On the days that I don’t believe in my writing,
and I’m having trouble seeing the worth of strangling words into sentences to
hang a story by a gnarled plot rope, there are three things that help me:
1.
Prayer
2.
Reading other people’s posts about writing
3.
Reading my own published writing. True, it’s all
poetry, short fiction and devotional writing, and most of it is on-line, with
little in print. But it helps. A lot.
Even when I see mistakes in those published pieces . . . I still can say, “There,
that’s me. I’ve done it before, I can do it again.”
What helps you breathe past the suffocation of writer’s
insecurity?
Take a moment and breathe . . . then go write!
If you want to find some amazing, encouraging, inspiring blog-writers, go check out The Insecure Writer's Support Group hosted by Alex J. Cavanaugh, the awesome blogger and author of CassaStar and his recently released Cassafire!
If you want to find some amazing, encouraging, inspiring blog-writers, go check out The Insecure Writer's Support Group hosted by Alex J. Cavanaugh, the awesome blogger and author of CassaStar and his recently released Cassafire!
Great post! I do sometimes look at my published works, so I can see what I have accomplished. Plus, I find taking a break to read other people's work can inspire me to keep writing.
ReplyDeleteCherie - Thanks! Having little bits of writing published helps! Reading other people's work either inspires me or leaves me feeling daunted by their amazing ability to write.
ReplyDeleteYep, I don't know if it's arrogant to say, but sometimes I go back and read something I've written and think it's not half bad. Sometimes I cringe too, but we'll not talk about those passages. :))
ReplyDeleteI think it does help to look over our work and realize how much effort we've put into it, and that some day it will pay off.
L.G. - I don't think it's arrogant to say that. We all have gems we love from our our words, and I think it helps to keep us going.
DeleteExcellent advice, Tyrean! Right now, I'm praying a lot for inspiration and motivation!
ReplyDeleteBrianna - Thanks! I'm praying for that too!
DeleteI know the first one works but I don't go back often to read my own stuff. I've not read either of my books since they hit final form!
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteAlex - I think you could read your books and be inspired! However, I've been through my current WIP nearly three times now, and it needs at least one more go through before I hand it off to anyone else . . .by the time it gets published, I may not want to see it again for a long time.
DeletePrayer is a powerful thing and yes it works!
ReplyDeleteLynda - Amen!
DeleteGood advice! And even if you don't have previous published writing, you can take a look at past writing and revel in how you've improved.
ReplyDeleteAllison (Geek Banter)
Allison - Thanks! I agree. I think reading our past writing and seeing improvement is a huge inspiration!
DeleteOh yes, these things help me too. Good stuff, Tyrean!
ReplyDeleteKaren- That's great!
ReplyDeleteKaren - Thanks! Glad to know they help you too.
ReplyDeleteThose are great ideas, Tyrean. I also try to remind myself that I've done it before and remind myself of the nice things people have said about my writing.
ReplyDeleteAngie - Thanks! I like the one about the nice things people have said . . . I need to remember that one too.
ReplyDeleteexcellent advice! thanks for the inspiration!
ReplyDeleteTara - Thank you!
ReplyDelete