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I have many projects. Some may just stay mere figments of thoughts. Others have grown, been recorded but they sit generating e-dust as I fight a fear I can't quite put a finger on, so I decided in true OCD fashion to analyze what is holding me from taking the next, oh so necessary step in writing.
Fear of Editing something to death. BP and Crossroads have flaws that I need to iron out before I can go forward. Why? because those flaws will affect the outcome of the story. But I'm afraid I'll get sucked into an endless cycle of editing and editing and...
Fear of ruining the story. This one makes me shake my head at myself with a huge **facepalm** I mean come on, I have backups of my backups backups, If I screw it up I will be able to simply load up the original.
Fear of rejection. Everyone has this one. NEXT
Fear of the editing process in general perfectionism strikes again! Things have to be 'perfect' to edit (Perfect as in, the right situation, the right pens, the right paper, the best light, the right frame of mind, the right shade of blue in the sky ;) ok so I'm not that extreme but you get my drift) Once I start editing my brain throws a temper tantrum and I discover something as it shouldn't be and next thing I know I am doing dishes and laundry asking myself why the hell I chose that for a hobby. Couldn't I have just as easily picked up quilting? Which results in the printout being shelved, the story shelved and me playing Crisis Core or some other form of Final Fantasy game to 'recharge' (hide).
Fear of Sucess whoa... what? Uhm, egocentric much? But srsly, what if I actually sell something. What then? That is frightening uncharted territory. What would I do? How would I act? Would I be required to get up in front of people? **insert angsting here** If I don't do anything then I don't have to worry about it, right? Right?
They may not make sense but I know for a fact that I am not the only one who has these fears.
**sweeps them into the nearest dumpster**
**Takes a deep breath**
Then you boil down to the question of why do you write (I use 'you' as a general term)?
Good question.
It is soooooo easy to get caught up with the write to be published crowd. You know who I'm talking about. The folks who dismiss writing for any other reason than to sell it. Sometimes you feel guilty for writing a piece that, quite simply, will only see the inside of your computer and never the slush pile. You feel guilty for writing without intention to be published, for writing as a 'hobby'. These people are quick to negativity, quick to shred others. These are NOT the hardworking writers who actually, you know, feed their kids with their writing, these are the folks who have never been published and are quick to voice their opinions that YOU will never 'make it big'.
Why do I write?
Well see I have these stories in my head...
They play like mini-series in my head. I find when I write out the images I see they stop or slow down. If I don't they bounce around and make living in the RL difficult.
I also happen to like sharing my stories with other people. If someone says they enjoyed it then I have succeeded. If someone has pointers on how it can be made better, then I feel as if I have learned something.
Getting paid for it would be nice. Sharing my stories with a larger audience would also be nice. But the bottom line, which I have to remind myself often, is overall I write for me.
You see when I write for fun I find I am 'free-er' with my writing. I Write better when I am writing something because of the sheer joy of the story. Will that work in the publishing business? I dunno.
I want to share my stories. I want other people to enjoy them. I want my stories to be good enough for other people to enjoy.
I have finished stuff that needs to be edited. Small pieces, shorts and snippets. Scenes that are self contained within a few hundred to a few thousand words. The oldest of those should be dusted off, prettied up and tossed into the great sea of submissions.
I was considering listing them off but I am almost afraid of jinxing myself.
So you, what are your fears?
Fear of Editing something to death. BP and Crossroads have flaws that I need to iron out before I can go forward. Why? because those flaws will affect the outcome of the story. But I'm afraid I'll get sucked into an endless cycle of editing and editing and...
Fear of ruining the story. This one makes me shake my head at myself with a huge **facepalm** I mean come on, I have backups of my backups backups, If I screw it up I will be able to simply load up the original.
Fear of rejection. Everyone has this one. NEXT
Fear of the editing process in general perfectionism strikes again! Things have to be 'perfect' to edit (Perfect as in, the right situation, the right pens, the right paper, the best light, the right frame of mind, the right shade of blue in the sky ;) ok so I'm not that extreme but you get my drift) Once I start editing my brain throws a temper tantrum and I discover something as it shouldn't be and next thing I know I am doing dishes and laundry asking myself why the hell I chose that for a hobby. Couldn't I have just as easily picked up quilting? Which results in the printout being shelved, the story shelved and me playing Crisis Core or some other form of Final Fantasy game to 'recharge' (hide).
Fear of Sucess whoa... what? Uhm, egocentric much? But srsly, what if I actually sell something. What then? That is frightening uncharted territory. What would I do? How would I act? Would I be required to get up in front of people? **insert angsting here** If I don't do anything then I don't have to worry about it, right? Right?
They may not make sense but I know for a fact that I am not the only one who has these fears.
**sweeps them into the nearest dumpster**
**Takes a deep breath**
Then you boil down to the question of why do you write (I use 'you' as a general term)?
Good question.
It is soooooo easy to get caught up with the write to be published crowd. You know who I'm talking about. The folks who dismiss writing for any other reason than to sell it. Sometimes you feel guilty for writing a piece that, quite simply, will only see the inside of your computer and never the slush pile. You feel guilty for writing without intention to be published, for writing as a 'hobby'. These people are quick to negativity, quick to shred others. These are NOT the hardworking writers who actually, you know, feed their kids with their writing, these are the folks who have never been published and are quick to voice their opinions that YOU will never 'make it big'.
Why do I write?
Well see I have these stories in my head...
They play like mini-series in my head. I find when I write out the images I see they stop or slow down. If I don't they bounce around and make living in the RL difficult.
I also happen to like sharing my stories with other people. If someone says they enjoyed it then I have succeeded. If someone has pointers on how it can be made better, then I feel as if I have learned something.
Getting paid for it would be nice. Sharing my stories with a larger audience would also be nice. But the bottom line, which I have to remind myself often, is overall I write for me.
You see when I write for fun I find I am 'free-er' with my writing. I Write better when I am writing something because of the sheer joy of the story. Will that work in the publishing business? I dunno.
I want to share my stories. I want other people to enjoy them. I want my stories to be good enough for other people to enjoy.
I have finished stuff that needs to be edited. Small pieces, shorts and snippets. Scenes that are self contained within a few hundred to a few thousand words. The oldest of those should be dusted off, prettied up and tossed into the great sea of submissions.
I was considering listing them off but I am almost afraid of jinxing myself.
So you, what are your fears?
