Wednesday, June 4, 2014

IWSG Post – Fear of Imperfection

Every writer has his or her set of insecurities which they find difficult to share with the non-writing people in their lives. IWSG (Insecure Writers Support Group) started by Ninja Captain Alex Cavanaugh comes as a huge relief for us insecure writers. IWSG is a support group for writers, where we talk of our writing insecurities, share ways we can overcome these insecurities and help and support each other. We post on the first Wednesday of every month. Click here for the IWSG website.

One of my biggest writing insecurity is: fear of imperfection. The two writing craft books I own and the innumerable posts I have read, all talk of how to make the story powerful. There is so much information everywhere that I feel my own story will never match up to the techniques mentioned there. And whenever I try to write keeping all the things I have learnt in mind, my creative juices start disappearing.

Everywhere I turn, I read things like there are a certain set of plot points which every story should adhere to, a certain number of scenes should be in every chapter, each chapter should end on a cliff hanger and so on and so forth.

All this info makes me doubt my story. I feel my character arc is nothing much to write about. That my story has too many flaws. Then I worry about the stakes not being high enough to intrigue editors and agents. Then I have anxious moments worrying about my sub-plots. By the time I battle all these insecurities I would have wasted precious writing time.

Does anyone else have the same insecurities? Do you worry about never being good enough? Does the fear of not doing justice to your story haunt you? Do you worry that you haven’t adhered to the techniques mentioned in the writing craft books? How do you combat this insecurity?

22 comments:

  1. Yes, I have the same insecurities! We can at least relax a bit knowing we're not alone. Everything makes me worry and doubt myself. I think sometimes we have to take a step back from all the rules and figure out where our creative artistry is working wonders. The fact that you worry and do research is good indication that you should be just fine. Now you tell me back the same thing so I can feel better too lol.

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  2. There are so many tips and how-to's, but I believe there are no perfect books. All the techniques out there can be dizzying.

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  3. I also worry because I don't have time to read all those fantastic craft books right now.

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  4. I think it's normal. i certainly feel that way, but and I know this isn't really helpful, but you have to get over it. Well never be perfect for everyone.

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  5. Save those tips for the revisions and just let your creativity flow!

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  6. Sometimes I'm more upset when I can't make the story go in the direction I want it to. Maybe that's something like what you're talking about. I know I can't make it perfect. I can only try to make it my best.

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  7. I hear you! I think the trick is to let all that stuff go - as best you can - and apply it later on during revisions, etc. Try to focus on your love of the story and the joy of the creative process. (Easier said than done, I know.)

    Madeline @ The Shellshank Redemption

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  8. Hi friends, I have decided to plot my story, write the first draft quickly before I get cold feet. Alongside I am also going to do some research. While doing subsequent revisions I will worry about fine tuning everything.

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  9. Fear of imperfection. Yeah, I experience that, too. I often take breaks (sometimes for a few hours or a few days) when I'm feeling this. It helps.

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  10. I have the same thoughts as well. They can be crippling and sometimes I just end up frozen and unable to write. The craft books are great but for me they sometimes just add to my insecurity because I am left thinking "I can't ever do that!"

    I think Alex is right - we need to just let the writing flow.

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  11. The preponderance of rules for writers used to freak me out until I finally realized that there were many that contradicted each other and many others that, when you stopped to think about them, really didn't make any sense. Most of these rules are just silly. A lot of them sound more like fashion rules than actual writing advice (never wear a scarf with yellow pants, or some such nonsense).

    Stick to what works for you and ignore the rest.

    -James

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  12. Of course I worry about not being good enough, but my biggest concern is how effectively I get my point across. I'm not overly concerned about perfection or adhering to certain rules as long as my mission is accomplished with proper reaction from my audience. I'm probably more insecure about getting the audience in the first place.

    Lee
    Tossing It Out

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  13. I tend to absorb as much information about writing that I can, but when I start writing I don't focus too much on the technical stuff, i just trust that the info is inside me (somewhere) and will come out when it needs to. The writing should be organic to be fun, I think.

    mood
    Moody Writing

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  14. Often it's the story that demands the way to write it, not a bunch of rules. Keep writing and enjoying the process. The rest will fall into place.

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  15. Oh, I totally hear you on this! Turning off my inner editor so I can actually write is a seriously tricky thing to do, but it's the only way to get words on a page. Worrying about the rest of the craft comes with revisions when I'm working--I just have to get to a point where I have something to revise :)

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  16. Generally, my readers worry about all that, not so much me :P

    Destination Infinity

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  17. The best thing to do with that kind of very specific advice is ignore it. Can you imagine how boring books would become if they all had the same number of scenes, always having a cliffhanger? Some books don't, and shouldn't, fit those guidelines. Write the story the way you think it should be written!

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  18. Hi, Rachna,

    WRITE what is comfortable for you! DO NOT suffocate your voice. A writer can drive themselves CRAZY worrying about whether it's good enough or trying to find the MAGICAL combination for a successful story.

    Remember writing must come from your heart and soul. It's can't be learned in a "How to" book. By all means learn technique, but don't doubt your talent or your story and NEVER compare it to so many other, judging it so harshly. WE, as writers, ALL have a story to tell in our own unique way. That's what makes it special. And remember reading is ALL SUBJECTIVE. Just because one may not agree with your work doesn't mean it isn't an amazing story!

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  19. Combating the insecurities is the hard part when so many people around you get picked up by agents or are publishing. Pros & Cons of joining the writing social circle.

    You have to remind yourself why you started, remember your goals and get to them!

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  20. After I read a whole boatload of books on writing, I realized every "expert" has his own idea on how it should be done, and most of those "experts" do not agree with each other. I finally decided the only way to learn how to write is to write....lots. I think that's true.

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  21. Good post Rachna. I think most people battle feelings of inadequacy. I try to view each failure has part of the learning process. I consider me not trying because I am afraid to be much more of a problem.

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  22. In the age of information overload, being oneself is the best thing. I feel, whenever we start thinking of several rules, creativity ceases. I guess some unsaid rules, automatically sink in, and would reflect when we write.

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