Forums » RP Discussion » Regaining your confidence in your writing?

(Sorry, I think I saw a thread like this once but I can't seem to find it again. If anyone remembers and wants to link me, I'd really appreciate it.)

So, I used to consider myself a pretty good writer. In fact, my writing was the only thing about myself I was proud of. But lately I've had most of my roleplays die before they even really got started, and it's hard not to take it personally and think that it's something I'm doing wrong. I'm scared to start any new roleplays because I'll get invested in the story and characters like I always do, but then lose touch with the other writer (either because they can't continue or I can't.)

And as for my solo writing, I just can't seem to come up with anything I like anymore. I'll get excited about an idea, only to look at it later and decide I don't like it all. Or I'll be writing something and halfway through I'll lose motivation, because I don't really have anyone to share it with and I know no one will ever read it (People tell me I should write for myself, but that's just not me. I like sharing with people.)

It's also probably mental health thing, in my case. I'm coming off a pretty bad downward spiral and have lost confidence in a lot of things, including my writing.

I guess my question for all you other writers and roleplayers is, has this ever happened to you? Were you able to regain your confidence -- and how did you manage to do that?

I just miss feeling good about writing

Hope this helps.

Seriously though;

I know it's not as easy that. And as much as I appreciate the video Churchy posted, I feel the advice on how to actually achieve 'going pro' was lacking. Sort of like Kenny Rogers' 'The Gambler'; "You've got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold em', know when to walk away, know when to run". Sounds great, but how do you know when to hold, fold, walk or run?

There is absolutely something to be said for persistence, refusing to back down in the face of 'resistance, and I can agree that for me, at least, the best way to escape ~The Block~ is indeed to force myself to churn out words until the inspiration starts to flow - which it almost always does.

That said, I know where you're at here because I'm in a very similar place. My new job is killing me, sucking my creativity, my motivation. THe 'churning out until it flows' process has been becoming harder and harder. Im looking back at the writing I used to do and thinking "@#$% I used to be good, why aren't I good anymore?"

That is possibly, I think, the most dangerous part; falling into the idea that you used to be good and now you're not.

So I can't tell you how to get out of this slump, but I can tell you that you ARE still the writer that you used to be. It's still in there. That sort of thing doesn't really go away, no matter how much it feels like it.

I think that remembering this, forcing yourself to remember it, even if you don't believe it, is an important step in 'going pro' as described above. It can be very hard to find something if you're convinced it's gone forever, but it's impossible to find something if you refuse to accept the possibility that maybe it's still there somewhere.

And there is something to be said for 'breathing in', too. Read some books. That's my go to. (Or, rather, I listen to them) Go back to your absolute favorite books that you haven't read in forever. Recently I realized that of my three favorite writers, I have read none of their work in several years because I've already read almost everything they wrote. I spent a lot of time looking for new stuff but when in doubt the tried-and-true is always there for you. Lately, going back and listening to some of the books that used to truly inspire me - well, it's not going to fix the problem, but I think it's helping. Remember, there's a reason you loved those books so much in the first place.

But whatever you do, just don't let yourself forget that you're still a great writer. It's not a matter of starting over - it's a matter of getting through that locked door - whether you methodically searh for the key or bash at it until it breaks down. Your goal isn't as far away as it might feel.

"And as always, thanks for watching."

It’s so much easier said than done, but for me it helps to take a break, take a step back and look at the bigger picture. Take care of myself and just let my mind absorb information and inspiration. Sometimes communication works greatly, too. Talking about how I’m low on motivation and the like somehow seems to help because like everything else, the feeling of lack of motivation will eventually pass ^^