Friday, April 10, 2009

Answers

One of the reasons I wrote the post below is because I’ve never written this way before.  Without a contract.  And because, as I’ve said before, I have no illusions that this one will be published.  Times have changed.

Another reason I wrote it is because I believe every writer goes through some form of this. 

I wish you’d tell me if you do or don’t.

8 comments:

Laura K. Curtis said...

I definitely go through that. Why spend all this time/energy on something? But I just keep doing it. If you figure out the answer, do let us know.

Dana King said...

I think any writer who says they never have these doubts is either a liar or so self-absorbed (read: delusional) I don't think anyone would want to read what he wrote.

pattinase (abbott) said...

Not so much when I write short stories because the effort is less. But I sure do when trying to write a novel-just feel like I should be scrubbing a floor most of the time.

Chris said...

I absolutely go through that with every novel-length work I write, particularly because I've yet to sell one (and no matter how close I come, I suspect until I do sell one, I'll feel as if I never will).

The two things I'm forced to remind myself are:

1) When I'm rereading finished work, those doubts rarely make it to the page (as in, I can't tell those bits apart from the ones where I thought that I was really nailing it; I suspect I'm neither as good nor as bad a writer as I sometimes think).

And 2) Not knowing where this book will end up is a luxury. I've got no contract to fulfill, no ticking clock; I can write the book I'd want to read.

Cynthia Tyler said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Unknown said...

Only constantly.

Barbara Martin said...

I have those feelings too, but continue to write.

Picks by Pat said...

Please continue. The world will be a better place with one more book by Sandra Scoppettone.