One thing that I’ve noticed with my writing is that I swing back and forth in my opinion of the draft I’m working on.
What I aim for is to feel good about where I am with the draft. Maybe it’s still a mess, but I’ll tell myself I’ve come a long way with it. Or maybe it’s in pretty decent shape and I’ll try to look more critically at it (because if I’m feeling breezy about a manuscript, it worries me.)
Then there are the days where I swing from one extreme to the other with my feelings toward the manuscript.
This is when I enjoy posts like this one by author Libba Bray (one of my all-time favorite articles…because I so completely emphasize). It explains how writing a novel is like a love story. I share it with writing friends when I think the process has gotten to them.
And this post on the Writing Roads blog outlines the phases of a writer—from optimism to defeatism.
It’s a little bit of humor from writers who understand the process and help us realize we’re not alone.
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Elizabeth – I think that’s what I value most about having a community of writer friends like you. We really aren’t in the writing process alone, and it’s nice to be reminded of that. I’ve actually had more than one day when I felt six ways at once about my writing – all at the same time. I think it’s because we get so involved with our characters and plots that we naturally have strong feelings about them. At least I do.
Yeah, writing is like a tempestuous love story.
My problem is that when I get depressed about my writing, I will go read something else I wrote that I love…. which winds up with me just reading and not writing. (But at least I feel good about myself.)
I wonder why it’s so easy to feel suspicious about feeling breezy? To assume something must be wrong because we feel TOO breezy? Can’t it be that a writer feels breezy simply because she’s a good writer and is going to be successful – and maybe writing doesn’t have to be as terrifying as it always feels?
I wonder, because feeling breezy always makes me feel suspicious.
– Corra
the victorian heroine
There are definitely days where I read what I’m writing and think it is utter rubbish and then other days when I think its okay. As Margot said, it is great knowing that we aren’t going through this alone and that everyone feels this at some times.
Thanks for sharing this.
It is nice to know we aren’t alone in our doubts, fears, and frustrations as writers. I have found blogging to be a way to see this.
Teresa
Super post! For me, there are some days when I think my first draft stinks, then there are other days when I think my first draft really stinks.
I swing back and forth, too. From “it’s really good” to “this is a piece of crap.”
I’m guessing that with experience I will become more adept at dealing with it? Please say it’s true!
I swing back and forth, too. From “it’s really good” to “this is a piece of crap.”
I’m guessing that with experience I will become more adept at dealing with it? Please say it’s true!
thanks for the links! i love stopping by your blog- always has great tips and gives us a sense that we aren’t alone in the process. i hate my MS right now. can’t get the words together. hopefully in a few weeks i’ll love it again! also, i love the below post flawed- its a good topic, i have to think about my characters flaws a bit i think. time to mix it up!
I think mood swings follow plot swings. Some types of scenes are easier to write for a myriad reasons. You’re into the characters, they’re doing something you understand and feel passionate about. Then there are the days when you’re out of your own comfort zone, and you don’t think anything you’ve written makes sense at all.
I love your links. It’s always refreshing to know we are not alone in our love/hate relationships.
My current edit has me despising my MG novel. I would just as soon throw my MC in the trash as read about him!
Thanks for sharing.
I do that too – the mood swings. I have three WIP’s – well two now, I just completed and submitted one. But sometimes I’m completely in love with what I’m writing and then suddenly I’ll be like … is this really any good? I usually distance myself from the WIP when that happens, do something else, then go back to it later and read it again. Almost always I realize it IS good, I was just getting to used to it … one of those “absence makes the heart grow fonder” kind of thangs, lol
I keep thinking it’s going to get easier with each book, but it doesn’t! Just moved from despair to euphoria, and you’re right — that’s when I’ve got to turn on my critical brain. Great post, Elizabeth!
I’m experiencing that more with my second book than I did the first.
Great post, Elizabeth!
The Old Silly said:
“Almost always I realize it IS good, I was just getting too used to it…”
At the moment I’m far too used to my MS. Grrr!
Thanks for this. I’m in the middle of revising a novel and starting to doubt it — again. It’s good to be reminded it’s all part of the process.
I never fail to laugh out loud at Libba Bray’s brilliant post; I have it bookmarked and reread it whenever I feel the need.
LOL – I do the same thing while editing. When things are going along well I start doubting ME. (Am I daydreaming here and not paying attention? Have I missed something? I’d better read that again…)
Thanks for the links. I’ll read them. I tend to think that established writers have permantly duct taped the mouths of their inner critic. Guess we need to keep reapplying the tape.
Sometimes milestones are like a runnig back who deftly finds a hole, eludes tackles, and scores on a long TD run. Other times he’s stumbling fumbling bumbling into the end zone. Regardless, he’s in for six and the crowd goes wild.
Stephen Tremp
I feel that way. Especially with my current project. I feel it could be better. I think it has a lot to do with the fact I’m writing it too fast.
But, occasionally, I will have better ideas about a past chapter and I quickly go back and jot down notes on my manuscript. It makes me love my novel again.
CD
Those articles were too funny and so true. I think I’ll be smiling the rest of the day.
Great links, Elizabeth! One of them was even perfect timing to send to another friend who has been feeling down! Hopefully your relationship with your manuscript goes through a really great spurt here soon!
I can’t beleive your release date is getting so close! Time is just flying by. Manuscript moodswings, I used to have them but not so much anymore. If anything they grow on me more and more as I go through the writing/revising process!
Margot–Only the strongest emotions for our books! It’s true. The characters get to be like children and I feel that I’m doing them wrong the days when I can’t get into the writing groove. But I think we all must feel that way…and it does help knowing we’re all working through the same issues.
The Daring Novelist–I get inspired by reading, too…but then, you’re right, I get sucked into a book instead of my writing!
Corra–I think that we think if writing is coming too easily to us that we must be doing something wrong! But sometimes it *does* come out that naturally and sometimes it’s more like squeezing blood out of a turnip.
miss ali–Hope that taking a break will make you fall in love with your manuscript all over again. :)
Cassandra–It does really help to know we’re all going through the same issues.
Marvin–You’re right–it’s a sign we might need to take a little break from the book for a while!
Meredith–Well, if it’s happening to you and your books get nominated for major awards, then it really *does* happen to all of us! Thanks for stopping by, Meredith.
Alex–I think for me it’s the perfectionism thing. And I *can’t* produce a perfect book. There’s no way. I can produce a good book, though, and I just have to let go of the Type A part of me.
Journaling Woman–I think we’re all in the same boat. It makes me feel much better to realize it’s not just me!
Alan–LOL! And there are days where we have to pull out the Lysol can, right? :)
Linda–It definitely is. Good luck with the writing!
Crystal Clear Proofing–And writing is all *about* the daydreaming! No wonder writers have so many personal issues. :)
Mary–It happens to me, sometimes in the space of 30 minutes! I just expect it now and tell myself I’ll edit out the problems later. :) I need some of that duct tape, too!
Cassandra–I think the difference is now that I’m *aware* of it. I know that when I’m feeling really frustrated with my manuscript that it’s part of my process. But I still feel irritated and frustrated…just aware that the feelings will pass eventually.
Stephen–VERY true. Sometimes I feel like it’s practically a miracle when everything ends up good in the end! Despite the fumbling and bumbling. :)
Terry–I think you’re right. Sometimes I’m not in the mood to work on particular scenes at all (and then the scene isn’t all that great when I’m done writing it.) But it all edits out later.
Clarissa–I love that feeling! I do the same…get a great idea that I can slip in (usually right before deadline.)
catwoods–It’s really a tiring process, isn’t it? We spend so much time with these characters…and we’re reading their story over and over and over again when really we’d probably rather move on to the next adventure/new book with them.
Jane–Hope so! I know I will.
Christine–Oh I get SO TIRED of mine. Fortunately the publication process takes so long that it’s fresh and new again by the time the book releases. :) There’s a beauty in the timeline!
Hart–Oh good. :) Hope the link helps her out! Good luck with your manuscript, too–I know you’re working hard on it.
Heather–That’s a good thing! Wish I could be as steady as you. If anything, I just recognize my writing mood swings as a part of my process. A really crappy part of my process, but part of it! :)
I think I’m moodier now than when I first began.
Elspeth–It definitely recharges me. :)
Diane–Maybe we expect more from ourselves? We should give ourselves a break! :)
Wish I was a swinger too >:)
I never like my own stuff when I re-read later.
Cold As Heaven
Cold as Heaven–Well, I guess there are swingers, and there are *swingers*. :) I guess we’re always the most critical of our own work.
I’m lovey dovey with my manuscript at the moment. It is behaving well and being steady and improving…all good. When I swing the other way I’ll work on something more ‘craft’ than ‘art’ for a bit.