One of the things I’ve noticed over the past year is that I write best on days when I’ve spent time reading. At first, I wasn’t sure why, but after thinking about it for a while, I have a hypothesis.
Shira, this was an awesome piece. It was so encouraging and yet gives you rock-solid advice on what you need to do to protect your mental outlook as a writer. I know I personally get upset when I get a rejection letter or when I see, for example, on my Substack, I write posts, and it seems no one reads them. But I am developing a new outlook on this and treating writing as my second job, which I am passionate about and love. I look at it as my second gig that I enjoy, and it brings great pleasure. This has helped me get through some of these challenges. I remember when I first started writing I went to a Writing Group and the folks that led it told me I sucked and asked me to buy their books to learn how to write. I bought them, and the books were so darn boring. At any rate, I love this post. Great work, friend.
Hello Dear Shira, I have a large file titled, UNFINISHED DO LATER. It is filled with stories that haven't been completed. There are outlines and catchy phrases and sentences. When the time is right.... But I never stop writing!
Reading a great book can be inspiring. But sometimes I'll get the urge to write after reading a particularly bad book, too! One of my novels was born of frustration. I felt like I could do better, and that spurred me to write my book. The first draft only took about two weeks. I guess I was feeling pretty inspired!
I do have to be careful about writing while I'm in the middle of reading a book, though, since I tend to absorb other authors' styles and have them bleed through into my own prose. So I read more when I'm between novel drafts.
That's so interesting! Writing a first draft in two weeks is amazing, I never considered that frustration could be such a motivator as well.
I sometimes adopt things from what I'm reading as well, but it's usually in the form of sentence structure or certain words. I feel that this can elevates my writing, so I don't mind.
Shira, this was an awesome piece. It was so encouraging and yet gives you rock-solid advice on what you need to do to protect your mental outlook as a writer. I know I personally get upset when I get a rejection letter or when I see, for example, on my Substack, I write posts, and it seems no one reads them. But I am developing a new outlook on this and treating writing as my second job, which I am passionate about and love. I look at it as my second gig that I enjoy, and it brings great pleasure. This has helped me get through some of these challenges. I remember when I first started writing I went to a Writing Group and the folks that led it told me I sucked and asked me to buy their books to learn how to write. I bought them, and the books were so darn boring. At any rate, I love this post. Great work, friend.
Thank you! I hope that here on Substack you can find a communtiy of writers who will actually support you.
Thank you Ms. Shira. I sure appreciater your kind words. :) :)
Hello Dear Shira, I have a large file titled, UNFINISHED DO LATER. It is filled with stories that haven't been completed. There are outlines and catchy phrases and sentences. When the time is right.... But I never stop writing!
That's a great approach! Sometimes you just have to wait until the right time. Each project has it's time, and a little waiting won't harm it.
Brandon Sanderson has stated that he plucked his magic system from a failed/underperforming work.
I didn't know that. Crazy!
well, sort of - but also, I write as if someone, someday, would read it. There's a bit of balance there, right?
Absolutely. I feel like you get the best of both worlds with that approach
Insightful. I would love to collaborate with you on an upcoming article. Let me know if you are open to things of this nature.
I'm not currently collaborating on posts. Thanks for reading :)
Reading a great book can be inspiring. But sometimes I'll get the urge to write after reading a particularly bad book, too! One of my novels was born of frustration. I felt like I could do better, and that spurred me to write my book. The first draft only took about two weeks. I guess I was feeling pretty inspired!
I do have to be careful about writing while I'm in the middle of reading a book, though, since I tend to absorb other authors' styles and have them bleed through into my own prose. So I read more when I'm between novel drafts.
That's so interesting! Writing a first draft in two weeks is amazing, I never considered that frustration could be such a motivator as well.
I sometimes adopt things from what I'm reading as well, but it's usually in the form of sentence structure or certain words. I feel that this can elevates my writing, so I don't mind.