help! i keep trying 2 write but i end up stopping everytime because im too critical of my own work?

Question

i know that if i could just get past this that i would have so many books written and maybe even published! i've wanted to be an author for 10+ yrs now and keep trying to write and i'll have a great idea, then the editor and critic in me take over and start ripping it to pieces and then i get stuck and cant write anymore and wait a few months then start a new project...can anyone help please? does this happen to anyone else? or am i the only one...?

Answer 1

You are not alone. ;p

What the others said are true. This is a common problem of writers. IN fact, you would only face this problem if you really have a writer's heart. I think it's because we want to make sure we are getting the story across perfectly. We want to share our concept to the readers and we obsess on the ways we could make them understand and more importantly, to make them LIKE it.

But as a writer, we should also honor our limitations. This is what helps me: I have an allotted time for writing. I make it practically a ritual. Then I stuff the editor in me inside a box and I don't let it out even if it makes a ruckus. I make sure I get a good five pages before I even surface. It doesn't matter if the grammar's crap or the dialogues are not the best... fine-tuning is reserved for later. Some say you should finish the WHOLE book first, but frankly, I take a peek every two weeks or so. And even then, I have to control the editor.

Julia Cameron in her book The Artist's Way gave a suggestion on how to practice writing with your heart instead of just your mind. Get a "Journal" and write down 5 pages of anything, and I mean anything! You can talk about something as silly as the weather, your breakfast, how you feel... Do this every morning and sooner or later, you will put your Inner Censor in its right place. It would teach you to express yourself more openly. ;P try it! You can even read her book!

Good luck, mate!

Answer 2

I think that 99% of all writers share this problem and there are tons of suggestions for dealing with it, but only three bits of advice have actually helped me personally.

The first is to refuse to read what you've written until at least five days after you've written it. When you've finished something-whether it be a page, a chapter, or a whole novel- put it aside for a few days. When you come back to it, your mind should be a little clearer and you wont be so caught up in the dynamics of your writing.

My second tip is to always have a backup of whatever you've written. If it's on the computer, save a copy on a seperate disc or, even if it's just scribbled down on paper, make photocopies. I once deleted a novel that I had worked on for 3 years because I just didn't think the words were flowing properly.

Finally, keep even your worst attempts. I still have a couple of short stories that I wrote in the third grade and can look back at them and laugh whenever I feel like my current work is trash, because I know that it's at least a bit better than what is was before.

Good luck!

Answer 3

I know exactly what you mean, since I suffer from the same problem.

You need to try to separate the creator and editor. You need to be able to do both, but not at the same time - that's impossible.

When you are in creator mode and your editor starts making critical comments, just think to yourself 'maybe so, maybe not, I'll deal with that later, for now I write'. Keep writing! Give yourself permission to write a 'shitty first draft'. No one has to see it! If it helps to do it longhand rather than on a computer, then do so.

When you come back to your work later, in editor mode, this is the time to run things over with a critical eye. Leave a bit of time after you write the thing and then just read it. See what you think. Undoubtedly you will think of changes and improvements. Now is the time to make them.

Don't over-edit. When it's done, it's done, and it's time to either send it out or file it in a drawer as practice.

Answer 4

Happens to me all the time! I have started(and stopped) about 5 books now. I also think my book isn't good enough. I was once writing this one book, and everyone loved it and then, I deleted all of it(it was on the computer) because I didn't like it but everyone else thought it was great.

I think the only thing to do is keep writing and writing. Even if you think your story is bad, just keep writing and don't read over what you have until you feel like you have gotten to a part in your book that you love and then go back and read everything. Just keep practing and trying not to critic your work.

Let other people critic it for you. Sometimes, when someone says my work is good, that's what motivates me to keep going. Share your work and then if someone likes it, you might feel better and keep going. If someone doesn't, keep going anyways. But you will find someone who does. Good luck. =)

Answer 5

I write scripts so I know what your going through, I have alot of unfinished scripts because I think they suck. Don't tear up your things if the story doesn't work out, write down what needs to change in your story and use it for future reference. Sometimes it happens because your working to hard on the story and it hurts your brain, so take small breaks every now and then to keep yourself sane. And while your writing, if you find you have a bad idea, write it down on a separate sheet, because it might be a good idea in a future project.

Answer 6

Stop it! Just write and then come back later and fix it. Your goal is to complete the work, the story, not to make it perfect. Write it. Set it aside and then a few days or a week or two later come back to it and fix it. Remember your goal ... it's to write and complete the story ...

write and complete the story ....

write and complete the story

Answer 7

I'm having similar experience. My brother reassures me that it happens to most people, even him. We get wrapped in the desire to reach a certain ideal of perfectionism in our minds. I don't know what would help in your case, but I try to sink into the rhythm and flow. Follow the river's current. I'm still coping with that motif.

Answer 8

if you can surround yourself with people who believe in your talent.