Fainaru-Enkin

This is probably a common problem, but it is also a problem I never can seem to overcome. Every time I get into the first few pages of a story, I will pretty much freeze up and think 'no, this will never be good enough!', resulting in (literally) hundreds of unfinished projects.
I can pretty much push myself to write sometimes, but then I never know if my writing is good enough. Even worse, I barely have any critics. And they are all good friends or family and I can hardly trust their judgement. I was wondering if anyone here is tackling the same problem, and hopefully has some advice to give.

Thanks alot!
-FE

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bane

I get this as well, the amount of times I have started something only to finish it after a few pages (sometimes a few paragraphs!) can not be counted.
The way I overcome this is by writing. Just write away until you find something that you actually really start to like.

Also spend a lot of your time reading, this is a good way to see how authors structure their work.

The way to find out what other pepople think of your writing is by posting here, the people here will offer great advice and help so just keep writing

Fainaru-Enkin

Thanks for the advice. I am just going to keep writing, and have confidence my technique will improve.

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Wyndham

When I first started thinking about submitting my work, I paid a professional to critique some of my stories. It may sound crazy since payment for short stories is often little to none, when you are a new writer, but it was less expensive than a course, and it provided good, objective feedback I could rely on. I was able to learn what was good in my writing and what wasn't.

Since then, through my involvement with ezines, I've met cyberfriends with whom I exchange work. We are very honest with each other.

BTW, when I expressed the same doubts to a well-known writer I met at a conference, he said that the people who doubt themselves usually make the best writers. The people who think they're great, are usually the worst.

Kajarow

This is one of my biggest problems as a writer, it made me start writing for over 3 years. I have lots of unfinished projects too(maybe not hundreds) but a good share of it.


This summer I enter a writing contest...which I haven't done in a long time becuase of my lack of writing, this has helped me out alot for some reason that I have not yet figured out?? And since I entered the contest...I have been writing more, and I have been more active in writing groups, I don't know, I guess it just makes me feel like I fit in with other writers, I don't know...thats just what works for me!

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-Human Stupidity.

sully474

Something that I find works, is if you type one page of something, and then print it off and edit it. Edit every page right after you type it, and then it really seems like you have done a good job on what has already been written, so you want to continue with the story.

It doesn't always have to be exactly a page, but write for one page, finish off your general idea, then print and edit.

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moonandsun

Okay, sit down. Write a page or two. Repeat this to yourself, "I am awesome, this is brilliant, all the publishers will be dying to get their hands on my masterpeice."

it helps. Just get used to yourself by writing a lot, you begin to know your writing styles and know eventually what you are capable of so you know what your best work is. And always believe in editing, a horrid passage can turn beautiful very easily.

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"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read. "
-Groucho Marx

DawnMorningStar

Yes, editing is definitely your friend! I tend to write a bit sloppily in the first draft, but I'm constantly going back and reading over it and rewording things to make them sound better before continuing with the writing. It does help to do this every page or two, reading from the beginning of the chapter to what you have currently written. Each time I find little things to change or tweak, and as it is polished, it begins to seem like a worthy piece. That's what keeps me going.