Check In - Day 7

[enemytosleep]

Hello, writers! What have you been able to accomplish today toward your January goal?

— I wrote today!
— I planned and/or researched something.
— I sat down and did some editing.
— I sent things to my beta.
— I posted!
— I focused on something else today.

Writing question time: If you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would it be?

Comments

[enemytosleep]

Get shit done! This is an interesting question because I am freshly back from a six year hiatus, so some of my earlier habits are very plain to see now that I’ve had an extended time away with several life-changing experiences under my belt; I historically had issues getting things started/finished because I would want them to come out the right way the first time. I’ve seen in the last month that I am way more comfortable typing out rough versions and beefy outlines, which I can then edit and get to a finished piece a lot more quickly than waiting to write it “perfectly” the first time around.

[enemytosleep]

I hadn't done any writing since Friday, so I am glad that I sat down and got the opening scene of this piece done. I have to do some paying work now, but I feel like I'll make more progress later tonight as well. I'll update then. This piece is due before the 19th so I do want to make progress every day.

[lady_katana4544]

Did a little of option 1 and a little of option 2 today.

As for the question, I'm not sure what would tell my younger writing self. Perhaps take the time to just enjoy your own writing and not get worked up over other folks writing somehow being "better" than your own.

[enemytosleep]

Yay for getting things written and planned!

Yes it can be so stymying when you look at the pool of talent around you, but as far as fanfic is concerned, you should really enjoy the process and worry less about the results. I think we all are typically our own worst critics. Thanks for sharing!

[yvannairie]

We actually started a Discord server for discussing Tarot and cartomancy things! (This is my biggest accomplishment in months) so I'm feeling pretty good about myself. I'm just coming out of the holidays so maybe soon The Hour Of Writing will be upon us again but getting to randomly get into card convos will be good for me in the long run.

Also, to my younger self: depression sucks but please write down more of your ideas. You're right, they do come back, but you will not recognise them as the same ideas and the hollow feeling of missing something will plague your original works now when you're actually getting into the outlining/treatment writing with them.

[enemytosleep]

I have always had a quiet curiosity for tarot. Congrats on opening up a space to discuss your interests in depth with other like-monded folks!

Gosh, this hits home for me as well. I have had my ups and downs, and I've let my own brain get in the way of ideas because it was too busy tearing itself apart. Whatever your current mood, whoever you are, I think it's important to write down the emotions as they fill you. You can always edit and polish later, but you're so right: there's something different about recalling it later and writing while it's RAW and HAPPENING. like trying to remember a dream that was so vivid and so real at the time, but hours after you've woken up it's just a shell with no substance. Good luck to you with your original works!

[yvannairie]

I can DM you the Discord invite if you wanna come lurk and maybe learn yourself a thing while you're at it :3c

[enemytosleep]

I'm afraid I would mostly be a lurker, but if you don't mind me mouth-breathing in the corner I would be interested to check it out!

[frogfarm]

Today I focused on writing the new Xena short, but I keep thinking about this old Daria screenplay I recently restarted. I still don't know the rest of the story. As in, it needs more actual plot. Which I've always been bad at, to the point I'm playing bingo and seeing what pops up, so far with little success.

Younger self:

• The hardest thing to do as a wordsmith is to find your own voice, and yet there's virtually no way to get started except by imitating others. Never stop trying to improve yourself and your work.
  
• Unless you're literally writing for a living, treat it like the labor of love that it is.
  
• You will inevitably feel isolated and unappreciated when you see other people -- possibly not as good as you, possibly even writing outright shit -- showered with attention and praise. Ignore that feeling. Even a single comment from someone who felt moved enough by your work to tell you so, is infinitely precious. Cherish each and every one of them.
  
• If a story truly wants to be told, it'll let you know -- but it's still up to you to make the effort and deliver.
  

[enemytosleep]

If hashing something out might help, feel free to share some ideas here (you are also free to PM me if a public post isn't ideal). I may not know much, but sometimes just explaining it to someone else can help jog my brain.

Very good advice! Enjoy the process and don't sweat the small stuff.

[frogfarm]

I may just do that if I actually get something percolating. Right now I'm hitting the limits of what can happen when you throw characters together in a given situation, at least without discovering more for their interactions to hang on.

writethisfanfic

[voodoosgirl]

Hello I'm new here! I'm finally writing down the stories that have kicked around in my head for all of my life. I had no idea about fanfiction until about two years ago. Although I'm sad it's taken so many years to discover this, I'm glad I did and have started to write. If I could tell my younger self anything it is not to be ashamed of the stories. Embrace them, write them down, find others like yourself and share the ideas. Time flies by and the next thing you know it may be too late.

Re: writethisfanfic

[enemytosleep]

Welcome!

Finding things you love, doing those things, and sharing the experience with others is such a key part of life. I wish I had understood that better in my youth as well. What's important is that you're here now. ♥

Re: writethisfanfic

[voodoosgirl]

Thank you! I'm excited to be here. Everyone has been super helpful and welcoming. Looking forward to sharing and growing.

Re: writethisfanfic

[voodoosgirl]

Glad to be here!

[samuraiter]

Yesterday, I mentioned writing after posting my comment to the entry for that day. That ... did not happen. I browsed prompts until I turned blue in the face (not literally), but nothing sparked, so I called it a night. But! Tonight proved to be different! I did manage to write, and I fulfilled a secondary goal by posting to a community to which I have not posted before. Feels good to spread the wings a bit. With any luck, I will be able to write again tomorrow.

As for the question, my younger writing self (Y.W.S.) would be getting a lecture. And a recurring theme would probably be "Just skip FFN entirely and start posting on Live Journal instead! You'll thank me later!" But then my Y.W.S. wouldn't learn a few hard lessons that he's going to need, and I'd be doing him a disservice.

[enemytosleep]

I may have made the same blunder today in thinking I would get more done later tonight ... it's not looking that way. Oh well, tomorrow is a new day! I'm glad you were able to make progress today. :D

Oh god, FFN was an experience we all shared at some point I think. I can't remember the last time I posted anything there, probably 2010? I'm afraid to go look haha.