Perfectionism Kills by Sarah J. McNeal #PerfectionismKills #FireStarPress

 

 

The pandemic is playing havoc with many writers, destroying our creative process and pitching us into isolation and depression, but the real culprit causing Writer’s Block (procrastination, or resistance to writing) is perfectionism. Writers want to submit to public opinion the best story they are capable of producing, but the vulnerable fear of judgment may kill the desire to finish a work or submit it.

It is greatest desire of a writer to tell a story in such a way that a reader will remember that story for all time, sigh over the hero, identify with a character, and maybe even cherish a line or phrase from the story to remember for all time. Writers want good reviews that exalt their work. The worst fear of a writer is the judgment call that their story sucks, is full of plot holes, or just doesn’t muster. There are few writers, even famous ones, who haven’t experienced the rebuke of a reviewer or harsh words of disappointment or rejection by a reader. Even the best writers may discover the story wasn’t perfect after all.

“Perfectionism is the mother of procrastination.” Michael Hyatt

Fiction stories are written from the very core of a writer’s spirit. When a story isn’t well received, it hurts way deep inside the writer. A hundred reviews could heap praise on a book, but one negative remark from a reviewer or reader can negate every good testimony to the work. Most have lived through these negative responses to their work and resolve to grow a spiritual shield around themselves to protect their creative core—you know, “shake it off”, or grow a “thick skin.”

Some writers, however, struggle with the fear of public rejection and begin to think, “I’m just not good enough.” Either this will lead to giving up or it will lead to a drive for perfectionism. Perfectionism taken to a heightened level can bring a writer to a standstill. The story may be written, but the writer feels compelled to write draft after draft every time an imperfection is discovered. They will not submit their work until it’s “perfect”, and in so doing, that story will not be submitted until the writer goes to their eternal rest —now that’s sad.

I’ve had Writer’s Block twice, but I never quit. I did, however, take a workshop for writers about the problem and worked my way through it. Writer’s Block is never about the lack of creativity (that’s a whole other animal); it’s about fear of judgment.

So what should a writer do to stop chasing after the elusive perfection, get out of Writer’s Block hell, give up procrastination, and end the fear of judgment? Perfectionism is the most paralyzing form of self-abuse.

Well, I found some answers that might help.

 And here are some affirmations for your consideration:

 Sarah J. McNeal

Diverse stories filled with heart

 

Facebook

Twitter

Website

My Amazon Author’s Page

Prairie Rose Author Page

The Wildings

Prairie Rose Blog

Fantasy & Dreams Blog

 

Writer's block. By Michael E. Gonzales

What writer has not encountered this little monster lurking in the dark recesses of his mind crushing all inspiration, threatening any muse who dare approach. He is the ogre of imagination, the troll of creativity.

Whether it be the search for some new story to commit to page, or that dreaded assault that stops you dead in the middle of a story. Writer’s block is a curse that comes to us all.

Volumes have been written on how to overcome this onerous creature, detailed instructions on how to slay the dragon that bars our path and threatens our sanity.

The demon knows that the writer must write, as he must breathe, to live.  This devil will stand above you and laugh as you struggle. Delight in your suffering, and nourish himself on your anguish.

His victory is to watch as you surrender, quit, give up.

Here then, comes the moment of truth. Many writers might display the white flag. But not so the author. And what is an author? A writer who did not quit.

I am no quitter. I have published works on the market. On my hard drive, right now, I have nineteen completed novels.

I have been spending a lot of time editing and rewriting those unpublished works, which as we all know is a major part of writing. However, I long to create a new world and fill it with people and creatures. To develop new heroes, new villains and to see them clash over stakes as high as the fate of the universe, the world, or perhaps…love.

I sat and opened MS word, at the top I typed “Page 1”. That’s as far as I’ve gotten.

At night I dream of a hollow tree that swallow me and I crawl through earthen tunnels choked with roots and teaming with all manner of horrible insects, spiders, and snakes.

Ahead of me I can see a wondrous light emanating from a magnificent cave bedazzled with precious stones. Sights of such beauty abound within this magical subterranean realm as to bring the most hardened man to his knees, his eyes filling with tears as he beholds such wonders.

Somehow, I am aware of all this, and more. My desire to reach this place is unmatched by anything in my experience. Yet―I cannot reach it. I claw my way through the dirt, gnaw through entrapping roots, suffer the bites of hundreds of bugs. But as I reach that marvelous cavern unseen hands grip my ankles and drag me back into the darkness.

I awaken from this nightmare, covered in sweat, breathing heavily, staring into the softly glowing face of my alarm clock. In my delirium the face of that clock begins to slowly spin and to morph until it becomes the face of an angle, perhaps my muse herself. She whispers…“Just write…just write.”

And so, that is exactly my intent. I will face that blank page and just write. Whatever comes to mind, I will just write. In so doing I truly believe inspiration will come to me.

Doubtless many of you have been here, confronted by the monster. What have you done to slay the beast?

Please visit my Web Site:  http://www.mikegonzalesauthor.com/home.html

And follow me on Face Book:  https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100010275572869

* * * * * *

Dark Moon Rising, Battle of Broken Moon, Across a Sea of Star, The Vampires of Antyllus, The Blue of Antyllus, Action, Action Adventure, Alien worlds, Aliens, battle, Dark Moon Rising, FireStarPress, Michael E. Gonzales, mikegonzalesauthor.com, NewRelease, Romance,science fiction, syfy

    

WRITERS’ BLOCK, by Mollie Hunt, CatWriter

One of my most useful writing tips came from an unlikely source in an unlikely place. The place was a mega-Star Trek convention in Las Vegas; the source was William Shatner, known best for his role as Captain Kirk in the short-run but long-lived Star Trek, the 1966 to 1969 original series. 

To be fair, Bill Shatner has written a multitude of  books of his own. Goodreads lists 95 with 61784 ratings at an average of 3.78. He has several sci-fi & sci-fi series (yes, he brought Captain Kirk back to life after his untimely movie death in Star Trek Generations) as well as non-fiction. His most recent are Leonard, memoir about his long-term friendship with Leonard Nimoy, and Spirit of the Horse: A Celebration in Fact and Fable, a subject Mr. Shatner knows and loves. And we mustn’t forget his 1999 classic, Get a Life! where he mocks the Trekkies for not having anything better to do than play Star Trek. (A stance he recently rescinded after setting out on a mission to discern the true meaning of Star Trek and its hold over a legion of devotees. “Though Star Trek’s fandom may be rooted in science-fiction,” he writes, “it revolves, and thrives, around friendship, belonging, love, hope, and understanding.”)

 

Shatner is no slacker, in fact he’s one of the most driven people I know. He dives into his projects with passion and enthusiasm. He pushes himself to deliver the best he can create. He seeks and learns with every accomplishment. So with 95 books under his belt, (even if a number of those have been co-written) he has to have gained some perspective on the craft. At the convention, on stage with 15,000 Trekkies watching, he proved it. 

The format for the con’s guest stars usually begins with a few minutes of talk and then questions from the audience. Most of the questions for Mr. Shatner have to so with Star Trek and his famous role as Captain Kirk. “What was your favorite episode?” “ Tell us some of the behind-the-scenes anecdotes.” “Why aren’t you in the new movies?” But one young man asked another sort of question: 

“What do you do when you get writer’s block?”

Shatner didn’t hesitate. “When you get writer’s block,” he said, “it’s because you’ve gone wrong somewhere in the story. Go back to the last place that your story worked and start from there.”

Simple. Elegant. True. 

People ask me why I go to Star Trek conventions? I can honestly say that, among other things, it’s to get writing advice from William Shatner.

Next time: A revelation from another Star Trek writer alum, David Gerrold.

Check out more blogs by Mollie Hunt at:

Mollie Hunt: Crazy Cat Lady Mysteries and more 

 

Happy reading!