tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8457416499008334455.post1988182666450177084..comments2024-02-06T01:04:27.603-08:00Comments on Writing Jewels: What I've Learned Wednesday: The Ups & DownsAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06519655950073446857noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8457416499008334455.post-51263797132614508392011-03-03T13:50:41.883-08:002011-03-03T13:50:41.883-08:00Kristin - great great great advice. I thank you fo...Kristin - great great great advice. I thank you for putting so much effort into your comment. It has given me a lot to munch on. Thanks!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06519655950073446857noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8457416499008334455.post-29455849233545778262011-03-03T13:32:55.570-08:002011-03-03T13:32:55.570-08:00Julia,
I have felt this way before as well, and i...Julia,<br /><br />I have felt this way before as well, and it is a hard place to be. After reading your post, I tried to think of some of things that get me going again when I am in a writing funk. So,...here are a few. I hope they help and encourage!<br /><br />1. I read - Anything and everything. Immersing myself in a book can help my own words to flow.<br />2. I go back and read what I have written - Oftentimes going back will spark new ideas.<br />3. I fall in love with my characters all over again- If I don't write their story, no one will.<br />4. I revise - Revising scenes shows the potential of the story and helps me to get back in the right frame of mind to write.<br />5. I outline new ideas - Plotting new scenes, concentrating on world-building, etc., can get things going again.<br />6. I work on another project - This is why I like having two novels to work on simultaneously. If I am stumped in one, I can work on the other. When I return to the first, I have all sorts of new ideas after my short break. Sometimes letting something sit for even a day or two can make a huge difference. <br />7. I write - Even when things seem overwhelming and my brain is fried, I try to make myself sit down and write *something.* Even if it's just a sentence or two. <br />8. I remember the joy - This is the most important thing. If I think of why I began writing in the first place (the love, the joy, the *need*) things don't seem as overwhelming anymore. <br /><br />Despite those overwhelming times, writing is definitely worth every minute. Like you said, "...it can make you more happy than you could ever imagine."Kristin Lynn Thetfordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12108909242693115499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8457416499008334455.post-70257235811229506782011-03-03T07:48:17.362-08:002011-03-03T07:48:17.362-08:00Kasie - Thanks for giving me permission to suck. T...Kasie - Thanks for giving me permission to suck. That lifts a weight off my shoulders. You rock! Thanks for following my blog. I am happy to have you grace my bloggy friend.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06519655950073446857noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8457416499008334455.post-13598060105934603642011-03-02T22:43:50.189-08:002011-03-02T22:43:50.189-08:00I give myself permission to suck. First drafts ar...I give myself permission to suck. First drafts are allowed to suck. It helps when I'm feeling down on myself.Kasie Westhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14169629001145903361noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8457416499008334455.post-79702944940770177682011-03-02T15:05:16.197-08:002011-03-02T15:05:16.197-08:00Tiffany - I agree. I'm worried what people wil...Tiffany - I agree. I'm worried what people will think of my novel. I should stop worrying so much about that cuz some people will hate it but more will love it. So "ha" to my insecurities.<br />LM Preston - great ideas for motivation! I will have to check out the links. Thanks for following my blog.<br />Starlight - Yes, revision is what makes it shine. I have to remember that. Thanks for following my blog.<br />Patricia - I'm in the revision process. It is tough to think I have to go through it again and again. Yet, like I said to Starlight, that's what make it better!<br />Thanks everyone for commenting! You rock!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06519655950073446857noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8457416499008334455.post-88068447848028606722011-03-02T12:37:28.559-08:002011-03-02T12:37:28.559-08:00When I don't feel like writing, I "clean ...When I don't feel like writing, I "clean up" the manuscript. It doesn't take long and I'm writing.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15015800643469435244noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8457416499008334455.post-80128462035152206382011-03-02T12:25:33.606-08:002011-03-02T12:25:33.606-08:00I feel the same way as Tiffany sometimes, when I t...I feel the same way as Tiffany sometimes, when I think of my novel as a whole and think of the kind of criticism it could receive both from the masses and from the intellectuals, both of whom I would love to appeal to. When I'm feeling down, it helps to go back and actually read some of my previous work and try to scrutinize it. I always come out feeling appreciative of the parts that I'm happiest with, so it helps me realise that the weaker bits don't mean I'm a terrible writer. That's what revision is for.Mia Mannshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07650015788907711393noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8457416499008334455.post-10173019489584857182011-03-02T12:23:50.008-08:002011-03-02T12:23:50.008-08:00When I'm stumped in my writing, I beta read fo...When I'm stumped in my writing, I beta read for others, join a critique group, outline, re-read what I wrote, take a writing related class, go to a writer's conference...just hang out with other writers and become remotivated. A great place to do this is absolutewrite.com and yalitchat.ning.comLM Prestonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16624508396760965680noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8457416499008334455.post-20846405036048980902011-03-02T12:13:48.699-08:002011-03-02T12:13:48.699-08:00My biggest downs are that I'm scared to death ...My biggest downs are that I'm scared to death that what I think is a good novel others will hate. I sometimes lay in bed wondering if I should shove it all under the carpet, so I don't have to face the situation. My highs are when someone tells me they love something I post on my blog. It's during these times that I feel like a writer and not an imposter. :o)AuthorTiffanyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03451299601619856896noreply@blogger.com