The Writers Block Thread

Discussion in 'General Writing' started by Sapphire, Sep 21, 2006.

  1. Richach

    Richach Contributor Contributor Contest Winner 2022

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    I think what we need to remember that when we read a book, it would usually have been polished and editied. Comparing our early drafts to the finished article of established authors is never going to be a fair comparison.

    I think in practical terms it is hard to know what to suggest. The folks on this site are always supportive and give contructive critiques.

    Keep writing and enjoy it!
     
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  2. matwoolf

    matwoolf Banned Contributor

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    I kind of agree with you @Gary Wed...but any Joe coughs up a spot of folk art about 'my dad died' - and most people like it, and publish it somewhere...

    Maybe that's the litmus? If you can't write that one - then do mechanics instead.
     
    Last edited: Nov 15, 2019
  3. Mish

    Mish Senior Member

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    Self doubt is a terrible thing. It doesn't necessarily get better with time. Speaking as someone who has actually won several writing competitions I still doubt myself sometimes. "What if it was only a fluke that people liked the previous stuff I've written? See, not many people liked the piece after this!" Those self critical inner voices are never helpful. That's why I advocate to first and foremost write for yourself and ensure that you yourself enjoy what you have written. Once you become your own favourite author you can start thinking about how to improve your craft (slightly) for the other's benefit and enjoyment.
     
    Last edited: Nov 4, 2019
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  4. VeryCluelessAlexa

    VeryCluelessAlexa New Member

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    Honestly this is my first time on a writing forum and i was so nervous about actually asking for help and advice at first, but now im so glad i did. These tips have really helped me with my writing and confidence, so thank you everyone.
     
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  5. Aceldama

    Aceldama free servant Contributor

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    Absolutely. Couldn't agree more.
    __
    To Alexa, the advice given is more then adequate and I really don't have much more to offer other than as much as writing takes work and effort, shutting up the unrealistic thoughts of doubt and anxiety is work too. If you love to write, write. Simply because of the fact that you love it. When your motivation is love then the doubts and worries will melt away. Don't trouble yourself. Love what you do and the rest will fall into place.

    If you'd like I think you should post some of what you've written in the appropriate place for feedback. Sometimes a little encouragement goes a long way.
     
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  6. cosmic lights

    cosmic lights Contributor Contributor

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    I think ALL writers have this or go through this, it's more common than you think. I do avoidance. I tell myself "I'm thinking about it. I'm not writing it, but I am planning it in my head." When the truth is, I haven't thought of it for a few days. My writing process is slow and I think removing as much pressure as possible helps me. I think you start to criticize yourself and expect high standards when your thinking of doing something with your story - like publishing it or entering a mag or competition. Then you create this mental block for yourself, that unless you can get it perfect first time, your best not to attempt it in case you muck it up.

    It's best to forget any long term goals and just focus on short term ones. It also comes down to self-discipline and commitment. Those things can be hard but it shouldn't be so hard that your forcing yourself every single day with no real motivation and desire to write - that's when you need to re-evaluate whether writing is for you. Writing is hard work at times so it takes drive.

    Maybe post for feedback. But completing something feels so good that it boost confidence. So maybe write a few short stories. Things that can be completed in one day/one sitting. That can boost confidence.
     
  7. H. Antler

    H. Antler Member

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    Maybe you can't. But the good thing is that we all can learn tremendously.
    I am very self conscious about drawing. I used to suck at it. But if I consistently keep doing it I get better - and I have.

    Spending time wondering will not make you better. Writing does. So do it. Don't spend time analyzing more than you spend in writing.

    I am a huge fan of Steven Pressfield, his "nobody wants to read your sh*t" is my favorite but for self doubt "war of art" is great too.

    I am very much guilty of the wrong focus myself. I can spend 10x hours online planing an activity over doing it. And then what I do doesn't match my grand ideas. It is really tempting to get back to dreaming of the great screenplay, crafts project, painting whatever rather than doing a mediocre version of it.
    But the latter is far more fruitful. Do it and next time it will be mediocre +1.

    Eventually somehow you will get really good - if you put the miles.
     
  8. Naomasa298

    Naomasa298 HP: 10/190 Status: Confused Contributor

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    I dunno, talent has something to do with it. I could practice my tennis for twenty years, I ain't gonna be Roger Federer.
     
  9. H. Antler

    H. Antler Member

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    Right. I couldn't be world class weightlifter. Simply out of reach.

    But I could be in top 5% strongest males in the world (I am 42 so soon that opportunity starts slipping away) . I probably never will get in that club but not because of lack of inherent potential but because I am not putting in the work.
     
  10. JLT

    JLT Contributor Contributor

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    So what? If you enjoy it as much as Roger does, you're gold. And if you can give others a good game, and make it worth their while to play you, then what should stop you?

    I like to sing. Other people like to hear me sing. But I'm never going to crack the Billboard Top 100. That won't stop me from singing.
     
  11. J Chris

    J Chris Member

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    The trick is to write your first draft as fast as you can, without thinking. Save the self-criticism for the revision stage. Get something down on paper first.
     
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  12. Naomasa298

    Naomasa298 HP: 10/190 Status: Confused Contributor

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    It makes a difference if you want to make a living out of it.
     
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  13. OurJud

    OurJud Contributor Contributor

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    Are you seriously suggesting talent isn't a 'thing' ? I don't argue a huge part of anything that anyone does well is down to hard work, but to suggest there's no such thing as talent is ridiculous.
     
  14. Cilogical

    Cilogical Banned

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    Not everyone can be what they dream. Not everyone should be what they dream.

    Hard work goes a long way, but sometimes it’s just not enough.

    You can say “I really want this” as much as you want but if you’re shit after trying your best......then you’re just shit.
     
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  15. jim onion

    jim onion New Member

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    I was in the top 1% of all Rocket League players in the world. To be a pro you had to be in the top .1%, and unlike many of the professional players who were almost all younger than 20 years old, I was fast approaching 21, and was at a point in my life where I needed to find something else. Unlike in my high-school years, I could no longer afford to play video games for 10 hours a day. I could play for 4, maybe 5, but all the people I was up against had 4-6 thousand hours of play-time whereas I had ~1250 hours of total play-time. As far as I'm concerned, *that* was the difference between somebody like myself in the top 1%, and someone playing professionally in the top .1%

    I was good at Company of Heroes and wanted to play professionally, but wasn't good enough. Lack of talent.

    I played "semi-professional" Day of Defeat: Source. The community was full of people who had been pros in the previous game, but in Source there wasn't any money in the scene. I'd like to think I was very good at that game too (routinely being suspected of hacking is my evidence).

    Even still. Never got to become a true professional gamer. Never made any money.

    Talent is a part of it, but sometimes it's just not in the cards for other reasons. This is why I've shifted my focus from creative writing to journalism; my hope is that I can do something I generally enjoy, and am relatively good at, but in a way that has more financial security.

    Your struggle seems to be that you do find enjoyment in writing, but as @Naomasa298 said, it makes a big difference if you want to make a living. My desire to make a living from fiction writing did way more harm than good, personally. It made me hate writing more than I enjoyed it. I forgot how to have fun. I'm still recovering from that.
     
    Last edited: Nov 15, 2019
  16. Cilogical

    Cilogical Banned

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    Talent, luck and hard work. They’re all interlinked. The super successful have all those things in abundance. You need all three to reach the stratosphere of brilliance.
     
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  17. matwoolf

    matwoolf Banned Contributor

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    Lo! What horrible cliches abundant. Call 999 for ye motivational speaker death squad.
     
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  18. big soft moose

    big soft moose An Admoostrator Admin Staff Supporter Contributor Community Volunteer

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    You can't learn to be federer but if you play and train hard you could be the best in your local club

    when i was much younger i spent three summers working as a green keeper...as a keeper it was compulsory to play the course every week with the MD... however when i started I'd never played golf in my life and had no interest in or aptitude for it... my boss reacted to this by making me play a round with the club pro every day, and twice weekly lessons until my game improved... by my third year I had a single figure handicap and was being requested to play with the managing director when he had guests he wanted to show the course.

    I'd never have been tiger woods, in fact I'd never have made the show as a professional golfer at all, but through hard work I'd learnt to be good enough. (I still didn't like golf and after i left the job i never played again)

    The same applies to writing - if you don't have a native talent you'll probably never be Child, Patterson, King, Rowling etc but you can teach yourself to be good enough through hard work and application

    On the flip side you could have most amazing talent in the world but if you don't also work hard you will never be good enough
     
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  19. H. Antler

    H. Antler Member

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    To be an elite needs a lot of stars aligned. If its competitive gaming or gymnastics there is no fighting genes or age beyond certain point.

    Writing is not like that.
     
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  20. jim onion

    jim onion New Member

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    This is a fair and good point. Well said.
     
  21. Cilogical

    Cilogical Banned

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    Everything is like that.
     
  22. Cephus

    Cephus Contributor Contributor

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    I don't think talent really matters much in writing. Yes, some people are naturally better at it than others, but nobody gets good without a ton of work. Nobody was born with the ability to write the Great American Novel. No one's first effort was amazing. Everyone has to work their ass off to get decent at it. Talent only takes you so far. Hard work is the real key.
     
  23. Cephus

    Cephus Contributor Contributor

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    No, but you can be the best you that you can be. Roger Federer can't be you either. You need to stop comparing yourself to others and just be yourself. Success is not born through comparison but through hard work.
     
  24. Naomasa298

    Naomasa298 HP: 10/190 Status: Confused Contributor

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    That's my point though - it'e not just hard work. Talent plays a part too.
     
  25. Naomasa298

    Naomasa298 HP: 10/190 Status: Confused Contributor

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    I said nothing about comparing yourself to anyone else.

    It takes more than just talent and hard work to succeed. Luck plays a big part too.
     
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