I never took my writing this seriously, before I am starting to get uncomfortable and a bit stressed from getting helpful feedback. I was talking to someone who mentioned that I should do manga and webcomics since I don’t read a lot. The thing is I ALWAYS wanted to be an author, I just suck at sticking to reading fiction novels, because my AuDHD is crippling. I never had a system for things, because I was just on my own. The thing is you have to critique the work of others in order to get critiques back. How can I critique another’s work if I don’t read like most writers? That is a troubling thing that I am now realizing. Writers need to read to get better at writing. I am a writer who just writes and barely reads fiction novels. I read manga or webcomic, which can’t help me because I can’t draw.
So, I mentioned my magic system only to get answers that really put things in perspective. I knew that my magic system was flawed, but I was too caught up in how “cool” it was. Getting told that the idea was okay, but not feasible was hard.
I am not trying to give up so soon, I don’t want to because I always do that. Yet I am so shocked that I am this comfortable with staying stagnant. I try to change my writing and as a person, I am freaking out, since this is a new and unfamiliar experience to me. It is making me realize how I am going to make it work, when I never did anything to make things work for me.
I will not lie, I am scared for my future as an author! I am spiraling mentally, I am just tired of giving up and being comfortable! I want to do something! I just struggle with that, my mental health is against me, which sucks.
I like Scribophile, just realizing how comfortable and sensitive I’ve been.
Anyone who thinks writing isn’t hard is lying to themselves. Allow yourself to freak out for a bit and then get back to work on improving your magic system or whatever it is your writing needs. Don’t give up. That’s the only way to fail. If it isn’t working, find a way to make it work. Try different approaches, flesh things out, etc… do what you have to do. Just don’t give up.
It is a free website to help writers who want to get serious about writing and publishing. The site gives helpful feedback in the form of critiques, beta readers, and writers socialize with each other. You post your story there and have people give you advice, but you have to give critiques as well to get some help too. It’s a site to help each other.
There is a paid membership if you are looking to do more, but free is good enough for the time being.
I wasn’t planning on giving up. I am just realizing how much my mental health has held me back and made me so comfortable, yet against myself.
This is awful, yet that is all I know. Doesn’t mean I don’t hate it with every fiber of my being.
I need to accept that it is my life, adapt and grow, alone with what limited sources that I have.
I don’t want to give up, I start now, it madness will never end.
I’ll have to check that out. I struggle with reading too though, mostly because I just don’t have the time or energy with school and/or work. Still, I need beta readers and feedback.
Being comfortable is dangerous. We need conflict to grow and make progress. This goes for writing and life. Even if we hate it, it’s ultimately good for us.
I think we might be linked halfway across the globe. I just learned about Scribophile today because I asked a question about when to get critique partners in an FB group. I was just looking up Scribophile a second ago. I have a tab open
And then I see this thread!
We are linked today, you and I
About mental health, idk about your situation deeply, because I don’t walk in your shoes and I don’t know the details of your life and will never know what it is really like for you in reality. And I have a suggestion.
This stood out to me. First of all, totally fine to rant about your mental health. Rant as much as you need
Now, let me tell you one thing about me and something my therapist told me years ago that helped when my mental health would take a dip.
I have mild OCD
So, I have very, very mild OCD and it sometimes really gets at me to the point of frustration and annoyance. I used to get stressed when it would control my life. And then, since I’m stressing myself out, my OCD comes out even stronger. It’s a negative spiral.
My therapist told me something that helped me not stress myself out when my OCD comes out to play.
Me and OCD are together. We will always be together. Sometimes, I will take control of my life and OCD will be below me somewhere. Sometimes, OCD will take control of my life and I will be in the backseat.
And this is okay. It’s okay. It’s fine to have days when OCD takes control. I don’t enjoy having my life being taken over like that, but I’m less stressed about it because I know that there are times when I can be in control instead. Today is just one of those days.
Because I am now less stressed about it when those days do happen, I’m able to then find things I can do instead. Maybe it’s not what I planned, but that’s okay. It might still suck and it’s okay to feel that way, too.
Idk if this helps you. Idk if you’ve already been told these things. I just thought I’d share. Sometimes something as simple as a change in mindset can make life a little easier.
Welcome to Scripophile, I hope it hasn’t been too hard on you. They can get a bit ruthless over there, so it’s important to keep in mind that it’s your story, not theirs. If you are already in a bad position emotionally, I’d suggest taking what they’ve given you so far, and then leaving it alone for a while. I’ve had mainly good experiences there, which is why I rec’d it, but there are definitely some sour grapes - you know the type who thinks their writing advice is the be all and end all?
The great part about Scribophile is that the paid membership is entirely optional - remember that! The paid membership subsidizes the free one. Don’t feel pressured.
Honestly, more eye opening than anything else. I haven’t posted a chapter there yet. I will, but I think the fact that I have to critique the chapters of other people is what’s halting me a bit. I am NOT a reader, just a writer. My reading is off and on, never constant. So, I need to read more and write. I can blame my mental health for that shit!
Well, the goal is to become familiar with the concept of story in order to write better. That can come from reading books, but also from listening to audiobooks, watching movies, watching TV shows, playing videogames, reading manga, etc. For instance, the other day I had an epiphany about the “dark night of the soul” and what it really means from watching this eight minute long Disney cartoon:
Poor little Susie! Speaking of Disney, I think Abbie Emmons did a video once on how Disney sets up the internal struggle in every film within the first five minutes of the movie. She showed clips from various movies like Tangled and Frozen to prove the point. I’ve likewise noticed that in short cartoons, like Bugs Bunny, the conflict is set up within the first minute. This is useful for writing! In my current work, I made sure the conflict is set up in the first chapter to hook the reader so they don’t lose interest before they get to the inciting incident.
So don’t feel like you have to read heavy tomes. You can learn just as much, I think, from experiencing story in other formats. Just pay attention as you watch, and you’ll learn tons of things that can help your work. And Xelyn is right; don’t give up! ( ˆ◡ˆ)۶ ٩(˘◡˘ )
I always become uncomfortable when people are pretty much saying in the tone of their voice “you have to read physical novels to better understand how authors work. It doesn’t have to be the same genre you are writing, but different ones. Listening to just audiobooks, reading comics, watching various TV shows and movies, aren’t going to cut it. Just sit and read a PHYSICAL book and you will understand the ins and outs of how to write a novel. If you are doing the other ways to engage in the media, make sure reading fiction books is in there, or rather is the top priority”.
Yeah, try telling this to most Autistic/ADHDers who can’t even sit through a book because of their mental health crippling them. Some on the spectrum can do that, though not all of them are able to.
It sucks because growing up, reading was never my strong suit, but writing fiction was, even as a hobby. It’s weird, but since I was a child to the age I am now, I was ALWAYS a writer more than a reader, even when I got into manga as a teen. Again I am a writer first, reader last.
I wish I loved reading fiction the same way I love writing. I guess that wasn’t in the cards for me.
Still, I’m not giving up, though certain methods have to be tweaked a bit.
I agree with you! On Scribophile it’s more just because they need a reason for paying members to pay - you putting the work in means paying members don’t have to do as much, which means you can have a free account. Just keeps things fair :>
I was a voracious reader as a kid, even getting through entire trilogy sets in one sitting (whilst in the bath sometimes!!), but now I struggle. It feels like when I read, I don’t particularly absorb anything new, other than things I REALLY don’t like, so I know not to do it. I read a particularly bad book last year that did however teach me to be more mindful of character actions (because they had a scene in which one character was essentially doing the most advanced yoga EVER whilst also breaking their neck like in The Exorcist whilst sat on the edge of a table trying to be sexy).
You can write perfectly fine whilst reading minimal amounts, I think, but reading does help you get to grips with certain things. I feel it’s less important if you were a massive reader as a kid, though.
The thing is that because I am not an avid reader, it wouldn’t feel genuine to critique or give feedback on the work of someone else’s story. Which is why I put a bit of a halt to posting a chapter on Scribophile. I can only accept helpful enough feedback and critiques, I was never good at giving one to others. Why? Because I am not a reader, just a creative hobby writer.
They can get a bit ruthless over there, so it’s important to keep in mind that it’s your story, not theirs. If you are already in a bad position emotionally, I’d suggest taking what they’ve given you so far, and then leaving it alone for a while. I’ve had mainly good experiences there, which is why I rec’d it, but there are definitely some sour grapes - you know the type who thinks their writing advice is the be all and end all?
Don’t feel pressured.