So my problem is that I love coming up with ideas and what have you but writing? Yeah I don’t know, I feel like I like the idea of writing more than actually writing. Anyone else feel the same?
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Not to state the obvious, but yes a lot of people feel that way, and those people don’t become writers. Humans are natural story tellers, I think everyone enjoys the thrill of a good daydream or fantastical world or even just relaying good gossip requires some story telling, but writing is a skill you either choose to craft or you don’t. That’s fine either way, writer’s block can also be frustrating if that’s the issue you’re describing, but not starting at all will keep you where you’re at which is with nothing.
I actually write scenes perhaps not masterpieces but I have scenes but only after throughly planning out the story and rewriting each scene a few times. Point being I can eventually sit down and do the hard work it’s just exhausting and inefficient
Writing as a hobby doesn’t have to ever be complete. Write your ideas how you want. Just enjoy it. Do what makes your life more fulfilling. If you write as a job then you deal with the annoyance of sticking to schedule and writing what appeals to readers. But if hobby, then write anything you want, however you want. Take 20 years of writing little scenes and maybe someday make a compilation of them or worth them together into a story. Don’t dictate your writing based on what others consider good if you are not planning on selling it. Just have fun with hobby.
I think you’re in the majority of people. Writing is difficult, lonely, thankless work. Not a lot of people seriously attempt it, and even fewer finish.
I’ll tell you the truth, though. Ideas aren’t worth much. Finished books are.
Writing can be a pain in the ass, but also if you can get into that flow state, where you are totally absorbed and in the moment; that’s a lot of fun.
I come from a song writing background where I got totally absorbed in writing and recording a song, and wondered whether I could ever get the same satisfaction out of writing prose; ie listening to the same song I wrote again and again without getting bored.
It turns out; yes I can. I just needed to commit to writing more. Now I am in the habit of it (I’m 44 and have written more fiction this year than I have in my entire life, including my first novel) I do genuinely enjoy it.
That’s not to say that it’s not a massive grind sometimes, or that it feels sometimes like everything you do is shit or you’re wading through treacle. But I’d argue that it’s the same no matter what creative pursuit you end up doing. I’ve certainly had to battle years of self doubt in song writing. The key ultimately - and it probably is boring to have people keep saying this - is just to get on with it and do it. Battle through the self doubt, and then occasionally you will find yourself on the sunlit uplands of optimism, going ‘Hey! I’m actually pretty good at this and it’s going well!’. And then the next day feel like it’s all shit again.
That is a very normal part of the creative process, and i suppose it’s a natural sorting the wheat from the chaff situation. The vast majority of people never do any serious writing. Of those who do write, there’s a smaller proportion who manage to finish anything. Of those who do finish, there’s a smaller proportion that manage to battle through even one edit. Of those who do that, there’s a smaller proportion of people who manage to submit anything (if they want to). Of those who do that, there’s a smaller proportion who manage to get anything published.. and so on, and so on.
Ultimately as someone else has said here, writing can be a lonely and exhausting job. I think it was Orwell who said that writing a novel is like having a long illness. However, as I think Roald Dahl once said (I love epigrams from writers and find them inspiring), the reward is total freedom. And that’s something worth fighting for.
Yes, it's very common... Everyone loves to invent stories in their head. Writing them down is more difficult.
Two suggestions:
1) 'Write' your first draft by dictating it (using a voice-to-text app). Tell your story as if you were telling it to your best friend. Focus on spontaneity, but don't worry about using fancy sentences or anything literary.
2) Once you've converted your audio version to text, work on it calmly. Try to write each scene in a clear, concise, and correct style, varying the length and structure of your sentences. Don't be afraid to make several drafts. Writing is mostly about rewriting.
This meme popped up on this sub a few weeks ago, and encapsulates what everyone’s been saying. Writing is hard work, but worth it when you see that idea start to come to life.
Totally. Lots of folk love driving, but don’t want to build the car beforehand. It’s a craft. Might not be yours. Or perhaps you could experiment in different forms of writing: short stories, poetry, screen-writing?
A lot of people do this to some degree or another. Daydreaming is fun, it's free, and doesn't require any work. You can basically just create outlines of cool scenes forever and always be entertained. Writing is work, and though I'm sure a lot of non-writers would disagree, it's hard work. For a lot of people, writing a book is one of the most difficult things they will ever accomplish, if only because of the demands it makes on your self-discipline.
You can choose to try writing anyway. Doesn’t have to be big or special. You just have to start. Find out if you like it or not. You’ll never know unless you try it out.
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Not to state the obvious, but yes a lot of people feel that way, and those people don’t become writers. Humans are natural story tellers, I think everyone enjoys the thrill of a good daydream or fantastical world or even just relaying good gossip requires some story telling, but writing is a skill you either choose to craft or you don’t. That’s fine either way, writer’s block can also be frustrating if that’s the issue you’re describing, but not starting at all will keep you where you’re at which is with nothing.
I actually write scenes perhaps not masterpieces but I have scenes but only after throughly planning out the story and rewriting each scene a few times. Point being I can eventually sit down and do the hard work it’s just exhausting and inefficient
If this is a hobby, do the fun thing.
Writing as a hobby doesn’t have to ever be complete. Write your ideas how you want. Just enjoy it. Do what makes your life more fulfilling. If you write as a job then you deal with the annoyance of sticking to schedule and writing what appeals to readers. But if hobby, then write anything you want, however you want. Take 20 years of writing little scenes and maybe someday make a compilation of them or worth them together into a story. Don’t dictate your writing based on what others consider good if you are not planning on selling it. Just have fun with hobby.
Yep. This applies to basically everything. Shopping for home decor is generally more fun than assembling/installing it.
I think you’re in the majority of people. Writing is difficult, lonely, thankless work. Not a lot of people seriously attempt it, and even fewer finish.
I’ll tell you the truth, though. Ideas aren’t worth much. Finished books are.
Writing can be a pain in the ass, but also if you can get into that flow state, where you are totally absorbed and in the moment; that’s a lot of fun. I come from a song writing background where I got totally absorbed in writing and recording a song, and wondered whether I could ever get the same satisfaction out of writing prose; ie listening to the same song I wrote again and again without getting bored. It turns out; yes I can. I just needed to commit to writing more. Now I am in the habit of it (I’m 44 and have written more fiction this year than I have in my entire life, including my first novel) I do genuinely enjoy it. That’s not to say that it’s not a massive grind sometimes, or that it feels sometimes like everything you do is shit or you’re wading through treacle. But I’d argue that it’s the same no matter what creative pursuit you end up doing. I’ve certainly had to battle years of self doubt in song writing. The key ultimately - and it probably is boring to have people keep saying this - is just to get on with it and do it. Battle through the self doubt, and then occasionally you will find yourself on the sunlit uplands of optimism, going ‘Hey! I’m actually pretty good at this and it’s going well!’. And then the next day feel like it’s all shit again. That is a very normal part of the creative process, and i suppose it’s a natural sorting the wheat from the chaff situation. The vast majority of people never do any serious writing. Of those who do write, there’s a smaller proportion who manage to finish anything. Of those who do finish, there’s a smaller proportion that manage to battle through even one edit. Of those who do that, there’s a smaller proportion of people who manage to submit anything (if they want to). Of those who do that, there’s a smaller proportion who manage to get anything published.. and so on, and so on.
Ultimately as someone else has said here, writing can be a lonely and exhausting job. I think it was Orwell who said that writing a novel is like having a long illness. However, as I think Roald Dahl once said (I love epigrams from writers and find them inspiring), the reward is total freedom. And that’s something worth fighting for.
Damn, the answers in this thread are going so hard.
Yes, it's very common... Everyone loves to invent stories in their head. Writing them down is more difficult.
Two suggestions:
1) 'Write' your first draft by dictating it (using a voice-to-text app). Tell your story as if you were telling it to your best friend. Focus on spontaneity, but don't worry about using fancy sentences or anything literary.
2) Once you've converted your audio version to text, work on it calmly. Try to write each scene in a clear, concise, and correct style, varying the length and structure of your sentences. Don't be afraid to make several drafts. Writing is mostly about rewriting.
Good luck! :)
https://preview.redd.it/jjip09mwck9g1.jpeg?width=1164&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=aefb394036d35a11609d67ed811c8afb718f82be
This meme popped up on this sub a few weeks ago, and encapsulates what everyone’s been saying. Writing is hard work, but worth it when you see that idea start to come to life.
😂
Totally. Lots of folk love driving, but don’t want to build the car beforehand. It’s a craft. Might not be yours. Or perhaps you could experiment in different forms of writing: short stories, poetry, screen-writing?
Well yeah, me too. I always figured most writers and other creative types would think along these lines?
what do you mean ?
Just that as a creative type , I have always had far more ideas than I could ever realistically convey onto paper.
Sounds like you're a day dreamer, not a writer
A lot of people do this to some degree or another. Daydreaming is fun, it's free, and doesn't require any work. You can basically just create outlines of cool scenes forever and always be entertained. Writing is work, and though I'm sure a lot of non-writers would disagree, it's hard work. For a lot of people, writing a book is one of the most difficult things they will ever accomplish, if only because of the demands it makes on your self-discipline.
Why are you afraid to write?
It’s because I know it’s going to be bad, like I know that’s how it goes you start trash then build up.
Then start the trash. Who cares.
Fuck it I’m doing it. Like I’ve watched enough writing advice videos!
Yeah !
Some people are surprisingly good at this from the first time. If you are not one of them, and like most of us, it will be bad but you will improve.
that's because coming up with ideas is easy, unskilled child's play. it's like playing grownup without the grownup responsibilities.
so yes, you and many others most likely just like to write about writing. it's what keeps the reddit writing subs afloat.
You can choose to try writing anyway. Doesn’t have to be big or special. You just have to start. Find out if you like it or not. You’ll never know unless you try it out.
It’s the writers natural selection. Many people love literature and dream about writing a book and have ideas.
Some will take a step, two step or the all road further.
This is an issue with artists as well. People like to tell you practice practice practice. But the reality is you have to just DO it.
Coming up with ideas if fun cuz you're playing. Writing, however, is work.
You wrote this. Just do that but for longer.
What you're describing is called the marathon of the middle.
Beginnings and ends are relatively simple. But getting from a to b is the hard part. Many writers feel this is a bridge to far to cross.
It helps to divide your story into 6 parts, or however many you need, and just write the parts. Then, stitch them together when you're done.
Divide and conquer. Veni, vidi, vici.
Or… The marathon of picking up the pen?
Seemed to me like they’ve never written anything.
You write with words not ideas.
No. We're all writers here. If this is the way you feel, you probably should seek another creative outlet.
Unwillingly, yeah