I suffer from them quite a lot, it seems. Writing is like always having PMS in some ways. There are highs, lows, and oh em gees that make you want to hide your head until it all goes away. I believe this is normal, and yet I despise it.
It's really easy to look at someone else's career and think they have it perfect, but the truth is they probably don't. They probably suffer from the same doubts, fears, and insecurities that you do. I think if you aren't worried about your next book, worried that you are making it the best you can make it, then you probably aren't digging deeply enough. Maybe I'm wrong, but that's the way I feel about it. If something doesn't hurt while you're writing, then I'm inclined to think something's wrong.
Unless, of course, you are writing humor. Maybe humor doesn't hurt, but deep emotion certainly does. Or should, at least in some way. If you aren't touched by what you're writing, how do you expect anyone else to be?
So maybe I'm feeling the blues because I've turned a book in and I'm waiting for the inevitable revisions. Believe me, it needs them. If my editor didn't give me any, I'd really be worried!
Or maybe it's all the gloom and doom in publishing today. Every day, there's some new article about the death of the bookstore and the predatory nature of a certain online retailer.
I'm sure it's any number of things, but the truth is I'm just at one of those low points in the cycle where I think maybe the gig is up and my editor is going to figure out that I don't know what I'm doing. And that my agent is going to quietly stop answering my emails and start avoiding me at conferences.
Oh, I also believe at these times that I couldn't write a good story to save my life. This is not the time to look at reviews, I tell you. Because someone definitely agrees with that assessment (though thankfully there are plenty who don't!). Every idea I look at in my file seems trite. That single title manuscript I'm supposed to be revising? Lame, lame, lame.
Times like this, I just want to say, “I quit.” But I won't. It's like that old Lynn Anderson song: I Never Promised You a Rose Garden. There is no rose garden in publishing.
So what can we do to get past the writer blues? Here's my imperfect list. Feel free to add suggestions in comments!
1. Realize that this too shall pass. All moods are temporary.
2. You really aren't as important as you think you are — which means there is no giant conspiracy of people out there talking about how awful you are either. 🙂
3. Do not read reviews. Yours or others. If you can be disciplined about not reading yours, but you still go see how Suzy Author's praises are sung to the high heavens, that's going to make you feel bad too. Don't do it, at least until this mood passes.
4. Disengage from negative people. There will always be those who make you feel worse simply by their own complaining and whining — whether it's about writing or life, it's still going to get you down.
5. Go back through your praise file. You do have one, right? That file where someone told you how wonderful your story was (and if you are unpublished, this could be your CP's comments or a contest judge's), the good reviews you did read and keep (RT Book Reviews, for instance), and your editor's praise about something you wrote (if you don't have an editor yet, see aforementioned CP and judge comments).
6. Go for a walk or a run or something that gets the endorphins flowing.
7. Read a good book (unless that depresses you too). I love reading a good book because it always makes me say, “Oooh, I want to do that!” Good books never depress me; they motivate me. Though don't read Suzy Author's book if you went and read her fab review and you're feeling bad about it. Read something else. Save Suzy Author for later when you feel better. 🙂
8. Indulge in a hot shower or a nice hot bath. Or go get a pedicure. Something to pamper you as the person, not you as the author.
9. Find something good about your work and celebrate it. Champagne (or sparkling juice, etc) is always appropriate. Finished that awful chapter? Celebrate. Wrote 1K today? Celebrate. Realized that scene doesn't work and you have to cut it? Celebrate, because you recognized something important about your writing.
10. Remember that everything is in cycles. Next time, Suzy could be the one reading this list because she's feeling the blues. A career trajectory is not straight to the top like a rocket blasting off. It's more like one of those barnstorming planes, with high climbs, dizzying dives, loop-ti-loops, and a lot of screaming.
So that's my list. And you know what, I already feel better by writing it. How about you? What are your suggestions for staving off the writer blues?
I’ve always hated Suzy Author. 😉
@Caitlin Crews: ROFLMAO! Did not see that one coming, but it sure as heck made me laugh. Thanks. 🙂
LOVE this post!
Thank you so much for sharing your blues and blues remedies. It’s great to know that even published, successful authors like you struggle with these things. And reminds me that writing won’t necessarily get easier if I’m ever published so best to keep truckin’ on through when it’s rough. 🙂
@Amy Woods: Hi, Amy! Yep, I still struggle. I don’t think it goes away. Maybe it does if you’re Nora Roberts, but even then I don’t know. Writing never gets easier. Oh, you get better at it the more you do it — but it doesn’t get easier. Keep at it! 🙂
Thanks for sharing this. I go through highs and lows, too. When I’m in a good mood about my writing, I try to stop and remember the feeling so that I can recall it during one of my funks. 😛
This is such a tough business, but there’s nothing I’d rather be doing.
@Alison Stone: I’m glad you liked it! You are so right that this is a tough business. Every day, it’s something – whether it’s a super high or a basement low. But yeah, there’s not much else I’d rather be doing. Okay, there’s nothing else. 🙂
Writing is like PMS. That is THE best assessment I’ve ever heard!
It really is like that. It’s a roller coaster of emotions.
I spend time with my family and friends when I’m down with writer blues. I’ll read, of course, and meet up with writer friends to chat about nothing serious. Or, I’ll take a workshop. Something, anything, to keep my mind busy for a while and off of an actual manuscript or project.
Probably 90% of the time when I’m down, it’s because I’m frustrated with a project. Something’s not going right. It could be a heavy revisions request, or I’m struggling to come up with a new idea. I’ve noticed I’m usually pretty burned out at point, and need a break. That’s where writer blues really gets me, because it’s so hard to walk away from the computer and writing, even if just for a few hours. I’m working on that, though.
Whatever causes it may vary by author, but it does seem to come in cycles, just like you said. I hope you’re back on the upswing soon. I’m looking forward to reading more of your books. The Devil’s Heart is on my TBR list. I can hardly wait!
@Cora Zane: Hi, Cora! Hee, I’m glad you liked that. PMS was what came to mind when I was thinking about it, so I ran with the idea. 🙂
I should have mentioned spending time with family too. That’s a good one! And so is doing something to keep the mind busy, like workshops, etc. Or even, I should add, pinning pictures on Pinterest. (Though I’m stretching it, but hey, finding inspirational pictures is fun for me.)
Yes, frustrations is a big part of it! My husband just called me because he’d read this post — and he knows I’m supposed to be revising my ST. It’s getting me down, in addition to having turned a book in.
I hope you enjoy The Devil’s Heart! I’m really fond of that one. 🙂
Or – go to that coffee shop with a few friends and make up stories about the people walking in and out. Woot!!! Snarky as usual. That always lifted my spirits.
Cyn
Hugs Lynn
@Cyn Bagley: Hanging with writerly friends at coffee shops is always fun! 🙂
Such a great post, Lynn! I feel like this a lot too. Thanks for putting it out there.
I get a little depressed turning in a book. I just did, oh, about 30 minutes ago. These characters have lived in my head for so long that it’s weird when they’re gone. I think I need to schedule a facial and a pedicure. 😉
One thing I do, which you do too, is I try my best to turn a negative into a positive. For instance, as a slower writer, each word represents a lot for me. So when I have to cut words, it’s very depressing and painful. I’ll work all day and my word count actually is less than when I started. How depressing. But now, I add all the snipped parts into my Extras file, so at least SOMETHING is increasing. This last manuscript has over 20k words in its Extras file. That’s a novella!
@Laurie London: Hi, Laurie! Hugs on that book depression. I love the euphoria that comes with finishing — but it doesn’t last. A few hours later, I’m at a loss.
I hear you on the extras file. Mine are often huge! I want to be one of those people who gets it right the first time. I don’t think that’s going to happen, sigh.
There is always a point in my book where I’m convinced it’s utter crap. Usually somewhere around the middle. That’s the point when I get the writer blues. I sometimes have to take a week or more just to go back in my manuscript and either fix what’s bothering me or convince myself that it’s not UTTER crap, only mildly crap and I can fix it. Either way, I somehow get through it until the next time I’m about halfway through a book.
Good advice!
@Paula Graves: Yes, Paula! It’s right around the middle where I feel that way too! But I’m usually nose smashed against a deadline and have to keep writing anyway. 🙁
So much truth! Nothing inspires me to be a better author than reading a good book. I love finding a fellow author who makes me think, ‘Someday, I want to write as well as…’
@Margaret Ethridge: Agreed! 🙂
Oh, I’m sorry I didn’t see this yesterday, Lynn. I sure could have used your list. 😉
Watching movies you love, especially the old favorites that put a smile on your face, should help combat the blues. At least I know it helps me out. (Or finding a show you missed on Netflix or DVRing something. I know you catch up on your favorite shows that way when you can.)
I think I deal more with the issue that I feel like I’m incredibly slow and everyone else is roaring past me. That brings on the blues but as you said we can’t compare ourselves to anyone else. Every writer has his/her own process and it can’t be rushed.
Hugs on the blues! You’re a fabulous writer and I plan on reading Strangers in the Desert this weekend. Yay!!!
@Katherine Bone: Movies help, Kathy. Especially comedies! Hope you enjoy SITD! 🙂
I go to lunch with a writer friend who lets me vent. 😀
(It’s not negative, just venting, right?)
@Kimberly Lang: Exactly. TG for those friendly lunches, otherwise we’d explode. 😉
What a great post, Lynn! And what a great list. Very timely for me as I am in the writer blues zone right now. Querying one book, trying to finish another, looking for a new agent. And the whole time I’m thinking I missed my chance and the publishing world has moved on without me.
I surprised myself the other day. A writer friend suggested I pull out my first GH finalist manuscript and look it over to see if I might want to query it. It only landed on one editor’s desk so it is basically a “virgin” manuscript. LOL The thing is, I read it and I wasn’t nearly as bad as I thought it was! I had forgotten how much I loved the story and the characters. So, maybe add that to your list. Read over something that just didn’t fit in the market at the time and see that it wasn’t nearly the crap you thought it was!
And I heard Suzy Author’s reviews were all written by her grandmother! 😛
@LouisaCornell: Hey, Louisa! Never doubt yourself, my Pixie girlfriend! You are awesome. LOL, I believe you are right about Suzy Author! She’s such a needy bitch.
Good advice to reread your work. If you still love it, then maybe there is something there. It’s hard not to be so hard on ourselves. But we have to learn not to be.
I’ve been in a funk for about a month now. My first novel released to excellent reviews–no, I’m not in a funk about that!–but now novel #2 is in line to come out and I’m freaking out a little. I am thrilled to be published, but I never anticipated the pressure that comes along with it. A few people close to me are unpublished writers and simply don’t “get it” when I say how hard the industry is–they seem to think I’m being negative when I’m really simply trying to unburden myself a little. Not complaining at all–just in the midst of the writer blues. 😎
I love writing, am thrilled to be published, can’t think of anything else I’ve ever wanted to do and will push through the blues as usual. Thanks for your post! Now I don’t feel so weird. It’s good to know that other authors get this way, too. Now…I need to get back to work on my WIP! Thanks again! Write on! 🙂
@Amber Lea Easton: Hi, Amber! I so hear you, girl! It doesn’t matter how many accolades you get, or how well a book does — you always worry about the next one.
And that’s what your unpublished friends don’t understand yet. A contract doesn’t make it easier. There are a whole new set of worries that come with writing on contract. Your entire future rides on each book, it seems. You are only as good as your last book did.
Hang in there! You’ll do fine. It’s very normal to feel the blues, no matter what the stage of your career. You are not weird at all! Hugs. 🙂