Starting . . . again
Feb. 14th, 2012 09:24 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
dampscribblerHey, writers!
I've been "working" on this thing for a while, and I worked on it some more yesterday, and I've noticed something about my process.
Most of us know by now that writers throw all kinds of roadblocks in their own way, usually blocks created by some sort of doubt. "This is boring." "No one will care." "I'm not doing anything new here." etc etc etcetcetcusw
Well, I've discovered one in my repertoire that I hadn't before realized existed. It has several names --
"I can do this better." "This isn't good enough." "What if I tell it this way instead?" "Well, that's okay, but I see twelve other ways it could be done, I should try something else."
Identifying the beast for what it is -- another form of doubt -- feels like an achievement, because it helps me take it less seriously, shove it aside and move on, but this one's still a humdinger at the moment. I figure the best way around it is through it, so instead of starting over again (and I think I've started this one close to a dozen times in the past 3-plus months) I'm going to just keep writing forward, telling myself the story, and get that first draft out.
I hope.
Have any of you noticed this tendency in yourself? Does it have other names/messages I should be watching out for?
Happy writing, everyone!
I've been "working" on this thing for a while, and I worked on it some more yesterday, and I've noticed something about my process.
Most of us know by now that writers throw all kinds of roadblocks in their own way, usually blocks created by some sort of doubt. "This is boring." "No one will care." "I'm not doing anything new here." etc etc etcetcetcusw
Well, I've discovered one in my repertoire that I hadn't before realized existed. It has several names --
"I can do this better." "This isn't good enough." "What if I tell it this way instead?" "Well, that's okay, but I see twelve other ways it could be done, I should try something else."
Identifying the beast for what it is -- another form of doubt -- feels like an achievement, because it helps me take it less seriously, shove it aside and move on, but this one's still a humdinger at the moment. I figure the best way around it is through it, so instead of starting over again (and I think I've started this one close to a dozen times in the past 3-plus months) I'm going to just keep writing forward, telling myself the story, and get that first draft out.
I hope.
Have any of you noticed this tendency in yourself? Does it have other names/messages I should be watching out for?
Happy writing, everyone!
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no subject
Date: 2012-02-14 05:31 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-02-14 05:43 pm (UTC)On the other hand, I do manage to win ultra-short contests. (I've won two!) So, it works for me sometimes. What I'm working on right now isn't ultra-short, though. :)
no subject
Date: 2012-02-14 05:45 pm (UTC)This week I seem to be busting out the words. I don't know where they are coming from.
Wahooo! Do what works.
no subject
Date: 2012-02-14 05:48 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-02-14 06:44 pm (UTC)It's hard to read fanfic when you don't know the characters. I wrote one "series" that focused on an original character, but it definitely helps to know the characters. I don't like to read fanfic of shows I'm not familiar with either.
Thanks! It's a lot of fun. And I do find myself thinking, "this is not good, it could be so much better, no one will read it, etc." I just have to keep telling myself that it's just for fun:D