Second Draft Blues

[GodlyFantasy12]

As the title states, I’ve found myself in a bit of a blues. Not that I’m depressed but just haven’t been finding the motivation to write but at the same time I want to because I want to finish it (also I’ve given myself a motivation).

the way I’m approaching my 2nd draft is practically rewriting everything from start to finish. I’m in a predicament here. I want to finish this draft and write but at the same time am lacking some of the motivation and enjoyment, if that makes any sense.

Any ideas and/or encouragements? And I’d rather not be suggested to take a break because I already haven’t been writing the last few days. (Today was the first time in a while I’ve really written and it was just a couple hundred words)

What do y’all do to get in the groove or get out of slumps? When u want to but you’re procrastinating?

#IfMarcelDiesIRiot
#ProtectMarcel
#ProtectSeb

[Linyang Zhang]

@godlyfantasy12 *smiles is in leaving the second draft to write in another 5 years, or doesn’t do second drafts at all*

Start another project! As writers, we all have multiple ideas going on at once. And I think that it is best to wait even longer for second drafts than editing. Me, I’m just waiting for another few years for enough ideas to completely rewrite my first series from scratch, because they were written by a kid and just not good.

But yeah, generally when I’m in a writing slump I just work on something else. Don’t sweat about it!

Lately, it's been on my brain
Would you mind letting me know
If hours don't turn into days

[Kads]

@godlyfantasy12 HahaI remember when I decided to start my entire book over from scratch because it felt too contemporary…

The main thing I’d recommend is just settling into the routine of writing. If you’re working on your second draft, you don’t need to be writing lots of words every day at the beginning. Just take things at your own pace! When you feel comfortable, then try to write more. And like Linyang said, try working on other projects and that will motivate you. 😀

staring at the fields
if nothing's really real
i'll make the winter now my home

[Jenna Terese]

@godlyfantasy12

I hear ya! When I feel like that I usually try to remember my WHY. My big goal. WHY am I working on this project? Does it have a message I want people to see? Do I want to prove to myself that I can finish a hard project? Always figure out why you write every story and sometimes remembering that is enough to keep you going.

I’ve also found it very helpful to use the pomodoro technique for working and maybe implementing some self-rewarding techniques as well.

Hope that helps! 🙂

I'm a Kapeefer 'TIL WE'RE OLD AND GREY!
www.jennaterese.com

[Anonymous]

@godlyfantasy12

I’m going through the exact same thing right now. Especially that it seems like my novel will be going in a completely different direction than I ever even thought of. Totally relate about struggling to write – I’ve only written 347 words this entire week, and it wasn’t exactly for my novel… hehe.

Right now I’m sort of in a period when I don’t know where God would have me go next in this story. I do know I’m called to write it, but I also know he’s telling me, at this particular point, to go slow and spend more time listening to his voice. I know you said you don’t want to be recommended to take a break, and I totally get that. I don’t want to be told to just take a break and the problem will “fix itself” when I already haven’t written in days. But sometimes we need to take time away – however, NOT time to procrastinate and do mundane things instead of writing. I’m talking about time to listen to God, pray and meditate, spend more time with his word. You could try that for a day or two and see if something clicks for you. 🙂

[ella]

@godlyfantasy12

Yes, I totally feel this!!  Everything people already said was great, but the thing I’d consider the most is to try writing something new.  That doesn’t mean you’re giving up on your book, you just need a break from your particular WIP.  And, hey, you might even get some ideas for your 2nd draft from another project… that’s happened to me a billion times. 😄

Another thing you might do is to work on another aspect of your book:  character interviews or charrie art while listening to an awesome playlist might give you some inspiration.  Or making more Pinterest boards.  Or watching a movie with a similar genre/plot.  Or reading a similar book.  These things usually help me out.

I hope you’re getting more and more inspired, and I wish you the best of luck with your WIP!!!

-Ella

what we do in life echoes in eternity
-gladiator, 2000

[Lydia S.]

@godlyfantasy12

This is a late response, but I figured I’d pop in anyway. 🙂

I completely get what you’re saying. I’m in the same place with my WIP myself: working through another rewrite (I’m seeing a fourth looming in the distance *sigh*) and working on a scene which, at the moment, is pretty technical and (in my eyes) boring. I’ve been, and still am, procrastinating, but, when it comes time to write, I just have to make myself pound out a few more sentences/paragraphs. It’s the worst part of writing a novel, but I guess we all go through it. We just have to push through this particular scene, and the drive to write will return eventually. Maybe immersing yourself in the world and story might get the creative juices flowing again? Maybe try rereading some or even all of your book?  Or skip this particular scene and write the next scene you’re excited for, then come back and fill in the between scenes?

Don’t beat yourself up over just a few hundred words though! That’s a few hundred words that weren’t on the document yesterday and a few hundred words closer to the finish line. You can make it through the middle marathon! We’ll all be cheering you on. 😉

[Author]

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