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[Creature 1]

That's the story of my life. Dragon Age fanfic has been one of my more long-term obsessions (started writing right around the new year). When I start running out of interest in one of them, I take a break, and often can get back into it after that.

[LupusYondergirl]

I do prompts. My creative writing professor recommended it and I found it helps. With fanfic perhaps even more, since there's less to come up with off the top of your head. Two pages inspired by the word "chocolate" or the first song that plays when you hit random on your mp3 player or something like that. His were even more specific, though. "Write three pages about old friends bumping into each other for the first time in years," something like that.

But, for me, I find once I start writing I'll usually start getting ideas for other things. I rarely have less than three or four word documents open at a time. One for my current story, one of notes, outlines, ideas, and occasionally entire scenes or discussions I'm going to insert later but write out now while the idea's in my mind, another of a story I'm working on for the future, and a fourth for my novel that is so freaking dead in the water right now I don't know what to do with it. So when I lose steam I usually just force myself to smash away at the keys until I feel better.

Modifié par LupusYondergirl, 07 juillet 2010 - 05:49 .

[Tellervo]

I'm not talking about losing steam. I'm talking about writer's crisis. I'm sure some of you have had it before. I'm ready to put down my pen, and I'm at my wit's end over it.

[Tasmen]

Tellervo wrote...

I'm not talking about losing steam. I'm talking about writer's crisis. I'm sure some of you have had it before. I'm ready to put down my pen, and I'm at my wit's end over it.

I've had a couple stints like that.  Honestly?  I take a step back and do something else for a little bit.  Be it playing games, watching tv, writing totally silly cracky and just fun prompts, etc.  

When i've lost steam with a particular story, I may take a day off (and this did happen recently) then come back and re-read what I've already put out there.  Sometimes that helps get those creative juices going again.

What I have found is that forcing it never works.  

I'm not sure if that will help you at all, but that is what i do. 

[Leeaire]

Tellervo wrote...

I mean... not for a particular story. In general. Losing motivation about writing in general.

You should probably take a break until that motivation returns. Everyone has mentioned a lot of great things to do during this break and it would be best to try them. Just find what works for you and perhaps you'll stumble upon something that just really influences you to begin writing again. It just takes time and patience.

[Sarah1281]

Tellervo wrote...

What do you guys do when you lose motivation?

I've never lost interest in writing altogether but after a few months I tend to lose interest in a fandom so I try to hurry and finish up any ongoing stories and then jump ship.

[Shadow of Light Dragon]

Tellervo wrote...

I'm not talking about losing steam. I'm talking about writer's crisis. I'm sure some of you have had it before. I'm ready to put down my pen, and I'm at my wit's end over it.

Like hanging up the sword for good?

Has something brought this feeling on or has it just popped up random-like?

[Tellervo]

Shadow of Light Dragon wrote...

Tellervo wrote...

I'm not talking about losing steam. I'm talking about writer's crisis. I'm sure some of you have had it before. I'm ready to put down my pen, and I'm at my wit's end over it.

Like hanging up the sword for good?

Has something brought this feeling on or has it just popped up random-like?

Exactly so.  A number of factors conspiring against me, most of which are of a highly personal nature and thus won't be discussed here.  In essence, I have begun to feel guilty about my writing--all of it, ever.  Not just the fandom stuff.

I probably shouldn't have asked, in the interest of not derailing the thread or making others uncomfortable (this is a public forum, after all), but deleting the original posts I made now would make a couple of other people seem to be talking to air, and that would be rude of me, probably.  So just... proceed as normal, I guess, I'll figure it out one way or another.

[Corker]

...I am not generally a Bible-quotin' sort of person, but after my kids were born and I had to put aside some of my time-sucking hobbies, I found some comfort in the idea that "there is a time for everything, and a season for every purpose under heaven." 

For me, it's my music - I'm not interested in practicing these days.  Months go by when I don't even touch my poor instruments.  I'm too drained by other responsibilities.  It's not my season for being a practicing musician - and that's hard to admit - but it will be again someday. 

[soignee]

Tellervo wrote...
Exactly so.  A number of factors conspiring against me, most of which are of a highly personal nature and thus won't be discussed here.  In essence, I have begun to feel guilty about my writing--all of it, ever.  Not just the fandom stuff.

I probably shouldn't have asked, in the interest of not derailing the thread or making others uncomfortable (this is a public forum, after all), but deleting the original posts I made now would make a couple of other people seem to be talking to air, and that would be rude of me, probably.  So just... proceed as normal, I guess, I'll figure it out one way or another.

If you do something creative like writing, singing, drawing and you suddenly find you can't do it anymore, it's like someone has come along and ripped out a part of you and you don't know how to put it back together. I find that creative people tie up their self-worth and confidence to what they do as to them it's who they are, and if you can't do that at the moment it's like you've lost a sense.

The trick is not to think this way, and I am aware how over simplistic that is to say and seems easily dismissable. It's getting out of the rut of thinking this is all you are, rather then viewing it as writer's/artist's block you have to overcome.

Here's my oversharing on the internets, since I have no shame:

My bread and butter is fashion design, specifically textiles. Before this job I'm in now I graduated from a prestigious art college in London that pumped you full of your own self importance. I was convinced I was going to start out on my own and make my own business, but... Well, such as they are, things/sh*t happened.

At around 2006 I just lost the inclination to draw design, paint, anything... for work and for fun. The industry spat me out (thanks to being wrung out and not paid for it) and I just lost it. Since I measured my own self-worth through what I did (and had done since high school -"oh I can't do math, but I'm creative. Oh, I'm not very fit, but I'm creative...") I broke myself. Literally it my crisis point of, "if I can't do this, then what am I good for? It's all I know."

it took me roughly three years to get better, the how I won't overshare there . But it does. You have to fix you before you fix your creativity.

I'm even going to go as far to say that fanfiction is helping me express myself creatively, since my job is a monkey at a typewriter for designing. (20 designs every two weeks that all end up looking similar due the strict theme/colour pallette, yuck.)

Modifié par soignee, 07 juillet 2010 - 12:48 .

[Tellervo]

Well, if I've started something here, I suppose I should finish it.



It's not all I am, and never has been. If I gave two craps about what people thought/attached my self worth to my writing, it would never make it out the door (in fact, what I turn out is pretty crap--I don't revise at all). I write for myself, and if other people like it that's just icing. It is, however, important enough that it feels like something is missing. But the guilt is stronger than that void is wide, it seems.

[Shadow of Light Dragon]

Tellervo wrote...

Well, if I've started something here, I suppose I should finish it.

It's not all I am, and never has been. If I gave two craps about what people thought/attached my self worth to my writing, it would never make it out the door (in fact, what I turn out is pretty crap--I don't revise at all). I write for myself, and if other people like it that's just icing. It is, however, important enough that it feels like something is missing. But the guilt is stronger than that void is wide, it seems.

*ponder...*

From my own experience, personal factors can pass/improve. Take a breath, take a break, have a walk, watch some Monty Python. Don't know how active you are, but just getting away from the computer for a day can help.

There are plenty of good reasons to stop doing something you enjoy--if only temporarily. Continuing to write while feeling guilty about it is only going to tarnish the enjoyment, so step back before you make yourself feel worse.

If you're feeling guilty/bad about everything you've ever written, revisit some of your reviews--particularly the ones that thank you for sharing  your work. Having people tell you you've inspired them is good for the spirit.

Take it easy.

Modifié par Shadow of Light Dragon, 07 juillet 2010 - 01:55 .

[Sagacious Rage]

I can't really speak to your specific situation without knowing the details (not that I'm asking, I understand that you're not comfortable sharing), so I'll just speak generally.



First of all, for me? Fanfic is a leisure activity. I have time in my day for leisure, and so I choose to write fanfic instead of watch t.v. or play games or read or whatever else I would do in that hour or so I have to spare. If you can schedule your day like that, it might help alleviate some of the guilt you're feeling over it.



As for the inspiration thing: I was seriously running out of steam as of late. A lot of things came up in my personal and professional life all at once and I was totally lost as to what to do, that had something to do with it. But the other thing was that I was just creatively drained. I started writing the fanfic in December and banged out a novel's worth in three months. I then immediately started on a sequel and also three separate original concepts, and various side-projects and challenges. By June I was completely spent and scattered.



I went to the beach for a week and vowed to not write a single word while I was there. Instead I read like a fiend. Historical nonfiction, contemporary literary fiction, fantasy, everything. By the time I came back I was totally recharged, wrote the first update to my fanfic in two months, three chapters of one of my original concepts, a side piece, and an original flash piece in two weeks.



Sometimes you just need a break. And reading really, really helps. You can't write if you don't read.

[Sagacious Rage]

Oh, and! When I started all this I made a vow to myself that fanfic was for FUN. I mean, I stress out about pushing myself to write better but at the same time I really really enjoy writing it. It's FUN. When it stops being fun, for whatever reason, I will walk away and not feel bad about it. You don't owe anybody anything in fandom. If you're not enjoying it, what's the point? You could be doing any number of things in that time that are actually enjoyable.

[soignee]

Sagacious Rage wrote...

Oh, and! When I started all this I made a vow to myself that fanfic was for FUN. I mean, I stress out about pushing myself to write better but at the same time I really really enjoy writing it. It's FUN. When it stops being fun, for whatever reason, I will walk away and not feel bad about it. You don't owe anybody anything in fandom. If you're not enjoying it, what's the point? You could be doing any number of things in that time that are actually enjoyable.

you are wise, Saga.

THE LULZ, DO IT FOR.

[Sagacious Rage]

soignee wrote...

Sagacious Rage wrote...

Oh, and! When I started all this I made a vow to myself that fanfic was for FUN. I mean, I stress out about pushing myself to write better but at the same time I really really enjoy writing it. It's FUN. When it stops being fun, for whatever reason, I will walk away and not feel bad about it. You don't owe anybody anything in fandom. If you're not enjoying it, what's the point? You could be doing any number of things in that time that are actually enjoyable.

you are wise, Saga.

THE LULZ, DO IT FOR.

Seriously. Why do anything if not for THE LULZ? See: Gem's unicorn pic I made her draw.

[Gilgamesh1138]

Tell, I would analyze why you are feeling guilty about it. Does it take away from someone else? My husband tried to guilt me. Why are you writing, you don't even get paid...blah blah blah. He was a little jealous because I had something I really enjoy doing that he doesn't share in. To not share in his choice. But his attempt was strong, but he failed. I choose whether to feel guilty or not, and I have no reason to feel guilty. I, like Saga do this for me, and for fun. When it stops being fun I walk.



The short of it is Tellervo, guilt is usually someone trying to take your personal power away (I am not saying don't have a conscience) and power cannot be taken away from you, you can only choose to give it away. You have to choose, sweetie. I chose not to let my husband's whining and down playing what I do stop me. I enjoy it, I will continue to enjoy it, or I will walk, but only on my terms.

[Yana Montana]

Helly, everybody!

*waves*

I just happened to read all 100+ posts and thank everyone for voicing my concerns and giving me cheer-ups while I am in my current motivational loss. Yeah, I write fanfics for DA:O & ME to hone my English and writing skills. 
So thanks for creating the thread and keeping it alive!  

[Tellervo]

Gilgamesh1138 wrote...
 Does it take away from someone else?

I have been convinced that it does.

[Sagacious Rage]

Tellervo wrote...

Gilgamesh1138 wrote...
 Does it take away from someone else?

I have been convinced that it does.

I have an addictive personality. I get on "kicks" where I obsessively do one thing and let everything else fall to the side until I get bored with whatever that one thing is and calm down until something else catches my interest. It's a problem I've been dealing with for a long time. That's what I'm saying with treating it as a leisure activity. Nobody's going to get on your case for watching an hour of t.v. a day. And if they do, then they're douchebags and you should tell them as much.

[Gilgamesh1138]

Ah but who or what is doing the convincing? Is the person whom you feel it is taking away from convincing you of this? Or is there actual real life hurt caused by it? If it is just someone who supposedly loves you (like my husband) and they are just being manipulative and selfish (like my husband) then you aren't being convinced because of real world manifestions of your writing causing harm. My husband is case in point. He plays WoW almost obsessively. He got jealous because I found something I would rather do almost as obsessively (well as obsessively, I fess). It put his knickers in a twist. He was very good at trying to convince me my writing was causing the problems between us. It wasn't the writing causing the problem, it was him. If you offer to comprimise (ie spend more time with the person) and the comprimise is rejected, and the writing (which you do very, very well) is what helps keep you sane in an insane world, then I say sod it to feeling guilty.



In the end Tell, only you have, and should have the power, to decide.

[SurelyForth]

My boyfriend was giving me crap because I'd rather write the watch television with him or run out for dinner that we'd eat at home anyway. For some reason, my playing doesn't bother him at all, because he plays, but the writing does. I imagine that he doesn't like that I won't let him read it.



I finally got him to shut up when I pointed out how utterly thankless my horribly soul-sucking job really is, and then confessed that I actually cry when I get a really good review. I guess he never stopped to think that it's something I'm doing that other people are enjoying and, even though I'm the first person to be "blah, blah, blah, my big, stupid story is a big, stupid timesink", I'm incredibly proud that anyone has even read it, let alone liked it enough to write more than a few words in appreciation.



I think saying that out loud helped me see it differently, too. I've rediscovered a joy in writing that I lost after college fell apart for me, but now I'm not only writing to write, I'm thoroughly enjoying being someone who writes, even if it is a big, stupid story that is feeling less like a timesink the more time I spend with it.

[Gilgamesh1138]

SurelyForth, I love your writing ( confess I am waaay behind, not enough hours in the damn day). And your boyfriend and my hubby are the same guy I swear! That is why my chap got mad. I would rather write than play WoW, or watch telly (go figure). And mine is a soul sucking job, only because I talk to scared, and dying people all day. Writing saves me from falling into the Pit of Despair....cough cough (a la the Albino Monk in Princess Bride).

[soignee]

Ah, World of Warcraft. So glad I don't play anymore. But oh god Caraclysm is calling me like a siren....



*throws self of rocks*

[Gilgamesh1138]

Don't do it soignee! Don't make me sick Missa on you! Cataclysm is going to be the suck.