When that inner critic gets a little too opinionated

[David]

Throughout the writing of eight novels, my inner critic has been a welcome companion. He (I think it’s a he) has helped me to improve my craft, encouraged me to try harder, to come up with a more suitable word or a sentence with better phrasing.

Of late though, as I sit and try to write a ninth book, I’ve come to realise that this inner critic has developed a loud voice. Far from being helpful, this critic now seems to hate everything I write – “that’s a pathetic idea for a story”; “who’s going to want to read that?”; “is that the best you can come up with?” – which is preventing me from writing anything at all.

Just me? Or does anyone else have such an unhelpful passenger?

[Michael]

Paranoia is a nasty beast.

[David]

Michael Cargill wrote: "Paranoia is a nasty beast."

Indeed. "All day long I think of things but nothing seems to satisfy".

[Alicia]

Fire the inner critic? Get a new one - try a woman this time. Your old one is getting too uppity.

[Kath]

A friendly fellow author to whom you send a chapter or two every so often will kick Inner Crit into touch - unless he's right, of course. But many authors work with a partner who will critique stuff, even in an unfinished state.

[David]

Alicia wrote: "Fire the inner critic? Get a new one - try a woman this time. Your old one is getting too uppity."

Haha! Yes. Maybe I can send him off in search of my muse who went missing around the same time that he got more vocal. Hopefully he'll get lost during the search, and the muse will return with someone more understanding :~)

[Will]

Yes, I have one of those.

Sometimes he does me a great service by stopping from starting yet another new project (my usual problem). Other times, he is a pain in the proverbial as he stops me from getting stuff done.

The trick is to work out whether this is one of those times when he is right or one of those times when he is wrong. He could be telling you that you haven't quite found an idea which will inspire you for that ninth book.

[David]

Kath wrote: "A friendly fellow author to whom you send a chapter or two every so often will kick Inner Crit into touch - unless he's right, of course. But many authors work with a partner who will critique stuf..."

If I manage to get beyond two or three pages, Kath, I might well give that a try, thanks. I think, maybe, I'm becoming too focussed on stories I think people will want to read (ie what will sell) rather than ones which I will enjoy writing.

[David]

Will wrote: "Yes, I have one of those.

Sometimes he does me a great service by stopping from starting yet another new project (my usual problem). Other times, he is a pain in the proverbial as he stops me from..."

Glad I'm not alone, Will. You're probably right. Before finishing each book so far, I've always been itching with excitement to begin the next. This is the first time I haven't had that feeling. I guess something will spark (hope so). Certainly forcing it isn't working.

[Kath]

If you write what you love rather than what you think people will want to read, then it writes itself. You have to whip it into shape, of course, but it pours out.

[David]

Kath wrote: "If you write what you love rather than what you think people will want to read, then it writes itself. You have to whip it into shape, of course, but it pours out."

That's certainly worked for me so far, Kath. I just need to shut that critic up :~)

[Jim]

David wrote: "Haha! Yes. Maybe I can send him off in search of my muse who went missing around the same time that he got more vocal. Hopefully he'll get lost during the search, and the muse will return with someone more understanding :~) ..."

might be a beggar if they meet up and get on too well. I shudder to think what the offspring would be ;-)

[Kath]

Would the offspring of a critic and a muse be a cruise?

[Anna]

Brilliant - I'll go for that one, Kath. One day, one day...

[David]

Kath wrote: "Would the offspring of a critic and a muse be a cruise?"

Is that how Tom Cruise came into being?

[Alicia]

Kath wrote: "Would the offspring of a critic and a muse be a cruise?"

I agree - spot on brilliant.

[Tim]

Knowing my luck, I'd get the mutic!