Why do writers love and hate writing? A look at where the love-hate relationship comes from, why it means you care, and how to write through it anyway.
"I hate writing; I love having written," is a good way to describe how it feels sometimes. It can be so annoying to have that difference between the story in one's head and the story that ended up on the page. Sometimes it is necessary to step back from a story that's become frustrating to write. Sometimes when I'm having a hard time writing a story, I tell myself I'm only going to read parts I like, and that often leads to me writing more of it or editing what's already written.
I know what you mean. Often times, I feel this "ugh" feeling when I face the page but then I read parts that I like and I get excited about the story again. Is that the case mostly with your project (the one still veiled in shadows, lol) or the spaceastic stories?
It can be any story, unfortunately! And I have so many projects bouncing around in my head (a lot of them without titles lol) sometimes it’s easier to just say such-and-such project. I have a novel that was kind of my main project outside of spacetastic stories, but then I started writing a prequel to it, and now that’s kind of my main project outside of spacetastic stories. (The prequel doesn’t have a title.)
I get stuck. It frustrates me. Annoys me. But gosh, I absolutely love writing. The act of writing. No matter how I have to do it in any given moment ... Even when I procrastinate (which is usually because I'm stuck), or burnout, or need a break, I still come back to it loving it, the job of writing. When I'm away from it, when I haven't done it for whatever reason (usually exhaustion, or burnout, or caretaking, or fear), I miss it. I miss it so much.
I have had so many other jobs in my life that I hated. That I hated getting up to go to,that I hated being at, that I hated the act of doing ... Writing has never been one of those jobs and I am so grateful.
This was so relatable. I have also felt anxious before writing sessions and have procrastinated a lot. The advice of allowing myself to write something "bad" was what kept me going in the end.
Sometimes, when I look at my old writing, I cringe a little, but I am also impressed by the way I painted the scenes. Even though I was less skilled then, the same creativity was there, and I can see that.
I think we should keep in mind that our "bad" writing isn't so bad after all.
That also happens to me to! Sometimes I read my old writing expecting it to be much more less than ideal. But I find it isn't so bad. Sure, there are some cringy parts but there's a lot of good stuff in there :)
"I hate writing; I love having written," is a good way to describe how it feels sometimes. It can be so annoying to have that difference between the story in one's head and the story that ended up on the page. Sometimes it is necessary to step back from a story that's become frustrating to write. Sometimes when I'm having a hard time writing a story, I tell myself I'm only going to read parts I like, and that often leads to me writing more of it or editing what's already written.
I know what you mean. Often times, I feel this "ugh" feeling when I face the page but then I read parts that I like and I get excited about the story again. Is that the case mostly with your project (the one still veiled in shadows, lol) or the spaceastic stories?
It can be any story, unfortunately! And I have so many projects bouncing around in my head (a lot of them without titles lol) sometimes it’s easier to just say such-and-such project. I have a novel that was kind of my main project outside of spacetastic stories, but then I started writing a prequel to it, and now that’s kind of my main project outside of spacetastic stories. (The prequel doesn’t have a title.)
Those stories are really fighting for your attention, lol.
Haha!
I never experienced anything but joy writing.
That's awesome 💪
I absolutely love writing.
I get stuck. It frustrates me. Annoys me. But gosh, I absolutely love writing. The act of writing. No matter how I have to do it in any given moment ... Even when I procrastinate (which is usually because I'm stuck), or burnout, or need a break, I still come back to it loving it, the job of writing. When I'm away from it, when I haven't done it for whatever reason (usually exhaustion, or burnout, or caretaking, or fear), I miss it. I miss it so much.
I have had so many other jobs in my life that I hated. That I hated getting up to go to,that I hated being at, that I hated the act of doing ... Writing has never been one of those jobs and I am so grateful.
I really like hearing, or in this case reading, about people that are passionate about something 🫶
This was so relatable. I have also felt anxious before writing sessions and have procrastinated a lot. The advice of allowing myself to write something "bad" was what kept me going in the end.
Sometimes, when I look at my old writing, I cringe a little, but I am also impressed by the way I painted the scenes. Even though I was less skilled then, the same creativity was there, and I can see that.
I think we should keep in mind that our "bad" writing isn't so bad after all.
That also happens to me to! Sometimes I read my old writing expecting it to be much more less than ideal. But I find it isn't so bad. Sure, there are some cringy parts but there's a lot of good stuff in there :)