Stories I can't write

[telesilla]

I have times when I think I'm actually pretty good at this whole writing thing and then I have times when I get stuck and think I suck and then there are times like now

Comments

[sidewinder]

So I'm curious: do any of you ever feel that way?

Oh hell yeah. Quite often.

[ladycat777]

So I'm curious: do any of you ever feel that way?

Frequently. Very, very frequently.

[alex_quine]

Yes, absolutely...and no, sort of... For me it's a tone thing, in that sometimes I come across particular stories that strike a tone I enjoy, but know that I would find that particular way with words impossible to copy. It's like being able to do accents, the sound is right in your head, but to a native speaker you sound like a cartoon character...and for a while it's frustrating, but then I re-read some of my own stuff, the bits I've been pleased with, and I can hear my voice and in the end, that's the one I want to work with at the moment, for better or worse...but it doesn't stop me loving other voices.

[hanks_lil_pit]

Yes, yes and, well, yes. You're definitely not alone in this. I get that yearning thing as well. I look at the 'story' in question, and wish and hope and even study it a bit, but to no avail.

I totally get that feeling.

Then I just get mad.

*laughs*

Hank

[apple_pi]

Yes, absolutely. I think all writers do. (And probably all readers as well, right?) Sometimes it's a stylistic thing (I'm thinking of Cate and Siriaeve's writing, here, and also Mirabile Dictu's), and sometimes it's something else, something that's probably not intangible, but I've never defined it for myself.

I can imitate those writers - if there's any one peculiar writing trick I can do, it's to copy other writers' styles and voices. (I think it's one of the reasons I love writing fanfiction so much - the confirmation that sometimes I can fall into the perfect groove and extend the lives of characters I love, using a very similar voice to the creators', whether that means JRR Tolkien or Martin Gero, lol.) But it's not MY voice, and it never will be, and sometimes that is very, very frustrating.