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fisherman2

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You have 2 choices Akuma, continue to write, or give it up. If you like to write then continue, what are you going to do if critics say something negative? Give up, or continue, If all writers gave up after someone said something negative about their work, where would we be?? Think about it.
 
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aw, don't let that get you down. also, one way to improve is to continue writing. i often wish someone would actually criticize what i write so i can improve.

don't give up. it shouldn't matter what others think. as long as you enjoy it it shouldn't matter. as selfish as it sounds, i write for the entertainment of myself.
 
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Lyle

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No man, the worst thing you can do is give up. Like Shaun Groves once told me.. Accept what they say, thank them, and then see how you can change that. What helped me was to take these comments and turn them into milestones for success. I would work and work until I got it right.. Now I'm (Believe it or not) an B+ (opefully to move to an A) student in College English.
 
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~SHINE~

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If this is what's on your mind right now... write about it! Write about... not wanting to write. Sounds weird but try it! It might not be good (at least not in your eyes) but that doesn't matter, as long as you're writing. Just... keep writing. Set a timer, if you have to. Say, "I'm going to write for 10 minutes." When you're done, think about what you've written... what was especially interesting? Expand on it. Keep going. If you keep branching out and making yourself write, sooner or later you'll really want to keep writing about have too many ideas to write about all at once!
 
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Want2bPure

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Howdy,

There is one thing I learned about any God-given talent. God wants us
to use our talents to inspire, encourage all others,and use it for his
purpose and his kingdom. Now there is the other side of that... There is
The enemy that knows that each talent we are blessed with we have
the potential to touch someones life. Now the choice is up to you, do
you allow someone to be used by the enemy to discourage you, or do
keep writing realising, that the ( negative comments ) are cause your
doing something right and the enemy wants the foothold... Think on that!
God bless you

In Christ
Want2BPure
 
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Vulgivagus hagiographus

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RobinB said:
Try reading a Julia Cameron book-- The Artist's Way, The Sound of Paper, The Right to Write. She leads artists back into the desire and practice of writing, all based on faith.
Ugh! I hate that book! Sorry, but I really do. Yuk. Strong negative feelings. Sorry if you really like the book, but I just really... do... ... not.

What do you write? If fiction, and you really do need improvement, then I have a trick I heard that might help. Try writing in first person. I know, most likely you hate first person because it seems like the majority of people do, but it forces you to keep a constant and good view point character. I say this all the time, but having a strong viewpoint character in your writing (whether you're doing first or third person) really helps you improve.

Something else that really helps with viewpoint, gives you tons of practice, and doesn't rely on you coming up with all the creativity, are text based roleplaying games like what we've got on this website. I've personally witnessed people's writing on this web site improve dramatically in the RPGs. RPGs like this really are meant for writers. True, most are hoaky sci-fi or fantasy, but it really is a good thing for stuck writers I believe. You might want to give it a try.

Then again, if you don't write fiction at all, then just disregard everything I've said. Go buy yourself The Artist's Way and write emotional stuff.

Man, it's got to stink when your mom puts down your writing. I mean, moms are supposed to be blind to their children's faults! I made a really ugly basket in art and my mom laughed at it and I was like, "Mom! You're not supposed to laugh at it even though it's really ugly! You're my mom!" Oh well. Take it all in stride. Remember, not everyone likes the same sort of writing. For example, RobinB loves The Artist's Way but I hate it. Try to just take what you can from her critism and use it to benefit you. Giving up isn't going to help any.
 
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discipleofWORD

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Writing... ahh writing...
It's true that someone will actually say something negative about one's writing. Remember that there will always be someone to discourage you from writing, but also remember that there will always be someone to encourage you to keep on writing.

Writing is awesome. You could express your ideas, experience, and emotions through words. When I look at great writers such as Tom Wolfe and Jerry Jenkins, I feel so hopeless (and i bet you do too). But when you look at it more closerly, you'll see that all great writers started in the beginning. Like Jack London received massive number of rejection slips.

This is one of the truths of a true writer:
To be able to continue writing in spite of discouragement and hardships.

If a writer's reason to write is only to achieve fame and riches, he will wither like a wheat in a drought.

"A profesional writer is an amateur who didn't quit."
--Richard Bach

I urge you to keep writing...even when it's the last thing you ever want to do!

Always feel free to PM
 
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eternalsecurity4us

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Just got on this forum thanks to my mod friend.

If God gave you a burn to write, do it man! Criticism is tough, it will zap you. But don't let anything stop you. I am trying to overcome some obstacles of my own, and many times I fail, but I keep plodding on. I can send you links to some good writer info.

You have a message God wants you to get out to the world, so don't let anything hold you back.
 
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MrsGnomeCrusher

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I was two years younger than your 15 years, Akuma, when someone informed me my writing was worthless.

From the time I was old enough to hold a book, I've had one in my hand and a desire to write came from that. At thirteen, I stopped due to the discouragement. Through the years, I've longed for it, but always seem to be stuck. No ideas, no thoughts, but still an urge to write. I'd try to brainstorm and end up being unsuccessful in that venture. Yet here I am at 28 with a deep fire inside to write something. However, a blank piece of paper seems very intimidating at the moment.

What I am saying is do not give up on this. If you enjoy writing, continue. By continuing, you will only improve. Rewrite, rewrite, rewrite. Read. Read the genre that you enjoy writing. Just do not let rejection set you back.
 
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wgjones3

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Writing is not something you can never do for anyone but yourself. If you do, you're going to get dejected by criticism, discouraged when your readers just don't get what you're saying, and heartbroken when the rejection slips start coming. And they will. No matter how good you are.

Writing is a cold business. Editors don't care how many years you spent writing a novel. They only care if it fits in with their current market projections.

Writing is also a gift. Think of how many people in the world didn't receive enough of an education to write. To some, it would be a blessing beyond words to sit and write a half page letter to a loved one because they simply can't. Some are imprisoned by their own bodies and prevented from writing due to injury or ailment.

I've heard all my life that if you can possibly see yourself doing anything else with your life, then don't write. I can understand why. But I also understand the passion to write, the desire to captivate readers and transform their thoughts and emotions with nothing more than some ink and paper and a few hours of their time. Heck, God spoke to us through his Word, written in the Bible. That alone should be enough to convince us of the awesome and inspiring power of the written word.

At fifteen, you've got a lot of years ahead of you. You've got a few behind you, too, to draw from. Go out and live life. When I was sixteen, a teacher asked me what I wanted to do and I said right off that I wanted to write. He said good, I might be good at it someday, but only if I lived long enough to have something to write about. Living, I've learned, has nothing to do with age and everything to do with the quality of life and the accumulation of experiences.

All you have to do is write what's on your heart. What's in your heart. Pure and unadulterated. Don't do it for your mom, don't do it for your boyfriend or a potential vast audience of adoring readers, do it for yourself. Aside from that, read as much as you can, particularly about the craft of writing. Stephen King has a good book on writing (at least the back half is about writing, I never bothered to read more than 40 pages of the first half). Study the elements of style and understand how to use the language. Pay attention in school and take advantage of your classes so you'll have knowledge to pepper your writing with. Hook up with a community of writers, either online or in your school or community. Read some good books and get inspired.

Writing is like a lot of things in life. Either come into and give it everything you've got or pack your bags and go home. Ultimately, only you can decide what is the right path for you.

P.S. If you ever get the urge to go into engineering, it's a good sign that you're meant to be a writer and living in denial. Take it from someone with experience.
 
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ah, i'm history pre-law now (still in school). i'm not sure exactly what i'm going to do but it'll probably be something along the lines of a law clerk. yeah, i'm a writer living in denial.

i agree with jones, continue to write, live and learn from your life and those around you. i know i've gotten better at writing over the years. don't give up!
 
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