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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

[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 :)