakthrough in writing. I was banging out words every day. I was learning a lot. Every thing was perfect. I fini..."
I think that you might want to look at it a bit differently as a place to start. There is a difference between the wonderful world of creating a story, characters, etc.. and the techincal side of making it fit the language in which you wrote it (editing).
I personally loathe the editing process but just as any job I ever had there are parts of them I don't particularly care for.
The two things that have helped me in this process is my love of riding my motorcycle (which gives me a way to release my frustrations when I am stuck or just needing an idea) and a group of test readers that I trust and can have coffee with.
Before I ever begin the editing process I give my manuscript to a good friend that is very honest with me and helps me develop the storyline and characters. Readers are very good at pointing out things they don't understand and have questions about. And most of them will work for coffee, danish and the occasionl meal. Listen to their insights, since these are the people that will hopefully be reading and buying your book once it comes out.
For the editing process, and I understand that money would probably be involved and if you don't have it it's harder to accomplish this step. If you are lucky enough to live near a college, find an upperclassman in the english department that will function as sort of a polish editor. Ask them to go through it and point out what changes they feel would help the storyline, characters etc... You would be surprised at what rate a broke college student will read your book for and give you a written insight on it. You would also be surprised at how less overwhelmed you feel when there are others out there to lean on.
Not knowing how you write this might not be useful for you. My stories are very character driven, hence I spend a lot of time listening to them and what they would do in a given situation. I have cut major portions of books, simply becuase the plot I was using ended up not fitting the characters I had developed. Since I am more into my characters than the plot per se it is easier to redo the plot than the characters for me. Your issue may be the other way around since you seem to speak to plot fixes that chage something later on.
As far as taking a break: Yes do so and often. I find that when I get frustrated, getting on my motorcycle and taking the twisty turning roads in my area is a release that gets me past whatever problems I may be having. I am sure you have some activity, other than writing, you find cathartic, use it. Hell sometimes even going out and riding the lawnmower helps.
Good luck and don't give up, just back away for a bit and get a different perspective.
Kay.
Thanks for the advice, guys. I haven't written anything for a few days and I'm starting to get a clearer head. I'm actually thinking of starting a new project that has been dancing around in my head for a few months now. Not that I want to totally abandon this one, but a new novel would be much easier to write at the moment.
Jen wrote: "Thanks for the advice, guys. I haven't written anything for a few days and I'm starting to get a clearer head. I'm actually thinking of starting a new project that has been dancing around in my hea..."I have three novels all waiting at 10,000 words and each time I pick one up to run with something else pops up on the radar and back in room 101 they go! This time I am determined when I finish House of Death I am going to pick one of these up and take it to the end!
Good luck Jen!
Sarah wrote: "Jen wrote: "Thanks for the advice, guys. I haven't written anything for a few days and I'm starting to get a clearer head. I'm actually thinking of starting a new project that has been dancing arou..."me too, that was how I wrote my short stories. I got two on the go at the moment, a little writters block and I started the one and then thought out how to get round the problem I was having and I am back on that one.
I lose my joy for writing about the halfway mark of whatever WIP is sitting on my laptop for the moment. Then again when it comes to do the much needed editing and revising. In fact, after the first couple readthroughs after I finish a project I am fairly convinced I am the worst writer that ever typed a key. This is the time I know I need to step back and leave my baby in someone else's hands for a little while why I move onto to something I'm actually excited about. Let someone you love, who isn't afraid to be honest with you, have a crack at your first draft. Let them tell you where the plot doesn't work and what doesn't make sense, if anything feels rushed, if a character feels flat...all those wonderful things you never want to hear. Then, while you're busily working on your next project, make sure to keep your "needs improvement" project on the back burner of your mind. I'm always amazed at all the problems I figure out with a project when I take a break from it for a while. Main thing: don't get discouraged. Everyone loses enthusiasm somewhere along the way. Finding a way to bounce back from it, that works for you, is the key.
In the last couple days, I invented a way to cure writer's block. I use the alphabet. I find a letter of each to describe my character, a plot turn, a location...you get it. It is such a useful way of brainstorming, and it is so easy....a kindergartner could do it.A...B....C
I find that writing becomes less 'fun' when i am extremely stressed, to the point of pulling my hair out and completely loosing it. If you're writing to a deadline or having difficulty with issues that keep springing up, or resurfacing (like one problem after another) then this can cause you to loose that energy. It is so easy to let that energy, inital enthusiasm and surge of joy fade when we get downhearted by heavy negative critisism or so tired by lack of rest. Breaks in your writing. Changing routine (i.e. writing about something different entirely, or focusing on another part of your piece) may help. I found that for me personally, surging ahead and trying to 'push through' this hard, challenging part was the only way i kept it together and kept going to meet not only a deadline but to reinstate that enjoyment of writing. Reading inspirational advice from others gives one a boost too.
Germanio wrote: "In the last couple days, I invented a way to cure writer's block. I use the alphabet. I find a letter of each to describe my character, a plot turn, a location...you get it. It is such a useful ..."I use a hypnosis recording specifically designed for this purpose - and yes it works. You return to your writing with renewed enthusiasm.
Germanio wrote: "In the last couple days, I invented a way to cure writer's block. I use the alphabet. I find a letter of each to describe my character, a plot turn, a location...you get it. It is such a useful ..."Germanio wrote: "In the last couple days, I invented a way to cure writer's block. I use the alphabet. I find a letter of each to describe my character, a plot turn, a location...you get it. It is such a useful ..."
Hmmm I like that ABC idea
Try taking your writing outside if you usually write at your desk. Do something you enjoy and feed it back into your writing. If you need a break, take one - and trust that the desire to write will come back! My writing handbook '52 Dates for Writers - Ride a Tandem, Assume and Alias, and 50 Other Ways to Improve your Novel Draft' is designed to keep motivation up during a long project by offering 52 writing dates away from the desk, which improve writing skills but also make sure the writer keeps having fun. Let me know if you check it out! (There's also a competition running till the 10th Sept if you're quick...) Good luck! http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00D9NRF8U
When I don't feel like writing, I play a lot of video games or watch a lot of movies. Eventually something just sparks an idea that I can't ignore and I start writing it. I only write to entertain myself and publish hopefully to entertain others. As long as my thoughts are entertaining me I will eventually write some of them down into a story I enjoy writing.Sometimes I also do a lot of reading to take a break from writing even when I have more ideas jumping around than I can focus on. I find it's no fun to write if I have to keep changing notebooks and binders every couple of minutes so I do something that just relaxes my mind. Reading doesn't always work but it has been one of the best solutions in these cases.
Jennifer wrote: "When I don't feel like writing, I play a lot of video games or watch a lot of movies. Eventually something just sparks an idea that I can't ignore and I start writing it. I only write to entertain ..."Yes I read too, when I am struggling for inspiration. Embroidery works for me too and I like to draw portraits from photographs, I'm no Picasso though!
Last summer I had a MAJOR breakthrough in writing. I was banging out words every day. I was learning a lot. Every thing was perfect. I finished a draft and it was...well, awful. That didn't discourage me though. I knew terrible first drafts were part of the whole process.
Then I went on to editing and boy, did that not go well. I realized my story was extremely under planned, meaning I hadn't set up enough back story, and the whole project was just wayyy too much for a new writer to handle. Still, I wasn't too discouraged.
A new idea that was floating around in my head for wayyy too long and had to be written down. So come December I started banging out a first draft for a new novel. It felt great and I was done by the end of January. The revisions, though...God. They're KILLING me. I can't do it. I just can't! Every time I try to fix a plot issue a new one jumps at me. I feel trapped. I feel awful. I feel like I have a headache 24/7 and opening my story file on my computer feels like a prison sentence.
So I've read some advice articles and they all say the same thing: take a break. Easier said then done.
I'm so addicted to my routine of writing most of the day that I can't seem to fathom not writing for a period of time. This is what scares me the most though: When does it become FUN again? Will it? Have I totally killed my joy of writing by burning myself out with this draft? Will I get that spark, that love for my craft again? I'm scared! Does anyone have stories they can share about when they took a break? Did your love for writing come back?