Writer's Rant

[rusty_armour]

It seems like all I've received since I posted the latest installment of my story has been nit-picking. Now, I know that isn't true because there have been people who have left very generous feedback. However, being over-sensitive and a "glass is half empty" type of person, I've been dwelling on all the negative comments. Ooops. I mean "constructive criticism". Yes, I realize that people are just trying to be helpful and I should be grateful. But when half the replies involve a debate about whether Sheppard has a drawl or if he would use the word "soda," I find myself wondering why I bothered to post this part in the first place. I mean, if those are the kinds of things that people are remembering then the rest of the installment must be seriously boring or just utter crap.

I know I'm over-reacting and I know I should be a better person about all this. I keep telling myself that I should be writing for myself first and foremost. But then I think to myself that I know how the story is going to end. It's not as if I have to read the subsequent parts. And, if this is the case, why should I be busting my ass trying to finish the god-damn thing?

Of course I will finish the god-damn thing because I've already put in too much time and energy not to finish it. Unfortunately, I just don't have any particular desire to work on it. At all. I certainly don't plan to go through another series of marathon writing sessions because I feel guilty for making my readers wait so long between installments. The proverbial straw has been broken and right now guilt is the last emotion I'm feeling.

Well, now that I've probably alienated anyone who might have been willing to read the rest of In the Family Way, I'll just see what other destruction I can wreak.

Comments

[rusty-armour.livejournal.com]

Hey, no worries, sweetie. I understand completely. I had a crit recently that left me feeling like I'd been kicked in the stomach. If it had happened while I was hormonal, I would have completely melted down. As it was, I spent an evening eating chocolate and whining to my friends... and then I got right back to work.

Thanks for being so understanding. :-) I'm glad I'm not the only one who relies on chocolate and whining to friends when it comes to some crit. *g*

That's the hard part: getting back to work. I really hope this doesn't make you stop writing In the Family Way, it's a great story. Take a break if you need to, but don't let it be too long. The best thing in the world is to keep right on working, and not give self-doubt time to settle in and take root.

I'll get back on the writing horse in the next couple of days. I probably would have done it sooner, but reality and other projects have been getting in the way. You're absolutely right about the importance of not leaving a story too long. I'm often plagued by self-doubt even when I am working. *g*

I've got a nice little stack of rejection letters from Asimov's, Analog, etc. When I get one, I take that day off. Then I get back on the horse and send the story to the next market on the list. I've got one now that's currently being considered for an anthology. I really hope it finds a home there, but if it doesn't, I'll just keep on sending it out until I run out of markets.

I admire your courage and determination. I hope the story being considered for that anthology is accepted. :-)

[windrose.livejournal.com]

I'm often plagued by self-doubt even when I am working. *g*

I'll let you in on a secret: all writers go through that. *g* Back in the precambrian era, when I was but a wee baby writer, I used to have this notion that published authors were perfect. They didn't spend hours agonizing over a single sentence, or feel like reaching through the page to throttle their characters. That was just me because I was new and didn't know what I was doing.

Ha.

We all feel that way, even people with 40+ books to their credit. It is the nature of the beast. For me, the writing process follows these stages:

Excitement

Productivity

Doubt

Panic

Anger

Grim determination

Exhaustion

I hope the story being considered for that anthology is accepted. :-)

Thanks, and me, too. :)

[rusty-armour.livejournal.com]

I suspected that other writers suffered for their craft, but it's nice to have it confirmed all the same. :-)

It's kind of scary, but your writing process matches mine exactly. I go through all those stages too!