Jedi Council Forums - Dealing with Writer's Doubt

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Author	Topic: Dealing with Writer's Doubt
Darth_Leia_6669 Registered: Apr '03	Date Posted: 7/7/08 12:35pm Subject: Dealing with Writer's Doubt
	Ok, I really would like to know if anyone has this problem. You start a fic, and you're on a roll with it. You are posting it and things seem to be going ok. Then you start questioning yourself about it. Are the characters coming off right? Does the plot really make sense? Am I just getting carried away here? You start having Writer's Doubt, which (at least in my case) often leads to writer's block. Please tell me I'm not the only one here who suffers from this! pleads And if anyone has any suggestions on how to overcome it, I would be grateful. Thanks for your time! --later-- 6669 -----signature----- SOTH: When Worlds Collide http://boards.theforce.net/message.asp?topic=28532068&brd=10476 Chapter 17 up 10-8!! Master to Lisbev! Vader for Prez in '08! Check my profile for more stories and art!
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brodiew Registered: Oct '05	Date Posted: 7/7/08 12:39pm Subject: RE: Dealing with Writer's Doubt
	I'm glad you mentioned it. you're not alone. I've suffered from this in the past, though I've not written many multi post stories. It can be tough to press through. -----signature----- “You were right about one thing, Master. The negotiations were short.”
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RX_Sith Title: C&G Game Host Registered: Mar '06	Date Posted: 7/7/08 12:41pm Subject: RE: Dealing with Writer's Doubt
	This definitely happens to me. I will start pretty well (at least hopefully anyway) and then about a few months later I start to have DOUBTS about exactly where I am going with my story. DWB starts to take hold and then those few months add up to six months and then the story is locked. It has happened just about on all of my stories so far and I don't really know what to do about it. -----signature----- Chief of Staff - The SWC Rebel Scum
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Quigonjecca Registered: Jul '07	Date Posted: 7/7/08 12:47pm Subject: RE: Dealing with Writer's Doubt
	Yes, it happens to me. Even with original stuff. I was on a roll with this one story (I had written 12,000 words in one day. Yeah... I have a lot of time on my hands.) and then suddenly I was like, "This just isn't interesting. No one will read this. What if she's a Mary Sue..." etc. You can't really do anything about it, because you are your own worst critic, and you're going to find faults with your stories that no one else will. The best thing I can say to do is make yourself sit down and write 1000 words in that story a day (or whatever other number. I usually say 2,000 words, but you might say 500.) and you'll get through it. You'll have one of those lightbulb moments and then POOF you're back on a roll again. Or at least writing regularly! Well, at least, that's how it works for me (o: -----signature----- I'm baaaack! Haha, no one even knew I was gone On NaNoWriMo: TheJestersDaughter Blog: http://www.reviewsfromthenotebook.blogspot.com Feel free to PM me. I've got to get back into the spirit of things somehow Best New Author in the 2008 Saga Awards!
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LilyHobbitJedi Registered: Aug '05	Date Posted: 7/7/08 12:54pm Subject: RE: Dealing with Writer's Doubt
	You are definitely not alone in this, I too am a frequent sufferer. I'm always doubting my stories and thinking I won't be able to pull something off like I planned. Usually I'm able to deal with it in time and sometimes by reevaluating my stories and rereading some of the reader's comments I'm able to take another stab at it. Other times I write a vig or something else really small so that it will put me back in the right mindframe to continue what I started. -----signature----- Proud Master to eboneya & Alassë Eärfalas! Everybody Lies- House/SW Crossover! http://boards.theforce.net/the_saga/b10476/28032689/r28039379/ A Light In The Darkness http://boards.theforce.net/the_saga/b1047
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Gabri_Jade Title: TFN Fan Fiction Archive Editor Registered: Nov '02	Date Posted: 7/7/08 12:59pm Subject: RE: Dealing with Writer's Doubt
	Writer's Doubt is my constant companion, and yes, it often leads to writer's block. In many cases when I say I have DWB, I'm using it as a euphemism for writer's doubt, because I actually have ideas for stories and where my WIPs should go, it's just that I doubt my ability to pull it off convincingly. As far as how to get past it, I think that Quigonjecca's suggestion is an excellent one. It's hard to do, but if you keep writing, you do eventually get past it. Sometimes what helps me is brainstorming with a friend, because even if I had ideas already, the friend might come up with a twist or nuance that I'd never considered, then I get all excited about writing that new idea and the doubt slides off to the side all by itself. And we all definitely see more problems with our work than the readers do, so the odds are that what we're writing is actually a lot better than we think it is, doubt or no. -----signature----- Evil Twin of LadyPadme This concept of "wuv" confuses and infuriates us! - Futurama All I can do is be me. Whoever that is. - Bob Dylan Serendipity (Leia-Mara vig) - http://boards.theforce.net/b/b1/30178069 !!11!1eleventy
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Ceillean Title: Scattergories and 20 Questions Hostess Registered: Nov '01	Date Posted: 7/7/08 1:15pm Subject: RE: Dealing with Writer's Doubt
	I'm dealing with Writer's Doubt at this very moment. Which has led me to a stupid Writer's Block. And it doesn't make sense to me because I have my entire story plotted out but the words to write it down fail me. So I write and then I erase and then I write and then I erase. And this has been going on for days. sighs And it's so annoying because I want to get the story done and I know I can get the story done but I keep doubting that I'll write it in a good way. I have this fear that I'll lose my readers if I mess up, which increases the doubt I have in myself. sniffs -----signature----- I claim Kyp Durron. Personal Assassin in Charn's Empire -- so watch it.
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LaForzaViva Registered: Jul '08	Date Posted: 7/7/08 1:48pm Subject: RE: Dealing with Writer's Doubt
	I get doubt when I begin stories. As in, is my idea good enough? Is it original enough? Would someone besides me want to read it? Is there enough depth? That's how I'm feeling right now, since I always have ideas running around but I often discard them as too bland or jaded of an idea and then I never put anything down. -----signature----- The True Sith Return (Post KOTOR II): http://boards.theforce.net/before_the_saga/b10475/30038026/p1/?1 Wahoowa!
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RK_Striker_JK_5 Registered: Jul '03	Date Posted: 7/7/08 2:00pm Subject: RE: Dealing with Writer's Doubt
	I have doubts up the whazoo. There's an old saying. "Your harshest critic is usually yourself." Well, for me, that's true. for Ceillean. Sorry to here. I hope you can find those words, there. -----signature----- E-married to the wonderful DarthIshtar. Now also her Padawan. Member of the Y.J.K. Revolution Staring into the Darkness http://boards.theforce.net/beyond_the_saga/b10477/27537567/p1/?23
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Alexis_Wingstar Registered: Sep '06	Date Posted: 7/7/08 2:16pm Subject: RE: Dealing with Writer's Doubt
	I think everyone has doubts at one point or other. Mine come every time I come to the point in my story where I have to do an action scene. In fact, one of my stories came to a screeching hault and I haven't updated in it for... I think almost a year! I'm not sure how to get around it. -----signature----- Driving down life's highway, I have reached a very rough patch. I didn't realize it was still under construction! Mayhap I took a wrong turn?
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zonzo Registered: Dec '07	Date Posted: 7/7/08 2:29pm Subject: RE: Dealing with Writer's Doubt
	I've learned that even if what you turn out isn't all that great, It will still work in the end. You just need to relax about this stuff. -----signature----- Awesomesause. New word of the year. Making a Life (Legacy-era, 132 ABY)- http://boards.theforce.net/beyond_the_saga/b10477/28526177/p1 To Venture the Dark Places- Dark Luke AU- http://boards.theforce.net/beyond_the_saga/b10477/28652606/p1/?9
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darth_grievous1 Registered: Apr '04	Date Posted: 7/7/08 2:58pm Subject: RE: Dealing with Writer's Doubt
	I've always found it's good to get someone else to read whatever I'm working on if there's any doubts about it. In fact, I did that a lot this year when writing articles for my school's newspaper. Proofreading for grammatical errors can also help. Occasionally rephrasing a tricky sentence or what have you can work wonders. If in serious doubt, take a break from what you've written for a few days, and take another look. -----signature----- Life is meant to lived, not graded. ~ lexu I AM AN ASSASSIN (shh)
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dianethx Registered: Mar '02	Date Posted: 7/7/08 3:24pm Subject: RE: Dealing with Writer's Doubt
	Yes, I get it all the time. Every single post I've ever done. I'm always second-guessing whether I've captured the characters or is the pacing too slow or am I giving away too much. I've fighting a terrible writer's doubt right now - and blockage, too. I've been writing drabbles to try and keep my hand in writing but sometimes it's seems like a huge thing to get over. I would suggest you write at least 100 words a day, no matter what, no matter if it's terrible or OOC. Write. -----signature----- Betrayal - http://boards.theforce.net/s/b1/10935143 updated 11/2/09 jedidas3's Master Merlin - Diplomatic Immunity - http://boards.theforce.net/nswff/b10808/30459852
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Valairy_Scot Registered: Sep '05	Date Posted: 7/7/08 3:28pm Subject: RE: Dealing with Writer's Doubt
	Gosh yes...either ask in a preface to your story, or even better, make a friend or two who's a fellow author on the board and ask them their honest appraisal - I can't tell you how reassuring it is to be told you're on the right track - or - how refreshing to have someone help you get on track. -----signature----- http://boards.theforce.net/fan_fiction_resource/b10304/25405090/p3/?52 Prolific Author thread: list & links there. Muse fueled by coffee. Often AWOL despite frequent sipping. Writes on inspiration, not a schedule. 2007-2008 the quality years
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Independence1776 Registered: Feb '06	Date Posted: 7/7/08 4:02pm Subject: RE: Dealing with Writer's Doubt
	I think every writer sufferes this, to a greater or lesser extent, depending on the story and other variables. It's a lot more common with longer works, I believe. My advice: sit down and write every day. Set a minimum goal and keep it. Don't erase or delete- you can always fix it later. (That's why I like completing stories before posting.) The important thing to do is keep writing. Everything will fall into place eventually. Another thing that may work is a deadline. Set one yourself or have a friend hold you to it. Deadlines can work wonders. (I speak from four years of experiance with NaNoWriMo.) Sometimes, switching to another story can work. (It doesn't for me- I rarely go back to the one I stopped working on.) Or you could always read something you find inspirational- another fanfic, a book, poetry, music, etc. You could also take a short break and get some perspective- it usually isn't as bad as you think. -----signature----- "Independence forever." John Adams Padawan to Luna_Nightshade Fics in bio Mostly lurking at the moment
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DarthIshtar Title: Former CR Registered: Mar '01	Date Posted: 7/7/08 6:14pm Subject: RE: Dealing with Writer's Doubt
	I've found that the best way to deal with Writer's Doubt is to start bouncing ideas off someone. Case in point, I'm struggling with a very important scene for a fic and I mention it to a friend. He starts throwing out ideas and I start either encouraging them or shooting them down based on characterization. By the time I'm 10 minutes into it, I've reassured myself that I really do seem to know what I'm doing. -----signature----- "GET OUT OF THE WAY." Yoink It's coming
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