During a good writing session you decide to have a well earned break. You shuffle off to make a cup of tea, nibble on a few biscuits and kiss a loved one.
Even though you feel mentally drained you are goofy happy. You LOVE your writing and whisper to yourself ‘I have been put on this planet to write this piece of literary gold – huzzah! I have found my story AND purpose in life!’
Fast forward an hour later and you return to your desk with a huge grin on your face.
After reading a few sentences your smile disappears and your mood sinks.
You were emotionally attached to your draft an hour ago. Now, after a cup of luke warm tea, a soggy digestive biscuit, which you dunked a little too much, and a hug with a loved one, who was more interested in lecturing you on your car parking abilities you are now feeling very different about it.
Your writing sounds dire! So much so – you now HATE IT!
Reality sinks in – you were put on this planet to write utter tripe!
Here’s some handy tips on how to survive this troubling situation:
Accept your creative high has ended. Creative highs are wonderful when they happen but all good things must come to an end. Life would be dull if we wrote amazing stuff all the time.
Your writing might benefit from a change in mental state. In order to do amazing things when writing you need to break the emotional attachments. This situation might actually help you.
Take another break.
We all get carried away with our ideas and literary success daydreams. Thank goodness for our inner editors, writer friends, beta-readers, editors, literary agents and publishers who are all there to keep us grounded – sigh!
Have a great day!
photo credit: StockSnap
Oh to get to this stage… !
Hmmmm at this stage myself – it’s a radical change overnight!
I only wish I had the time to sit and write,mitred drunk,more whatever, some could wake the next morning and lament!!!
What with kids, family, teaching, life… Unless I sacrifice sleep, I don’t know when I’ll do it! Maybe I’ll set myself a target in the summer holidays… A personal PerNoWriHo! Personal Novel Writing Holiday!
Yes I can relate to this 🙂
Set your target and go for it!
Cone on holiday !!!
I could live with dull!
Hey Eric – yes me too 🙂
For me the highs and lows never seem to go away, I just understand them better now so I can manage them…to a point. 😀
Sounds like a good head space to be in 🙂
All perfectly good advice, but we authors are a fickle lot. We just love to beat ourselves up and chew over the rubbish until our brains bleed. BUT would we really want it any other way? You have to suffer for your art, don’t you?
Good comment! I agree 🙂
Reblogged this on Anita Dawes & Jaye Marie.
Thanking you kindly 🙂
Reblogged this on Chris The Story Reading Ape's Blog.
I am so used to this now, that when I am in one of those ‘I’ve just written 50K words of utter rubbish’ phases, I just shrug my shoulders, do something else, and wait for it to pass! Which it DOES – I remember almost not publishing my novel before last. It’s since become one of my most successful.
I think the best bit of advice is simply to leave it, when you feel like this. Tomorrow is another day!
Fabulous comment Terry – thank you! When can I interview you as part of my weekly Author interview series? 😏
Whatever you do don’t immediately ditch your work because it looks dull. I recently found a CD (yes it was that old!) containing a story I had started and given up on. Re-reading it I found the first paragraph was really good, and finished it. It is probably nothing like I had originally intended, but it is on my blog now.
Great advice! Thx Pauline 🙂
Reblogged this on Don Massenzio's Blog and commented:
This phenomenon is very true. I have fallen asleep many nights thinking I have written a masterpiece in my latest chapter only to find out it was a piece of something else the next morning.
Thanking you Don 🙂
You’re welcome.
Reblogged this on Heiditassone's Blog and commented:
happens a lot
Good solid advice about the writing process – highs and lows!
Hey thx for stopping by 🙂
Hehehe it’s all a process. The best thing is we have words we can edit. Nothing worse than a blank page
Yes Sacha Black!!! 💪
Yes, exactly this, Lucy! “You were emotionally attached to it yesterday. Today you are in a different head space. Your writing will benefit from this change in your mental state.” In my case, also, the sugar has worn off (it can be tea, it can be coffee, it can be candy or pastries or ice cream)! 😉
Love love love pastries, candy and icecream and sugar!!!
This is spot on haha
Thx 🙂 😊
Reblogged this on Jessica Marie Baumgartner.
Thanking you kindly 💐
Of course 🙂
Probably #4. Yeah. That’s it.
Hey thx Jacqui 🙂
I struggle with the highs and lows of writing. The urge comes and goes at various times. It could be days before something hits. When it happens, I feel great. When I send it off, I cringe. I wonder if they’ll like what I read or shred it with criticism. I guess it’s one of those things that I have to work through.
Thx for dropping by 🙂
Always remember you have to shovel a little manure to make anything grow.
Yes!!!!! Great comment 👏🏻👏🏻
Ah Yes, The ups and downs of it all, the rollercoaster continues…
Hey thx for reading 🙂
LOL! I read your title as “…now it sounds drivel” the first time around. My problem is definitely the third reason: I need more wine.
Wine helps a lot 🙂
Indeed. Love your new handle. I was all “Who’s in my inbox?” 🙂
LOL – I never thought of that 🙂 am glad you didn’t just press delete!
No. I’m teasing. I saw your blog name. No one will delete you. 💖
I think you are fab 💐
‘Tis mutual, lovely lady. 🌸
Yes, dire (or even drivel) is the norm – but there have been rare occasions (very rare) when it’s been the other way round and it reads so well you can’t believe it’s yours, that someone else must have written it while you weren’t looking. Definitely agree with don’t stop to put it right (unless it’s fallen off a cliff) but keep going – the time to put it right is in the editing stage.
Great comment – thx for reading 🙂
I struggle with this so much it’s not funny. I think I need a prothetic brain to help me with dire writing late at night. lol
This happens a lot. *sigh*!
I finally wrote a writing updates post. 🙂
Haha to #3! And yes, this happens to all of us, doesn’t it?
Hey Helen – thx for reading 🙂
You’re welcome, Lucy – I’m a bit behind on my blog reading but always like to drop in for a read when I can 🙂
Me too! I will drop by soon 🙂
Lovely! 😀
I like No.5 best. Clinging to that hope…
Hope you’re having a good weekend. 🙂
Hey PHg85 – I hope you are too 🙂
Greetings from Florida! I’m bored to death at work so I decided to browse your blog on my iphone during lunch break.
I enjoy the info you provide here and can’t wait to take a look
when I get home. I’m surprised at how quick your
blog loaded on my mobile .. I’m not even using WIFI, just 3G
.. Anyways, great site!
Just keep writing. Save the review for the editing phase. Your beta readers should bring you back to earth.
Love Beta Readers 🙂
Me too. They’re worth their weight in gold!