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[indicinderelly.livejournal.com]

Hi. So I just joined this community last week I think. I'm struggling outside of the internet to find people to support my desire to write so I mass joined a bunch of writers communities in hopes of having people to talk to, maybe get some advice, etc.

I always have 100 ideas running around in my head at one time or another, but try to focus on one (which usually ends up being two or three) at once. Currently I'm trying to get down on paper a fiction novel, and a non-fiction novel. The non-fiction is about several months of my life that were tough but...interesting? At least I'm hoping readers find it interesting.

Anyway, with all of my writing, but particularly my fiction novel, I find simply writing difficult. I'm always so eager to get ideas on paper, and then get someone to read them, that I find myself editing as I write. I'd like to just be able to write, and go back to edit. I get so frustrated with myself and how un-edited things are, that I throw my pen down and avoid it again for days or weeks even. I'm scared that if I don't finish this novel I'll never be able to work on getting it published and thus won't be able to write anything else. Which is again me thinking way too far ahead at once, but definatly adds to my writing/editing frustration.

Does anyone have any focusing techniques that I can try so as to just write, and come back to edit? Even edited versions need editing so I just need help letting go with perfecting it as I'm writing it. Any suggestions, tips, and advice would be helpful.

Also, just out of curiosity: who writes as a career or a career goal? I'm sure that if I had a job that supported me fine and allowed me enough time to write I'd do it 'just for fun' or whatever, but I'd really love to turn it into a career. Anyone else in a similar boat?

Thanks all. :)

Comments

[jl-johnson.livejournal.com]

First of all, calm down. Your anxiety over your work is doing more harm than good.

Secondly, you need to set goals for yourself. Concentrate on what you want to accomplish. Don't worry about editing anything, just get the story down on paper, or computer, or whatever you're using, first. Worry about editing AFTER everything is written.

Before I begin a story, I write the whole thing down on paper, just a rough copy of what the story is about. Then I take it to chapters; chapter one-this happens, chapter two-this happens, etc. From there I break it down into scenes, what happens, who's involved, where are they, when is it, how do they get to this point.

When I sit down to physically write, first I meditate. Clear my mind so I can focus only on the story. Then I write. My goal every day is to write a thousand word, or finish a scene, or even a chapter. Depending on how the Muse is feeling.

I would love to be able to do this as a career, and I'm working toward that goal, but I know precious few who do this. Everyone I meet tends to have either a full time, or part time job to pay the bills.

Good luck.

[indicinderelly.livejournal.com]

Thank you. I will definatly try these techniques. I need to get better about specific goals or daily goals anyway so I think these will really help.

I haven't met many people interested in writing at all, much less for a career. And no matter how much I research writing, publishing, etc I still get nervous about all of it, as it has been instilled in me by my parents that I am sure to fail.

Thank you again.

[mandyhubbard.livejournal.com]

Hi! I don't write as my "day job" but I do write for publication. My debut is coming out next year from Razorbill/Penguin as part of a two book deal. It is my "career goal", of course-- i'm hoping within 5-10 years to write full time, but as I have a FABU job during the day, this may not happen that quickly for mr.

Anyway, as far as motivation, I wrote down my three favorite "rules" and posted them over my computer when I first started

1) Don't get it right, gett it written!
2)Give yourself permission to write crap. Crap can be fixed.
3) You can not fix a blank page. (See #1)

Basically, three ways to tell you to stop being a perfectionist and just write it down. :-)

I also wrote, "Use what talents you possess. The woods would be very silent if no birds sang except those that sang best."

In other words-- you dont have to be the best at something to do it.

Writing is a process of revision. You just have to follow the "but in chair, hands on keyboard" rule and stick with it. It pays off in the end.

Oh, and last, since you sound like (at one point) you'll be querying-- don't say stuff like "fiction novel" and "non-fiction novel".

Fiction novel is redundant. Novels are always fiction. Non-fiction novel is contradictory-- what you're talking about is a memoir or "narrative non-fiction".

[indicinderelly.livejournal.com]

I love your 3 rules! I really think I need to "steal" those, and put them up over my desk. I could definatly use those reminders every time I try to write.

I think that's a great quote about singing birds and the best ones, too. I think I get caught up in being "better than what's out there" for fear of getting lost or forgotten or ignored, but ultimatly I don't really want to be The Best. So I'll definatly keep the birds in mind as well. :)

Eh, my bad on the novel classifications. I'll definatly update my vocabulary. My apologies.

Thank you for your advice :)

[amethystrse.livejournal.com]

Reading your post made me think, "Ooooh...someone like me!" hehe I have two kids and an environmental thing I'm doing so writing sometimes takes the back burner. Though I'm always acting out in my head scenes and some I can't wait to get them to paper yet never do.

I would love to make it a career though and I keep that in mind when I find myself "slacking off" or something.

[indicinderelly.livejournal.com]

I'm always acting out in my head scenes and some i can't wait to get them to paper yet never do. I'm with you on that. I get excited about them. And then try to write them and either don't get the chance or be ms. perfectionist about it, and it never happens.

I'm struggling between a full time job (which is really an overtime job as I work as the office manager for a small but growing company. There's only about 5 of us now, but we have the same work load as our commercial neighbors, who have about 35 employees). I also volunteer for a golden retriever rescue group (transporting, training, and fostering dogs. Right now I'm fostering a mix breed who's not even part golden because no other rescue group in the area could do it), and I live and work on my parents 2nd property fixing up the place. I try to get everything done by like 8pm or so to have a couple hours to write, and sometimes it just doesn't happen.

Anyway, LJ friends? *adds you*


Side note: Icon ♥

[amethystrse.livejournal.com]

Ah, you definitly have more on your plate than I do. lol

I don't friend people anymore unless they're someone I know well. I had a problem a while ago and it's made me paranoid. I don't mind people friending me though because some posts are public. Just not personal ones.

*hugs*

[plum-newtype.livejournal.com]

Hahaha. I have had the same problem as you. I write, write, then edit, usually because I plan to post it up online somewhere for others to read.

What I find most helpful is finish the chapter(s)/"story"/meet your goal before you show it to anyone :/ The desire to show someone your work should overpower any obsessive compulsions to go back and edit xD;

I used to want to do this as a career, but then I had a sudden burst of desire to become a psychologist... Writing is still a very, very, strong passion for me, though.

[lolochan.livejournal.com]

I'm very much like you. I get a rush of ideas, and every part of a character's personality, the scene, the plot line, comes rushing in at once, so I try to write it down. Then a new idea hits me and I never finish the old one.

It's a good thing I write as a hobby though. For me, the act of creating is more enjoyable than the finished project. I think if writing ever became a 'chore' I'd stop doing it. As it is, I just like to write stuff down.

For me, though, I find competing in writing competitions like NaNoWriMo is best for getting the ideas on the page. Being forced to write, even when it's crap, is a great way to get a story started/going in the right direction. I find myself competing in unofficial WriMos all the time for just such a reason. The next WriMo that I know of is in October, and that's GothNoWriMo, which is Gothic literature themed... Other than that, NaNoWriMo is in November. Plus, you can always host your own writing month.

Welcome to the Loft, by the way!