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I think I've hit writer's block! HELP!?
I've been writing this story, which turned into an over 500 page book very quickly, without the slightest knowledge on how the writing process actually works! I've been at it for 2 years, I loved every minute of writing it and then suddenly...I began to second guess myself. Questions like these began to pop into my head: "Who exactly is my audience?" "Am I offending anyone?" "Who the hell do I think I am to be speaking for this particular group of people?" "Are my characters true to themselves?" "Have I done enough research?" "How could I have missed THIS mistake???" "Am I too PG?" "Am I too graphic?" "Why the ef am I doing this again? I need to sleep" I don't know what I was thinking, but I have gotten myself well in over my head - on a project that is essentially fan fiction and cannot ever be published! And yet, I love my story, I loved the challenges that the continuation of an existing story brought on, I loved going nuts on it and having fun with it...until now. I started thinking about the fact that I will have to eventually post this and the fact that people will read this, criticize it and find faults with it I didn't even know it had - no matter how polished I think it is! And it is FAR from polished. I have been editing this thing for a year now - changing the story, embellishing it, adding new hooks, moving commas around - everything somehow perfectly fitting in. But now I feel like the editing will never stop, because I will never be able to stop changing my mind about the direction of this thing - half innocent and half twisted (kind of like my main character....). And who the hell gets stuck in the middle of editing??? I've written a frigging encyclopedia without a hitch and I get stuck in EDITING??? But that's what happens when you decide to take a minor character into the majors and enhance her - the entire story now has to be rearranged to fit her depth (I've done it w/ other characters and aside from sleepless nights and a stint with alcoholism, I had no problem) - but this one's giving me insomnia! She has become the antagonist and the reader's connection to this character is so important that it must be done, the changes must be implemented if it kills me, otherwise the story will suffer. I have become so intimidated by this task, that I have done the unthinkable - stopped writing. I can't remember a night in the past 2 years when I haven't written, so this is a big deal. How do I solve a problem only I can solve? How can I do this, get the courage to undertake her again and start loving writing this behemoth again? And is it really worth it, am I being ridiculous? Who the hell reads fan fic anyway???? Any word of encouragement from fellow writers (if I even deserve to be called one)would be helpful, anyone who has ever been stuck between the creative and the practical, anyone who understands how the heart of the story begins to die when you think too much about the "why" and the "what if"....
2 Answers
- 9 years agoFavourite answer
First off you dont have to worry about what everyone else thinks. Easier said then done, i know, but think of it this way. Not everyone loves the same thing, so obviously some people arent going to be going crazy about your story, however there are people that will be. People that like the same thing as you and that like the way that you write. Instead of focusing on what other people may think of as flaws, think of the stuff that people like, so basically focus on the poitive comments instead of the negitive ones. All that matters is that you like it, and if a few other people cant accept that then whatever, there is people out there that will.
Its not the end of the world that you didnt write/edit your story for one night. Maybe you need a break. If you feel like you have to write the book every night then your not going to want to do it. It needs to be something that you want to do, like a hobby or something that you do in your spare time and enjoy. And I know that you used to enjoy it but now your starting to fall out of your love for the story, and ive been there and done that.
Im currently writing a book too and there has been many times where I didnt want to contrinue and got bored and tierd of it. All I do to try to get myself back into a writing mood is I try to re-read some of it. I dont try to edit it or change it, I just read it and I eventually get my mind back into the story line and then I get new ideas to add onto it and to continue it from that point on.
Good luck! Hope this helps.
- 9 years ago
Writers block happens to everyone, one time or another. The book you are writing is a manuscript. It can still be reviewed and rewritten by you or anyone else. Find your audience randomly have someone read your books and have them criticize it. Also see nature sometimes, it aids inspiration.