(no subject)

[shapinglight]

ruuger very kindly recced my story, The Worst Journey in the World to spuffy_recs the other day, and I've just spent half an hour reading parts of it again (I'm supposed to be writing something else, but it's not working). Daft thing is, it brought tears to my eyes. The last bit is really quite upsetting. Also, I can't believe I was ever able to write anything like that. How on earth did I do it?

Comments

[sueworld2003.livejournal.com]

Talent? *g*

[shapinglight]

I seem to have mislaid it, then. ;)

[sueworld2003.livejournal.com]

Nah, you've still got the right stuff, I'm sure It's just you're mood isn't conducive to that type of melancholy writing at the moment.

[shapinglight]

It's not just that. Trying to think about writing something with a plot that complicated just makes my head hurt these days.

[sueworld2003.livejournal.com]

Oh you'll get back there again when the time is right of that I'm sure. :D

[shapinglight]

I hope so. Spent this afternoon trying to write something for whichclothes's ficathon. Didn't go well.

[spikereader.livejournal.com]

I was very pleased to see that rec, and heartily agreed with it, a wonderful story.

[shapinglight]

Thank you very much for seconding the rec. I really appreciate it. I do think it's probably the best thing I've ever written.

[diamondtook862.livejournal.com]

You know, in addition to you being my first friend on LJ (I don't know if you remember!), this was my first fic ever. :)

[shapinglight]

Really? That's nice. At least, I hope so. :)

[diamondtook862.livejournal.com]

It is! I thought that if all fic were like that one, I needed to read more!

[shapinglight]

:)

There are certainly plenty of good ones around.

[bogwitch.livejournal.com]

I often look at my writing and google in awe of my own talent too! Or something like that.

[shapinglight]

Heh! Those were the days.

[bogwitch.livejournal.com]

That should have been 'goggle' there, but I have been conditioned.

[shapinglight]

Google sounds better anyway.

[rahirah]

Because you're a good writer. The end. :D

[shapinglight]

Thank you. It does seem like an awful long time ago, though.

[slaymesoftly.livejournal.com]

I have it bookmarked to read.

[shapinglight]

I hope you enjoy it when you get around to it. I have to try and sort out some recs for the comm myself.

[ex_peasant441]

How on earth did I do it?

The same way anyone writes anything - one word at a time.

And I'm sure we've talked before about how you should never compare a finished polished work with a WIP, especially during a bout of block. Now stop faffing about - don't get it right, get it written.

And if you need more anti-block pep talks I have dozens up my sleeve. :D

[shapinglight]

And if you need more anti-block pep talks I have dozens up my sleeve. :D

I'm probably going to need them. ;)

[ex_peasant441]

Well thinking about it yesterday I think what I most want to say is this: whatever you do make a conscious decision. If you aren't in the mood to write then that is fine, you are an amateur which means you always have the choice not to write. So just don't write - go and spend the time enjoying yourself doing something else. Alternatively if you decide you do want to write then also fine, but if that is your choice then tell yourself you absolutely do have to write for the allotted time. Even if everything is telling you it is crap, or going wrong or whatever, just write. What seems to be making you most miserable at the moment is that you are neither writing nor enjoying yourself not writing, so my main advice is to pick one or the other and go for it :)

[shapinglight]

I think I'm just frustrated. Big change in my life that I haven't yet come to terms with. :(

I daresay it will work out okay in the end.

[ex_peasant441]

I think I'm just frustrated. Big change in my life that I haven't yet come to terms with. :(

Yes I'm sure that's what's causing it.

*hugs*

and yes, it will work out okay in the end :)

[shapinglight]

:)

[quinara]

Because you sat at your computer and typed some words and hated them, but kept on going, and hated writing some more, and you weren't quite sure it was going to turn out OK - but then you had a draft, so you sent it to your beta, and you thought, hmm, yeah, maybe that's what this is about, and you pruned and edited and reshaped and polished phrases and then you posted. Months passed, and the memory of the effort faded; you remember writing the thing, but not quite the despair and lack of belief that went with it. More months passed and then the only real reminder of the experience left was the finished fic, which as you remember you just wrote, didn't you?

At least that's how it always goes with me. :D

(And I love that fic!!)

[shapinglight]

Sounds about right. I'm glad I'm not the only one. ;)

Fag Ends is very quiet, btw. Also, I miss our weekly confabs.