Combating Self-Doubt - Week 2 of NaNoWriMo

It's Week Two of NaNoWriMo and it's painfully apparent that my WIP is a first draft. A hasty first draft. A barely-outlined-because-I-changed-all-of-the-world-rules-and-half-of-the-plot-the-night-before-November-first first draft. As a result, I've passed the 10,000 word mark and I have enough story to realize this is not what I wanted it to be like.

Welcome to Week Two - where nothing is what you thought it would be - December is still far away - and you are not sure you like your idea anymore. 

For some people, everything is unicorns and rainbows still. The story is unfolding exactly how they hoped (maybe even better), and they're still bright-eyed with inspiration. This post is not for those people. This post is for those considering starting over, picking a different idea, or just quitting NaNoWriMo this year altogether. 

I'm right there with you.

When your mental editor starts telling you that "This really suck . . ." or "Why on earth is that character wandering instead of doing something useful for the plot?" or "Why would anyone want to read this?", quitting seems like a logical way to fix the mess of your story and turn the evil twin of Jiminy Cricket off.

Yesterday, I let those lukewarm feelings toward my story take over. I put off my draft until late that night and then, instead of finding a way to motivate myself, I curled up to read a book. (It was like I was cheating on my novel). I let myself pretend I was being productive because I had gotten something done (by finishing that book). But, this morning, when I faced my NaNo novel, the sticky feelings of "Why am I still doing this if it isn't good?" were just as haunting.

This post is a reminder to myself (and anyone else feeling the same way) that when self-doubt hits, it's not a voice worth listening to - better to find new thoughts that keep you writing.

THOUGHTS FUELED BY SELF-DOUBT

• This isn't good enough OR This would never get published
• I'm not excited by this idea anymore
• I should start over OR I'll stop and try again next year
• I'm too tired/busy to write as well as I know I can

These are valid, frustrating feelings, but they're not conducive writing thoughts. For your mental health and your story's well being, these doubts need to go somewhere else for the duration of this month. They're not going to help you get better because all they do is repeat the same sentiment like a broken record. They're not born from a desire to make your a stronger writer; they're born from a desire to make you stop writing. 

Why? Because writing is hard and writing is internal and writing matters. Since the act of creating a story takes a lot of work, digs into our psyche (which is conditioned to have negative self thoughts naturally anyway), and is so linked to our dreams - it's very easy for that voice to hit us where it hurts. 

And, because it hurts (and we want our story to be so great), we would rather give up and try again later than continue making something bad. 

But here's the secret. 

You have to get through the bad to make something good. We all have heard time and again that writing takes practice - every day - even when it's hard.

Almost every famous writer talks about all the terrible first drafts or ideas they went through. It's not because this idea you're making can't be great, it's because writing is a process of layers. You have so many complexities to develop that it will take several passes to help each element shine as it deserves. But those revising passes can't happen if a draft doesn't exist.

That means we have to keep writing, even when we don't want to, even if it's bad, even if we might turn around and throw it all out just to start over from a completely new perspective. We have to prove to ourselves that we can finish. We will lean so much about our story and our writing by simply completing a draft.

But to do that, we have to train our minds not to think of something incomplete as "bad". Think of it like when the hero in a fantastical story is put under a spell and starts to see nightmares instead of what's real. That's what your self-doubt is doing to you. But there are ways to break the self-doubt's curse.

ways TO BREAK Through SELF-DOUBT

• Write down all the reasons writing makes you feel happy and fulfilled. Look at them before you start writing.
• Write down why you started this story in particular. Why is it important to you?
• Write down all the things you like about what you've written so far. Maybe it's only the color of hair you gave your protagonist - that's okay. It's something. Add to the list as you move forward.
• Put down your notebook or computer and go take a walk outside. Remember how the wind feels. Try smiling. Now go back and put those sensory experiences on the page to give your story life.
• Find a more specific goal. Instead of "I want this to be good" (which can be an ambiguous platform to reach), pick something like "I want to write 2,000 words today" or "I want this character to tell a joke in each scene he's in". Find things that you can achieve each day.
• Whenever you think something negative, write it down. If "I hate this character because he only exists to make that plot point happen" comes to you, pause, write it down for revisions later, and keep going. You'll fix it! Just not right now. 

So. Let yourself write. Let yourself feel all the facets of that process - but don't let them control you. Let yourself learn from finishing a novel, even the parts of it that may not yet be great. Come December, we'll look at all the ways we can develop it to be everything you dreamed - together. But for now, practice writing. Practice writing when it's fun. Practice writing when you don't feel like it. Practice writing every day. Those are the skills - the healthy mental perspective and the dedication - that will allow you to become a strong and captivating writer.

- Katherine

Happy Launch & NaNoWriMo Day!

Happy Birthday to us and Happy 1st Day of NaNoWriMo! We're big supporters of November and the month of writing. We love how the community of writers bands together to start (or finish) any idea (whether it's a novel or otherwise). Despite the wonderful traditions, the application of NaNoWriMo is flexible and accommodating. If there's one thing this month's global event represents other than writing, it's encouragement. That's the main reason why we love it so much - that and the sheer amount of collective story telling! 

So, if you're participating, congratulations! We're so excited to cheer you on and write with you (our co-founder, Katherine Oostman, is participating for the first time this year). If you are not taking part, that's okay! Cheer others on. Get excited! If you love stories, this month is still for you. In fact, They Create is offering a $15 discount to anyone who signs up for a service during the month of November. It's our early Christmas gift to you for loving and creating wonderful stories. All you have to do is use the code NANOWRIMO when you go to checkout.

For those writing this month (especially if you're trying to hit over 1,700 words/day), here are a few tips to keep you going!

• Prepare the snacks - All writers need fuel. Have some treats to reward and motivate you, but make sure you're keeping a healthy balance as well to maintain energy. If you're balancing a full-time job or school load and trying to write a novel, it will take a toll on your body. Make sure you're eating protein and vitamins, drinking water, and sleeping! Remember, this is a marathon, not a spring!

• Get involved - If it's not the NaNoWriMo forums, follow fellow writers/booklovers on social media. Or meet up with writing friends once a week. Even if you're introverted, it's so helpful to know you're apart of something bigger. Even if you just share your goals so that someone can encourage your and hold you accountable. Knowing someone else wants your story helps you push through when it'd be easier to binge that show on Netflix. Sometimes talking to people helps solve plot problems in unexpected ways. If nothing else, it's good for a mental reset so you hit the notebook or keyboard fresh!

• Play the mind game - Identify your weakness. Is it getting distracted? For Katherine, it's thinking about how many different perspectives the story could take. Sometimes she spends so much time thinking about all the possibilities, she doubts the one she's chosen instead of using it to learn more about the story. Once you find the thing that stops you from writing, you can learn ways to bargain with your mind and keep writing for longer!

• Guard your writing time - This one is really tough (especially when your friends have something totally cool come up). If you plan writing time, it is writing time. Yes, of course, if you need to move your schedule around, that it okay. But, make sure your writing time is the priority. If it's constantly the item on the docket to be dropped or pushed, you won't give it the effort it deserves. Which means you'll always be frustrated by the output that results. Writing time is you time - time to live your dreams. 

• Have fun - This one is a cliche because it's true. Writing shouldn't be a chore. Somedays, it will be. But try to keep the reasons your love it at the forefront of your efforts. If you're writing to get a word count or writing to get famous, you'll likely feel dissatisfied. Writing is hard. You must do it because the act of weaving words to create worlds and people and truth is the only way you know how to interpret and interact with the world. The act must be exciting to you. Otherwise, you'll be miserable.

Happy writing to all of you this month. Remember that They Create is cheering you on! We can't wait to read all these drafts come December!

NaNoWriMo Celebration

In celebration of the month of writing, we're offering $15 off any of our services!

The WIP you submit does not have to be a past or current NaNoWriMo project.

If you are participating, knowing we're there for you will give that extra motivation to finish your novel! Once NaNoWriMo is done, we'll read your story and prepare ideas to make it even more wonderful while you recover from the epic accomplishment of writing a book in a month!

Use the code "NANOWRIMO" during your checkout, the discount will automatically apply. 

We can't wait to read your story!

-Katherine & Carolina

November Launch!

In honor of the weather turning cold and the writing bugs coming out to nibble on your imagination . . .

We're launching next month!

They Create will launch November 1st, just in time for NaNoWriMo novels, Christmas gifts, and the inspiration that hits when the weather keeps you indoors.

We're beginning to fill our schedule starting now, so head to our Services page and sign up!

Also, be sure to follow up on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for updates, inspiration, and giveaways!

We can't wait to read your story.

Happy Writing!

- Katherine & Carolina