Everyone does it. At some point or another, in the first drafts or the revisions or even the final read-through, you’re going to hate your book.
I do, at least. I wince reading paragraphs full of bad writing. I swear the plot doesn’t make any sense. I’m convinced my characters are bland and uncompelling. And I know—I just know—that I’m wasting my time with this one.
It happens with every single WiP I’ve ever worked on. And sometimes I’m right—sometimes the book just isn’t cutting it, and I have to shelve it. But most of the time, all I need is to step back. Take some time off from the book. Work on something else or take a full day and visit museums and go on walks and forget about the horrible book for a little while.
When I come back to the manuscript after a breather, I’ll realize that maybe it’s not so bad after all. There are always mistakes, but I can fix most of them. I can fall back in love with my book again, and there’s no better feeling than that.
Does this happen to you? How do you get through it?
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This definitely happens to me and just taking a break usually helps.
ReplyDeleteHappens to me all the time. ALL THE TIME. And what I've learned is, it doesn't mean it's not a great book. It just means I need time away from it to recharge. Which is a good thing, because it means I worked hard on it.
ReplyDeleteI think you've already got it nailed - talking walks and working and focusing on something else are really the best things we can do.
I take a break, I take a walk, I ask my CP to take a look at it and (a) tell me what rocks and (b) help me work out what's not working. Also, chocolate.
ReplyDeleteYes, it happens to me every time, too. About 1/3 of the way in. And as you said, sometimes I'm right and it has to be abandoned.
ReplyDeleteOther times, it's just a matter of pushing forward past that troublesome spot. If the characters won't leave me alone, if I keep visualizing scenes ... if I feel guilt for not working on it (instead of relief) ... then I know it's worth continuing.
All the time. Which is why I work on two or more at a time. If one starts to suck, then I work on the next, etc.etc.
ReplyDeleteI eventually fall in love with them when they're finished.
All the time. Breathers help. :)
ReplyDeleteyou're not alone, this happens to me all the time as well. Just take a break from it, I find my fingers soon start itching to write again :)
ReplyDeleteSo with you on this one, happens all the time. And I get so frustrated, but I always find that after stepping back that it becomes clear what needs to be done. The problems seem easy to solve then - most of the time.
ReplyDeleteOh yes! This happens to me too and I'm happy to know I'm not alone. I actually just took a forced break due to Thankssgiving so I'm hoping that I will go back with new eyes this time:)
ReplyDeleteThere are days when I want my WiP to die in a fire, so I set it aside, write something else for a little while, and come back to it when my blood has cooled. You'll get through this soon, and you'll realize how brilliant you are!
ReplyDeleteOh yeah it does and you're right, sometimes when you come back you think, "ooo I wrote that?!?"
ReplyDelete*grins*
Writing funks...I've had a few (million).
ReplyDeleteBut breaks don't seem to work for me...I get distracted by life and put off the writing too much. Sometimes I fall back in love by write/rewrite an anticipated/favorite scene I haven't gotten to/revised yet.
Yes, all the time! I agree a breather is the best way to see if it really is as bad as I think--so far a break helps. If I take a break and it is still bad I think I would shelve it.
ReplyDeleteThis happens to me with every book! Okay, I've only written two, but with both - and my crit partners get me through it. They talk me down off the cliff just as I'm about to fling the whole book off and watch the pages scatter in the wind. By telling me their favorite parts, it helps me to fall back in love with it all over again.
ReplyDeleteI always have days where I hate my writing, where I question the likability of my characters, where I think I've written the lamest dialogue to ever exist. I do find that stepping away and reading with fresh eyes helps, a lot. Plus it's hard to be chock full of confidence when you've been through a few rounds of queries and rejections, but I always try to remember that one person's trash is another's treasure.
ReplyDeletehappens to the best of us. That's why stepping back is good. If you return with renewed love and hope, it's worth it, if you're still on the fence, shelve it.
ReplyDeleteI think this happens more than I bargain for!!! I do have a notebook that's filled with plots and eventually I'll find the one that suits me!!! I'm currently plotting out a dystopian YA and there's the feeling that tells me it'll last. I'm excited to get started!
ReplyDeleteSpace from a manuscript is extremely valuable. Sometimes we get so caught up in what we think is wrong, that we gloss over what is truly amazing. A little time and everything seems to come back into focus.
ReplyDeleteOh, yes. It happens with every book. I usually put it away for a while and then like it again. Most of the time... ;)
ReplyDeleteYes, there are times when I really dislike what I'm writing. I have to find the energy to get the mojo back and fix things--or start from scratch.
ReplyDeleteThis has happened to me too. Honestly, I take a break. If it's not working for me, sometimes I'll either take a full-on writing break and do other things, or actually brainstorm other ideas to get my mind working on something else for a while. Usually, when I come back to it , I'm more level-headed:)
ReplyDeleteoh, yes. This happened with BOTH books that are with agent right now. And you're so right! Putting them away for a while and then going back to them makes all the difference. As does finding a fresh critter to give you some objective feedback. Love-loss = over-worked. :o) <3
ReplyDeleteThis reminds me of a quote I read from someone (I wish I could remember...Stephen King? Orson Scott Card?) that talked about how they don't trust their own reactions when its either absolute loving it or total disheartment. (if thats a word) and that they have the most success with the stuff they feel sort of neutral about. We really can't be objective about our own writing. We just have to do the best we know how and let other people do the analyzing. Its hard, but its the only way to keep sane. Best of luck! I'm sure your book is wonderful, and way awesomer than you think it is :)
ReplyDeleteSarah Allen
(my creative writing blog)
It happens to me, too, and the only thing that works for me is to step away for awhile. Sometimes a day. Sometimes months.
ReplyDeleteI'm going through this right now. My book and I are seeing other people because I'm just not that into his ending. I'm trying to get through it by brainstorming a new ending every day until the right one hits. Other than that, the Scrivener doc is staying closed.
ReplyDelete