How to get from Not Writing to Writing

Feo, not cool.

Cakman, that he was a jerk doesn't mean I'll let you be a jerk in response.

And that's enough of that.

Morven, what are you talking about? I just posted "Wow. That was rude. Thumped."

My bad. I apologize.

Although, to be fair to Feo, other people have suggested I stop writing for periods of time. I don't know why. I guess it comes across I'm too invested in my works, or too emotionally unstable because of them, or something, when in reality it comes from a completely isolated reason, and shows up in other factors of my life as well.

That's kind of off topic, but I feel obliged to clarify to Feo, since he probably didn't mean to come off that thumpable.

edited 1st Nov '11 7:36:44 PM by MrAHR

AHR; i think I understand where you're coming from, although in a different media. The garments I make never satisfy me. I always look at the finished thing say "I should have done this differently" "That's crooked." "What made me think [that] would work?" "That color is off." "It doesn't hang right." "It's just not the way I saw it in my head!!!"

And yet, I get compliments on them. People not only like what I make, they ask me to make things for them. Some of them even pay me to make things for them. And I still hate virtually everything I make, because it's not right.

I've learned with time to accept that in these cases, whether I'm satisfied is immaterial. I learned that I need to listen to the real people talking to me who see what I made, not the voice in my head who sees what I might have made.

That inner voice will never be satisfied. It will always find something wrong. I listen to it only enough to make sure that I don't repeat a real mistake.

edited 1st Nov '11 8:16:04 PM by Madrugada

I have the same case of "people compliment me even though I see a lot of flaws". However, I accept that it's good enough, and that I can improve.

I keep an optimistic attitude to my works because that's healthy. I know that in the opening since of my Na No Wri Mo novel, the dialogue's very unnatural and unpolished, but at least I got some writing done. And for a rough draft, that's good enough for me.

I have no idea what to make of getting thumped for that. What I was thinking didn't sound that bad in my head, so I assume I spectacularly misphrased it.

Let's retry this: You're saying that you're only happy through art, but art doesn't seem to be making you happy. It seems from my admittedly ignorant perspective that you might want to try something else for a while, and see if that does make you happy. Assuming you're not suicidal or anything (which I hope you're not), you don't have much to lose except a month.

edited 1st Nov '11 9:05:28 PM by feotakahari

{Trying to do a detailed psych eval on on someone you have never met, without the appropriate training, is a very not-cool thing to do. Please don't. — Madrugada}

edited 2nd Nov '11 7:22:21 AM by Madrugada

Feo: Well, see, the thing is, it's complicated. I do write. But it's sparse. About ever other week or so. Sometimes only once a month, if that. I mean, took me a year to write 50k. I have indeed gone plenty of long periods of times without writing.

My unhappiness towards it stems from what Madrugada said. She pretty much got it right. I see my work and go "this isn't what I intended at all!"

Occasionally, said unhappiness gets really bad, but mostly it has to do with that time of the month. Then I just don't write. And life goes on.

Anne: Um....I think you might want to cut the internet cold reader schtick.

If I am addicted to attention, then I am also addicted to socializing with people for the very same reasons. I just desire exchange of information. Typical human stuff. That's what motivates me. I am not just content with writing something for myself. That's all.

And, last I checked, desire for that is completely normal. Maybe, compared to others here, it's a bit more deeply rooted for me, but I don't think that necessitates professional help.

edited 2nd Nov '11 5:09:24 AM by MrAHR

{See above note. Please don't tell other people what they feel or why. —Madrugada}

edited 2nd Nov '11 7:23:28 AM by Madrugada

I also have hard time describing things and it forces me to realize, how limited my knowledge of my surroundings actually is. I know what to write in my head but I cannot seem to put them out in words or even what I want to say. I also wondering if I am copying someone else's plotline.

If everyone here wants to improve, I would suggest actually making time in your schedule to write at least ten minutes every day, even if it's just a character sketch or a description of a place instead of making actual progress. You wouldn't be able to show these snippets to people, but it would build discipline and you will get better with practice.

AHR: If you can't seem to stop deprecating your own work, don't mention it where other people can see. Meaning: No author's notes saying "I know this is terrible so go on and tear this apart". No updates on another thread of the forum saying "x words of utter crap written today".

Right after I finish a draft, I feel deeply insecure too. But I don't reinforce those thoughts, or stew in what should be a passing phase by repeating it everywhere I go. Even if I'm still insecure by the time I post, I am at least able to talk neutrally about my work, since there are no blurred lines between me as a person and me as a writer.

Not to mention, readers don't like being put on the spot.

edited 2nd Nov '11 10:14:29 AM by Leradny

Yes.

Except, I'm different, in that I have to devote hours, every day, for weeks or months to improve on things like dialogue and character building. For some reason, improving by writing a story or working on a chapter never works; my quality will remain stagnant. I have to do all of these really lengthy and intensive practices to see any improvement.

It's totally worth it though. Unproductive, but worth it.

edited 2nd Nov '11 11:02:26 AM by BetsyandtheFiveAvengers

That also means lots and lots of rewrites as most of us who had written essays can attest.

Leradny: Well, I don't do the first one, but I am guilty of numero dos. >_>

—will try to stop doing it—

what is numero dos?

people think i can get regular sleep like most people can; i cant, im a night person by nature, always have been. my senses are often more acute at odd hours, but society's time schedule messes with me. it might be part of one my disorders though {probably bipolar}, or a separate one altogether

edited 2nd Nov '11 10:20:34 PM by jasonwill2