prettywordsyouwrite

I’m not saying writing prompts are everything a writer needs in their arsenal to motivate them to write when lacking in focus / ideas, but I definitely regard their value in a writer’s tool box. This year, I decided to come up with a bunch of random story starters full of tropes, aus, genres, and a few boundary pushers and threw them in this ridiculous cup to draw four out of each month. 

I follow a lot of writers on Tumblr, and even I have been known to diminish the content I've created when responding to feedback about it. There's this unspoken rule in society that talking positively about ourselves can be seen as bragging or egotistical.

But let's stop and think about this. You spent all that time writing the story. Then you had your revisions and editing to go through. After that, you perhaps had to do some formatting checks depending on where you post or write from. Maybe you like to use an external service like Grammarly to go over your words to ensure the story is cohesive and you've checked for any errors or loopholes in the wording choice. Finally, you go to schedule or post that story.

You've spent a lot of time on that piece!

Even if you don't do all the above, or if you do more, there is always more to writing than crafting words together. And you should be proud of the energy you have put into it.

Especially if it turned out better than you hoped for. Maybe you had a breakthrough with a genre you've struggled with. Or had one of those moments where metaphors and imagery flowed so well that you cannot believe you wrote it. Whatever it is about that story, you have every right to think you did a good job.

So, why do we go, "Oh thanks, but I wish I had done better with ____." Or "Haha yeah it's okay for me." Etc. Why do so many writers want to seem humble at the expense of downplaying the hard work and the excitement they have about sharing their stories online? Yes, there is a level of bragging that can make someone look unappealing because as a whole, society labels those who are proud of their success negatively. But we should still try to be more positive about our creativity.

Sticking through a part that you’ve written just because you’ve written it and it’s not bad, doesn’t mean you’ll love it when you’re done. Sometimes, it does work out in your favour, but really, are you that happy with it, or just happy it’s done and you’re no longer dragging your feet through the scene?

The first thing my creative writing professor said to us in my first class was to use the delete button often. He encouraged us to go home and delete the work we had done that we were the proudest of. Because once those words were gone, we could create something greater with new words.

Whilst I don’t agree with going to that extreme often, it is cathartic to delete a scene, several pages, or even a project you have been working on to make room to start afresh. There is no need to drag yourself through the pain of a tricky scene/story if it’s not going to benefit your project in the long run. Taking an idea and changing paths can be hard if you don’t remove the setup first. 

Deleting can feel daunting, especially if you’ve spent a long time working on that particular part. Even more so when you have a deadline to meet. However, just because you wrote something, doesn’t mean you have to get it out to the world either. Thank it, delete it, and move onto a new approach with the idea you have. 

We often try to write different scenarios for our readers on topics that could perhaps change their viewpoint on something, or give solace to the reader that they’re not the only one who feels like this.

To some extent, this writing usually comes from our own experiences or thoughts. 

Intentionally writing out something that has confused you, hurt you, or caused an impact in your life could be just what you need to move on, to heal from, to find clarity. 

As humans, we tend to get so wrapped up in our own dilemmas, and often that age-old saying what advice would you give to a friend in the same situation can also apply to your writing. What would you do if you were in your protagonist’s shoes? What advice would you have them hear, or what steps would you make them take towards solving the issue they face? 

My fics are niche as it is (a rarepair in an already very tiny fandom), so I don't get a ton of kudos and comments to begin with. They write for a popular pairing and have the most popular fic in the fandom.

I am absolutely heartbroken and I'm doubting myself. I'm in a discord that includes this writer and now I just feel bad and want to leave the server, but I would miss the other friends I've made there. I just feel like my writing sucks and I don't fit in with all the great writers on the discord and I don't have anything to add to conversations anymore. I also feel like I don't want to read and comment on their fic anymore, because it just reminds me that mine aren't good enough.

First off, I just want to say that your feeling of heartbreak is validated. This writer shouldn’t have told you the reason why they read your stories. Writing is hard enough, let alone getting any feedback for it! And I truly feel there are ways to approach things where honest feedback can help (if requested by the writer for such feedback!), but most of the time, people post online in these communities for validation of what they’ve worked hard on. As a fellow writer, I’m ashamed to read someone knocked you for your writing, knowing full well how much effort each individual puts into writing. 

Writing is a form of art and expression and not showing the respect it deserves even if it’s not your cup of tea really grates me. I personally don’t like some genres of writing and have read some stories that aren’t my thing. We all have in our journey as a reader! However, I would never go around telling another writer anything less than “good job”... your work doesn’t deserve to be diminished all because they feel they are in a position of power to do so. 

However, I think a lot of us all have doubts about our work, and how we fare in the writing communities that we belong to. So you’re definitely not alone in this! 

For me, I will admit that whilst I’ve loved immersing myself around other writers, getting to know how they approach certain topics and how they enjoy writing and sharing that joy with them, there’s a whole other side fuelled on by my insecurities, that I find myself struggling with the concept of being an active member of any writing community. I have had moments during my time here where my writing has truly been impacted by these communities and my desire to be accepted and feeling like I’m not. I understand your current mindset of not wanting to contribute or feeling your input would not be worthy in this Discord server. I’ve been there before myself!

It’s damn hard to be a writer and maintain an audience. It’s two different worlds. We write for the enjoyment of the process (well, I hope that’s what you write for), and we post for the feedback of said work. If we don’t get interaction, we’re less motivated to continue. But allowing your writing journey to be dictated by others isn’t fair to you, or the words bursting to be written either. As hard as it is, if you’re happy writing in the genre that you do and it brings you joy, then that’s the main thing. 

Right now, I feel the impact of others is causing your self-doubt to go beyond the level it should. You have been given “evidence” from this writer, who you’ve respected and now you carry that around on your shoulders. I think you need to step back, or leave the Discord server temporarily, and focus on how to navigate the “evidence” this person has given you. How can you remove the baggage this careless person has thrown at you? You don’t have to carry their problems around. Because as hurtful as this is, and cruel as this person was knowing full well that you no doubt have supported them a great deal in return, you aren’t the one with the problem. They are. And they simply made it your problem by voicing it. Their voice matters and they don’t seem to realise this or care enough, given their status in the community. Which isn’t uncommon, sadly.

But you also matter. And I truly hope this ramble of an answer allows you to feel so. You’re not alone and you are worthy. Your work has no doubt touched someone out there. It’s so easy to focus on the negative comments but I bet you’ve had some really kind ones as well. Go back and reread them. You might find some healing in knowing you matter from this exercise.

As a writer, I’m often inspired by conversations I hold with people, events around me and very much so by my dreams. And thus, I’m always coming up with new ideas, faster than I can write them, that I store in a file. 

Sometimes, I get to them right away, and they don’t even get stored. Other times, I know I need to grow a little more before I can approach it and others, well the idea scares me and I put off doing it until I can take a blind leap of faith.

But there’s often a lot of ideas that just sit and wait. That I go, “oh yeah that would be cool to do,” but never actively choose it when looking for my next story.

 And so they sit. They wait. They wonder if they’ll ever be written out.

Some have been in there for years. And there will come a time for them. But you don’t have to keep storing them either. You could set them free and so the idea could land in the hands of someone who could work on that now. 

Just because you have a bank of ideas stored up, it doesn’t make you rich. It just makes you full and emptying out the vault that’s holding too much to choose between might be freeing for your creativity process.

We all have those stories. You know, the ones you cringe at the very thought of their existence in your writing catalogue. The one you think, “good grief, how did anyone read that thing back in the day?!” or something similar. 

These stories are part of your journey. Without that piece, you wouldn’t have the work you’re creating now. The lessons you have learned since that story have shaped you. And even if you look at those older pieces and wish they didn’t exist, honour them. Thank them for being the best you could produce back then. See them as the stepping stones to your progress. 

As writers, we naturally critique the words of our past negatively. We look at the flaws, the loopholes, the lack of realism and want to shake our heads at them. You don’t have to go back and lovingly read those stories. But acknowledging those juvenile moments in your journey, those less than stellar string of words brought you to where you are now.

Like most things in life, the more you write the more you allow yourself to improve. A situation you might have struggled with months ago may become easier to approach from diligent writing sessions. 

Most people can’t pick up a skill and naturally excel at it from the beginning. Learning what your style is will take time. Improving your description happens each time you practice. Developing dialogue becomes more natural the more you write characters conversing with each other or themselves. The list goes on.

I don’t do the first type of scheduling for myself, admittedly! I write so often that I don’t need to intentionally place down hours/days into any weekly/monthly agenda. I do, however, keep Sundays free every week for editing and scheduling stories for the upcoming week, and sometimes this day can also hold writing work as well. It just depends on what I need to get done at the time to prepare for the new week! 

Otherwise, I just write when and where I can. My weeks vary a lot in what we have on appointment wise and for my work commitments. I aim to write every second day usually, but most of the time lately I’ve been writing about 3 times a week to keep up with my schedule. That has been including Sundays as well. 

I find when I systematically work through a list of projects I want to get done on a deadline that I write more frequently without prompting. So the second method of scheduling works best for me! 

The best way I keep myself on track as a writer is planning out ahead. Of course, planning ahead comes with some downsides but on a whole, I rely on having a schedule to know what I’m posting and where.

I write a lot of my stuff ahead of time where I can and so this log doubles as a reference for what I did and what I want to achieve.

And because I’m a bit over the top, I keep a digital one and a paper one. They serve slightly different purposes and I’ll explain what I do with each of them.

Please note: This is a personal schedule, and it may not work for other writers and that’s okay! I’m sharing my method simply because I’m asked so often how I do it and have had interest in it from fellow writers looking to expand how much they post online. I’m not promoting my method as being the best for you, but maybe it’ll give you an insight how scheduling in a way that suits your needs can work (more on that can be found HERE)

If you write, you already know that it’s not always easy. Being consistent and motivated is pretty hard sometimes.

What if I told you, scheduling might help keep you on track?

I’m wary of saying that everything will work for writers, because the truth is, we’re all different. The very mention of the word “deadline” could make one writer frazzled and another confident. But I figured, if an author who is writing for a publishing house has to meet deadlines and that’s how they get their books out, then why can’t I set my own to keep myself on track?

So that’s what I did.

Whether it’s because of internal or outside pressures, there are times where we just don’t want to write. It’s really important that when that moment strikes, you evaluate the reason why. It could be a sign of needing a break to come back to your project refreshed. But more often than not, the reason is a lack of motivation towards your craft. This can be highly frustrating, especially if you’re someone like me who likes to write to a schedule (more on that in an upcoming post).

I’m a pretty organised person, and in my journey for better productivity, I came over this tool that has been a game-changer for my writing – and life in general. It’s called the High-Low Productivity Bar. It’s a habit-forming hack that helps with consistency, even when we don’t have all the energy in the world to give to our craft.

The great thing about this technique is that it’s flexible. For me, I’m pretty busy most days and finding time to fit in writing can sometimes be a bit of a challenge! I know for me how important it is to write regularly for my sanity, as well as for gradual improvement in my set of skills and that is why I applied this method to writing.

So what is it exactly?

It’s a snort, in case you’re wondering.

Let’s face it, as readers we choose the genres we enjoy in hopes we get that giddy enchantment - the one that sucks you right into that world as if you’re there experiencing it alongside them. 

As writers, adding in a scene or a feeling that relates to you specifically, or maybe giving a character a few of your own traits so you can help them react how you feel you would isn’t a bad thing to do! In fact, it can be what that story needed to feel more whole, realistic. 

Chances are, when we write about something or someone we’re passionate about, the detail naturally improves, the dialogue becomes stronger and the world you’re creating feels more magical. 

If you’ve written a story and you’re not happy with it, you have the opportunity to change it. Chances are, if you’re not feeling right about it, then something is missing.

Sure, we can’t always produce a story where we’re bouncing off the walls to share it every time. But ensuring you as the first reader is pleased with how it’s come together is important towards creativity and developing your style. 

A lot of us get caught up in writing things we think will suit others. But then are you creating for your own muse or trying to meet the demands of people who collectively won’t all like the same thing?