Feeling jaded thread

redzinger

Literotica Guru
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So, I was hoping to do NaNo-whatsit. No inspiration has been forthcoming, despite starting on the first day with the basis for a novel.

Was hoping also to line up some betas for my new novels. No offers forthcoming.

Some days I just want to scream, 'Will somebody sodding read my stuff for me? Please*?'

I need to put together a plan for going forward, to s-p several novels and all the associated promotion, but all I seem to do is read articles on how to do it.

There's a Meetup of writers every Tuesday in Chiswick, about three miles from where I live. I've never made it there.

It's not as if I don't have time - unlike most, I do. It just feels like I'm flailing around not achieving anything. I've had a few personal problems this year, and it seems to have fucked my head up into sheer unproductivity.


Any tips to kick my arse into gear, please?

Anyone else feeling like this?



*link in the sig, btw ;)
 
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I had some health issues and other stuff which kept me from writing for more than a year. Two things got me back into the groove. First, I've been revisiting my plot bunny pen, hoping something would kickstart my creative engine. Once I had an idea I kinda sorta wanted to tackle, I forced myself to write, a thousand words minimum each day. I kept that up for two weeks until I realized that the story I wrote was utter trash. "You can do much, much better" everything screamed in me. So I saved and closed the trainwreck I had been slaving away on and wrote a new, much better story in the span of three days. No word counting, no goals except "write what comes naturally".

And it certainly helped that I got some very mean comments about me not finishing my long-running cyberpunk series. To show the nay-sayers I still had it was a fantastic motivation :)
 
Go to the meetup! The worst that could happen is that you don't like the personalities in the group. (I guess the real WORST that could happen is that it's a front of a serial killer club, but that seems unlikely.) The best that could happen is that you find kindred souls who will inspire you to do more.

I've also been going through a major funk, way deeper than I thought possible, and I'm only now beginning to crawl back out of the black pit I was in. My NaNo attempt got stopped cold. Maybe we should continue this thread as a morale booster for writers in need.
 
If it's any consolation, getting people to read your stuff isn't all it's cracked up to be.

The latest Ingrams got 1 bombed and had some pretty nasty comments left on it - for the first time ever I felt the need to go in and delete some.

I'm fairly proud of the Ingrams Series, and about to finish it, but I've kinda lost the impetus simply because there's a vocal minority in the LW section who are just such dickish trolls that you just want to walk away.

You'd think that people getting a halfway decent free thriller story wouldn't be such a bad thing, but because it's about a strong woman, and isn't a stroke story, people get their knickers not so much in a twist, but rolled up with a bunch of coins in the middle, ready to hit you with.

At the end of the day though, think about this.

How many people are there in the world today - 7.2b? 7.4b? A LOT, whatever the actual number is

How many people have written a story that got published ANYWHERE. Website, book, whatever How many? 10 million? 20?

Lets say 20 million. 20 million out of 7.2b

You aren't part of the 1% of the current population. You are part of the 0.02% And that's a generous estimation. If you push the numbers to all the people who have EVER written something published, vs all the people there's ever been on Earth, well, it starts getting even less than that.

You are part of a VERY small part of humanity that creates something. Something that will live past them, when they die. The book will always be around. The story there for anyone who desires it to read it.

That's pretty cool, when you think about it.

Hopefully that has helped a bit.
 
^^ That's a feel good post if I've ever seen one. Talk about perspective :)

Thank you, jezzaz.
 
...

You'd think that people getting a halfway decent free thriller story wouldn't be such a bad thing, but because it's about a strong woman, and isn't a stroke story, people get their knickers not so much in a twist, but rolled up with a bunch of coins in the middle, ready to hit you with.

Haven't been reading much here lately at all, but your story sounds fun. Link, please?

At the end of the day though, think about this.


.... You are part of the 0.02% And that's a generous estimation. If you push the numbers to all the people who have EVER written something published, vs all the people there's ever been on Earth, well, it starts getting even less than that.

You are part of a VERY small part of humanity that creates something. Something that will live past them, when they die. The book will always be around. The story there for anyone who desires it to read it.

That's pretty cool, when you think about it.

Hopefully that has helped a bit.

Inspirational, indeed - thank you! Creativity, even in small bites, goes a long way.

I have been wallowing for too long - your post is a good kick in the behind. Just have to remember - it's all about putting one foot in front of the other... one more word, one more sentence... :rose:
 
...At the end of the day though, think about this.

How many people are there in the world today - 7.2b? 7.4b? A LOT, whatever the actual number is

How many people have written a story that got published ANYWHERE. Website, book, whatever How many? 10 million? 20?

Lets say 20 million. 20 million out of 7.2b

You aren't part of the 1% of the current population. You are part of the 0.02% And that's a generous estimation. If you push the numbers to all the people who have EVER written something published, vs all the people there's ever been on Earth, well, it starts getting even less than that.

You are part of a VERY small part of humanity that creates something. Something that will live past them, when they die. The book will always be around. The story there for anyone who desires it to read it.

That's pretty cool, when you think about it.

Hopefully that has helped a bit.


Ok, so... I'm going to piss on an inspirational post, which is not real nice, but this is called "spurious logic" and it's one of the things I hate most in life. If you're uplifted and stuff by that previous post, move on, you don't want to see this.

Pretty much anyone who can string sentences together at all can get "published" on Lit. I believe stuff gets turned back for grievous grammar errors, but I'm reasonably certain that anyone with an IQ in the top two thirds of the English-speaking population could get a story published here if they chose. Very roughly, if you have an IQ above 80 you can probably get some audience here, is my estimate. Some places have even lower standards. Getting published in this fashion is trivial.

Moreover, this is erotica. Some people think it's a complete waste of time, or even immoral (and given some of what I've seen on this site I'm not prepared to offer a general counter argument.) Maybe you created something, but who's to say it has actual value?

If you think about it, the percentage of people who have worn a white tie, a green shirt and black jeans while correctly pronouncing "Archipelago" is probably less than 0.000001% of the population, but there's not a lot of glory in that. The rarity of an event or object is NOT proof of value. So even if you were in an exclusive 0.02% of the population by being here - and I think 60% is much more accurate - so what?

There are people who have changed lives by what they're written. It's even happened here. Maybe even there was change for the better, and if so, kudos to you. If not... posting here (creating in general) is meaningless by any metric that matters. It may be fun, but that's not the same as worthwhile. I've gotten hundreds of people to masturbate, we all have - but that's not actually an accomplishment. Britney Spears probably scored tens of thousands of jerk-offs; we're clearly amateurs in comparison... amateurs in an unimportant game that fricking Britney Spears can win.

If there's anything to be gained by posting here, it's the personal satisfaction of doing something well - in other words it's a vain pursuit and not often socially meaningful, but it's fun and maybe keeps you off the streets at night. Let's not pretend it's more.


(The hatred of spurious logic is very real. I don't watch TV - the ads make me angry. I don't do the internet without adblockers, either, and I dumped social media in part because the things people say in defense of their beliefs nearly had me raving. Plus I'm not that fond of cats.)
 
I run a writer's group in my town and people are constantly telling me how it inspires them. Try to get to the meeting, a supportive group is really worth it.

I get in periods where I'm not creating much but right now I'm on a good roll with Nanowrimo, just slogging away at the 1667 a day. Occasionally it is inspired, but most of the time it isn't. As they say, you can edit crap. You can't edit a blank page.

I've found The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron really helped me get that inner editor out of the way with the three pages of long hand stream of consciousness brain dump every morning as soon as I wake up.

I have written one novel and a friend from the group urged me to just start editing and bringing one chapter a week. It really helped me get moving on it.

Good luck. :rose:
 
Inspiration is no problem for me. Enthusiasm is no problem for me. Episodic blindness is a problem. The blood vessels feeding my retinas become blocked with crap, and the retinas stop working. Once my body absorbs the crap things return to normal. But I cant write or read for a week or so.

I stopped beta reading because LIT writers don't appreciate it, and really want their asses kissed. There's nothing in it for me. I learned the standards for good writing and don't require others for feedback. I believe most people don't have a fuggin clue for merit and quality.

So master the art and avoid the blockheads.
 
I was, but I'm coming out of it.

My suggestion would be to find a way to shake up your style.

Find a new approach; do it differently.

Sounds like you're unmotivated because your ideas aren't exciting you. So....search for something exciting, and don't settle until you have.


Any tips to kick my arse into gear, please?

Anyone else feeling like this?



*link in the sig, btw ;)
 
Speaking only for myself, I'm my own worst critic and that alone can cause me to scrap a story that has a huge investment of my time and energy. Like you, (OP), I feel, at times, like I have been flailing around for long periods. But, I've learned a great deal even when I wasn't actively working on a concept. And that knowledge will always come into play at some point. There's always an enthusiasm and excitement for the original concept and watching it develop, but as Carnal Flower suggested, perhaps you have lost your enthusiasm because when you reread your work, it falls flat. I hate to admit it, (but it is true) and it happens far too often for my comfort. I've learned to view it as a true test of my talents. There are a lot of stories I write but don't post because upon review, they just don't seem to have the same flavor that they initially had. When it happens, I know the story isn't ready for publication. I take it personally and it seems to feed the tendency for procrastination. One thing I do know is that if your heart's not in it, you trying to force yourself into moving forward is simply a waste of time. They say, 'Write what you know'...perhaps it isn't about style so much as it is subject matter? Try writing a short piece on something you know, (it could be something about the personal setbacks you've had), then ask others to read it and see their response. Writing is supposed to be about self expression first. Maybe you haven't been expressing yourself as much as you should. You may find it leads you back to your enthusiasm for writing for others. In any case, I hope you feel better within yourself very soon.
 
Haven't been reading much here lately at all, but your story sounds fun. Link, please?

Well, it's part of a series.

I came up with this idea of a group of clandestine therapists - an agency whose field agents are a cross between Bond and Freud, with a dash of Super Whore mixed in.

This is the primer I wrote for the series.

"Ingrams & Associates is a semi secret private group that indulged in clandestine aid – usually of a sexual nature – to people who would never accept the help above board. They were available for hire for governments, agencies, large corporations; anyone who could afford their rather high rates. They worked behind the scenes, gathering profile information on the target and the situation, then they injected a field agent into the lives of the people who needed their help, to work behind the scenes and help repair the damage they were there to fix.


Usually they were hired by top level execs, looking to prop up a VP who’s marriage had disintegrated and who was questioning their own position in life, or by agencies like the CIA, who were bringing in agents from longer term deep field assignments, who return only to find their spouses pregnant with some one else’s baby, or by governments who’s chief scientist had just discovered his own bi-sexuality and was completely confused about what to do about it, bearing in mind he had been married for twenty years, and was therefore ripe for blackmail.

They were hired to help deal with the stressful life changing situations that people of high value often find themselves in.

Each field agent is trained in surveillance, investigation, most have a masters in either psychology or psychiatry, and all are qualified therapists. They also undergo training in the sexual and seduction arts, because often the only way to either help or to determine the cause of issues is through pillow talk.

However, often in the course of their missions, field agents stumble onto other, more dangerous situations that are not readily apparent, and have to deal with all that too.

Think Bond combined with Jason Bourne, but revolving around relationship issues, with a healthy does of context required rumpy pumpy."


There are actually six stand alone stories in the series (each around 50-55k words), along with a prequel

If you look here, you'll find all the chapters.

https://www.literotica.com/stories/memberpage.php?uid=1521093&page=submissions

Start with the Prequel, Broken, and you'll be on your way. The overall scores I think are not too bad, particularly for the cesspool that is Loving Wives. American Life seemed to be especially well received, if I do say so myself.

I'm elbow deep in the conclusion story right now.

I'd be interested to know what you think.


And to those who feel the need to piss all over an inspirational post - I hope you feel better about yourself now, now that others do not. Way to go.
 
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Well, it's part of a series.

I came up with this idea of a group of clandestine therapists - an agency whose field agents are a cross between Bond and Freud, with a dash of Super Whore mixed in.

This is the primer I wrote for the series.

"Ingrams & Associates is a semi secret private group that indulged in clandestine aid – usually of a sexual nature – to people who would never accept the help above board. They were available for hire for governments, agencies, large corporations; anyone who could afford their rather high rates. They worked behind the scenes, gathering profile information on the target and the situation, then they injected a field agent into the lives of the people who needed their help, to work behind the scenes and help repair the damage they were there to fix.


Usually they were hired by top level execs, looking to prop up a VP who’s marriage had disintegrated and who was questioning their own position in life, or by agencies like the CIA, who were bringing in agents from longer term deep field assignments, who return only to find their spouses pregnant with some one else’s baby, or by governments who’s chief scientist had just discovered his own bi-sexuality and was completely confused about what to do about it, bearing in mind he had been married for twenty years, and was therefore ripe for blackmail.

They were hired to help deal with the stressful life changing situations that people of high value often find themselves in.

Each field agent is trained in surveillance, investigation, most have a masters in either psychology or psychiatry, and all are qualified therapists. They also undergo training in the sexual and seduction arts, because often the only way to either help or to determine the cause of issues is through pillow talk.

However, often in the course of their missions, field agents stumble onto other, more dangerous situations that are not readily apparent, and have to deal with all that too.

Think Bond combined with Jason Bourne, but revolving around relationship issues, with a healthy does of context required rumpy pumpy."


There are actually six stand alone stories in the series (each around 50-55k words), along with a prequel

If you look here, you'll find all the chapters.

https://www.literotica.com/stories/memberpage.php?uid=1521093&page=submissions

Start with the Prequel, Broken, and you'll be on your way. The overall scores I think are not too bad, particularly for the cesspool that is Loving Wives. American Life seemed to be especially well received, if I do say so myself.

I'm elbow deep in the conclusion story right now.

I'd be interested to know what you think.


And to those who feel the need to piss all over an inspirational post - I hope you feel better about yourself now, now that others do not. Way to go.

Psychiatry is a medical specialty for MD's.
 
It's November. That's sufficient explanation for feeling jaded.

There is a reason why NaNoWriMo is in November. It's the month when many of us feel least like writing.
 
When the politics wear off, the writing can resume.

This was a lousy season for eroticism.

I feel mind-raped.

Oy.
 
I don't have much inspiring to share... but, Rugby you say? *clicks on link, starts reading*
 
So, I was hoping to do NaNo-whatsit. No inspiration has been forthcoming, despite starting on the first day with the basis for a novel.

Was hoping also to line up some betas for my new novels. No offers forthcoming.

Some days I just want to scream, 'Will somebody sodding read my stuff for me? Please*?'

I need to put together a plan for going forward, to s-p several novels and all the associated promotion, but all I seem to do is read articles on how to do it.

There's a Meetup of writers every Tuesday in Chiswick, about three miles from where I live. I've never made it there.

It's not as if I don't have time - unlike most, I do. It just feels like I'm flailing around not achieving anything. I've had a few personal problems this year, and it seems to have fucked my head up into sheer unproductivity.


Any tips to kick my arse into gear, please?

Anyone else feeling like this?



*link in the sig, btw ;)


NaNo lost its appeal after five or six years. And although many people find the group meetings helpful, I don't. I find the environment and the chatter distracting.

This year I set a goal of 10k for the month. I won't make it . . . and that's OK. I've had other priorities. The words will flow when the time is right. Until then, I keep busy . . . away from the computer.
 
NaNo lost its appeal after five or six years. And although many people find the group meetings helpful, I don't. I find the environment and the chatter distracting.

This year I set a goal of 10k for the month. I won't make it . . . and that's OK. I've had other priorities. The words will flow when the time is right. Until then, I keep busy . . . away from the computer.

Keeping the silver tresses in magnificent condition, no doubt. :)
 
I have to be excited about a story to write and my enthusiasm for a story wanes the further along I get.

What I've been doing is get several stories started and then send them all out to some beta-readers. If one of the stories excites them, then it gets me excited and I can finish the story. Or one of them may say "Story X is pretty good but it would be great if you did Y," then I can do "Y". Otherwise, I find myself starting stories and then finding reasons to not finish them.

I would think the writer meetup would be a good opportunity to do that. Sadly, there are writer meetups for incest writers :(
 
I have to be excited about a story to write and my enthusiasm for a story wanes the further along I get.

What I've been doing is get several stories started and then send them all out to some beta-readers. If one of the stories excites them, then it gets me excited and I can finish the story. Or one of them may say "Story X is pretty good but it would be great if you did Y," then I can do "Y". Otherwise, I find myself starting stories and then finding reasons to not finish them.

I would think the writer meetup would be a good opportunity to do that. Sadly, there are writer meetups for incest writers :(

I have stories I never finish. My thoughts on it are that not all ideas will make a complete story. I stick it into a file and move on to something else.

NaNo writers (the ones in my area I met) don't write the same categories I do and weren't comfortable offering help.
 
Thanks for all your responses & support. Everyone's welcome to continue posting if they're feeling like this.

Go to the meetup!

Try to get to the meeting, a supportive group is really worth it.

It was a bit late to make it this week, but I'm going to try next week. :rose:

Find a new approach; do it differently.

Sounds like you're unmotivated because your ideas aren't exciting you. So....search for something exciting, and don't settle until you have.

Nothing's really inspiring me at present - all I'm doing is dog walking and cycling (sometimes both at the same time), and my current WIP is about cycling.
Oh, and I've spent far, far too much time in pubs this past month. I probably should write a cider-based story.

I don't have much inspiring to share... but, Rugby you say? *clicks on link, starts reading*

Thanks. Hope you enjoy it. (If you like erotic romance novels & reviewing, you're welcome to review copies.) ;)

This year I set a goal of 10k for the month. I won't make it . . . and that's OK. I've had other priorities. The words will flow when the time is right. Until then, I keep busy . . . away from the computer.

Yeah. I'm trying to not put pressure on myself. I actually opened a story today and got some decent rewriting done, until the dogs disturbed me. Spent the rest of the day gardening.
 
I feel mind-raped.

Oy.

This is exactly how I feel! The subject that shall not be named has affected me much more strongly than I anticipated. My kinks have even shifted (I'm hoping temporarily, but who knows). Stuff that might have turned me on before, like guys getting inappropriately handsy, is making me feel weird and gross. I no longer feel safe. Apparently I need to feel safe to get turned on, even if the fantasy scenarios are the unsafe variety. I think I may be writing some really dark, non-erotic stuff for a while before I can return to happy, fun, sexy times.
 
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