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I have recently been very disheartened with my writing… every sentence feels fake and just wrong somehow.
I keep thinking it’s going to get better but it hasn’t yet. I know what I want to say I just can’t get into a flow—into the grove if you will. I am feeling trapped and I don’t know why… this is a new experience for me. All I am trying to do is push through it and hopefully I come out the other side better than when I went in.
Has this ever happened to you and what did you do.
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Plug away at it. Best thing is to get something on paper... work towards the end, step by step. You can go back and change things after - as often as you like, but get the first draft DONE!
ReplyDeleteI write out of sequence at times - chapter 3, chapter 4, chapter 17, chapter 22, chapter 5 and so on. This helps me get over stumbling blocks - something later on will clarify an earlier part.
Good luck & keep at it!
Jill
Different people react differently to this sort of thing. My sister does what Jill does. I can't. If I do, I hate what I write so much I usually won't touch the project for years. It's one reason I usually have several going.
ReplyDeleteWhen I get stuck or it reads bad to me, I know I'm in a bad place, either because of my mood or because it's not ready. I have to dive into something fresh or read/watch things that inspire me to get back into it.
Eveyone's different. You need to find what works for you.
I beg to deny what Stephanie says about me. I do often write when it isn't easy. However, if something is not working, or if it doesn't feel right, I stop.
ReplyDeleteMy third novel stopped twice, once at 16 chapters in, once at 20. Both times I ended up writing it from the beginning, but I don't consider it a wasted effort at all.
I would assess whether it's a mood or the novel itself. If it's a mood, you need to find a happy place and get your mind right for your work, and do something else wonderful in the meantime.
If it's the novel, and characters, events, or lines are not "ringing true," you need to investigate why. And until you know the reason, you shouldn't keep pounding out what you detest.
That's my advice. Only you know which it is, and only you can figure out why, I think.
Well, and true enough I had no business speaking for you, Shakespeare.
ReplyDeleteI do know that sometimes I feel like writing, but not writing "this" novel - that's when I explore a different project. But, when I don't feel like writing, I know my mood can affect what I'm writing on anything and look for inspiration that puts me back into the groove.
Sound advice, that.
Maybe read a bit, or listen to music or dig outside. Sometimes a little distance from that project and doing something else creative helps.
ReplyDeleteSome people use this time to do research for the book, as it keeps them involved with the WiP, but steps them away from the actual writing for a bit. I hate research, so this wouldn't work for me.
Good luck with it,
Lola
Taking a break I think is a great idea. And not just for a day or two, for a week or two. It really does help. I also agree that reading is good but from your earlier posts, I know you are already an avid reader. :)
ReplyDeleteAnother good thing to do is to "print" out your work and edit or work on it from that standpoint. That really helps me.
You'll find your way. I'm sure of it.