Aaaaaaaaaargh

[liesje]

I feel like what I am writing at the moment is absolute rubbish, even after leaving it to sit for a while. I am so frustrated with it and I don't know what to do!

 

[Radagast]

I feel like what I am writing at the moment is absolute rubbish, even after leaving it to sit for a while.

You have to be more specific with yourself: what exactly is wrong with it? Specific things can be worked on, and we all grow as writers with time, but a general feeling of "it's absolute rubbish" just crushes your spirit.

 

[liesje]

^Good advice. Thanks I'll try and figure out what specifically I don't like.

 

[sunstruckdream]

I go through phases like that in and out. I think it's a good thing, honestly; as long as you don't let it discourage you from working on your craft still. Doubt can lead to a desire to be better, and a desire to be better can lead to you working harder and improving.

Ever think about having someone beta/read through your stuff and offer feedback?

 

[liesje]

I go through phases like that in and out. I think it's a good thing, honestly; as long as you don't let it discourage you from working on your craft still. Doubt can lead to a desire to be better, and a desire to be better can lead to you working harder and improving.

Ever think about having someone beta/read through your stuff and offer feedback?

Thanks Definitely got that desire to be better. I have a cousin who seriously wants to be an author, so we read and comment on each others work, which is really helpful, and my brother reads most of my stuff too. But now that you mention it, I haven't had anyone read through the particular bit I'm struggling with. I'll type it up and then get someone to read it.

 

[Radagast]

I've just been reading Ayn Rand's The Art of Fiction and The Art of Nonfiction (I don't agree with her politics, but she has some good advice). One of her points is to split "writing" mode from "editing" mode. In "writing" mode, just write, and don't doubt yourself. In "editing" mode, ask yourself (or other people) "How can I make this better?"

Stephen King's On Writing is even better: he gives a worked example of one of his first-draft sections and how he revised it.

 

[liesje]

Thanks for the recommendations I'll see if I can find them.

 

[liesje]

One of her points is to split "writing" mode from "editing" mode. In "writing" mode, just write, and don't doubt yourself. In "editing" mode, ask yourself (or other people) "How can I make this better?"

Thankyou so much for this! It has helped already.

 

[icarusforde]

Man, half of teens is in here.

Ill just jump in - if im writing something, i just pray. Just ask God where it is going, and then sit down at my desk in front of my laptop, close my eyes and start to type. whatever comes off my fingers is what goes online.

That being said, im happy to proofread your writing if you want.

 

[Radagast]

Thanks for the recommendations I'll see if I can find them.

There is a summary of The Art of Fiction here -- I don't agree with everything she says, but some gems are:

Do not edit yourself while you write. You cannot change themes in the middle of a sentence. When you write, you have to rely on your subconscious. You cannot doubt yourself and edit every sentence as it comes out. Write as it comes to you. Then, the next day preferably, read over it and be editor.

The essence of plot is: Struggle / Conflict / Climax

If you want to hold the reader, give him something to wonder about.

Some gems from Stephen King (who writes very well, even if some of his novels use considerable bad language):

The adverb is not your friend.

If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot.

Description is what makes the reader a sensory participant in the story. Good description is a learned skill, one of the prime reasons why you cannot succeed unless you read a lot and write a lot. It's not just a question of how-to, you see; it's also a question of how much to. Reading will help you answer how much, and only reams of writing will help you with the how. You can learn only by doing.

You can approach the act of writing with nervousness, excitement, hopefulness, or even despair--the sense that you can never completely put on the page what's in your mind and heart. You can come to the act with your fists clenched and your eyes narrowed, ready to kick ass and take down names. You can come to it because you want a girl to marry you or because you want to change the world. Come to it any way but lightly. Let me say it again: you must not come lightly to the blank page.

Some of this book—perhaps too much—has been about how I learned to do it. Much of it has been about how you can do it better. The rest of it—and perhaps the best of it—is a permission slip: you can, you should, and if you're brave enough to start, you will.

 

[liesje]

You're not going to believe this...

I figured out what I didn't like about my story, and because I was only a little way in started it again. I got it to a place where I was quite happy with it. Then...my brand new computer, which I have had for less than a month, died. Yep, died. I wanted to save my story on a flashe drive but mum was like, nah, the files will still be there when I've finished the system restore. But in the middle of the restore it died, and I've lost it. My finally decent story, a batch of photos I'd just put on, which I'd deleted from the digital camera, my completed CV.

From now on, EVERYTHING I do gets saved on the flash drive.

 

[Radagast]

You're not going to believe this...

I figured out what I didn't like about my story, and because I was only a little way in started it again. I got it to a place where I was quite happy with it. Then...my brand new computer, which I have had for less than a month, died. Yep, died. I wanted to save my story on a flashe drive but mum was like, nah, the files will still be there when I've finished the system restore. But in the middle of the restore it died, and I've lost it. My finally decent story, a batch of photos I'd just put on, which I'd deleted from the digital camera, my completed CV.

From now on, EVERYTHING I do gets saved on the flash drive.

Sorry to hear that.

Yeah, save EVERYTHING!

And if you have any kind of web mail, email stuff to yourself as well.

 

[sinnerforgiven]

I have had that happen too... I was in college and from then on I've tried to save everything... It may be a bit pricey but I divide my stuff up as well on different jump drives.. like all my writing is on the red one... my work stuff on the black one and so on