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

[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.