Not!Morning Page: Not Writing and Character Flaws

[nezumiko]

I think collaborative writing has ruined me. Or maybe I'm not really a writer. I mean, I say I love to write, but I have no discipline, and I never finish my stories, and I have a really hard time making myself just sit down and write unless I'm writing with someone else

Comments

[iamzuul]

I am completely with you on the difficulty of writing solo. When I did write solo, it was because I had, effectively, NO life IRL. I had no friends to hang out with, no people to distract me from my inner dream life. And I wrote like a crazy person. (Most often when I shouldn't have been writing at all. One work I completed only when I was in a specific math class!) Now, with Mina, I have someone to share my headspace with, which it turns out has meant almost no more solo writing. I miss it, sometimes, but the alternative IS rather lonely.

[beloved_baka]

The only 'trick' I've heard is to make it into a job. You sit down at a certain time/set amount of time and just write. Over time, it gets easier and you get more productive.

I'm not very good at doing this. Once I find a good collaborative partner, I'm like you -- I much prefer to keep writing with them.

Good luck!

[beloved_baka]

I also just remembered a podcast by a handful of published authors giving tips on writing/world building/etc.

It might help, too - http://www.writingexcuses.com/

[photoash]

This post makes me feel so much better about myself - you have no idea! I am a big extrovert who is also intrinsically motivated so I get bored with writing by myself a lot ( I will also just email unedited stuff to a couple friends and call it done no drive to edit & post). I have a good friend that we collab write in chat and don't post it but enjoy the heck out of it :) I thought of fallen leaves when we first started nearly 2 yrs ago

[marialuminous]

Well no wonder I like you so much! I am an INFP; we have so much in common!

[double_dear]

The ability to enjoy spending time with other people is NOT a weakness and is NOT something to be ashamed of. Sure it makes it hard to spend time alone, but...so? Lots of very introverted people have a hard time being alone all the time, too. Saying the need for interaction is a weakness is like saying the need for food and water is a weakness.

As for how to get motivated...probably treating it like a job really is the best solution. That's how we force ourselves to translate when we're feeling extremely unmotivated.