Beat the Negativity!

[kitty_fic]

When you hear that little voice telling you that you're not a good writer or everything you're doing is wrong. How do you combat that?

I've had several friends tell me that their writing has been crippled by negative thoughts and attitude.

What do you do when you start to compare yourself to others or have that niggling voice in the back of your mind telling you that you can't do it?

What are some things you have done or can do to quiet that negativity and push forward with a positive attitude?


“Comparison is the thief of joy.” ~Dwight Edwards

Comments

[kinky-kneazle.livejournal.com]

Maybe this won't work for others, but I honestly just keep writing. I switch to a different story, write a drabble, start with a fresh page and the sentence 'I want to write about...' The hardest thing about writing is silencing the inner critic that tells you 'that's not the right word' or (worse) 'this is utter crap'. I've had years without words because of that voice, and it's not fun.

The best advice I've ever read is to write like it doesn't matter. Keep a diary or writing journal - or even do it with your big bang, or that scary hd_holidays fic - and write as if no one is ever going to read it. Don't worry about the right word, the right order or anything like that. Anything - anything - can be fixed during the editing process. The best way to shut up the critic is to write too fast for the voice to keep up. It's some of that advice that's "easier said than done", I know, but it's something that makes Word Wars so powerful - you just want to get words on paper, so don't let the critic speak.

I highly recommend Natalie Goldberg's (http://www.amazon.com/Natalie-Goldberg/e/B000AP7I9G/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1328002921&sr=8-1) Wild Minds and Writing Down the Bones - it's where I first heard this theory, and when I'm having problems with my writing it's still the idea I go back to. In fact, I think I'm going to re-read Wild Mind over the weekend!

[sordid-humors.livejournal.com]

I remember Writing Down The Bones from a freshman writing seminar I had to teach back in the day. I wanted to throw it out the window! I don't think I had a single student in three semesters say they liked it. I'm relieved to hear someone found it useful!

I'm more a proponent of Robert Hass, who went on retreat with the aim of only writing one paragraph a day. Just the one. He felt that by meditating and focusing on a small portion each day, he could better hone his craft. For me, thinking smaller has been more successful in producing high-caliber work than writing all over the place. Too much burns me out! >_<"

But I too try to write as though it's only for myself and will never see the light of day. Doing so can lend a really intimate quality to the pacing and tone of a piece.

[kinky-kneazle.livejournal.com]

I'd get too hung up on each word and completely over-think everything if I did that. I'd freeze completely. But that's why everyone has to go with what works for them. Also, as a poet Robert Hass has the luxury of working in small chunks. Me? Not so much.

Excuse me while I love all over this comment, kthx

[curiouslyfic.livejournal.com]

Oh, man, I live by "save it for beta". Not much help when the ideas won't come or when the characters are being horrible, but so very helpful for everything else that comes up.

Agreed wholeheartedly on word wars. That's how some/most of my major things get done; because I *can't* focus on nitpicking. Also why I write so much at the absolute last minute, but I think it really is a case of whatever works, you know?

I have read neither of these books. Which would you recommend most?

[kinky-kneazle.livejournal.com]

It's been years since I read Writing Down The Bones, but I own Wild Mind. It has more exercises and the like, and is more practical, so I'll go with that one. Obviously, YMMV, but even years since I read either book, they stay with me and I go back to the exercises I read in the books 7-8 years ago.

Also, yes, I'm a big advocate on doing what works for you. And for me, writing like a mad thing and not worrying about them being perfect is the best way to get past the critic.

Re: Excuse me while I love all over this comment, kthx

[crazyparakiss.livejournal.com]

*will save it all for Curi to correct* ;)

I will read the books as well cause KK r rad and knows what's what so far as Kiss is concerned. :)