Regaining Motivation to Write, Help? (Rant inside)

Can anyone help me, please?

Three years ago, when I'm pretty much a self-centered jerk, I used to write 5k-7k words a day, despite having lower overall quality. At that time I actually feel fulfilled after completing a chapter, writing stories isn't a burden but a joy. Then, at some point near the present, I've hit a sudden halt in productivity. Lately I can't even reach 1k words per day, the minimum target I imposed upon myself. Even as I completed a chapter, I will look at it and think 'this is bad' and rewrite it in hopes that it will get better, then I'll look at it, ad nauseam. I don't understand it myself, but I think it's probably because my perfectionist self (fear of failing, etc...) and my low self-esteem preventing me from writing. I'm afraid that the next sentence, the next line I write will ruin what I've written so far.

I actually like to write, but it's that feeling that I'm writing to nobody. My stories contained a lot of Japanese overtones, which, as someone pointed out in a forum, is more like a light novel than a novel that most western audience would read. I've promised (to whom?) in my blog that this Sunday-today-I will post my story in my blog, but I found myself unable to do so, the chapter isn't even completed yet. I feel uncompelled to do so; I have no motivation to continue writing. If I'm a bad writer, than why should I write at all?

Probably this is why I joined Roleplay threads, there I feel like what I write and post actually matters and is a contribution.

I'm sorry if this rant feels nonsensical and/or disjointed, that's probably just my inability to express my thoughts in English.

edited 9th Jun '12 8:46:11 AM by LimitRemoval

First things first. Step back and take a breath. Constant writing means you will burn out quickly and it sounds like you have. Take a break from writing from time to time. Unless you are being paid to do a 7 day a week column over 1000 words in length there is no reason to not take a break away completely from writing 1-2 times a week minimum.

In short, take a vacation for a few days then come back.

Going by the advice of other writers, I'd suggest the next time you write, you get one or two thousand words out of you and you lock it away. Let it sit for a week and THEN come back to it. See how you feel then.

If the "writing for no one" feelings persist, look into some popular titles within your same mediums and demographics and find out what made them so popular.

Because you can still get better.

I'm gonna take a stab in the dark here and say that, when you were writing 5-7k words, you did so because you had a reason. Maybe you were doing it for fun. Maybe you just wanted to put your ideas to paper. Maybe you just wanted to know that you could sit down, work on a project, and actually have something readable.

Think back to why you started writing in the first place. Remember that reason, and use it as a guide for you in the future. Or if that doesn't work, find a new reason to write. Like and said, take a break and think about what you really want to do. I can't guarantee it'll work, but it may be just the stepping stone you need.

I'll be honest with you: sometimes I feel the same way you do. What if I'm a terrible writer? What's the point of writing if nobody reads it? But I'm doing what I can to overcome that. Know how? Because I accepted it. I know that I'm a terrible writer, but I'm LESS terrible than when I was starting out. I know that there's only a handful of people that have read my work, and even less of them have actually enjoyed it — but let me tell you, it is completely worth it when you wake up one morning, check what you posted, and find that there's even one comment that says "this was a great read."

Like I said, I can't guarantee it'll work. I can't guarantee you or I will ever become something beyond posters on forums. But for what it's worth, you've got one Troper who's on your side.

Keep on writing. Keep moving forward.

I know how you feel sometimes. I've been working on the same project for two years now and occasionally I'll swing from excitement about moving on to utter despondency, thinking that no one cares about my work but me and it'll never come out the way I want it to and even if it does, people will think it's cliched and rubbish and full of unlikable characters and unbelievable plot twists and an all around mess. I'll mope around in this for a few days, then it'll swing back again to wanting to proceed, even if I'm not sure how.

Which is where I am now, pretty much. I know how it ends, I know what happens to the characters, and I know the broad plot of how everything comes together. And for some reason, I'm stuck on the next chapter, because I'm not sure what the write. I think what's worse is that the big event I'm been laying the groundwork for the most of the story is about to occur, and once that happens, things are going to start getting very hectic, very fast and I'll be running out of time to get everything I want done. And I'm worry if I press on without knowing where I'm going, I'm going to mess it all up and have to do massive rework.

And yet, this is what's driving me to continue, because I want to get to the end, and show others how it ends, and see what happens next, what solution I discover. And I guess what I'm trying to say is.....I understand how you feel and the answer may be in finding something to get you to press on, either to see what happens next or how it ends or something.

I hope there was something helpful for you in all of that.