So last week, I gushed about the good things in writing. Today, I’m gonna gripe about the bad. Or at least the things I don’t like. ...

Three Not-So-Wonderful Things About Writing

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So last week, I gushed about the good things in writing. Today, I’m gonna gripe about the bad. Or at least the things I don’t like.


1. Writing

Okay, so that’s not strictly true. Most of the time, I do like writing (I wouldn’t be a writer otherwise), but there are a lot of moments when I kinda hate it. For instance, when the infamous writer’s block strikes. For me, it’s rare that I actually can’t write; more often, I just don’t want to. Maybe there’s a book I wanna read, or a TV show I gotta watch, or maybe I just plain don’t feel like putting my butt in a chair and typing at a keyboard for any length of time.

Those are the days when I have to drag myself to my laptop (inwardly kicking and screaming) to get the job done. As my computer loads, I keep saying it over and over, “The hardest part is simply beginning.” Once I get started, the project’s not exactly smooth sailing, but at least it’s easier. Those first few moments, though, of slogging through, forcing myself to type one more word, that’s just torture.


2. Plotting

I’ve mentioned many times that I’m a pantser, but eventually, even we run out of things to ramble about, have to slam on the brakes, and figure out “Okay, what the heck is even going on here?” To be fair, plotting’s actually another thing that can be fun  when the ideas come quickly. Otherwise, you spend an hour staring at your screen, drool dribbling out your mouth, going “Uhhh...”

I mentioned last week that one of my favorite parts of writing is the not-knowing. And that’s still true today, but only when I’m confident the characters will tell me what happens next. When they suddenly stonewall me, my story screeches to a halt, and I feel like I’ve been tossed from the back of a moving car, well, that’s not really fun. Because then I have to stop, take the reins, and actually act like the author for once. Which is not always as enjoyable as you’d think.


3. Editing

I’m sorry, ya’ll, but editing sucks. I know I have to do it to make my story better, and having a good story is great and all, but I find it entirely unfair that I spend more time editing (which I pretty much despise under any circumstance) than I do actually writing (which, once I get passed my writer’s block, is actually a blast). Honestly, all us writers should call ourselves “editors” rather than “writers,” because we spend most of our time doing that anyway (the rest of it is split semi-equally between Pinterest, other “research,” and actual writing).

I really wish my stories would just come out perfect the first time, but I’m pretty sure that’s never gonna happen. *shrugs* A girl can hope, though.

And thats it for today! I think what we’ve all gathered from this is that I am incredibly lazy and despise writing when it is actually work. Ah, well. I suppose that’s a part of my character God and I will have to work on.

What aspects of writing do you all hate? Leave a comment below and let me know!


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10 comments:

  1. I love writing. I haaaate plotting. Planning things out is definitely not my strong point.

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  2. Editing. Oohhhh it is so hard. I've been going through that phrase with my novel right now... It's so much easier to sit down and write than edit. :p

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    1. I'm doing some edits, too! Mostly line-edits. I guess that's part of the reason I wanted to gripe about it so much, lol

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  3. We all hit those rough spots in our writing, ugh. For me it's editing, just because it always feels so monumental. But hey: a writer's gotta do what a writer's gotta do, right?

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    1. Hmm, I never thought about it that way, but maybe that is part of the reason I don't like editing: it feels so big. And yes, haha, writers definitely have to do what they gotta do.

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  4. I think for me the problem is less writers block (for some miraculous reason I haven't had it for years), but just lack of motivation. I don't feel like writing, because I'm tired or I'm nervous about this scene or some excuse like that. Once I get started I'm fine. It's just making myself start typing. Plotting isn't too bad for me. I just can't do intense detail because I feel like my free-spirited self is being suppressed. Writing synopses and pitches are a pain. That I definitely don't like. Editing isn't too bad for me either. The thing with editing is it's so time consuming, and if you speed up you may mess up.

    Stori Tori's Blog

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    1. Yeah, that's pretty much what I meant about writer's block: it's not a lack of ability, just a lack of motivation.
      I should've mentioned the synopses and pitches! Those are super hard!
      Yes! Editing takes forever!

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  5. Haha! This was a great post. Our problems are quite similar =D I hate writing a scene without a clue where the story is going. My biggest problem before was motivating myself to write. Now my biggest problem is finding the TIME to write! -le sigh-

    By the way, I found you from Heather's Love A Blogger Saturday meme (on the blog Sometimes I'm A Story), which recommended your blog!

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    1. Haha, glad to know I'm not alone! And that /is/ unfortunate. Guess I should be grateful that I at least have the time, should I choose to actually use it.

      And that's awesome! Thanks for letting me know! I'll have to head over and thank Heather for that.


      Alexa S. Winters
      thessalexa.blogspot.com

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