What do you think of your writing?
Ask yourself this one day and you’ll get one answer. On another day, your answer will probably be different.
A few weeks ago, I wasn’t sure about my writing. I felt uneasy, like I was standing on shaky ground. I didn’t know whether my plot was working, particularly toward the end.
It’s amazing how just one negative thought can spin another. And another. And another.
What You Think of Your Writing Can Turn Negative
My thought that maybe the plot wasn’t working led to a second thought that maybe that was an understatement. It was not only not working out, it was a mess. And that spun into a third thought—that if it was a mess, I might not be able to fix it.
I wasn’t done. That led to another thought: If I couldn’t fix it, this story was doomed.
I often don’t stop there. I keep going. Not because I want to, but because it’s like I’ve jumped on the negative thought train and can’t get off.
If the story is doomed, that must mean my writing career is, too. My days of being able to create a proper plot are gone, and all my stories from now on will fall apart.
The only thing that stops this sort of runaway train is the word itself: Stop!
We Have to Stop Negative Thoughts About Our Writing
I’ve gotten better at screaming that word. In my head, of course. Over the years, I’ve gradually become more aware of when I’ve jumped on the negative train. Sometimes I can even catch myself before I board, but not always.
But once I’m barreling down the negative track, I remember: I’ve been here before.
That’s one advantage of experience. If you ever think that any of your writing time is wasted, I urge you to think again. Everything you write creates an experience. If what you write fails—if the plot withers, for instance—you’ve just experienced failure.
And that’s good, because if you are truly a writer—you feel it down deep in your bones—you will pick yourself up and try again. Further, you’ll work to find out why the plot withered. You’ll find writing books that will help you learn more about plotting and story structure. You may even hire a book coach.
Gradually, you’ll gain an increased understanding of plotting, to the point that you’ll feel ready to try again. And this time, you’ll do better, because you know more.
After several (or maybe even many) failures, you’ll have an experience of getting it right. It’s inevitable. As long as you keep learning and don’t give up, you will get it right. One day, one of your stories will work. You’ll feel it inside—it’s working! It’s like champagne bubbles in your gut.
The more you had to struggle to get there, the sweeter and more satisfying that moment will feel.
“This story is great!” you’ll think.
What You Think of Your Writing Can Go “Too Positive” Too
And it’s amazing how one positive thought can spin into another: “This story is the best I’ve ever written.”
And another: “You know what, this story is probably a bestseller!”
And another: “It will probably sell thousands of copies!”
You’ve just boarded the positive train. It’s okay. You can ride it for a while. After all your hard work, you deserve it. But at some point, you need to get off.
If you don’t, you’ll build up expectations that are bound to let you down.
Your story is the best you’ve written. But it may not be a bestseller. There are a lot more dominoes that have to fall just right for that to happen.
And it may not sell thousands of copies. It may not even sell hundreds of copies. And if you believe your positive thinking, that could be a huge letdown.
Huge enough to get you feeling really discouraged. What will you think of your writing then?
“This was my best story ever,” you may think. “If this story wasn’t a bestseller, than what hope is there?”
You’ve just jumped onto the negative train again, and here go your thoughts, one spinning into another.
“Maybe my best isn’t that great after all,” you might think. “Maybe there’s no way I’ll ever be able to pen a bestseller.”
And another: “I’m probably wasting my time.”
And another: “I should just quit.”
It’s time to…
Stop.
Negative and Positive Thoughts About Writing
What do you think of your writing?
It doesn’t matter. Negative or positive, either train of thought can take you where you don’t want to go.
It’s much better not to think of your writing.
Not in that way, anyway. Not in terms of how good or bad it is. Not whether it’s going to sell or not. Not if it’s going to be a bestseller or languish away with little notice.
It’s best to think only about the story and the characters in it. If you think, “This story isn’t very good,” cross that thought out. Focus instead on what feels unsettled about the story: “I don’t feel the hero would do that right now” is a more constructive thought. It can lead to another thought: So what would he do? And now you’re back to working on the story.
Even better, sit down, open your file to where you think the problem starts, and put on your writing hat. Read, edit, and write. Work the story between your hands. Let the clay start to melt under your fingers until you can mold it into something that makes more sense.
What happened to your thoughts about writing?
They went away. And that’s the best place for them.
Farewell.
Featured image by cottonbro studio via Pexels.