Sometimes, I view writing like a sandwich - it's always better when someone else makes it. Point being, I often read something (or listen to an audiobook) that someone else wrote and I think, "why couldn't I think of that?" or, "this person writes WAY better than me," or "I could never create something that good." Have any of you felt similar things? Is there a good practice to combat this? I understand self-doubt is common among writers but sometimes it feels heavier than usual...
Of course. I look at the stuff posted here and I think, why am I not that good? Especially when my competition entries get 0 votes. Then I suck it up and get back to writing, because practice is the only way to improve.
Funny, I spend a lot of time reading books and thinking "I can do better than that." That's one reason I do it. "I suck" isn't a conclusion. It's a challenge. The only way to fail is to give up.
Giving up is never an option. I just go through stretches where I read something and it makes me feel my own writing is inadequate. It's all subjective...and all in my head I know...it just feels frustrating. I, too, sometimes read something and think "I can do better than that," but more often than not the other feeling is more noticeable
When that happens to me, I think "well, there's no reason why I can't do this too". I mean, I think I'm as capable of using language as anyone, so I try to take the good bits out of what I've read and incorporate it into my own writing. I love imitating my favourite authors. So far, I've copied Jack Vance, Stephen King, Stephen Donaldson and Terry Pratchett. Now working on an Isaac Asimov style piece. Although I'm trying to develop my own style, my pieces tend to be quite different from one another.
Leave it up to the witty and brutally honest Jenna Moreci to tackle this very subject in a blunt, entertaining way
She's right. Way too many people seem to think that being overly self-critical is a wonderful way to go through life. They are wrong. Not only does it make you feel terrible, but it makes people not want to be around you. It makes the people who are willing to hang around you people you probably don't want to be around. It's a giant self-doubt spiral. If all people can think is how much they suck, honestly, they need serious psychological help. That is not normal, it isn't natural and it certainly isn't healthy.
I certainly don't think being self-critical is wonderful, but it's often unavoidable. It's at least partially anxiety & depression-caused. Sometimes I use that as an asset to my writing. Other times it makes it challenging (ie: self-doubt, second-guessing, and feelings of being inadequate.)
I don't read much fiction that is older than about a hundred and fifty years old . The number of writers that history has allowed to float to the top, in my time slot , is too large to read . The ones you can read are often at the top of their gain , so it is inevitable that so many are and always will be better than you. You don't normally see the struggle of writers , you only see their best edited work . You can read the complete writings of George Orwell , in two volumes . You can see how he developed as a writer . He was not a writer for long, but he went from , not that good, to writing one of the most influential books of the twentieth century . On the other side of the coin , there are plenty of retired professionals that have the time, education and money to self publish . I have meet a few , and often . not completely undeservedly , proud of the achievement and skill as a writer . Sadly the books are often not that good and they will never progress as writers . Self doubt and disappointment is the fuel of personal development.
I recognise this problem a bit, suffered like you for a while, but I say: Balance and moderation! It is good to sometimes question yourself and your work, that way we can improve ourselves. But doing it too much is not healthy nor productive. In the same principle you should commend yourself for the good you do, and for the areas you are good at. I've realised myself that I'm not that good of a writer, but a decent enough storyteller. My plots are intriguing, my writing can do with a lot of work. Right now I'm writing just to get the story told, then I can learn how to write better and edit the whole mess. On a side-note. I once turned in a university work that I thought would fail hard, I was so disappointed in my own writing, but I got top grade and a comment from the teacher telling me it was intelligent, creative, and excellent. Completely to my surprise. Sometimes we can be blinded by our own lust for perfection.
It's a spectrum really. The key part of what you've described is your use of the word "overly". That's no good at either end of the spectrum, overly self-critical or overly self-confident. No one wants to be around either. A little bit of self-doubt is important I think. A bit like how a little anxiety is helpful before sports. I think that self-doubt keeps you grounded, keeps you hungry to improve and learn more. It's when it spirals to overly critical it becomes a problem. Likewise, a bit of self-confidence is also important. Most people should, and likely do, gravitate towards both on different days and times, maybe even on the same day too.
I have had the erg to write since the 3rd grade when I got my first A+++ on a story I wrote about the "Life of a Pencil." The only thing I was good at in school was writing. I wasn't very good in academics but I have always loved writing. I have two problems that stop me from my writing. One is, it takes me so long to get it on paper. It took me 10 years to finish my first book. I have sent it to 3 different publishers and they all want to publish it but, I don't have the money they are asking. So I started on a second. I'm not sure why. I can't afford to publish the first one so why write another? I am 5 chapters in, going a little faster this time, and then my family insisted I watch a movie with them. [I'm not a movie guy] So I watched it and I was absolutely devastated because I literally watched my book unfold in front of me. All my great ideas were already written and was a movie! It's not exactly like my story but close enough. I have to admit it's a good movie. A years worth of work completely destroyed in 2 hours. So now what? Ideas don't come to me very easily but it seems discouragement does. How does a writer get through the rejection and heartbreak?
Oh, wow. Where to start... First of all, those publishers 'who want to publish' your book are asking you for money? YIKES! These are not real publishers, despite what they tell you. They will flatter you and tell you your writing is good and they are keen to publish it. However. Those are vanity presses. They make their money from YOU, not from selling your books—and believe me, they won't try to sell your books, once they've been paid by you. A real publisher does not ask you for money. They GIVE you money. You might want to check out this section of the forum, to give you some insight into publishing issues. https://www.writingforums.org/publishing/publisher-discussion/ If you truly would like to publish your first book and don't have any money, consider self-publishing it—once you've edited and revised it to a very high standard. That's becoming a much more popular way to get a book out there, and many many of our forum members can give you advice on that, because they do it themselves. You may have some upfront costs, if you don't know how to design a book cover, etc, but you can also do this yourself—for free. And then get your book up and running on Amazon or other outlets. For free. The money you make (besides the small commission Amazon charges for sales) is yours, and there is no upfront cost. As to your second book being just like a movie, only not quite.... Just keep going with it. Obviously don't copy the movie, but just because there's a resemblance doesn't mean your book won't be a success. In fact, the similarity might help your book to become a success. People who liked the movie will want to read your book. So keep going. We all get discouraged from time to time. There is no magic formula to prevent that from happening, or to cure it when it does. Just have faith in your own visions, strive to make the writing itself as good as it can be. Ideas are a dime a dozen. It's the good writing that will make you successful, so spend a LOT of time learning the tricks of the trade. Become resigned to riding with the 'downhearted' times. I think most writers experience them. And good luck. Welcome to the forum, by the way. I'm one of the forum moderators, and I'd like to direct you to two important links, which will help you find your footing here. If you encounter any problems getting settled, feel free to 'start a conversation' with me, and I'll do what I can to help. New Member Quick Start Forum Rules Cheers for now, Jan
Yeah, don't worry too much about movies or other stories being similar to yours. That's always been true. At a certain level, there are only so many stories really. It's the details and the way each author or filmmaker handles the finer points that make them different.
There's nothing new under the sun, so don't let that worry you. Just compare Hunger Games & Battle Royale or Needful Things and Something Wicked This Way Comes. All of us have those moments.
No honest publisher is going to ask you for any money, ever. You're dealing with vanity press and that's a rip off. Actual publishers almost always require an agent. If you don't have one, you're likely not going to get anywhere. Start there. Keep in mind, any publisher that you sign with, they are going to expect you to provide new books regularly on a deadline. You can't take 10 years to write the next one.
I R disapoint. I wanted this to be a plot question about slaying a discouraged dragon that aside - never pay a publisher, they pay you. not the other way round and don't worry about your book being a bit like a film - everything has been done before...
