Starting . . . again

[dampscribbler]

Hey, 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!

Comments

[jeniwrites.livejournal.com]

I keep running into that problem with the current WIP. I'm going to allow myself to re-do the previous chapter--and then force myself to keep going until the end. I know that the beginning will need to be revised, and I know how it will eventually be revised--but revising it now seems counterproductive, because in the end, all first drafts require revision. At least I know how I should revise it. That's the toughest part.

I say you and I should continue beating on that beast of self-doubt until we're finished.

[dampscribbler.livejournal.com]

I know I'll be revising, and I need to remind myself that just because I *think* I know what will be different in the second draft doesn't mean I know everything for sure, yet. I know a lot of the story, but honestly I don't really know the characters yet, and it's possible that more or different events than I'm anticipating will come up, but not if I never get past the first chapter!

Kill the Beast! :-)