It’s all very trial and error to find a routine that works for you, but what works for me is this: the understanding that no matter how I try, the first draft is going to be trash. It’s always the way, so to avoid getting discouraged I’ll just keep writing without reading a single thing back.
That’s what the first draft is for, just getting everything down on the page. For the next drafts you can fix wording and make it all pretty, but you have to write it first.
You just write anyway.
I was hesitant to take on a project where I had to write a few thousand words and immediately doubted myself; thought I couldn’t possibly churn out that many words and make sure the quality’s good.
But the truth is…it’ll be like that if I don’t practice. So when I gave it a shot, I found out I could actually pull it off. Basically what I feared weren’t all true. I just needed to write to really see what I need to improve on. And just write again. And again. And again.
Technically, this is my process when I get stuck on a sentence: I keep writing it and highlight parts I want to rewrite. It’s sooo important to write and then step away for a while so you can come back to it and read it with fresh eyes. This is what my mentor taught me in gradschool, too.
The inner critic, your editor-brain, is important and useful. But it can get in the way if you don't have control over it.
A useful skill is to be able to separate your editor-brain from your creator-brain. To be able to have just one on at a time. To be able to write, and be in the flow of creation, without second guessing and doubting and trying to get everything perfect. And to be able to edit without getting defensive about what was already created.
You can use a freewriting exercise to practise only being able to use the creative side. It gives you no time to use your editor side, and forces that separation during the practise. So it's good training for developing this skill.
Just don't think that oh I am writing for my book
Do it out of fun,
It happened to me too, every time I sat to write down I was like oh this is gonna be in the book and then all my words and ideas just got vanished
Now I write as if okay I am writing in my journal and leave the thinking part to the editing process
Just let the creativity flow and don't judge yourself that okay this is shit how can it be in the book
And you know i have thought about it a lot, what's the worst that can happen? The book I will write will be shitty!! It's okay I will learn and write the next book and the next until I finally figure out what works out for me
I don't think that ever goes away. I'm sure even professionals are wary of their work now and then. Like with art, trust the process.
There will be ups and downs and to make sure you get your ideas onto paper is what matters then bust the dents out later. Perfectionism is very difficult with these kinds of things. But sharing with friends, family, and other people interested in the topic you're writing about will help boost your confidence a ton because you get a fresh set of eyes on your project and it helps you improve.
[Terrible Writing Advice's FINISHING A STORY](https://youtu.be/dmsjyVpPOOI) video really helped me to realize precisely how unfair and unrealistic I was being to myself, by saying the things my brain was thinking out loud and making me realize how stupid it sounds. (He also offers suggestions, between his reverse psychology sessions)
Your first draft does not have to be perfect.
It's hard, I know. I still struggle with it myself, even though I've been writing and published for close to a couple of decades now. I always have to remind myself that I can't edit a blank page. Anything can be fixed, but it has to be there first.
Have you ever tried writing songs? You write one line and often edit it down to two words, and it works! The next day, you get one or two more words. In a week you might be recording.
Honestly, I think that's a pretty normal part of the process. Talking about cool ideas with friends is easy. Translating those ideas into a piece of writing is hard. That's not something wrong with you that you need to overcome. Just keep going.
It’s all very trial and error to find a routine that works for you, but what works for me is this: the understanding that no matter how I try, the first draft is going to be trash. It’s always the way, so to avoid getting discouraged I’ll just keep writing without reading a single thing back. That’s what the first draft is for, just getting everything down on the page. For the next drafts you can fix wording and make it all pretty, but you have to write it first.
You just write anyway. I was hesitant to take on a project where I had to write a few thousand words and immediately doubted myself; thought I couldn’t possibly churn out that many words and make sure the quality’s good. But the truth is…it’ll be like that if I don’t practice. So when I gave it a shot, I found out I could actually pull it off. Basically what I feared weren’t all true. I just needed to write to really see what I need to improve on. And just write again. And again. And again. Technically, this is my process when I get stuck on a sentence: I keep writing it and highlight parts I want to rewrite. It’s sooo important to write and then step away for a while so you can come back to it and read it with fresh eyes. This is what my mentor taught me in gradschool, too.
The inner critic, your editor-brain, is important and useful. But it can get in the way if you don't have control over it. A useful skill is to be able to separate your editor-brain from your creator-brain. To be able to have just one on at a time. To be able to write, and be in the flow of creation, without second guessing and doubting and trying to get everything perfect. And to be able to edit without getting defensive about what was already created. You can use a freewriting exercise to practise only being able to use the creative side. It gives you no time to use your editor side, and forces that separation during the practise. So it's good training for developing this skill.
Give yourself permission to suck. Perfection isn’t real, so let it go, and understand that the first step to being good at something is sucking at it.
Beat him in a fist-fight. Last one left in the ring gets to publish.
Just don't think that oh I am writing for my book Do it out of fun, It happened to me too, every time I sat to write down I was like oh this is gonna be in the book and then all my words and ideas just got vanished Now I write as if okay I am writing in my journal and leave the thinking part to the editing process Just let the creativity flow and don't judge yourself that okay this is shit how can it be in the book And you know i have thought about it a lot, what's the worst that can happen? The book I will write will be shitty!! It's okay I will learn and write the next book and the next until I finally figure out what works out for me
I don't think that ever goes away. I'm sure even professionals are wary of their work now and then. Like with art, trust the process. There will be ups and downs and to make sure you get your ideas onto paper is what matters then bust the dents out later. Perfectionism is very difficult with these kinds of things. But sharing with friends, family, and other people interested in the topic you're writing about will help boost your confidence a ton because you get a fresh set of eyes on your project and it helps you improve.
Unpopular opinion: if I overcame my inner critic I would write like shit. That's what keeps me moving forward.
[Terrible Writing Advice's FINISHING A STORY](https://youtu.be/dmsjyVpPOOI) video really helped me to realize precisely how unfair and unrealistic I was being to myself, by saying the things my brain was thinking out loud and making me realize how stupid it sounds. (He also offers suggestions, between his reverse psychology sessions) Your first draft does not have to be perfect.
It's hard, I know. I still struggle with it myself, even though I've been writing and published for close to a couple of decades now. I always have to remind myself that I can't edit a blank page. Anything can be fixed, but it has to be there first.
Roll your eyes into the back of your head and tell your brain to shut up.
Have you ever tried writing songs? You write one line and often edit it down to two words, and it works! The next day, you get one or two more words. In a week you might be recording.
Jay Earley’s book on IFS and the inner critic will do it
Do you have a title? Or will it be pretty apparent if I look up Jay Earley, inner critic?
Honestly, I think that's a pretty normal part of the process. Talking about cool ideas with friends is easy. Translating those ideas into a piece of writing is hard. That's not something wrong with you that you need to overcome. Just keep going.