totheotheryou-blog

[totheotheryou-blog]

I've formed a bad habit where, instead of writing, I'll just sit and daydream stories, and they're always perfect because they never have to be translated from thought to form. As a side effect I've stopped writing almost completely. I try to get back into the habit of writing but I've found it hard to come up with ideas without sitting and daydreaming ideas, but doing that makes me lose the motivation to write. Do you have any advice to break this habit?

This was my ‘writing career’ when I was young. I’d come up with great ideas, wonderful ideas, aaand… I never got past jotting down the basic summary. Why? I’m still not sure. Maybe I was afraid of my ability to write them (reflecting, I think this had a large part of it). Maybe the first draft blues kept me from really understanding how to put the moving pictures in my head into words.

Thing is, though, even in movies, script writers and directions have to use language to convey what they imagine, and the fear of fucking it up is only hurting one person: you (and me!). I’m gonna be honest here; it’s not easy. It’s really hard, actually, and you need to keep trying and failing until you get on it. You can do this thing. You know you can.

Make peace with the shitty first draft. You have to accept this as part of the process. Breathe in, let go. This is one of the main reasons I draft in ink and paper, because it’s much easier to keep going without looking back. Don’t hesitate too long over which word to use; write both, underline, and move on. The only thing between you and perfecting your idea is the shit it’s gonna start out as, and you have to get that hammered out before you move on.

It’s hard. I know it’s hard. Your idea is so good, but it comes out so badly. Fear of the shitty first draft is the biggest motivation killer I know. It’s an emotional landmine, one that waits for when you come back to reveal something you liked while writing earlier is, in, fact, not that great at all. You have to accept this. You have to live with it and keep writing. It gets better later on, you just have to deal with the bad now. Don’t dwell on it. Get it down to edit later.

Outline. Outline and remember outlining is not writing; no matter how vague or detailed, you have to go back and put it into story structure later. Outline knowing that it’s a way to write without the scariness of writing, outline knowing it gets you closer to your goal. Outlining is your ally, but don’t let it hold you forever. It’s tempting to stay in the outline phase; it’s safe there, with no chance of failure. Don’t believe it; you have to move beyond it.

Deadline. Once the writing starts, find ways to stick to it. Give yourself goals and dates, tempt yourself with rewards (candy!) and punishments (do the dishes!). Find people to help you out; ask your Team You to check in with your process. If you’re having trouble, talk to them about plot points or just vague ideas. You need encouragement and the internet can be a great place to find it, but again, don’t get stuck there. You need to move on. You need to get those words down.

You can do this anon. Your ideas are worth it. Put those daydreams on paper, get partners to encourage or write with you.

[totheotheryou-blog]

You're an artist.

You say you're an artist, and you're free, but every word they breathe about what they see makes you uneasy. You say you're an artist and you just don't care what they think, but every word your brush sculpts runs from an image of their lips. Why do you do it then? Self indulgence is more fun alone; go home and close the door, cry that you're making bad art, while you're praying to be called an inspiration. Or you could start again, a firmer fixture than just a hand pulled by a pen. You can't be a master of anything else until you're a master of your self.

[totheotheryou-blog]

Taking a shit with Tupac

You're taking a shit; Tupac's playing on the other side of the wall, and you don't know what to write about. Will they read you, is it unfair? Don't alienate them but don't care!

A lot of people, probably all people, struggle to know with clarity exactly what the fuck they're thinking about at any given time. Some are conscious of the struggle and some aren't. That's where art and creativity come in to play. They force you to face what's in your mind and make sense of it to yourself before you release it to other people. Knowing that something that's totally obvious to you makes no sense at all to other people challenges you to understand yourself and your thoughts. And that's why you're reading this.

[totheotheryou-blog]

I'm writing smiling: Fuck your hashtags and helvetica, photos and filters. Unfollow everything that keeps you in fear of being unoriginal and post what you think right now. Right now!

[totheotheryou-blog]

You're waiting to be taken to tomorrow by tonight's sleep, in yesterday's clothes.

[totheotheryou-blog]

You close your eyes to listen to your own breathing, only to find run-away calm and slippery thoughts. “Fuck.”, right?