Wow. I've been a busy girl and am shocked. Shocked, I tell you, that I remembered to post for this month's IWSG.
I'm feeling loads of insecurities these days that are associated with writing. So it is a good thing I have this post to slough off those doubts that creep into my mind late at night and nibble at my subconscious.
Okay, maybe not doubts. Fears. That is a more apt description.
(Funny, reading over these first few sentences and I can see how deprived I am from writing. I'm using intelligent, descriptive words.)
So these fears of mine. I'm closing in on my book release month and I haven't even begun to get into the hard knocks revising of book two. Granted, I'm working a lot. But I have had other stresses in my life and I've been very selfish in the "Mel's Free Time" department. I'm either gaming on Everquest 2 (Yes, new game) or I am just chillin' in front of the T.V. I haven't even picked up a book or my e-reader.
But I had a very disturbing thought the other day. I've been trying to come up with some short stories or even some other ideas (which I do have a few of both...) but I just can't seem to get them down on paper.
Fear: What if I never have another good idea again?
Fear: What if I drop the ball and don't get book two done or I wait too long to get it out there?
Fear: What if I never have another moment to write, let alone blog?
Biggest fear: What if I'm successful? *Gasp!* And what if the other things I write fall short in comparison?
A week or so ago, I lost two followers. I come back to post this and I have gained three. I have ideas, I jot them down and try to work up some sort of opening scene in my head and come up with nothing. I feel like I am spreading myself too thin, trying to do far too many things without managing my time properly or in a useful manner.
Do you guys have these fears? How do you overcome them? Do I need to stop stressing and just let the writing flow rather than worry about it being pent up?
Have a great rest of the week everyone. I will try to get to your posts as well.
11 comments:
A little bit of fear is useful - it keeps you sharp and stops you getting complacent. Even if you did lose 2 followers, you've still got 200+ who've got your back. A lot of the time, it's all about flipping the perspective of the situation and accentuating the positives :) Easier said than done, I know.
These are normal fears, I'm sure. Sounds like you're putting too much pressure on yourself. You need to dare to be less than fantastic in your first drafts. Maybe set aside a certain amount of time, let the words flow, no self-editing, set it aside, and come back later with other ideas. After a couple weeks, see what has happened. Just a thought.
I definitely have those fears. I believe that is why I've been paused on writing my own book two. What if it isn't as good as book one? What if no one reads book one, so they won't care about book two? It goes on and on. I've just had to stop, figure out what is going wrong, and making a plan to fix it. Now I feel more on track, even if the same insecurities are in the background. I guess you just have to believe that everything will work out. :)
Very true, Jamie, I do have lots of good, supporting friends and followers.
That is exactly what I am doing, Mary. Writing and letting it flow. Hopefully if I keep at it, I'll stop putting so much pressure on myself.
It's nice to know I am not alone, Cherie. :D Good luck to you on book two as well!
I definitely have the same fears. I wrote a powerful potentially bestselling book Angel Diaries but after writing that book, I just couldn't properly function. Like I seriously drew a blank on what to do next. I use to have such a flow of ideas, then they stopped short along with my writing.
Angel Diaries is such a sharp turn from what I wrote before. I went from writing light happy fantasy to dark paranormal romance with a horror twist. I couldn't write for like years. Any time I tried to write, it turned out so over done and dramatic. So I decided to take some time off and soon I was writing again after taking some Creative Writing classes.
Anyway, main point: You aren't alone. Keep relaxing and letting the words flow. They will come.
What if you don't have another idea? Crap, Mel - I had one, and that means you will experience many! There is a lull, a down time. Don't worry, the next great idea will hit.
As for your biggest fear - that was me a few weeks ago...
Perhaps knowing other people struggle with similar fears helps? I find if I start thinking too much about the future like that I get bogged down and have a hard time writing. Immersing myself in the story and forgetting everything else is my way out of it.
Allison (Geek Banter)
Fears are what drive us. Everybody have fears, to different things, but we all experience them. You'll see, the ideas will come back if you let your brain relax, but never stop trying. Read even in your down time, that keeps my mind working all the time! Invent stupid stories for the guy waiting in line before you, or in the bus stop, and soon you'll be hit by the strike of a bright new, original idea. Good luck.
I come from Diary of a Writer in Progress. Live long and prosperous. (HA! How geek is that?)
You hit all my fears on the head. I'm always worried the short story I finish is the last good idea I will ever have, and I'll never complete more than the one trilogy for novels.
Writing itself is full of insecurities. Giving the advice of one step at a time is easier than taking it :)
Nice to meet you Mel. Don't forget to take some time for yourself.
........dhole
These fears are quite normal. Don't let them get you down.
www.modernworld4.blogspot.com
I have some of these same fears. I try not to think about them too hard and just plunge ahead. But, they are always back there at the edge of my mind.
Just make sure that you always put yourself first, because without you, your characters, your posts, they don't have a thing. :)
Post a Comment