Anyone else feeling tired and unworthy?

@joy-caroline

You are definitely not alone in this struggle, let me assure you. I’ve had those moments of feeling down about myself or my writing and just getting tired and pushing myself to write too hard in general.

I know what it’s like to have a burning desire to write that oh-so-special book, but when you sit down to try, your head goes blank, you start feeling self-conscious, and then you compare your story to other people’s stories and then really feel bad. 

But that’s okay to feel like that! It’s okay to feel like you’re in a writing rut, and it’s okay to take that long, refreshing break that, let’s face it, we all need once in a while. Your brain needs rest and time to recharge, so don’t feel bad about stepping away for a little while and giving yourself that time.

Feeling sluggish and even depressed about writing is something I’ve acquired in my Writing Journey, and let me tell you, it isn’t fun. But maybe try looking at things from a new perspective? Or try to remind yourself of what led you to writing this specific book in the first place.

To be honest, I’m kind of feeling that way with my own book. “Is it good enough?” “Am I a good writer?” “Will people ever like the things I write?”  These are thoughts that go through my head like clockwork, so I can totally understand how your feeling.

But just the fact that you aren’t giving up on your story is really great! And you sound very passionate about it, which is a positive. You are a good writer, not a failure, and even if the words aren’t coming right now, they will. I know I’ve had my share of down-days, and more often than not I compare my writing with other people’s, get bored with it, or wonder if my writing style is weird. Don’t do that. Tell yourself that you’re a great writer. You’re writing this book for a reason, and that’s special to God.

But you have to remind yourself that God gave you this idea because He knows that you’re exactly the person who needs to write this story. No one else can write it like you do. He is in control, and He’ll help you. Maybe give yourself a little time to recharge, and by the time you come back, your brain will be chock-full of new ideas.

*Another tip that helps me stay positive with writing is looking up positive quotes about writing. Here’s one: “Don’t forget–no one else sees the world the way you do, so no one else can tell the stories that you have to tell.”

@joy-caroline

You know, if I didn’t double-check to make sure it was you who wrote that question, I would have sworn that I did. And it seems like every other writer that I’ve ever met goes through the very same thing.

But in my own experience, 25% of my writing life is gathering ideas and actually writing (willing or not). The other 75% is being passionate about my stories, but being attacked by Writers Block, feeling like I’ll either goof it up or that I ought to start a new project. But that’s another thing about writers, we (not just you) always seem to want to start a new project while we are already working on one.
Like Ernest Hemingway said, “the hardest part of writing a novel, is finishing it.” Yeah, that kind of sums up my ‘manuscripts’.

Because speaking from experience. I love my WIP more than all my other writing and it has my heart behind bars too, I love my characters as if they were real, I love the world that I’m writing it in and I love the opportunity to write for God. But (I’ve probably said this before, I know) after three years from the point I started, my story still has no plot. I’m still stuck inside my first draft and I feel like maybe I should write another WIP and come back to it.
Which is exactly what I did. I started a story about a time traveler (and it was a good idea in general) but when I got deeper into it, it was every bit as hard as my first WIP.
So I went back to TSW and started working (and staring at the screen as visions of Writers Block and erasers danced in my head) and worked on other aspects of the novel. (I still have no plot). But there are innumerable quotes about how not to give up on your project because it’s hard, the next will be just as hard. Kind of like climbing a mountain. It’s the struggle of a lifetime, but the result is worth it.

I think we are all flawed and broken writers in a sense because we are all human. But you are worthy of writing TAS and The Anointed, otherwise, God would have given them to other writers.

Second off, the only way to fail at writing is by giving up writing.

“You don’t have to be great to get started, but you have to get started to be great.” -Les Brown.

“The desire to write was planted within you for a reason.” -Unknown.

And same with me, I have to write and yet, on the other hand, it seems impossible to write. Sometimes it helps to write the ending of your story first, so you have your destination in sight and you have something to guide your plot by.
KP, in their ‘encouragement’  category, has a lot of awesome articles too.

Anyway, I hope I was able to help in some small way. Keep writing! You can do it! 😀

@joy-caroline I’m sure everyone feels this way! You’re not alone!

What I would recommend is probably taking a break! Explore some of your other interests or hobbies. I remember two years ago after NaNoWriMo I didn’t write anything for four months straight. We all need breaks. I’ll probably overwork myself at some point, but you know. If you’re feeling extremely discouraged then that is probably your body telling you to stop and rest and renew yourself.

I really admire people who love their stories! I think I too love my stories somewhere deep inside, but personally, I don’t feel as emotionally invested in them…? Maybe because I keep bouncing back and forth between multiple projects…but anyway, maybe I’ve said this before, but I do recommend working on more than one thing at once, be it a short story or a novella or even another novel. If you’re feeling unconfident in your writing skills, perhaps you can practice for a few months on other small projects, and then return to polish up your main project. That’s just a suggestion, though.

Ahh, praying everything goes well for you!

@joy-caroline

Awww, don’t mention it! I’m happy to know that my advice helped (and you’re totally not alone)! We’re all here to help each other out! 🙂

@joy-caroline

You’re definitely not alone. I’m so glad I could help:)