Monday, May 21, 2007

Discouraged...

We do survive every moment, after all, except the last one. - John Updike

The weather forecast promises sun today. I'll believe it when I see it! LOL... I found it interesting that most of you are okay with a bit of clouds. That, in fact, some of you prefer it that way. Me? 100% sunshine all the time is okay with me.

Moving on...

I spent a great deal of time contemplating my writing yesterday. I had an unbelievably bad headache pretty much all day, so couldn't do much reading or looking at the computer or watching TV, so I contemplated.

Sometimes this isn't a good thing.

I blame much of my mood on the recent weather. Rain and gloom really, really bring me down and a full week of it -- sheesh. It got ugly. During my contemplations yesterday, I decided that all of my novels (and my novella) were complete crap and why did I even bother trying?

Anyone else feel that way? (About your own stuff, I mean. If you feel that way about mine, keep it to yourself...)

:-)

I still worked on editing one of them, but the whole time I was thinking stuff like, "Who's going to believe this could happen?" or "I should change that really awful thing, but then the whole story has to be trashed." or "The feedback I got on this confirms that I'm a no-talent, idiotic person who has no business thinking she'll even be published at novel length."

Please keep in mind: I'm not looking for sympathy or reassurance, because I'm a moody person and I recognize a mood when I see it. It'll pass (especially if there really is sunshine for awhile), but the flavor will linger for a bit. And it will most certainly revisit.

So, on to my Question of the Day:

Many of you are writers. I imagine many more of you are creative in other ways -- drawing, knitting, etc.

When you have an enormous avalanche of self-doubt smack you in the face, what do you do?

All answers greatly appreciated.

And, to leave you with a laugh, I give you this video from YouTube - from "Who's Line is it Anyway?":

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9 comments:

Allie Boniface said...

I love that show! It's funny to see an act they didn't completely master...

And in answer to your question, when self-doubt hits, I tend to take a break and focus on something else: work, even cleaning the house. Oh, and chocolate helps too.

5:53:00 AM
Ceri Hebert said...

WLIIA is such an awesome show! Wish it wasn't on so late.

I used to paint when I couldn't write, but I haven't done that in ages. Not because I have been on a writing rampage for the past 3 years, but because writing doesn't support my painting habit.

I do go through the same bouts of self doubt. But I have my moments when I think "wow, this is good." I just wish they weren't so few and far between.

Keep working at it, you know that you are a very talented writer and you'll have a novel-length out in no time!

7:07:00 AM
groovyoldlady said...

Oh dear...that poetry was almost as bad as that of Glennis the Toothfairy (aka Mulletman aka Mowerman aka Dad):

Losing your tooth is a shame
and lo you will never be the same
but you still remain quite pleasnat
and you are much more beautiful than a pheasant.

Obviously, with competition like that, I often feel inadequate as a writer. That's when I switch back to singing for a while. Of course Mulletman accompanies on guitar and now he wants to WRITE our songs.

Maybe I should move WEST!

9:03:00 AM
Alice said...

When self-doubt comes visiting, I know I should pray, but I usually procrastinate. I'd like to say nice things about myself and how I counter this situation, but the truth is, I would dwell on it, think about it and the more I think, the more doubtful I become. It's tough... Then I'll just pick up a book and start reading, or chat online with friends. Before long, I'd've forgotten about the negative situation and life goes on like normal.

10:43:00 AM
anno said...

I clean. Or mope. Or play piano. Or blame my husband. Or mope.

Truth be told, I probably do a lot of moping until I decide that I'm being ridiculous and make myself find something more productive to do.

Chocolate IS useful.

I hope you're feeling better. We'd love it if you could send some of your rain this way -- it's a little dry here, and M. is worn out carrying water to his seedlings.

11:49:00 AM
Anonymous said...

I love WHOSE LINE. Both the American and the Brit versions. :) Just wish I hadn't seen almost all of them now. Once you've seen them two or three times they're not quite as funny. *g*

Usually when I'm having major doubts, I'll happen across something I wrote that I'll think, "Hey, this is darn good!" Then I'll feel better. Also when my critique group pals tell me what they love about my stuff. :)

1:19:00 PM
Charity Tahmaseb said...

I blogged about this today. Hope you don't mind.

4:02:00 PM
Anonymous said...

Miserable weather gets me like that too. And in the short term, if I forget to go outside and get some sun on a day that I'm working from home I get all grouchy and wintery.

Self-doubt hits me fairly regularly at the moment as I'm still trying to get my foot in the door in writing. Sometimes it helps to read over old stuff that got published and then I call my mum to let her tell me how wonderful I am :-)

5:01:00 PM
Melody said...

I will give some time to dwell on it...and then move on when the moment pass away.

10:00:00 PM

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