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Challenges in Writing Fic
May. 22nd, 2020 07:39 amI wanna talk about writing fic — specifically, about the challenges I face when trying to.
I've mentioned before about taking a long break from both fandom and writing. I bunch those two together because for me, especially in the circumstances directly preceding said break, those were inextricably intertwined. But this post isn't to talk about the break itself (even though I definitely will have more to say on it at some point); I've recently started trying to write fic regularly, and my god, it's hard. I've broken some of the problems I've come across down into conveniently organised headings:
( Sprinting a Marathon )
( Sprinting a Hike )
( Backseat Drivers )
( Writing Right )
But I'm trying to write. And I'm going to continue trying.
My solution to all of these are as follows: write more, post more, and do it all (as much as you can) for yourself. Don't think of the final result: think of now, and of the story being told, and the satisfaction that brings. Because you love writing. You are a writer — there are no other qualifiers to this label other than to simply write. So do that. Write. Let yourself write that long first chapter all about backstory that you're afraid people didn't click to read. Take all the words and the time you need to write the story you want to write. Nobody can write that fic but you; so at least let it be your own, before it is somebody else's.
And every time the worry rears up — right now, at the beginning, middle, and end of every sentence — I'll come back and read that paragraph, and remind myself of what really matters. And hopefully, doing it often enough for long enough will help it set in as a habit to overwrite the old painful ones. Practice makes permanent.
I've mentioned before about taking a long break from both fandom and writing. I bunch those two together because for me, especially in the circumstances directly preceding said break, those were inextricably intertwined. But this post isn't to talk about the break itself (even though I definitely will have more to say on it at some point); I've recently started trying to write fic regularly, and my god, it's hard. I've broken some of the problems I've come across down into conveniently organised headings:
( Sprinting a Marathon )
( Sprinting a Hike )
( Backseat Drivers )
( Writing Right )
But I'm trying to write. And I'm going to continue trying.
My solution to all of these are as follows: write more, post more, and do it all (as much as you can) for yourself. Don't think of the final result: think of now, and of the story being told, and the satisfaction that brings. Because you love writing. You are a writer — there are no other qualifiers to this label other than to simply write. So do that. Write. Let yourself write that long first chapter all about backstory that you're afraid people didn't click to read. Take all the words and the time you need to write the story you want to write. Nobody can write that fic but you; so at least let it be your own, before it is somebody else's.
And every time the worry rears up — right now, at the beginning, middle, and end of every sentence — I'll come back and read that paragraph, and remind myself of what really matters. And hopefully, doing it often enough for long enough will help it set in as a habit to overwrite the old painful ones. Practice makes permanent.
