Rewind: My Writing Fail Guide 2007 - 2013

2013 is ending in just a couple of days. I think back to December 31st of 2012 and how I wanted 2013 to be a great year for me, but in all honesty, I feel as though I didn’t accomplish as much as I wished when it comes to writing. Every year, there is always that someone telling themselves, “Okay! This is going to be my year that I finally (*insert goal here*).” This is something I do each New Year. Yet, every year I never truly set out to accomplish that goal or I give up half way without realizing it. There is so much that I want to do in life, but I’ve come to the awareness that being “passionate” about something verses actually having the motivation to strive for it are do it are two different things, at least for me.

Many of you that read my blog know that I love books and aspire to become a novelist.  Earlier today, I was reading about various topics about being a lifestyle blogger and articles about becoming a writer. Two different subjects, yet they both have a similar advice. To paraphrase a bit, the advice tells you that if you are attempting to achieve one or the other, make sure to never give up and write as much as possible. As a writer, you have gathered special audiences that become invested in your skilled trade. Do not do something because it made someone else popular and you want that fame. Do it because you enjoy doing it. I am sure everyone realizes this, including myself, although there are some that have not.


What I am getting at is that I love writing, but I noticed within the last six years or so, my writing habit habits are decreasing. I want to blame social media because before involving myself with MySpace and Facebook, I was actively writing daily. Pumping out a 5,000 to even 18,000 words within a day came like a breeze. The more I became active on MySpace, the less my attention span towards writing began to slip into the cracks. When I joined Facebook years later and became active in late 2011, that’s when things really spiraled out of control. Talk about being lost in the dark. The darkness of the abyss was swallowing me completely until I could no longer see the light. I was trapped in the world of Facebook. I felt like a mouse in the maze trying to find my way out just so I can reach the cheese. It was a horrible addiction.


As of lately, I am not as active as I was in 2012, but my writing muse still is damp. However, like I said, I want to blame social media but in reality, I have no one to blame but myself. I feel like Jacob’s father from Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. I have tons of unfinished novels, and nothing to show for it. I have only managed to complete my first novel in 2010, but it’s god-awful and will never see the day of light ever again.

My writing muse punishing me for writing such a travesty...


The disappointment that I feel in myself is unbearable. Sometimes, I feel envious of other writers that are able to write with ease, whereas I’m only able to think to myself, “That used to me be. What happened?” I want to be that girl again that could write all day, instead of my current self that can barely type 400 words and has become easily distracted. I’ve even let my FanFiction readers down by not updating fast like I used to.

No more excuses. If I want to become the next J.K Rowling, I can’t sit around my butt and only give 60% It’s time I get started and make a 100% effort. 


In order for me to achieve this goal, I need to cut down on many distractions.

1.      Facebook (I should only go on to update my Facebook like page)
2.      Television (Try to watch only on weekends)
3.      Tumblr  (major addiction here :x)

With that said, I’m determined to stick to my word. I hope that my writing muse will come back sooner this way, especially if I apply my 100% effort.

11 comments:

  1. Good luck with your goals. It can be really hard to find a way to focus on the work, but it is very rewarding when you find your method.

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    1. Thank you for commenting. It's true, but I'm going to try to fight through it all so I can focus. :)

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  2. Sadly I think you're being too hard on yourself. Did it ever occur to you that maybe you're not meant to be the next J.K. Rowling? To me you accomplished a lot. You're reviewing on youtube, you're learning Japanese, teaching others and even doing reviews/posts for other sites. Maybe you're attracted to being online because that's where your future is. You're social skills and tech savvy, which are great tools for a writer, are also great tools for you.

    You say you can barely write 400 words a day? Darling I've had days with 0 or the dreaded one sentence. One! My 2013 Nano was at first my 2012 bust for Bunowrimo at 0 words. Yet this year I got 12,500 words for Briar's Dilemma. My book was delayed because I got sick but it gave me time to do improvements and I'm currently changing and fusing entire chapters while being completely comfortable with my March 2014 release date for my ebook Sacrifice HER.

    Here is my advice. For January 2014 take a break from writing. WHAT! You say. Yes, I think your true issue is stress and you need to take a break from all forms of novel writing for one month and focus on the other things you enjoy. Write some reviews, enjoy your time online, do all sorts of stuff. Then in February get back to writing but accept that you're not the same person who used to write all day. You have other interests now. I hope my advice helps and have a wonderful 2014 Britt.

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    1. P.S.: Do not drop being active on FB and Twitter, when it's time to be an author the same people you socialize with just might be willing to help you out. And get with Goodreads, some authors have books as far as two years away, but they're present.

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    2. Thank you for your advice. Actually, Facebook is a distraction to me regardless. That's why I'm not going to be active on it for a few months. I'm not really attracted to being online, it's not a passion of mine but I do enjoy interacting with others. But I do believe I can get back into writing, because I was the same way with reading books. I stopped reading for years, but eventually got back into it. I know it'll be the same for my writing as well, which is slowly starting to come back. XD Thank you for commenting and thanks once again for your advice! :)

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  3. You're a great writer. I think maybe you are stressed. You don't have to force yourself to write. It'll just stress you out more.

    Being the next J.K Rowling is some big shoes to fill, but if that's what you're striving for, good luck! Don't let any words put you down. If YOU believe in yourself and have a support system, anything can happen. :)

    Taking a break from novel writing might help. Maybe get back into writing fanfics…? I miss your updates, haha.

    Good luck in your writing endeavors!

    Best regards,
    Anna

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    1. I was planning on updating my fanfics and I've managed to completed one and update two others a few days ago! Yes, I understand that it is big shoes to fill, but it won't stop me from trying. I won't give up trying to be a writer no matter what! ^^

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  4. Hey Brit, those three goals are awesome.

    See, people who get publish and who finish novels aren't the ones who are inspired every single day. They're the ones who stop making excuses and WRITE. And if they're not writing, they think about their stories.

    If I may be so bold, I suggest you do cut down on social media, tv etc, but not completely. Use them as the carrot dangling before your nose. Have discipline and refuse to watch t.v/check statuses/whatever else until you've at least tried to write.

    I don't think you should put a set word-count down, but try to write four to six days a week. Catch up on other stuff on your days off. Trust me on this: it makes you much more productive to not think of writing as something keeping you from the fun stuff. In the long run, you'll find that you might not write 18k in one day (or you might).

    But you might write 3k a day for six days a week. Even more if you type. It's possible when you're writing fit.

    Best of luck! Hope 2014 is a creative, prosperous year for you. :-)

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    1. On December 31, 2013, I officially stopped going on Facebook. I haven't signed on since. Facebook is the one website that I plan on cutting for a few months if not half a year. However, I won't cut Twitter cold turkey, lol because I use it for my blog.

      Thank you very much for your advice! :)

      And best of luck to you for this year!

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  5. Don't beat yourself up too much but you are right - the only way to become a better writer is to sit yourself down and WRITE. Wishing you the best of luck this coming year.

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    1. Thank you for commenting! I will work harder! :) Have a good 2014.

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