Thread: What's the biggest problem you face when writing?

I've had many problems, and the biggest one I face is not having the words for what I think I want to put on paper.

Does anyone have other problems as well?

Practice. The more you practice finding the right words and fitting them together to say what you mean, the easier it is. I don't think there is a substitute for that.

Time. I've been trying to get up early to write (I'm usually too bushed at night to write) for the last couple of months. Seems every time I find some time to write it gets filled up with other essential stuff.

Problem in writing? Lacking an inspiration. About a year ago, ideas popped in my head like gunfire. It was bam, bam, bam and all I had to do is write. Now, I can't even finish a chapter...

I think they call it "Writer's Block."

I think that sounds like it's part, but it's like there are a bunch of ideas, but when it comes to connecting the right words to paper. I just end up in a fog

As soon as I think an idea isn't good enough, I tear it up, cross it out, or delete it from my PC. I get quite angry at myself for even putting something so terrible into words. I've been told not to do this because you learn and grow from mistakes, but I can't break the habit yet.

So I guess the problem there is not giving my stuff the time it needs to ferment into something even better, and cutting it out like a cancerous polyp; that's bad, and, nine times out of ten, I wish I hadn't.

I have no patience, least of all with myself; that's the true issue.

If you can't find the words to express what you want to say, it's probably because 1. you are too close to the story, or 2. the story has not had time yet to ferment in your mind--just like wine.

In fact, you might want to try some wine.

...What?

Seriously, most successful writers are either alcoholics, chain smokers, coke-heads or on perscription psychiatric medications of some sort. How do you think Stephen King did his best work? Do you think his recent work even compares to the stuff he did in the late seventies or early eighties? I mean, how could it be any other way? We're not talking athletics here: we're talking the analysis and interpretation of reality and the transformation of that interpretation into fictional truth. Do you realize the toll that takes on the human mind? Sometimes I think the writer of the Gospel of John was completely strung out when he wrote it. Not that it wasn't absolute truth what he wrote--far from it: more that it was absolute truth that he wrote. We're human beings; we live our lives in delusion. Breaking through that delusion is extremely psychologically painful.

I mean, really: shall we talk about Ernest Hemingway's life? Shall we talk about F. Scott Fitzgerald's life? Shall we talk about Stephen King's life? Or how 'bout the religiously insane tailspin of Ann Rice?

If God wants you to be a writer, you'll be a writer--but you may not be much else. When you hit that rock-bottom truth, the words will flow like water.

That's my take on things, anyway.

Originally Posted by Edward G

most successful writers are either alcoholics, chain smokers, coke-heads or on perscription psychiatric medications of some sort.

Would Valium count towards making one a successful writer? It's a prescription medication, and it alters one's mood, so that makes it psychiatric. I take Valium.

Originally Posted by Edward G

Seriously, most successful writers are either alcoholics, chain smokers, coke-heads or on perscription psychiatric medications of some sort.

I'm going to go ahead and suggest that is a very, very broad generalisation that only serves to perpetuate a mythical "writer" stereotype that I used to romanticise about when I was younger.

However, I do subscribe to those wise words of Hemingway: "Write drunk, edit sober"...

Originally Posted by Bad Craziness

I'm going to go ahead and suggest that is a very, very broad generalisation that only serves to perpetuate a mythical "writer" stereotype that I used to romanticise about when I was younger.

However, I do subscribe to those wise words of Hemingway: "Write drunk, edit sober"...

That's write (excuse me...right), it's important for us to tell the kiddies it's a mythical writer stereotype. But there's this thing about stereotypes no one likes to admit: they have their reasons for existing.

I believe there's a kind of rock bottom all good writers get to, and that is they come to realize the only thing they are any good at is writing. Unfortunately, that leaves the wreckage of the rest of their life they have to deal with, hence the ethanol on a daily basis.

Having said that, I'm not saying it has to be this way. I'm only saying it probably will be.

Originally Posted by The Backward OX

Would Valium count towards making one a successful writer? It's a prescription medication, and it alters one's mood, so that makes it psychiatric. I take Valium.

NOW we know why you're backward. I take depression medication, the wash it down with rum and peach iced-tea. And I'm a writer, but successful?

This one's easy. The problem is time. Job, family, house, etc. -- and more recently, parents that need care. All the responsibilities and commitments that must come before writing. I still manage to find time to write -- but it's slow going.

Originally Posted by JosephB

This one's easy. The problem is time. Job, family, house, etc. -- and more recently, parents that need care. All the responsibilities and commitments that must come before writing. I still manage to find time to write -- but it's slow going.

Seconded. I have two days a week at home with my daughter, whilst my wife goes to work. When she goes to nursery I'll continue to take those two days at home for writing. Part of me thinks 'I can't wait.' So now I feel selfish for wishing away her early years. I'm also secretly happy when work is slow, more writing time, either at home or out in the car waiting for an appointment.

Originally Posted by Edward G

How do you think Stephen King did his best work? Do you think his recent work even compares to the stuff he did in the late seventies or early eighties?

I suspect that knowing that if he didn't write something someone wanted to read then he wouldn't be able to afford to eat had something to do with his early success.

I once knew a girl who thought that because so many famous writers had screwed up lives that if she screwed up her life she'd become a successful writer. As far as I'm aware, over a decade later she's never been published other than one magazine article.

I doubt that drugs, alcohol, smoking, etc. contribute to the level of anyone's success (as a child of the late 60s, early 70s I have some experience with this). However, I do think -- strictly an opinion -- that the same aspect of our nature which stimulates us to be creative (that gnawing need to get something out of our heads, or hearts) can also motivate us to use artificial means to scratch that itch. Creativity is a compulsion, other compulsive behaviors are to be expected.

I think King just chose to write his best ideas first.

Originally Posted by troplogic

I've had many problems, and the biggest one I face is not having the words for what I think I want to put on paper.

Does anyone have other problems as well?

Motivation, definitely. I have some pretty zany ideas floating around in the unfathomable abyss that is my noggin, yet I sit down at the computer, look purposefully into the screen, tell myself "Right, I'm going to write!" And... Nothing. At very best I get a decent sized short chapter, but I just can't get going, even when it's all planned out in my head. Plus, I was disappointed to find literally a few minutes ago, that as I started to write, I realized, "S**t, I haven't even come up with a decent MIDDLE for my novel!" Having delved into my characters' backstories so much, my first book has little interesting happening throughout the big middle bit, and I will have to think of some uber-awesome stuff to happen in there before too long.