What if you're no good?

[Leto]

Originally Posted by knivesout

Thanks people. By the way, for what it's worth, I actually earn a living writing. But that's ad stuff, not real writing. Life is bizarre. And then you die.

You have to give life to the product. Apply the same rules to your characters, they're much more interesting.

[I, Brian]

Originally Posted by knivesout

What if I'm just talented enough to be an aspirant but not quite good enough to really cut it? How do you know?

Then I would figure that it's simply the case of needing some good third-party input - possibly on a more 1 to 1 basis - to help bring up possible areas of focus for future development.

I'm afraid I've not been keeping up with the critique boards - anything useful there?

If not, you could perhaps ask one or more of the more advanced writers here if they would go through a 1,000 word piece for you with a deadly red pen and editorial commentary on where improvements may be useful.

Offer money if you do, but if getting rupees to dollars or pound sterling proves difficult, you could always offer to pay in goods - I have a guy edits Flash for me, and I provide books or DVDs from Amazon as payment.

Either way, it seems what you really need is encouragement to find an area of real focus for you to work on - whatever that may be.

2c.

[dwndrgn]

I just had a thought. Of course, I'm not a professional writer but you seem to think that your characters aren't real. So, take real characters and write them. Sit at the tea shop and listen to people's conversations. See how people talk to each other, relate to each other. Just observe all of the stuff you see. Once you've spent some time observing. Take two of the people you saw and create a scene around them - using what you've learned about them. Imagine what the girl in the cute shirt would do if that guy over there spilled his tea on her new white jeans. Is she the kind of person who would laugh it off or get really mad?

What others said above is true. You have to create a complete character. Get to know them. What do they think about when they're shaving? What are they obsessed with? What quirks do they have? Who is their favorite author? What kind of music do they like? Did they have a good childhood? Have siblings and good friends? Do they hate seafood and love vegetables or do they only eat meat? You have to know everything about them before you can understand how they tick. Once you know who they are, they'll help you write the story.

[Teresa Edgerton]

I think we all go through periods where we seriously question our own abilities. In fact, I've heard some very successful writers say that they suffer from "Imposter Syndrome" on a regular basis ("What if the whole world discovers what I've known all along -- that I'm no good.")

Speaking for myself, there are times, sometimes very long periods of time, when I'm convinced that all my writing is utter garbage. (Balancing this out are periods, equally unrealistic, when I imagine everything that comes from my printer is sheer brilliance.)

[dustinzgirl]

I dont think it really matters if you are any good or not. If you love it, do it. I love to sing, and I have a horrid voice. But I do it anyways. I love to write, but Im no Hemmingway. i do it anyways.

Do what you love. Dont worry about if its good or not.

[McMurphy]

Originally Posted by knivesout

What if I'm just talented enough to be an aspirant but not quite good enough to really cut it? How do you know?

Then you learn to love bitterness while sweating at a dead end job like me.

(but, trust me, you have nothing to worry about)

[George Potter]

Interesting question, and one I can't really answer. I write because the voice starts talking. Sometimes the voice is a person talking about something that happened to them. Sometimes it's a mysterious narrator telling me a story. I get to listen, and type. Sometimes the voice shuts up and I'm left with a fragment. Sometimes it keeps talking and by the end of the story I'm as surprised as anyone else where it went and what it did.

I've been writing my entire life,but only in the last few years have I learned to shut up and let the voice talk. Previously I'd decide 'I want to write a space war story!' or 'I want to write something like *insert story title*!' I was always left with crappy little fragments that disappointed me.

My process of 'becoming a writer' was entirely in learning to let the voice talk. When I did that, I started finishing things. Things I was proud of, and wanted to share.

I wish I could be more helpful. :P

[Esioul]

I think most writers/ameteurs have aspects of writing that they have trouble with. Likely there are problems with all aspects of my writing, but I find constructing plots and making sure they are consistent the most difficult thing- so I've been trying to focus on practising that side of my writing most lately.

[Teresa Edgerton]

It may seem a bit glib, but in the end, the best answer to the question, "What if you're no good?" may simply be, "Then work very hard at becoming better."

With or without talent it's usually necessary for a writer to generate a few hundred thousand words before her or she can hope to produce anything publishable.

[fungi from Yuggoth]

Originally Posted by knivesout

But in the end, all of my stories lack ... something. The characters don't quite gel, there's no real conflict, I get too caught up in describing the minutiae of someone's everyday life, the ideas aren't really developed as well as they should be.

What if I'm just talented enough to be an aspirant but not quite good enough to really cut it? How do you know?

Most writers were at some point in time an aspiring writer. Talent is not really the issue here, determination is. If you have the will and the patience to want to improve your weaknesses then you will. I suggest getting some third party critiques of your work. You really will see major improvements in your work and hopefully pin down that something that is missing.

[evanescentdream]

No is ever not good enough. The one reason that authors bog down and lose faith is because they try too hard to write. Of course, there are times in writing when immense effort is required: creating cultures and languages, writing lists, etc. But when it comes time to take your thoughts and put them in story form, you simply have to let go. Writing is natural-don't hinder it. Let your river of creativity flow.

Obviously this can't be done at will. Your mind will at times be inclined not to write. Don't be discouraged! It happens to everyone, and on a regular basis. All you need to do is wait for a moment when your creative juices flow, then grab a pencil and some paper and answer the call.