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Hello all! I’ve been feeling really discouraged lately about my writing. It doesn’t seem very good to me, and reading other people’s amazing work doesn’t help. How do y’all get motivated when you just want to chuck it all in the garbage can (if I’m not the only one that ever wants to do that)?
@joy-caroline @devastate-lasting @nova21 @ribbonash @gracie-j @lydia-s @lewilliams @scripter-of-kingdoms @issawriter7 @daisy-torres @sparksaraabbott11 @abigail-m @mkfairygirl @elfwing @writerlexi1216 @kathleenramm
Be still and know that I am God. Psalm 46:10
Do not worry, you’re not the only one.
I think my work is garbage most of the time. I may be weird, but I find reading my friends’ WIP drafts helpful because as selfish as I think it sounds, I am catching the little errors and mistakes and it takes my mind off my WIP.
Other than that… well, I’d say listen to some motivating music that you like, and if that cheers you up and gets you ‘in the mood’ then maybe write a little short story if you feel inspired, and don’t worry about it being terrible, because it probably isn’t.
Oh! another thing that can help; write in a diary/journal, because that way, there’s not really a chance of it being awful, because it’s factual, not you trying to think of an idea.
Sometimes working on a story with a friend can help. I have two WIPs: #1 I write by myself and #2 is one I’m co-authoring (that’s the right term… I think lol). so when I am annoyed and I feel like my #1 WIP sucks, I’ll work on #2 with my friend, and we plot and scheme and generally have fun.
Hopefully that helps… 🙂
I'm 'a homeschooler' because cookie-making writing artistic animal-whisperer isn't a job title
I’ve written a couple blog posts I think might encourage you 🙂
5 Thoughts Writers Need to Stop Thinking
I'm a Kapeefer 'TIL WE'RE OLD AND GREY!
www.jennaterese.comAnd Writing Has Been Romanticized
I'm a Kapeefer 'TIL WE'RE OLD AND GREY!
www.jennaterese.com- Rank: Eccentric Mentor
- Total Posts: 1789
@nanisnook #storyofmylife
What helps for me:
- Read other people’s really bad writing
- Read your most favorite thing you’ve ever written
- Pray
- Remember what makes your writing, your story, and your style different than any other writer’s; remember your unique purpose as a writer
- Have a friend read over your writing (oftentimes, they’ll see things you don’t – like how your least favorite character is the most interesting or how the story you think is boring is thought-provoking for them)
I hope that helps!! Just know everyone goes through this all the time – just think of it like writer’s block – it doesn’t last forever! You’ll go back to loving your writing again and you’ll realize that you’ve grown and improved so much along the way!
Yup, I’ve been there. It’s no fun. 🙁
I guess one thing would be to remember that maybe you’re not where you want to be with your writing skills, but you’re not where you used to be. Even if you’ve only been writing for a few weeks, you’re better than you were when you first started. Writing is a journey, really, The time between beginning this journey and reaching the end, where your writing meets your standards, is long and it feels even longer. But you’ll get there. Look how far you’ve come. If you made it this far, you can make it the rest of the way.
Hope this helps. I’ll be cheering you on, girl! <333 😀
Hey there, @nanisnook!
I’m sorry that you’ve been feeling discouraged! Here are the top tips that have helped me through writing discouragement; I hope that they will help you as well!
1. Don’t let the mistakes tear you down, but rather build you up as a writer. The fun thing about writing is you never stay in the same place skill-wise. There’s always more to learn and ways to grow. When you find your inner critique is discouraging you, turn it around into an opportunity to build your skill as a writer. When I read my past writing (which, I must say, was horrendous) I’m grateful for how far I’ve come and the fact that I kept learning despite frequent setbacks of discouragement.
2. Let other writings motivate you. Instead of seeing amazing writing as something you can’t do, see it as something you hope to do. Let it inspire you for your future as a writer.
3. Through prayer and thought, really consider your purpose in writing. What is your dream that it will accomplish? What is your mission statement?
KP also has tons of awesome articles on encouragement! Here’s the link: https://kingdompen.org/category/articles/encouragement/
I hope I could be of assistance!!
~In Christ Alone My Hope Is Found~
@nanisnook
Girl, you are not the only one! I get discouraged over my writing all. the. time. It’s sooo much easier to feel bad about our writing more than it is to feel good about it. But God doesn’t want us to feel discouraged over our writing – something He has given you the interest and passion for. You can ask God to help you view your writing the way He does. Also, something I’ve been doing to help me is to compare my current writing with my past writing from a few years ago. In comparing my writing now with my old writing, I see my improvement and then I feel encouraged to continue on. Like everything, we get better with practice. And even though we will always be improving and getting better, it doesn’t mean that our work is terrible now. You are still great with writing now! Everyone’s writing is different, so, you don’t have to be at the same level as someone else to be great with writing. Just be you and remember why you love to write. Maybe another thing you can do is purposefully look for one good thing about your writing. Pay attention to the parts you do like. Like, your awesome plotline, sweet characters, or the way you wrote a particular scene. You’ve got this, girl!!!!! I believe in you!!!! <333"It looks like a fairy world"~Meg from Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
Fall in love with Jesus@nanisnook Ah, sorry to hear you’re feeling like this! I guess here are my tips:
- Read terrible writing
- Daydream about your writing dreams
- Receive validation
- Start something new
- Take a break
Hope these help!
Lately, it's been on my brain
Would you mind letting me know
If hours don't turn into days@jenwriter17 Thank you for sharing those blog posts!!!!!! I read them both, and they were very encouraging for me!!!!!!!!!! 😀 THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!!!!!
"It looks like a fairy world"~Meg from Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
Fall in love with Jesus@mkfairygirl You’re so welcome, Katherine! <3 Glad you like them!
I'm a Kapeefer 'TIL WE'RE OLD AND GREY!
www.jennaterese.comThree words: love, theme, vision. These are the most important things in my writing life and always motivate me to come back when I don’t and just want to quit.
Love basically means what do you love about this story. Is a character, the plot, worldbuilding, scene, place, a certain element, it can be anything. Knowing what I love about the story is huge for me. I can’t write something I have no love for.
Theme is the thing that you wish to tell with this story. Theme helps me feel meaning and depth for my story, it excites me, so that is very motivating. I don’t want to write any story, I want it to teach me and others if they read it. I want my story to both get me and people thinking.
And lastly, vision, which is the overall why you do write. What is your goal, your dream, for your stories? Why is it so important for you to keep write and publish? Why do you think the world needs you (cause it does)? As an example, I aim to write for teenagers who I know are struggling with all sorts of things and I know once I reach the point of being publishable, I can help them some small way if they pick up my book. Also as a Christian, I hope to show God in every piece I write, to honour and glorify Him, which super important and very motivating since I’m writing for God first and people second. A lot of times people are hard to write for, but God isn’t and he always helps you make your story better and more powerful. Let God be part of your vision.
@elfwing Nope you’re not weird. It helps me too. XD Thanks so much for the advice, it was super helpful!
@jenwriter17 Thanks so much! Those articles helped a lot. I definitely tell myself those lies on a regular basis, and it helps to know that someone else struggles with them too.@gracie-j Thank you!! Reading my favorite thing that I’ve written is super good advice especially. I’ll be sure to do that.
@lydia-s The fact that maybe I’m not where I want to be, but I’m not where I was is such a good thing to remember. Thank you so much!
@madelyn Thanks so much for the articles and the advice! Turning my inner critique around is definitely something that I will take to heart.
@mkfairygirl Thank you so much!! Your advice is super encouraging. Yeah…thinking about my writing from a few years ago… ha, maybe I don’t stink too bad right now. XD
@devastate-lasting Daydream about my writing dreams…why is it that that seems to happen more often than actually writing? XD Thanks so much for the advice, I will certainly take it to heart!
@ribbonash Love, theme, vision. I really like that! I’ll keep it in mind as I get over this. Thank you so much!!Be still and know that I am God. Psalm 46:10
you’re welcome! That’s great I could help 🙂
I'm 'a homeschooler' because cookie-making writing artistic animal-whisperer isn't a job title
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