Managing Your Writing Stress. . . HOW?!?

Question

I gonna be honest, if I have to read over my stories over more time. My friggin' eyes are fall out! I've read them over 100x now. I'm probably still missing spelling and grammar errors. But I can't tell.(Their Short Stories) Another problem I have is, I have multiple stories I could be working on at one time. 4 in all. Your own work becomes boring after your read it over so much times. And I'm dying to get them out there. Its about time! But I know I'm nowhere NEAR publishing status. . . I think.

Now I'm not trying to sound all bitc*y and whiney. I'm REALLY not! This is not a RANT. I just wanna know, if you're someone who writes, how do you or did you. Deal with this kind of stress?

EXCUSE SPELLING MISTAKES I MIGHT HAVE!!

Answer 1

First thing: get another person to read them. You have spell check, and you have people around you, and you need to be using them. Fresh eyes can spot what you miss, and usually a well-read person can help you out in those tricky spots where's you're wringing it out one letter at a time.

But even more important than that is to walk away. You sound like you're too involved;I know, no way you can be too involved, right? Take a step back. Put the stories in the drawer for a few weeks. work on some small stuff, poems or other things. Do stuff you like: take a walk, ride a bike. Don't touch those pages for at least a month (I make it a general rule that they stay hidden from the world at least six weeks between drafts, maybe more depending on how intense the writing of it is). You need time to recharge. It's gonna be hard, but you'll be itching to get back to work by the end, instead of tearing your hair out.

For some decent tips on the actual physical process of writing, as well as some excellent technical advice, I suggest getting a copy of Stephen King's On Writing. He also goes into the details of getting published/getting an agent and whatnot, and provides his own life story for you as well.

Hope I helped some!

Answer 2

If I were you I could get a journal. Every time you get something you HAVE to write down because its like the best of the best, write it and add it to your story later. If you have an idea or plot line for another amazing story and you don't want to try and work on it while working on the trilogy, then ask a trusted friend or family member. Saying it out loud is sometimes easier then writing it. I used to make up songs and sing them out loud but I could never remember them later, so I asked someone to write the words down as I sang. Do that but with the plot line to it. If your really getting stressed over it and you don't think this will work, then put it on a shelf. Seriously, stop writing it. Take a break so you know you can not have to write it. I'm not talking long enough to lose Inspiration, just so you don't feel the Instant need to get it done. Books aren't written in one day. If you put it away and force yourself not to write about it, it might help calm you down. No one is going to steal your story line/plot and no one is going to mess this up for you. Keep writing later. Good luck! :)

Answer 3

many writers will tell you to finish a draft of your story and put it away for a few days or even weeks to let it settle while you work on another piece. Then go back and start the editing with fresh eyes. It's fine to have more than one story going at a time. That gives you the opportunity to put a story away before editing. Editing is a very important process of writing if you can check out this book: Self-editing for fiction writers by Renni Browne and Dave King. It should give you plenty of information and help with your editing process.

You may also consider getting some writing education along the way as well. Check out the web site for this writing school: longridgewritersgroup. com Good luck & happy writing.

Answer 4

So tell me how many times you read over your post - because I see errors in it. "They're short stories" - not "their". And it's "your own work becomes boring after YOU read ..." not "your read" ... And it's "read it over so many times" - not "so much times". And your last sentence - why did you break it in half?

I would be willing to bet you that you made the "they're" mistake in your manuscript and never caught it because you don't know the difference. What you need to do now is take the stories to a teacher and ask them to mentor you. Your spelling and grammar needs some work. And unless you know what you're doing wrong, no amount of re-reading will help.

So many young writers think it doesn't matter because somewhere along the line an editor will catch it. Well editors aren't babysitters. They aren't supposed to dot your I's. It is your responsibility to use correct grammar and write proper sentences. You need a mentor to work with you.
Pax - C

Answer 5

If you've reached this point, you need to step back and find a new perspective. Set the project aside, and begin a new one, or watch a hundred movies, or read a thousand books, but don't look at your project anymore. Take a break--as in a few weeks or months (months if you can take it)--then go back and look at it with new eyes. I guarantee you'll be able to fix the rough spots and those spelling errors will glare right back at you. Good luck!

Answer 6

Use computer instead of manual typewriter, the site said.
Also make schedule for writing at least 2 hrs. a day.
Be story weaver, click Story Weaver tool.
For complete advice, click on Writer's digest ; Author Assist .com. , guru. com

Answer 7

I teamed up with a friend/acquaintance to help read them with me. Then you have another set of eyes. Or, you can try to find a writers group that meets and you can get several different opinions. Just a thought!

Answer 8

I don't know...but I've been trying for over 20 years now with the same results. You think you're tearing your hair out?--I'm completely freakin' bald (and this IS a rant). Count your blessings.