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So I struggle a LOT with doubting myself when I write. Especially with fear. I know that even the best authors get rejected, sometimes hundreds of times, but that doesn’t make me feel better. I don’t want to go through getting rejected, I don’t want to have to face all the hard spots. People will tell me that my writing is beautiful, but it’s hard for me to see that. I’m just dealing with fear, I guess, because I’m worried that I’ll never get published, that I’l never be good enough, that I’ll never be more than a girl who thought she could write.
I was wondering if anyone struggles with this too. So here we can post our struggles, our ups and downs, and keep each other writing, and never giving up, no matter how hard it gets. We can pray for each other, encourage each other, whether it be by posting snippets of our writing, sharing our struggles, or anything!
AnYwAy, TaGs…
@acancello @jonas @highscribeofaetherium @grcr @rae @whalekeeper @mineralizedwritings @rae @esther-c @smiley @loopylin @calyhuge @thearcaneaxiom @freedomwriter76 @mybrainsdeadsomeonetagmorepeopleplease…Lukas&Livia
#Lalbert
Sef&Chase
#HOTTOLINE
LEFSE FOREVER!!!!!! <333I think I think about my writing in a different way than most people, because I don’t usually struggle with this stuff. I write because I like it (not the process, so much, but the results) not because I want to publish. I don’t think about publishing really, I just think it would be awesome to have written a book. Publishing is an afterthought for me.
I do sometimes think that I’m never going to do it, but when I do, I never despair about it or anything, not because I don’t care—-I don’t really no why. I think I never put too much emotional investment into anything.
So yeah, I don’t have that problem, but I’m sorry you (and probably most writers) do, and I’m here to encourage you in any way you need! Maybe it would help you not to think about the publishing. Think about a smaller audience, who won’t just reject you because they think you’re a bad writer. As you said, all writers started out bad. If they got good, you can too, so keep at it. Finally remember that God is in control. If He wants you to become a published author, then it will. And if it isn’t, His plan must be better!
🏰 Fantasy Writer
✨ Magic System Creator
🎭 Character RPer
📚 Appreciator of BooksGreat topic, Sara!! @jonas had a great point on that. It’s hard, but just try to remember that if God wants you to be published, He’ll make it happen. I don’t struggle as much with that fear because of self-publishing XD. I figure if I end up finishing some books, if no one wants them I’ll either just keep writing or publish them myself.
And also, I just want to point out that you’re always growing as a writer as long as you’re writing. So even if this isn’t the book that ends up published, you’re still learning and growing your skills for the next book.
Seriously, especially as kids, when you’re figuring out your style — your writing changes a lot. So just think of it this way–keep using your gift, and if God wants to take it somewhere, He will.
Probably the place I struggle with the most in my writing is tied to my OCD, not insecurity. I sometimes worry that I’m too attached to my writing and that it’s become an idol, or that I’m writing purely for myself and that I should be writing for God. But that’s more just about the way I think… it’s not really connected to my writing, it just impacts that because I care a lot about it. I’m learning to manage my OCD better, though.
Anyway, thanks for the topic! I’ll be sticking around here to see what other people say on this. ❤️
WE ARE REVIVING THE PROTECTION SQUAD! *steals Joseph, Julian, and Sabina from Ellette*
Thank you so much, that means a lot.
I think that my current project has just grown on me a lot. I’m like emotionally attached to it, and I’m just afraid that if it never gets published then I will have wasted all these hours. I feel like if it doesn’t get published I’ll never be able to tell the message that God has put on my heart to share, and that’s a scary thought (at least for me).
I sometimes worry that I’m too attached to my writing and that it’s become an idol, or that I’m writing purely for myself and that I should be writing for God.
That’s exactly what I feel, like ALL THE TIME!!! I’m glad I’m not alone, XD
Lukas&Livia
#Lalbert
Sef&Chase
#HOTTOLINE
LEFSE FOREVER!!!!!! <333- Rank: Chosen One
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@savannah_grace2009 Let me just say that you’re not alone, Sara.
Every writer deals with doubt…every writer deals with insecurity…every writer deals with questions about their writing.
You are not alone❤️
If you have the desire to write, then God has placed that desire within you, and if God has placed that desire within you, he will see you through to the end.
Writing is hard.
No sugar coating it.
WRITING. IS. HARD.
Some days the fingers just fly on the keys.
But other days?
Some days it’s hard to even want to open the computer.
Trust me, I’ve been there.
Many, many times.
I’ve questioned if I should even write anymore…I’ve questioned if I should just scrap everything and give up on everything I wanted to do with fictional stories.
After talking with another writer, I felt as if my novel wasn’t ready to be seen by the outside world and considered starting over again. I considered scrapping the whole thing. I doubted my writing and even doubted God’s purpose for my life.
But my Dad reminded me that I’m not writing for those companies…those editors…those writers that think I’m not ready yet…I’m writing for the King of Heaven.
With that reminder, I gained the strength to see to the very end, and I finally finished my first novel and am currently looking towards self-publishing.
I don’t know if writing will always be a part of my calling, but for now, that’s what God has called me to do, and I have to constantly remind myself that my writing isn’t for those people that are going to try to bring me down…hey, my writing isn’t even for the people that are going to love it…my writing is only for Adonai, and he will use it as he sees fit.
I know it’s hard to believe, trust me, I know.
Some days I still look at my writing and wonder if I really am called to be a writer.
But listen to me when I say this:
God is so much bigger than your fears.
God loves you so, so much.
This world is harsh…this world can bring us down…but Yeshua already overcame the world.
People may tell us that we’re just kids.
People may tell us that we’re just teens who dream too much.
People may tell us that our dreams are too high for us to reach.
But NOTHING is impossible with God.
And if nothing is impossible with Yahweh…
then we can also DREAM with God…big, big dreams.
Don’t let this world and yourself bring you down, Sara…this world doesn’t know you the way God knows you.
He has a plan and a purpose for you.
He has a future for you that you can’t even imagine.
So keep trusting him.
Keep praying.
Keep dreaming.
Keep fighting the good fight of faith.
And keep writing.
✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨
I think for most authors, their first project is usually not ready to be published. I don’t like that thought either, but if it doesn’t get published initially, you can revisit it later and rewrite it. I don’t think it’s worth thinking about that right now, just focus on improving your skills.
🏰 Fantasy Writer
✨ Magic System Creator
🎭 Character RPer
📚 Appreciator of BooksOne thing about girls, is we get emotionally attached to thing we love really easily. I’ll go sob over the death of a charrie, and C is like…no emotion at all.
This is why men are placed with authority over women, they are equals, but still the man is the head of the house. Why? Because they aren’t usually emotionally driven.
Anyways, I often feel I’m doing a poor job portraying the story of Nahim. My style is very poor and I only really starting writing a year ago so…long way to go.
I think one thing that is just stuck in my mind is from the founders of YWW,
“Start young and stick with it.”
"You need French Toast."
#AnduthForever (hopefully 💕)@savannahgrace_2009
great topic!
The thing is for me, I’ve already been rejected a lot in other areas of my life, so I’m not particularly scared of it. Imo, every attempt at something should be counted as a personal win, even if it didn’t end the way you wanted. In almost all cases, hard work makes results, so I don’t really worry about how many times I get rejected, people can spot hard work and anyone can improve. I know rejection seems scary, but I think the more you experience it, the better, because you can use it to gain confidence in reaching out. I do worry sometimes that I’ll never get published, because my expectations for my book are extremely high, but I just figure God will help me and later in life I might have more motivation, so I’ll just do little things to work towards it for now.
"And so I left this world just as I had entered it. Confused."
That’s exactly what I feel, like ALL THE TIME!!! I’m glad I’m not alone, XD
Really?? That’s good to know, I guess XD. I just can get so involved in my writing and I really enjoy it, it worries me sometimes that I guess… I love it too much? XD But I’ve been praying about it, and I think like 98% of it comes from my OCD, so it’s just something I’m learning to deal with and manage.
Do you have obsessive compulsive disorder too?
WE ARE REVIVING THE PROTECTION SQUAD! *steals Joseph, Julian, and Sabina from Ellette*
I think the only things keeping me writing rn, are Nahim, it’s an escape for me, and that I JUST CAN’T STOP!!!!!
there’s a story about Fanny Crosby where she was banned from poetry in school, she wasn’t allowed to write it, but she just couldn’t stop. The principal took it as a sign she was destined to be a poet. And she was.
If I tried to stop writing, after six months I’d be writing again like crazy. I just can’t help it.
When I was little I wanted horses soooooooooo bad, and I decided though all odds were against me, God wouldn’t give me this burning desire for them unless he wanted me to be with them, to chase my dreams. Look at me now.
I was told I probably be in my twenties before being able to take riding lessons. I told myself I wouldn’t be twenty when my dream was fulfilled, I’d be younger. I doubted myself, but now I’m a fourteen year old around horses at least twice a week.
I was told I wouldn’t make it, even my mom told me I didn’t have what it took. But here I am, excelling.
I doubted myself so often, that sometimes I tried folowing after other dreams. Well, obviously, those dreams didn’t compare to my horses.
I think eventually writing will be the same way, I’ll be told I can’t make it by myself and even my closest friends, I’ll try to follow other dreams, but the flame of writing will still burn.
Don’t follow your dreams, chase them. And remember,
God would never give you this burning desire for no reason.
"You need French Toast."
#AnduthForever (hopefully 💕)Writing is really really hard
I’ve written some really cringe things (and then I would show people with pride what I wrote… and then read it later and realize just how cringe it is)
Writing is usually an uphill battle with tons of mistakes and bumps, but you can’t let them get to you or make you stop (because trust me I’ve thought about it)
I’m still very new to writing and I don’t even have a WIP I’m in love with and committed to and I’m not certain when I will
all I know is that I was given a gift of writing just like all of us on here, and I’m exploring and figuring out how I can use that gift for God the one who gave me it
Do me a favor…. Tell Cress I meant it
-Thorne@freedomwriter76
Thank you, Freedom! You’re really good at encouraging people XD
That really means a lot.
@everyone
Thanks guys! You guys really are good at inspiring me lol!
Lukas&Livia
#Lalbert
Sef&Chase
#HOTTOLINE
LEFSE FOREVER!!!!!! <333Hi Sara!!
I see everyone’s already covered what needs to be said, so I’ll just ramble for a little bit about a couple things that might make you feel better 😘
I think it’s super important to improve, and to celebrate when you do so. For me, that process is very encouraging, and keeps me motivated more often than not. When I feel discouraged, I look back at certain scenes in my projects that I am proud of. Can you find some funny dialogue that still makes you laugh? What was your first good action scene? Little things like that, which show how you’ve grown in the craft.
Another thing which makes me feel better – although I don’t know if it works for everyone 😅 – is to write a little blurb describing your unique voice. Sounds a little silly? But if you have low self-esteem like I do, it can help SO much. Are you poetic? Blunt? Emotion-driven? What do you value most in a scene?
Describing your own style also helps you decide what you want to change, which in turn feeds into the whole improvement-equals-encouragement thing.
Idk, just a few thoughts. Hope this helps ❤️
“Everything is a mountain”
Everyone above gave such great advice that I dont really have much to add. I sometimes worry about things too, that my book is to dark and I worry that my style changes throughout the WIP. I also doubt myself, but I realized that I shouldn’t be, you are the only one who can tell the story you are telling. It may be hard to publish and it may not be, but in the end it will be 100% worth it! Your not alone! Dont give up! And always remember that you can do it.
I really hope that helps.💗
"Would you kindly...?"
Thank you! That’s something that sounds neat to try. I’ll work on it!
It does help…thanks girl! <3
Lukas&Livia
#Lalbert
Sef&Chase
#HOTTOLINE
LEFSE FOREVER!!!!!! <333
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