Frustrations of a Writer
Okay, so I think I'm on the right track to admitting that I've got a serious problem - serious in terms of my writing, that is. I have this strange inability to stick with something. I have so many ideas - my notepad is witness to this - so many ideas of things that I want to write; stories that I want to get out there; problems that need addressing - I've got sketches noted and for some of them I have started, but why oh why can I not finish them?
This I cannot answer. That's why I say I have a problem and that's also why I think it's serious.
How does one advance as a writer if one tries to put one's hands into so many pots? Okay, I'll cut myself some slack: I have finished one story [the Please Mend My Heart one], but it needs re-writing and editing. Gosh! I worked on it for so long that I actually got sick of it. Maybe I was rushing things? Maybe I didn't really know the direction in which I wanted it to go? Allaah knows best and all I know is that it's becoming stale on my laptop hard drive!
I've got another story which I have written six chapters of and I can't remember the last time I touched it... but I have gotten some motivation to sort it out after I got my younger sister to read it this weekend.
Then there's the children's poems. I've done... er.. 2 whole poems and half of two others. Don't laugh! I said I've got a problem already. **sighs**
Make du'aa for me. This writing journey's a bit more than a rollercoaster for me. I know why I want to write, what I want to write and subhaanAllaah, I start writing, I just don't get them finished, or not finished in the way I'd love to.
Those who know me personally know how much of a perfectionist I am and how hard I can be on myself... I guess that must be part of the problem. Allaah knows best.
Any advise?
~ Umm Junayd.
Comments
Assalamualaikum Umm Junayd,
I think we might be twins :)
I have the same problem. And I think the real culprit is 'perfectionist'. What I have learned though, after reading so many articles on writing, is to not edit ourselves when we write. Except when we're editing :P
You know what I have? I have so many pieces written (memoir types mostly) that I think I have more than enough material for recycling, but when I start I get stumped and I can't finish them because i don't like what I'm writing or I think it's not good enough.
Maybe you can have a writing buddy. That helped me out when I get feedback. it takes control of my perfectionism at least.
Posted by: nadia | June 5, 2006 4:21 PM
Salaam,
I think we all suffer from this problem. Try reading a book called The Right To Write by Julia Cameron...it really helped the problem that you described. xxx
Posted by: Umm Raiyaan | June 5, 2006 5:41 PM
It seems to me that one of the issues is that a lot of people have this romantic notion of what being a "serious" writer is about -- that is, they think of serious writers as people who disapear into the garret for days on end and then emerge with a masterpiece that sprang forth in a single blast of the muse.
In reality, serious writers are people who are disciplined about their writing. They set goals, either in terms of word counts or time spent, they plan their writing trajectory (for instance, I have put a couple novel projects on the back burner because I decided that short stories would be a good thing to concentrate on at the moment), they edit, edit, and reedit. A lot of it is great fun, but some of it is work, and significant factor is discipline. You just have to say, I'm not going to go for that cool idea, I'm going to finish this one. Jot some notes about the ideas that are popping into your head so you can retreive them later (I've had some great ideas that I set aside and then lost them forever because I couldn't remember what they were later), and plunge back into the story at hand. If you find yourself being judgmental during the first draft, simply refuse to give in to the impulse. Tell yourself, I will not judge this until I am finished, then I'll go back and fix it. I am well aware that is not an easy task, but it can be done. And often, when you go back over it, you discover it isn't as bad as you thought it might be.
Pamela
Posted by: Pamela | June 5, 2006 5:54 PM
Wa 'alaikumus-salaam.
Aww sisters! SubhaanAllaah. Jazaakunn Allaahu khairan for coming to my aid. I was just getting a little worked up with myself. With my finished story I think the mistake I did was critique it before I'd finished it and so it got a little dodgy towards the end (in my opinion!).
Ukht Pamela, your advise has been invaluable.
I really appreciate all your help!
~ Umm Junayd.
Posted by: Umm Junayd | June 5, 2006 10:10 PM
As Salaamu Alaikum. All the sisters gave you great advice. I'd like to add that I experience this too from time to time. Be patient with yourself. When this happens to me, I usually take a break and read for awhile. When I return to my writing, I'm refreshed and ready to tackle it again.
Fi Aman Allah
Safiyyah
Posted by: Safiyyah | June 6, 2006 1:58 AM
Salam, Pamela gave a good advise there. I believe we have to edit and re-edit when it comes to writing a book. And I still get others to read and comment and criticise. Then to visit and re-visit the manuscript tirelessly. If one gets bored, leave for a few days , then come back to it, with a fresh mind, I am sure you will look at your writings with a different outlook. It is ok to have one or two book projects at the same time, then you will have to alternate your visiting time of the manuscript. Just make sure that your laptop or a notebook is within easy reach when an idea suddenly surface. Good luck. I need this as well.
Posted by: annckay | June 6, 2006 7:08 AM
Salaams,
Every writer goes through this and I think there is an aha! moment for each of us when we realise that we're not alone.
Some of the best advice I've been given is to have a priority list as in: 1) What I'm working on writing, 2) What I'm editing and 3) What I'm polishing up.
You can skip from one to the other when you get bugged with what's first on your list. Of course, it's good not to have more than three different projects or you might get confused and switch voices/styles (or that might add a whole new dimension to your work!)
I also like to have a 'pet project' on the side that I use as carrot. When I'm particularly lethargic or stuck, I promise myself that I'll allow myself some time on the 'pet' if I put in some hard work on the curret work in progress.
It takes time to settle on a personal schedule, but start every day with a Bismillah and it will end well! :)
Salaams,
Fatima
Posted by: Fatima | June 12, 2006 8:29 PM