Forums » Smalltalk » Unmotivated

Lately I haven't felt any desire to write. Mostly it is because I start to write and then stop halfway through because my own fear of making mistakes. Lots of negativity has just built up and I don't know how to get rid of it. Do any of you know good ways to just relax and write without worrying all the time?
I hate when this happens...

I usually combat fear and negativity with romance and love. Mistakes are natural, but, a good way to pay them no heed is to have a sweet subject of a RP. Combat is very detail requiring, usually, and long, extensively thought out plots may be excellent writing tools, they can have several flaws (not having the perfect characters within it, not being able to cope with character driven plot, having a very important character accidently having a change of heart, and so forth.)

I'm not sure generic advice will do! Can you share WHY you fear making mistakes? Are you afraid someone will see it before it is ready? Do you feel as if you must get things right on the first pass, or do you know in your heart of hearts that everything, everything can (and should) be edited after the first draft?

I fear making mistakes because I don't know how to finish anything with the mistakes. I cannot seem to allow myself to make a draft and then go and fix it. The first draft I write usually is bland and nothing like how I wanted the writing to turn out. 90% of the time I just stop writing and move onto a new idea.

Hmmn. What feels bland to you?

• Characters
• Plot
• Pacing
• Actual sentences
• Something else?

Then this may not be a generic fear! I have not experienced specific fears on writing habits, so I am not qualified for the case.

My problem is with pacing as well as organizing a minor plot inside a giant plot. I know my characters inside and out as well as the background stories of each character I have, but piecing it all together is the scary part. I struggle to tell their stories.

My hypothesis is poor morale due to unrealistic expectations. Poor morale is a sure way to lose a battle!

It goes like this: If reading writing that is not yet perfect discourages you from trying to improve it, then you will never be able to edit.

If you are never able to edit, logically one must then never make a mistake. Unfortunately, this is completely impossible.

I posit your difficulty is not with writing, but with editing, and fear thereof!

Editing can be hot and sticky and uncomfortable. It feels like breaking rocks under the desert sun. Reading imperfect things I have written sometimes makes me blush so hard I sweat! Editing is grueling and difficult to talk myself into... Fortunately, it can also be richly rewarding.

Personally, I find that editing is pointless and neverending unless I sit down with a goal, like:

• Make one scene better illustrate the relationship between two characters (I would then insert tiny interactions between the two that help with this)
• Add foreshadowing to something I now know will occur later
• Remove all words and sentences that aren't utterly necessary.
• Cut out all mentions of a subplot I have decided isn't serving the story afterall

A clearly defined goal gives me a place to start, with a clear benefit from the work, so I do not find myself drowning in the quicksand of "fixing everything" or a generic need to "make it better."
It helps if the goal is small enough that I can realistically accomplish it in one sitting. That way, I tend to leave with a "win" that keeps me motivated and my confidence high, instead of merely having had an embarrassing trip down memory lane where I made a dent so small and random it's impossible to measure against what still needs doing.

I think you need some wins to boost your editing morale. Perhaps pull out a piece of writing that once had you incredibly excited, remember what excited you about it, and see if you can add (or remove) three sentences that bring you closer to the exciting bits from the first chapter/page/define your own scope for this battle.

Then do it again tomorrow, only do it with six sentences.

Repeat until you feel you have permission to edit.

Repeat until you have finished a story.

And then you will know you don't need to fear editing, so you don't need to fear mistakes.

This is very helpful, Kim. I will give your advice and tips a go tomorrow when the sun is shining and I am in a good mood. I have a few chapters I could edit and see what happens. Thank you so much!

I very much hope it helps! Let us know how it all goes.

Just checking in to see how things are going. Do you need encouragement or nagging?

Haha, I am doing better. I am still very busy and cannot wait for this year of college to come to an end, but I got a post in and I am trying to stay positive about my writing!

Thank you!