If you're really struggling...

If you're really struggling with getting the words on paper, and constantly hating everything you are writing, but you really like your idea, what should you do? I can't churn a proper paragraph or anything on this idea of mine, yet I can write poems or short stories or just weird little character descriptions without a thought. Should I just give up and go back to it later, or persevere?

A lot of times, what happens is that first drafts suck. First drafts of novels really suck. That's why not a lot of people actually stick with their novels. It sucks, the author knows it sucks, so they give up prematurely, before they have a chance to let themselves write.

Smile and say, "This first draft of mine is going to suck." And expect it to suck. But write it anyway. Later, you can edit. But now you just want to get the idea down.

Better get writing then, slave driver

Pssh, who needs proper paragraphs?

Yeah, my tip is the same - persevere. Maybe take a break from it for a few days, stop stressing about it, then start again. But you really have to stick with it. I know exactly where you are coming from, as I have been there many times myself.

An extreme case might warrant totally giving it up. No, hear me out. I've had projects before where I loved the idea but hated how it was turning out. I struggled with it for forever, then finally gave up and said I wasn't going to touch it ever again. What happens? Within two months, I'm assaulted with all this inspiration and I'm scribbling stuff down and feeling guilty because I said I was going to give it up.

So, maybe try to give it up? It might just loosen you up like it did me. But try this at your own risk - I don't know if it works for other people or if I'm just crazy. *shifty eyes*

~GryphonFledgling

Just don't look back at what you're writing, just keep writing until the story is done. If you keep looking back at your writing you will notice that as a first draft it sucks, and then your Inner Editor will tear your enthusiasm to pieces and give you writers block. Particularly with novels, you improve with each paragraph you write, so looking back makes you have a fit. You should also try not to look at writing you did more than a couple of months ago, as you've probably improved since then.

But, just keep plugging away, writing 10 words at a time if you have to. Or, you could set a timer and write until it's done. Get into the story, and all of the troubles will mostly melt away. And keep knocking out that Inner Editor!

GryphonFledgling wrote:An extreme case might warrant totally giving it up. No, hear me out. I've had projects before where I loved the idea but hated how it was turning out. I struggled with it for forever, then finally gave up and said I wasn't going to touch it ever again. What happens? Within two months, I'm assaulted with all this inspiration and I'm scribbling stuff down and feeling guilty because I said I was going to give it up.

So, maybe try to give it up? It might just loosen you up like it did me. But try this at your own risk - I don't know if it works for other people or if I'm just crazy. *shifty eyes*

~GryphonFledgling

I had something similar happen. I had characters and a rough idea, but it wasn't going anywhere. I put it in the "abandoned" file in my computer and basically forgot about it. Two/three years later (yes, years) I found a way to breath old life into a new story.

Reason I never delete/throw out stuff.

Vomit write.

That is, just splurge whatever comes to your mind on the page.

As Snoink says, expect the first draft to suck. Even with the most brilliant story ever, there will still be things to improve/pick up on. Just persevere in the knowledge that everyone will worship you eventually.

Hope this helps.



Gahks

I took a writing course, and it taught me a lot. One of the things I learned is when you're first starting out - starting out as a writing or just starting out on a new piece - you shouldn't worry about producing something fascination or wonderful. In fact, you shouldn't even worry about producing something that is good. The only thing you should worry about is just going it. Just give it a go. Just havefun with it. The rest will follow. Think of writing as play. Pretend you're a child alone in a room with a blank sheet of paper, a tray of fingerpaints, and the freedom to not give a darn if you're on the way to a masterpiece or mess.

Yep, I'm saying the same thing. Just don't give up. Take a break if you have to, but don't abandon the whole idea. Who knows when inspiration might strike? When you write, you write. Period. It doesn't have to be good, it doesn't have to be outstanding. The point is, you wrote something.

That's all I can say about the topic. Well, good luck. Strike gold soon!

GryphonFledgling wrote:An extreme case might warrant totally giving it up. No, hear me out. I've had projects before where I loved the idea but hated how it was turning out. I struggled with it for forever, then finally gave up and said I wasn't going to touch it ever again. What happens? Within two months, I'm assaulted with all this inspiration and I'm scribbling stuff down and feeling guilty because I said I was going to give it up.

So, maybe try to give it up? It might just loosen you up like it did me. But try this at your own risk - I don't know if it works for other people or if I'm just crazy. *shifty eyes*

~GryphonFledgling

I have done that at least twice in the past two years and it seems like I can't not write. It loosened me up a bit. I actually got emotional at the first time I put my writing on hold
But it got me motivated a few months later


Like everyone has said so far,
Take a little break from it and then come back to it with a fresh mind. Don't give up unless its your last option.

It's called writer's block, I think, and when it happens to me I just get up and do something else for a few hours (and days, if that is required). I don't think about writing. When I come back, I usually find that I have a craving to write again and so the process flows much more smoothly.

Try that.