In which I write 1280 words of writerly meta when I could have just written porn

[ras_elased]

So, I was going to post this earlier tonight, but then BRADLEY AND COLIN'S EPIC DATE NIGHT happened, and somehow I didn't get around to it. SHOCKING, I KNOW.

Anyway,

Comments

[downloadable08]

Let me start out by saying that I totally get where you're coming from. I'm my own worst critic, too, and I currently have the longest thing I've ever written by a factor of three (so far!) languishing on my hard drive because I can't seem to stop the doubt about whether it will measure up to what people are expecting. That said, I've never been a prolific writer, and while I would really love to finish this someday, I don't have scores or even couples of fans waiting for my next fic to drop. If this never happens, I think the one most disappointed will be me

[ras_elased]

I think that's a good idea. I used to write mostly short one shots with the occasional multi-part fic, and now it's like my entire writing life is consumed by these two WIPs. Maybe if I write other, shorter things, and exercise those muscles like you said, I'll stop pinning all my hopes and dreams on these two epics, so to speak.

And thank you for the kind words! That made me smile. :D

[ras_elased]

Yay! Glad to know it happens to everyone, it seems. Hopefully we'll both get the boost we need from the discussion here. ♥

[magog_83]

I don't have any suggestions to add because I'm struggling myself with something very similar. I hope someone else does though! I could use the help too

[ras_elased]

Oh no, don't feel guilty for liking Two Weeks Notice! I didn't mean to make anyone feel that way! I LOVED that so many people enjoyed it! It was a huge boost, it's just the follow up I'm having issues with, and that's all totally on me. You go right on adoring it, bb, guilt-free. ♥

And I hear you about feeling like everything you write is the same and you need to branch out, but you don't know how. I think one of the reasons I'm having such a hard time right now is because the two WIPs I'm working on are very action-heavy, and I'm not very good at writing action. But I also agree with what hermette said below, that it's important to write to your strengths, and if humor is your strength you absolutely shouldn't feel bad about that. I love your stories, for what it's worth! ♥

I think it sounds like we're both in very similar situations. I think we're both feeling trapped by our strengths instead of embracing them. I think it's good to branch out of our comfort zones, but I think my problem is that I'm expecting myself to be as good out of my

[magog_83]

I will then :D ::adores it EVEN MORE:: I still have the soundtrack on my ipod for long car journeys :)

I think my worries have all come to a head in the last couple of months because I submitted my thesis and then had all this free time in which to write fic. Fic was always something I squeezed in around my uni work, really ever since I started writing fanfic, and suddenly I had all this time to write and I... couldn't write. Then it was as if all the things I'd been secretly worrying about in the background of my thesis were the ONLY things I could worry about and I was so frustrated with myself for not being able to get on with things. I wrote a sequel to a recent fic, Meeting the Minister, and it took FOREVER and was actually painful to write on numerous occasions because every single word of it seemed so rubbish.

But yes, I just have to face up to my worries and do something to work through them. I have glompfest due in a few weeks and I haven't written a single word because I'm almost scared of trying. I feel like I want to

[archaeologist_d]

I'm going to jump in here and say that I love your work. Your stories make me smile, sometimes really laugh out loud and I pass the links on to my non-LJ friends. I'm not trying to humor you or anything. If I didn't like your work, I wouldn't be hounding you about it.

That being said, if you think you are trapped in your comfort zone, then jump out of it. Write something completely different. Do the opposite of what you are known for. Write non-con or horror or femslash. Write 100 word drabbles or a story that's only dialogue or one that's no dialogue at all. Yes, it might be rubbish but so what? If it helps you find your voice again, then go for it.

[ras_elased]

From one high maintenance writer to another: I TOTALLY FEEL YOU. I don't know what I'd do without cheerleaders. The best fic I've written since Two Weeks Notice (NOT THAT THERE'S A LOT TO CHOOSE FROM, BUT WHATEVER) was Something Fragile, and that fic would absolutely not have even existed without puckling's saint-like patience while I bitched and moaned at her constantly and she kept propping me back up whenever I would have preferred to just curl up in a fetal position and give it up altogether

[thegrrrl2002]

Thirding this! :D

[ras_elased]

I think this is such excellent advice! Because in all honesty, I used to write smaller fics, with lots of cheerleaders around, and I've sort of drifted away from that. It seems so obvious, now that I think about it, that this is what I need to get back to.

Thank you so much! And thank you for the quotes, also, especially about learning to live with being uncomfortable. Because I definitely think this is something I've simply got to come to terms with, and now I've got some tools and a starting point to do that. ♥