This post originally appeared HERE on July 5, 2011
This post is inspired by something that Push and I were talking
about earlier. Now, of course we should all strive to write the best
possible stories we can write. At the very least make sure that
everything is spelled correctly, the format is easy to read and your
grammar and punctuation are correct. Also desirable is writing people in
character and having a funny, sad or interesting story to tell, no
matter how epic or how short.
If you look at any writer's body of work, chances are not everything they write is going to be amazing. That's not to say that the lesser pieces have to be terrible, but if we all resigned ourselves to only writing amazing, incredible stories then most of us probably wouldn't spend a whole lot of time writing. I'd love for every idea I come up with to be one of those attention-grabbing, unique, epic pieces that people just can't get enough of. But that's probably not all that likely to happen. Sure, it might happen once or twice, but nobody can churn out that kind of thing one after another.
So the trick is to get
over it and just keep writing. Accept things for what they are and if
you have an idea you think might be fun to write, but maybe you know
before you even write it that it's not going to be some incredibly
compelling story, go ahead and write it anyway. And share it if you want
to. That's not to say you must share every little thing you
write, but maybe you don't have to be so hung up on what people will
think and hope that they understand just as you do that it is what it
is.*
I'm still trying to come up with some amazing story idea but it hasn't happened yet.** Come on, guys, I have one story that is 1700 words of Leia coming home to find Han in the tub.*** That's pretty much it. You think I wrote that one night because I thought it would be award-winning literature? Um, no. I wrote it because I was bored, I had a silly, fun idea that I thought maybe some people might enjoy a silly, fun read and hopefully it did not damage my reputation too much.**** I love writing, I felt like writing, that was what came to me, so I wrote it.
I think this
kind of thing can be especially crippling if you have just finished
something that you actually considered to be pretty high quality. You
can't think of anything right away that might top it, so you don't write
anything. My best advice is just to get over it and not take it too
seriously. I've felt the same thing myself in the past and realized
there's no real reason to dwell on it. Sure, we get reviews and stuff,
but there are not major literary critics out there to tell everyone that
we're past our peak. It's all in good fun and we shouldn't lose sight
of that.
There are Oscar-winning writers out there who wrote incredible movies and sometimes wrote some less memorable ones. It's okay. It happens. It's just like how sometimes I want to watch The Shawshank Redemption but then other times I'm more in the mood to watch Old School. Do you think I'm deluded enough to think that Old School is a better movie? No, but they can't all be Shawshank and that doesn't mean we can't totally enjoy laughing at Will Ferrell being Frank the Tank.*****
So
again, do the best you can do with your writing, but don't let that
internal critic stop you before you even start. Don't be afraid to write
something just because you don't think it will be 'good enough.'
Otherwise you'll be out of practice when you do come up with a
good idea or you'll wind up giving up entirely. And sometimes the bad
ideas can lead to the good ideas, so don't stop writing!
2017 Footnotes:
*I'm still much in favor of writing if you have an idea, even if you have no intent to share it. It's very freeing.
**And nearly 6 years later, still no fantastic, epic ideas.
***It's true, I really do have a story where the entire plot is just Leia coming home and finding Han in the tub.
****This is amusing because I don't really have a reputation.
*****And I think we can all agree that there are plenty of times that Old School is just going to be more entertaining than The Shawshank Redemption.
We were having this discussion, sort of, on Tumblr. Keep writing and posting!
ReplyDeleteThe fluffy bits I've just written in about two hours and posted get about the same hits and kudos as stories I've sweated blood over - in fact, I usually get more positive feedback!
It's like the post I saw again today on Tumblr where someone posited the "producers" saying that relationships have to have drama and the "fans" saying "I would watch these idiots make toast and do laundry."
I want to read the Leia finds Han in the tub story - link? Name? (I've wanted to write Luke finally trying out a tub, to Han and Leia's endless amusement since Luke always grumps about wasting water. Hmm, I could write that as gen even... )
The tub story is called "You Could Use Some Relaxing" (I'm worse at titles than I am at writing stories) and is here: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/6401646/1/You-Could-Use-Some-Relaxing
DeleteUm, actually, may I take the award for bad names? The first "decent" story I wrote was titled'An Alderaanian Love Story'. The sequel: 'An Alderaanian Love Story 2'.
DeleteThanks, Zyra, I enjoyed it! ::g::
DeleteI should add that I feel like at this point I've sort of given up on being able to find that really awesome idea that will turn into a fantastic story that everyone is talking about. There are at least a couple of ongoing stories out there right now that I know there are many, many people following and can't recommend highly enough, and that is just not what I'm going to be able to pull off, I'm sure! But I've come to terms with it, and I pose these little challenges where I am allowed to write fluffy little nonsense because that's almost the point ;) But honestly even when I'm looking for something to read often I much prefer just a 1500-word adorable one-shot to some big time investment. I think there is room for so many different types of stories.
ReplyDeleteI have this thing I feel I have to do; whenever I get comments on something, I have to reread that part to know what they're talking about and whatnot. Whenever I have a story I'm writing that I'm super pumped about, it's only a matter of time before I go back and start cringing.
ReplyDeleteDude. I think this is very important and timely (at least for me, at least). I think it's fun to find an author with all kinds of stuff on their page. What's better than finding someone with BOTH a Shawshank and an Old School? Write it all, try it all. Post it if you think people would want to read it. Tha ks for the reminder, Zyra!
ReplyDelete"At least for me at least"
DeleteJesus. Someone come confiscate my keyboard, please.
As someone who is jointly responsible for a 9,982-word chapter devoted entirely to Han and Leia in a bubble bath, uhhhh, I concur! On all points! lol Honestly, if I thought that epic stories were the only things worth writing, I wouldn't write a single word. I...couldn't, actually. I'd just be paralysed with writer's block, trying to come up with something "special".
ReplyDeleteI absolutely do agree that trying to stifle what I think is rubbish will probably also stifle my better ideas but, like you Zyra, I find it difficult to come up with ideas that are profound or epic --- especially any that aren't trope-filled and/or already done-to-death. As much as I enjoy reading those monumental and inventive stories that others seem to churn out with ease, I've come to accept the fact that, barring a lottery win and the loads of free time that would entail, I really don't have the capacity to produce anything approaching "epic" with my fan fiction writing. I do feel a pang when I read something amazing that someone else has written (Why can't I think of these things!? Arggh!), but it eventually passes and I just enjoy the fruits of their labours. :D
The act of writing and piecing together a story, no matter how mundane the premise, is meditative for me; it soothes me and it has also (this time around, at least) provided an altogether unexpected side-benefit of introducing me to new, like-minded friends who share my 40-year-old devotion to this franchise and this fictional couple. That is the best part, by far, of the whole experience, so any time I feel a slight twinge of envy or despondency because I think my ideas are a little pedestrian, or whatever, I try to remember that I receive many other benefits from writing that make it a worthwhile pursuit. I looooooove receiving reviews and I get a thrill when I'm tagged on social media or one of my stories appears on a rec list, but I've got some fics that have attracted very little attention, that people clearly didn't engage with much, and they were just as gratifying to write as the ones that seem more popular.
As you say, "It's all in good fun and we shouldn't lose sight of that." That's my mantra whenever I am tempted to take any aspect of this hobby and/or the fandom too seriously.
Oh man, if I made myself wait until I had something interesting plot-wise, with cliffhangers, adventure and a PLOT that could match those of the long fics that have kept me up for days, then I'd never write at all! Just last month I wrote several drabbles based on prompts that were nothing but "falling asleep together", "making a blanket fort", "slow dancing"... (and I'm very proud of them)
ReplyDeleteI admire people with good time management skills and writing stamina, but generally I have neither. Writing has always been more of a personal enjoyment and character exploration activity for me than anything else--I write what I want, when I can. Of course, how the public receives those stories has been crucial in my continuing to share them, but I've never thought "maybe if I wrote something like this people would like me better". I've had (and still have) very interesting plot ideas, but I just can't afford to get involved in a big project like writing a multichapter is. So generally my writing is more like comfort food (even the angsty ones!) Sure, I see other people's amazing stories, how many gushing reviews they have, how much they're recced, and I'm a bit jealous that I can't organize my time to TRY to produce something like that. But fanfiction doesn't pay, materially at least. For me and many others, it's even a closeted activity. So it makes no sense for me to get discouraged about something like that, because like you guys have said, we get enjoyment out of the act itself and the little things we get in return are a plus.
Also guys, if you noticed any old posts that you hadn't commented on and felt weird about adding to now since they're super old and nobody noticed your comment, feel free to suggest old posts you'd like brought back from the dead like this one.
ReplyDeleteI looked through a couple of pages from 2011 blogs and Why Them from dec 19, 2011 looks fun. I know it's been talked to death everywhere, but I always enjoy it anyway. Also the one about writing style from November 2011 looks interesting. You really could just start from the beginning and post each blog in order, I wouldn't complain. :)
DeleteThe "Why Them?" post is a good one, good call. We'll do that one next.
DeleteThis is simultaneously encouraging and convicting. I'm a little too perfectionistic and I tend to get hung up on all the faults I see in my writing, so consequently, writing anything takes a reallllly loooong time. Part of that is, of course, the fact that I don't have as much practice at this, but I think if I had the mindset you all are talking about of just putting stuff out there, whether or not in my mind it's "good enough," I would write a lot more.
ReplyDeleteIt's really encouraging to see that so many amazing writers here have let go of that need to only write fics of a certain quality. Especially since I think their work is so great!! That makes me feel a lot better.
For reasons I absolutely cannot explain (insanity? aliens?) I dove right into writing a multi-chapter for my second fic and while I'm really excited about it, I'm also regretting it, especially posting my first chapters so soon. Having something out there I'm proud of makes me feel pressured to somehow keep measuring up to whatever is good and whatever people have liked about what I've already written, and that can be kind of paralyzing. Also, I can definitely relate to what OtterAndTerrier said about not having very good time management skills or writing stamina. I haven't gotten into a groove yet of finding time to write (especially because things in my life have been pretty crazy lately between chronic illness, mental illness and moving), and I feel bad making people wait so long between chapters, because I know if I were them, I'd probably prefer to read it all at once. I feel like I'm letting my readers down a little bit and that makes me even more anxious about writing. I know I'm probably being too hard on myself — I certainly don't judge other writers so harshly.
I need to stop focusing so much on what other people might want and refocus on what I actually want. However that's easier said than done :)
I think a lot of us tend to judge ourselves harder than we would anyone else. My problem is making the thing. I have periods when my mind wanders and I can't even attempt to write, or I write two sentences every week and that's it (like right now... I hate it!) Once it's done, though, I revise it until I'm more or less satisfied, start to hate it and post it anyway before it's too late. I sort of disconnect from it, so the self-doubt comes once I go back and re-read it after it's posted, lol.
DeleteI think in writing you expose yourself a little, and when you share it you put yourself out there, and readers don't seem to get that. It doesn't really help when instead of reviewing the chapter or fic you spent a month or more writing that you just posted, they say "nice, post more!" like you're some sort of vending machine. So I can see why that makes you anxious. But at the same time, it's just not fair to you! You're not getting paid. You don't even get feedback that is proportional to the work you did or even the pageviews and faves/kudos you get. If someone makes you feel bad about not updating regularly, they're garbage. I don't start posting multichapters until they're all done because I know myself and I know once I lost inspiration it'll be hard to pick it up again, and I'd hate myself if I left something unfinished (I started writing a multichapter for my other otp over a year ago and I was so pumped about it, but then Han and Leia happened... let's just say I'm glad I didn't start posting). So I admire people willing to put themselves out there like that, even if eventually they can't make it to the end.
Thanks for these encouraging words! Honestly, no one's making me feel bad about not updating regularly — I'm the one who's making me feel bad lol.
Delete"I think in writing you expose yourself a little, and when you share it you put yourself out there" — YES THIS 100%. I think one of the reasons this fic is so scary for me to write is that I'm putting so much of myself and my experiences into it, and it does make me feel exposed. Fortunately my readers so far have been really kind and supportive so I'm grateful :)
I can so relate to wanting to come up with an amazing idea that people just think is so unique and awesome and can't wait to read more of. The funny thing is, even if you think you FINALLY had that magical, awesome idea that is like, "the one" you might start posting it and it is just not getting the response you'd hoped for. So I know that a lot of us seek out that validation, and of course everyone likes it. But I do think that in the end we need to remember we're really doing this for ourselves, because we like it, and we want to write stories that WE like. And some people might come along for the ride, which is awesome. And a lot of people might not, which kind of sucks sometimes, but that's pretty much life, right?
ReplyDelete