(no subject)
Do you know what I am?
I am a serial outliner.
It's really an unhealthy defense mechanism. Rather than actually writing all these books I'm dreaming up, I just plot them out and let the word document sit forever. Current idea count? At least six. I never thought that I would have writer's block because I have too many ideas. It's gotten so bad that I can't even write on the computer any more (not that I do any better longhand). I've been doing a lot of brainstorming in my idea book, because either I write a twelve page outline (single spaced, size ten font), or I waste a whole day doing nothing.
I know what the solution is, oh yes, it's all too obvious: pick one idea and stick with it. But I'm too scared to make that decision. What if the idea I choose isn't marketable, and I end up spending months trying to write it, slaving over the manuscript, only to find that I have to start all over again? What if I choose an idea that takes me longer to write than another would, because I get stuck halfway through or spend years writing the ending? What if I end up hating the idea midway through, as has happened every single time before? I know myself. I know myself well enough to be wary about anything that requires more than a month of concentrated devotion. I can't read long books because I get bored halfway through or get distracted by a newer, more interesting book; so how do I expect to spend about twenty bazillion more times the effort writing one?
This is my goal this summer: write a book and send queries off to agents. At this point, publishing isn't even the carrot. I just want to send letters out so that it's no longer in my hands. The only problem is that I have to hold this hot potato for longer than I think I can bear.
Well, if I didn't still have homework to do, I would make that decision tonight, or at least a preliminary one. Maybe I'll do a half-assed job on the rest of my homework and force myself to finally decide. Maybe not. I need a set deadline to finish this by, something to encourage me to get there or someone to hold me to it.
PS, Have you ever noticed how subtitles completely strip you of your ability to understand a language? I've noticed this in English (we were watching an episode of All in the Family in Psych today, and I couldn't understand them unless I read the subtitles, even though I've had no trouble before), and I've suspected it in French. Well, either what I'm watching now is just very simple French, or I'm understanding a good deal of it because I can't rely on subtitles. Hm, this makes me wonder if I really should continue French in college....
I am a serial outliner.
It's really an unhealthy defense mechanism. Rather than actually writing all these books I'm dreaming up, I just plot them out and let the word document sit forever. Current idea count? At least six. I never thought that I would have writer's block because I have too many ideas. It's gotten so bad that I can't even write on the computer any more (not that I do any better longhand). I've been doing a lot of brainstorming in my idea book, because either I write a twelve page outline (single spaced, size ten font), or I waste a whole day doing nothing.
I know what the solution is, oh yes, it's all too obvious: pick one idea and stick with it. But I'm too scared to make that decision. What if the idea I choose isn't marketable, and I end up spending months trying to write it, slaving over the manuscript, only to find that I have to start all over again? What if I choose an idea that takes me longer to write than another would, because I get stuck halfway through or spend years writing the ending? What if I end up hating the idea midway through, as has happened every single time before? I know myself. I know myself well enough to be wary about anything that requires more than a month of concentrated devotion. I can't read long books because I get bored halfway through or get distracted by a newer, more interesting book; so how do I expect to spend about twenty bazillion more times the effort writing one?
This is my goal this summer: write a book and send queries off to agents. At this point, publishing isn't even the carrot. I just want to send letters out so that it's no longer in my hands. The only problem is that I have to hold this hot potato for longer than I think I can bear.
Well, if I didn't still have homework to do, I would make that decision tonight, or at least a preliminary one. Maybe I'll do a half-assed job on the rest of my homework and force myself to finally decide. Maybe not. I need a set deadline to finish this by, something to encourage me to get there or someone to hold me to it.
PS, Have you ever noticed how subtitles completely strip you of your ability to understand a language? I've noticed this in English (we were watching an episode of All in the Family in Psych today, and I couldn't understand them unless I read the subtitles, even though I've had no trouble before), and I've suspected it in French. Well, either what I'm watching now is just very simple French, or I'm understanding a good deal of it because I can't rely on subtitles. Hm, this makes me wonder if I really should continue French in college....