The Hug Me/Kick Me House

[gettingby]

Originally Posted by Aggy B.

Could use a hug. Followed by a kick.

Woke up this morning in a huge pit of self-doubt. Big enough I'm about to just call the whole things quits and wait 'til I'm old and fat to start writing again.

(On the up side, my house is getting drastically cleaner since that is how I tend to vent my stress.)

Ugh.

I think every writer thinks about giving up, but you are actually making sales! The feeling will pass. Hang in there.

[TumbleHome]

Huge hugs all around and Lillie? ALL my best. ... can I give encouraging jazz hands instead of kicks to those that need them?

I have a lot of writing I need to do, but my health has been so poor I have just enough energy to with the daily stuff and pain makes it hard to focus. I really need to get a recorder I can just talk into for times like this.

[Izz]

Originally Posted by Aggy B.

Could use a hug. Followed by a kick.

Woke up this morning in a huge pit of self-doubt. Big enough I'm about to just call the whole things quits and wait 'til I'm old and fat to start writing again.

(On the up side, my house is getting drastically cleaner since that is how I tend to vent my stress.)

Ugh.

Don't be afraid to take a day or two off if you need to. Better a day or two and come back feeling refreshed than not writing for years!

Originally Posted by TumbleHome

Huge hugs all around and Lillie? ALL my best. ... can I give encouraging jazz hands instead of kicks to those that need them?

I have a lot of writing I need to do, but my health has been so poor I have just enough energy to with the daily stuff and pain makes it hard to focus. I really need to get a recorder I can just talk into for times like this.

(but not too hard a hug, 'cause i don't want to make the pain any worse). Don't be too hard on yourself. You can only do what you can do Buying a recorder sounds like a good idea. As well as being good for recording ideas, you can take it to the mall, while wearing a trenchcoat, and look all furtive and stuff

[Aggy B.]

Thanks for the hugs, folks. It's not the rejections that get me down but the lack of support on the home front.

I'm tired of hearing how I'm wasting my time on something that will never pay off (and I'll, apparently, never truly be good at). Ugh.

[alexshvartsman]

Hugs, Aggy.

Don't forget that you're already more successful than about 99.9% of writers out there. Many of them would love to have sold fiction to the markets that published you. Don't doubt yourself, just keep writing, keep improving your craft, and you will keep getting published.

[Eliza C]

Originally Posted by Aggy B.

Thanks for the hugs, folks. It's not the rejections that get me down but the lack of support on the home front.

I'm tired of hearing how I'm wasting my time on something that will never pay off (and I'll, apparently, never truly be good at). Ugh.

So sorry to hear that. At least you know you have proof that you ARE good at it. My thoughts -- don't quit just because someone else wants you to. If you decide for your own reasons someday, whatever they are, that you want to, that's different.
I don't get that much negativity at home, but I do live with a husband who doesn't "get it." He recently told me he's concerned that when I'm older I'll look back on this and regret wasting away so much of my life. <sigh> I assured him I won't. I think if I start selling more, he'll come around. And if I'm making sales and royalties when I retire -- well, we'll see who has the last laugh then!

[V1c]

Originally Posted by Aggy B.

Thanks for the hugs, folks. It's not the rejections that get me down but the lack of support on the home front.

I'm tired of hearing how I'm wasting my time on something that will never pay off (and I'll, apparently, never truly be good at). Ugh.

Can I kick whomever is being all negative about your writing while hugging you?

[Donkey]

Hey Aggie,

You're one of my favorite writers, and I only get bits and pieces of your stuff, as posted in the SYW forums. The homefront is just jealous of the amount of time you spend with your other love. Maybe with good reason. But you have a talent you can't ignore or marginalize. And you will make it big...I know it.

Just tell him/them it's great therapy, and you'd be a raving bitch without it. Heh.

[mrajotte]

I need a good kick!

No acceptances yet this year. Feel like I've been rewriting the same few stories over and over again and sending them back out.

Working on my novel. With a few scenes left to write, I am really dragging my heels. Not sure if it is just summer laziness, if it is because I feel lost in the mess of my outline and not sure what to write or how to untangle the mess - or if I'm just avoiding ending it.

I know the funk will pass - but maybe a kick will help!

[Izz]

How about a hug and a kick? A huck, or a kug, if you would?

You're allowed to drag your heels sometimes. Maybe a day off might help?

Anyway, have a kug!

And remember, what doesn't work during the draft can be fixed in edits!

[mrajotte]

Originally Posted by Izz

Anyway, have a kug!

And remember, what doesn't work during the draft can be fixed in edits!

Thanks, Izz! I'm not sure why I'm so stuck. I'm going to give it another week. If I can finish it, good! If not, I may take a break (since I'm on vacation next week anyway), then come back and start the editing process.

[zanzjan]

Originally Posted by mrajotte

Thanks, Izz! I'm not sure why I'm so stuck. I'm going to give it another week. If I can finish it, good! If not, I may take a break (since I'm on vacation next week anyway), then come back and start the editing process.

I often find I get stuck like that, for no apparent reason, when my subconscious has recognized that it doesn't like something I've just done in the WIP and hits the brakes, and then has to patiently wait for conscious me to catch up and realize there's a problem too. Which sometimes takes weeks, because conscious me is a lot slow and clueless.

However it happens you're stuck, sending you unstuckness vibes.

[AllieKat]

((((hugs))))

I'm sorry things have been tough, Aggy B. and mrajotte!

Things are going OK for me outwardly, but I've been emotional and really doubting myself lately. (I don't have any big outward reason like getting a rejection... just dealing with a lot of self-doubt about writing and... everything.)

Perhaps when the weather finishes changing I'll feel better? (I don't know that that's true, it's just what my parents always say!!)

*edit* Hey! I have 333 posts now!! And it's only taken me... three years.... o_O
--

[gettingby]

Feeling defeated and like what's the point. I don't want to keep sending out bad stories so many of them are just sitting on my computer. I still have 15 out, and I am still writing, but my spirits are down. Do you ever wonder if you are just not good enough? I am hoping this feeling will pass soon, but right now I am pretty down.

[Aggy B.]

Originally Posted by gettingby

Feeling defeated and like what's the point. I don't want to keep sending out bad stories so many of them are just sitting on my computer. I still have 15 out, and I am still writing, but my spirits are down. Do you ever wonder if you are just not good enough? I am hoping this feeling will pass soon, but right now I am pretty down.

You know, I was watching this little film on the National Film Registry the other day and someone (in the film) made the comment that when they went to the movies as a kid there were no "bad" movies or "good" movies - they were just movies.

And I was thinking about writing and how when I started (at the age of seven) every story was great. Then when I got older I learned to judge what I wrote and it made me judgmental - not just of the writing, but also the stories. Which is a flaw because I believe there are no "bad" stories. (Bad writing sometimes, yes, but not bad stories.)

And bad writing is pretty simple to fix. You write, you keep writing, then you go back later and rewrite the early stuff. And the "bad" writing gets better. It IS that simple. (It also borders on insanity because you do have to stick with it until you start to get a different result and that can take a while.)

I think it was Alex who mentioned he rewrites any story that he hasn't sold within six months because he assumes he's improved between then and now. I DON'T rewrite that frequently, but if something has been rejected 5-6 times I usually look at it again, see what could be tightened up, try and figure out if the plot could be smoother, etc. Some story's get massive rewrites, others just get a little tweak before going back out.

You mentioned a couple of weeks ago that you could see improvement in your writing. Maybe it's time to go back to some of the first fiction stories you wrote for W1S1 and start reconstructing them. At the very least you'll find things to edit (I always find ways to tighten up or clarify or hone my description - even with my very best stories - once I take a break from them for a few months).

In the meantime... (((((hugs)))))

[Eliza C]

Originally Posted by gettingby

Feeling defeated and like what's the point. I don't want to keep sending out bad stories so many of them are just sitting on my computer. I still have 15 out, and I am still writing, but my spirits are down. Do you ever wonder if you are just not good enough? I am hoping this feeling will pass soon, but right now I am pretty down.

I'm sure it will pass. If you love to write and have stories in your head, it's not easy to stop. The journey is different for everyone, but I wrote for a long time before I started selling. My habits are to line-edit a story nearly every time it comes back from a market. I almost always find something to wordsmith a bit more. Another thing I do is always get feedback before a story goes out the first time. Usually from a minimum of three beta readers, often more. I think critiquing other stories and having mine critiqued has improved my writing more than any other single factor. Perhaps you already participate in critique forums but if not, there are lots of resources like Critters and OWW and AW also has a "share your work" forum.
Hang in there and good luck.

[AllieKat]

I think people who really aren't very good authors and don't improve rarely actually realize this. The desire to get better, and caring about your writing, are a pretty good indication that you ARE getting better and actually a *good* writer.

[Jodie]

I think people who really aren't very good authors and don't improve rarely actually realize this. The desire to get better, and caring about your writing, are a pretty good indication that you ARE getting better and actually a *good* writer.

I agree with this, the writers who worry about the quality of their writing end up being the good writers.

Hugs to everyone who needs one.

[AllieKat]

Had a story turned down today (my Regency romance). I'm mostly okay but... could use a hug.

[Eliza C]

Originally Posted by AllieKat

Had a story turned down today (my Regency romance). I'm mostly okay but... could use a hug.

We've all been there - some R's just hurt more than others.

[Jodie]

Don't give up. There are lots of reasons stories get rejected that have nothing to do with the quality of the writing.

[AllieKat]

Thanks, Eliza C and Jodie.

--

[ccarver30]

I am kind of in this mode now.
- My writing isn't good enough.
- Why am I wasting my time/effort?
- The chance of getting picked up are almost 0.000000000.

Hug me!

[TorontoGirl]

Originally Posted by ccarver30

I am kind of in this mode now.
- My writing isn't good enough.
- Why am I wasting my time/effort?
- The chance of getting picked up are almost 0.000000000.

Hug me!

Super big hugs for you.
You're NOT wasting your time.
You're writing IS good enough.
And you WILL get picked up.
More super big hugs for you ((((((ccarver30))))))

[zanzjan]

Originally Posted by ccarver30

I am kind of in this mode now.
- My writing isn't good enough.
- Why am I wasting my time/effort?
- The chance of getting picked up are almost 0.000000000.

Hug me!

What Toronto Girl said.

Also, you've got to cultivate a sort of icing-on-the-cake approach to writing: getting your stuff published is the icing, but even though we all love icing and cake can look kind of weird without it, cake (your writing itself) should still be pretty darned tasty and satisfying. And a lot of work, of course, but all the best cake is.


Drat it, now I'm hungry.