On writing and wanting to write, and also perfectionism
The other day I remembered that I am supposedly working on a story. I thought, “I haven’t written much lately. I wish I wanted to write.” And then I thought, “If I wrote more, then I would want to write.”
That jump-starting, boot-strap-pulling thing makes writing difficult for me. You guys, I have the attention span of a gnat! Once I stop writing, it’s super hard to get back in the groove. So today I made a list of questions about plot, character background and motivations that should help jump-start me next time. I hope.
Anyway. I was feeling motivated, so I wrote eight pages today, about 3800 words. It took almost all day since I like to write very clean first drafts. I’m not doing NaNoWriMo because trying to write a novel in a month would quite literally kill me. Seriously, this whole perfectionist thing isn’t as much as it’s cracked up to be. Can I get an “Amen” from my fellow perfectionists?
P.S. Justine Larbalestier discusses why writers like to whine (or “whinge”) about writing.
Also, ‘psuedo-English’ major?
And I must confess that I did poorly in English in College. English 1A at my Community College took me three tries (I claim bad work habits, not poor writing skills). At university, I only took a technical writing course that was required for my major.
Amen! Hail Mary! Holy water! Praise Jesus!
LOL
I am currently working on a synopsis for the young adult fantasy I recently completed revising. I hate writing synopses. They suck. I am a perfectionist when it come to writing.
I. Hate. Synopses.
And I hate the fact that I must make it perfect even more.
I’m going to shut up now.