Writers block for 10 years

[RedRam]

I havent posted any new stories for about 10 years, mostly because I am just terribly dissatisfied with the product, usually even before its completed. Any advice?

 

[sr71plt]

Find something else you like to do. Chances are you'll come back to writing. But if you don't, that's OK. There's no law that you have to write.

 

[Bramblethorn]

Give yourself permission to suck. If necessary, read through some of the stories that get published here and tell yourself "I could do better than that".

 

[lovecraft68]

Give yourself permission to suck. If necessary, read through some of the stories that get published here and tell yourself "I could do better than that".

Great advice.

Lower the expectations and realize not everything has to be great, just have fun with it.

 

[GoldenMaia]

Give yourself permission to suck. If necessary, read through some of the stories that get published here and tell yourself "I could do better than that".

I think this is great advice! The comment I have heard often is it takes 1million words to improve. So, write! It doesn't have to be perfect if you enjoy it. If you have passion for it, other people will read it.

 

[FelicityJohns]

I also go through years long blocks. And sometimes, in the course of a few years, I'll only write one or two stories I'm really happy with. But I do find that journaling can help keep you moving through it. Often in writing about my daily life, mundane things, I can go back and reread and find that hidden gem that sparks my imagination.

Good luck

 

[DeYaKen]

I havent posted any new stories for about 10 years, mostly because I am just terribly dissatisfied with the product, usually even before its completed. Any advice?

Most of us get self doubt. We get bogged down in a story and then it seems that it isn't any good. I deal with this by making myself finish the story, then leave it for about a month, then read it again before showing it to someone else. If there is a lot of work needed I might cut my losses. So my advice is to find someone whose opinion you trust, and let them read your story. More than likely, they will tell you that it is a lot better than you think it is.

 

[SamScribble]

I havent posted any new stories for about 10 years, mostly because I am just terribly dissatisfied with the product, usually even before its completed. Any advice?

The fact that you are 'terribly dissatisfied with the product' suggests that you know what you think the product should be. In writing terms, that's a pretty useful head start. Maybe you just need to find another pair of eyes who understands what you are trying to achieve.

Good luck.

 

[timelord1963]

Use a framework

1: First change genre so you think differently.

2: Try to pick one where you write about a lot of people, then you have more situations. You may have 10 people in your story but all scenes can be 1 on 1 or 1 on 2.

3 : always make your characters better people by the end of the story. For example, if a Mistress breaks a submissive In the beginning of your story relise a good Mistress would never leave the submissive broken, the relationship would grow and change. Possibly to the point where the Mistress needs to rely on that very submissive heavily.

4: imagine what kind of scene and then think what this person would say and how the other would respond.

5: writing is organic, let it breath. Do not get locked in to this is how it should be. The finished product maybe vastly different then what you thought it would be to begin with. You may find yourself adding multiple page scenes.

6: pick a fantasy, one that has almost no detail, maybe only having 2 bones of a full skeleton. Then have fun finding the other pieces.

7: if you find yourself constantly giving background information, set your story aside and write an intro story that give a base history that you can build upon in the 2nd story, make sure your intro is a story unto itself. Do not be afraid of killing off and adding characters. That can change the whole dynamic of the story. Going from a wise crafty old man to a ditsy 18 year old blonde cheerleader intern who does not know what she wants to do in life can be a challenge.

Tease the reader, do not give it all away at one time, give partial information and if you think a reader has figure it out add questions that add seeds of doubt. Think like Agatha Christie, leave everyone in suspense but add some off the wall surprise at the end.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

So you think you can just whip out the great (insert country of origin here) novel all by yourself? Hell even I don't think that.

 

[MagicaPractica]

I agree with giving yourself permission to suck. Who said the first draft is just you telling yourself the story? Amuse yourself. Then find someone you trust to read it and give you feedback. Perhaps there's someone whose writing you respect that you could ask?

On a side note, is it possible your dissatisfaction is not really with your stories but with some other aspect of your life? When I'm feeling down about myself or some part of my life, it can make it difficult to see the positive aspects in my writing.

Lastly, remember that it does no good to compare your writing to that of others. The only writing you should compare yours to is writing you did several years ago, and the only way to improve is to keep writing.

 

[NOIRTRASH]

I agree with giving yourself permission to suck. Who said the first draft is just you telling yourself the story? Amuse yourself. Then find someone you trust to read it and give you feedback. Perhaps there's someone whose writing you respect that you could ask?

On a side note, is it possible your dissatisfaction is not really with your stories but with some other aspect of your life? When I'm feeling down about myself or some part of my life, it can make it difficult to see the positive aspects in my writing.

Lastly, remember that it does no good to compare your writing to that of others. The only writing you should compare yours to is writing you did several years ago, and the only way to improve is to keep writing.

Your point is excellent.

I always said suicide is the business of terminal taking ourselves too seriously, especially our self feedback. Therapy is getting them to understand that they suck at feedback.

 

[ishtat]

I havent posted any new stories for about 10 years, mostly because I am just terribly dissatisfied with the product, usually even before its completed. Any advice?

Who says you are the best judge of your own work?. I doubt that many writers are. Publish one or two things that you really do not like and you may be surprised.

 

[Ewobbit]

I havent posted any new stories for about 10 years, mostly because I am just terribly dissatisfied with the product, usually even before its completed. Any advice?

A LOT of good stuff here already. Probably not worth pitching my nickel in.

But, for what it's worth, I go through the same thing. I have a file labelled "slush" that I drag stuff I'm dissatisfied with to instead of the trash bin on the off chance that I might come back to it someday and fix it. There are over 2000 files in there now ranging anywhere from 1kb to 246kb.

Now, you said "...usually even before it's completed..." Usually. So, you probably have something you've been futzing with that is actually complete that you just haven't submitted. Bite the bullet and submit and be damned (and praised).

Seriously. If you have anything that is finished and the spell and grammar checks have passed, stop futzing with making it "perfect". Toss it against the wall and see if it sticks.

You will have people point out places you could have done better. Hell, about five seconds after you submit, you will think of something you could have done better. Or spot a spelling error that neither you, spellchecker, or four editors caught. Pop a 1000mg fukidol and do it anyway.

There comes a point where no matter how much you read about writing, no matter how much you read what other people have written, no matter how much you have scribbled and read your own scribblings, you will stagnate if you don't get an audience reaction to what you wrote. At a decade, it's past time to see what is what and whether your art moves anyone besides you.

And, hey. I tossed one out there. And if I can do it, you can do it.

 

[NoJo]

I havent posted any new stories for about 10 years, mostly because I am just terribly dissatisfied with the product, usually even before its completed. Any advice?

If you can afford it, you can try hypnotherapy. That worked very well for me. There are lots of hypnotherapists who treat creative block.

 

[le_kitty]

I havent posted any new stories for about 10 years, mostly because I am just terribly dissatisfied with the product, usually even before its completed. Any advice?

Sometimes what we need is a little push from someone else.

Personally I am not a prolific writer. It comes from my approach to many things, I am drawn to quality over quantity and am quite meticulous with details as much as I can be careless in other ways.

But quality over quantity is not an absolute. You can see it another way: quantity drives quality. Quality can be derived from quantity. The more you write, the better you get, the more works you put out, the higher chance something will be good (again, subjective). It can be a numbers game. Which brings us back to what Bramblethorn already said.

Also another thing to think about... if we do something one way, and we don't like the results or it doesn't quite work, and we keep doing it that way, what could possess us to think it'll get better? Perhaps we should change either our approach, or what we imagine the end result to be, or the way we think about it. That would be my advice.

I hope you get back into writing!

 

[loquere]

I havent posted any new stories for about 10 years, mostly because I am just terribly dissatisfied with the product, usually even before its completed. Any advice?

Create another Literotica account to write crap, until you build up to the quality your proud of.

 

[RedRam]

thanks to all of you for taking the time to reply. I am going to return to this thread before I start to write for a while, just to reread it. So much really sage advice from you all. I hope you are reading me soon! Thanks, Ram

 

[NOIRTRASH]

If you can afford it, you can try hypnotherapy. That worked very well for me. There are lots of hypnotherapists who treat creative block.

All hypnosis is auto-hypnosis.

I collided with hypnosis in 1970 when I had my wisdom teeth removed with hypnosis only. I felt no pain. But the dentist did nothing except pull the teeth.

I studied hypnosis many years, mostly all the papers of Milton Erickson, MD.

The bottom-line is: hypnosis is simple, suggest a wanted outcome to yourself, then believe it will happen. But you wont get magic or miracles. And it only works on you. Like...I WANNA BE MORE ATTRACTIVE TO MY WIFE. Then wait for it to happen.

 

[loquere]

Personally I am not a prolific writer. It comes from my approach to many things, I am drawn to quality over quantity and am quite meticulous with details as much as I can be careless in other ways.

I just read the intro to 'Reluctant Consort,' and Jesus Christ that thing is crammed with detail and imagery..... Wow.

 

[le_kitty]

I just read the intro to 'Reluctant Consort,' and Jesus Christ that thing is crammed with detail and imagery..... Wow.

Thank you for the PM, I saw that first, I really appreciate it.

 

[loquere]

Thank you for the PM, I saw that first, I really appreciate it.

I neither confirm nor do I deny sending the above stated PM.

 

[le_kitty]

I neither confirm nor do I deny sending the above stated PM.

In which case I confess I may or may not have lied about the existence of such a PM.

 

[NOIRTRASH]

I reads one paragraph of chapter one, and its almost illiterate.

 

[le_kitty]

I reads one paragraph of chapter one, and its almost illiterate.

Oh. Are you the one who commented on An Affair in May?