《How to Write Stories People Will Love》18. Beat Back Self-Doubt
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Self-doubt is crippling. It saps away all creative inspiration, and it hits even the best authors. So when it hits you, remember you're not alone.
When you're caught up in the painfully sticky clutches of self-doubt, for heaven's sake do NOT go and delete your story off Wattpad. (Or if you want to remove it from here, at least save a copy somewhere in your private archives.) You worked hard on that. Even if you think it sucks right now, that's all right. Early drafts are supposed to suck. It's your starting point. You have to start somewhere. The Wright brothers spent years building kites to prototype the ideas they had for an actual airplane.
This is a tough one. I still do it sometimes. In your readings, you will undoubtedly encounter writing that is so good, it makes you want to give up because you could never be that good. Well, that'll certainly be true if you give up! All of us writers are on the same path, and some of us have been at it longer than others. When you read a fantastic story, remind yourself that this writer is farther along down the same road you're on. They got started earlier, or maybe had more help, and that's why they are currently producing better work than you. It does not mean you can't get there yourself! You just have to keep at it, like they did.
Impatience is one of the worst qualities an aspiring author can have. We want everything NOW, so naturally when things don't go our way, we have hissy-fits. Like fine wines, improving our craft takes time. We can't take a rocket ship from point A to point B. We have to shuffle along at our own pace, inching down that path to greatness. You need to read extensively, practice writing, get critiques and feedback, and rewrite a LOT.
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You know what this means? It simply means they haven't found you yet. It doesn't mean you suck. It doesn't mean people hate your work. It doesn't mean anything other than there are literally millions of writers here, and someone finding you is like finding that tiny book in the basement of the county library, hidden behind rows of other, more well-known books that have been there longer. So don't despair. Reads have no bearing on your abilities. It just means you need to put more effort into getting found. To that end, I've created a guide called How to Rise from the Dead on Wattpad: A practical guide to getting noticed. Look for it on my profile! I'll also put a link in the comments.
We all go through mood swings. It's the ever-fluctuating, hormonal nature of humans. Guys, don't scoff. You're affected by mood swings too, not just the women. The problem with downward mood swings is we are highly irrational when in that state of mind. Everything is glass-half-empty, pointless, and we're just not good enough to do this. When you're feeling this way, it's exceedingly difficult to be objective.
But try. Force some tiny part of your brain to recognize this foul mood for what it is: a temporary hormonal setback. It'll pass. Remember not to make any decisions yet. Try whatever you can to kick this mood's butt. Watch funny cat videos. Eat lots of chocolate. Talk to a supportive friend. Write out all your horrible feelings into a long, rambling file. Some of this may help you make sense of it.
When your mood finally swings back to normal, you can attack your writing once more, with the steadily improving skills you know you have. And you'll be thankful you didn't delete it.
I believe in you.
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Heroes Shed No Tears
Gao Jianfei: A naive martial arts genius, exploring the martial arts world for the first time in his life.Zhu Meng: A man's man who lives by the sword, but who is more passionate and emotional than he realizes.Sima Chaochun: The most famous martial artist in the world. Completely and utterly righteous. Or is he?Zhuo Donglai: The brains behind Sima Chaochun's brawn, who always has a trick up his sleeve.And the most fearsome weapon under heaven.Heroes Shed No Tears is a tale of friendship and love, of loyalty and betrayal. Secrets upon secrets will be revealed; pay close attention, and you might be able to unravel the mystery before the characters do!
8 250Amber
I woke up in the field confused. My memories seemed blurry. This doesn't seem to be like the world I know. Where exactly am I. Our main character finds herself in another world confused as to how she got there. Her last memory on earth was her talking to a friend in the classroom.
8 179Ant Lord: Monsters in the Fog
Marcus was living the good life until the day the fog rolled in. Now he has to battle against impossible odds to save the ones he loves. Can he stand in the face enemies who have a serious leg up-or a few legs up- on him? Or will he lose his humanity to monsters even worse than the creepy crawlies?
8 121Causality: Kings' Vanity
First book in the Causality Series. In a world of magic, spirits, the unseen hiding beyond the thin barriers of reality, humans live and thrive unaware of the monsters lurking in the shadows. An alternative world hides beyond the thin veil upon which a grand conspiracy brews. Taylor is drawn into a whole new reality when he has a fateful encounter. A young woman pulled away from her homeland, into a forbidden realm where her kind was taboo. But she had no choice but to leave. There, alone and frightened, she meets a courageous and melancholic young man who extends his hand to her. Knowing she shouldn't, and that it was sacriligious, she reached out and took it. From there the pieces, set moving, begin to fall. Art work by greenmaple17https://www.deviantart.com/greenmapple17/art/Arin-Kannazuki-Trinity-Seven-603304200
8 79Collection of Imagines (complete)
Imagines about various people. Mainly the C4 friend group.*= personal favouriteshighest rankings:#1: Bobby Mares#2: Oscar Guerra, Crawford Collins© midnightxxmoments All rights reserved
8 57Mr. Brightside | Dream Daddy x Reader
[Completed | Dream Daddy: A Dad Dating Simulator x Reader]It wasn't that big of a deal since you were still in the same town. The move was to a cul-de-sac, where you see many different houses with different types of people.You knew that a change of perspective was going to benefit both you and your daughter, Amanda. ... but what you didn't know was that this perspective was more than just "better". - - - Dream Daddy: A Dad Dating Simulator ©️ Game Grumps.• Mainly one shots but imagines, scenarios, drabbles, multiple parts and more can be requested. • The reader is male unless stated otherwise.• This is an "x Reader". This means that each chapter will contain a character to be paired with the reader in a scenario. Started: July 31, 2017Completed: N/A
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