The Trials and Tribulations of the Writing Process

As an author, especially one aspiring to publish not only poetry collections but full-fledged novels as well, there are many challenges that come into play when I am writing. Ones that, while I still deal with them, have become easier to manage over time. So, here are just a few of my tips and tricks for slaying these vengeful beasts. 

Firstly, and perhaps the most common monster of them all, writers block. Every writer has come across writer's block, and sometimes it honestly just doesn’t feel like there’s any easy way out of it. And while on occasion I do still struggle to drag myself out of it, I’ve found that immersing myself in other media really helps to get the inspiration flowing again. Reading a new book, watching a new movie, listening to an artist you’ve never heard of before, et cetera! Anything and everything that lets you take a step away from what you know to discover something new always gets those creative juices flowing again. Personally, I like to do these things within the genre of whatever manuscript I’m working on. For a dark fantasy WIP, I picked up The Cruel Prince by Holly Black and flipped back through some of my favorite chapters. For an urban fantasy WIP set in the 1970s, I listened to old rock and roll music. For Fisheye, my current poetry collection I’m working on, sometimes I like to pull up my pinterest and scroll for a little bit, look at the pictures I have saved in different boards and find writing prompts that will get my gears turning again. 

Another bit of trouble I’ve often come to face is perfectionism. It’s happened time and time again where I’ll be working on a manuscript and decide I don’t like it anymore and stop halfway through to rewrite everything. Always remember, your first draft is meant to be imperfect! This is something I constantly need to keep reminding myself of, but still it makes me feel like the draft will never get finished if I don’t like it as it is. Whenever I feel this way, however, its usually because I don’t like something about my worldbuilding. I’ve found it helpful to step away from writing and to focus on building instead. A proper fantasy world won’t work well if you as the writer can’t understand it yourself. I can’t tell you how many different journals I have filled with just anecdotes of made up history, language, and lore, but at the end of the day those are the bones of your novel, and without understanding them, it makes everything feel, well, imperfect. Taking time to sit down and go through all of your worldbuilding really makes a difference. You can locate what feels right and what doesn’t, and change things as needed. That way, when the second draft comes around, things will begin to flow a lot more smoothly. 

Now the most difficult challenge I’ve come to face as a writer, especially as a teenage author, is confidence. The publishing world is a scary place, and it feels like all of those authors who I admire have work that is so much better than mine. Something that I can’t compete with. It’s easy to doubt yourself, but it’s important that you never let the doubt keep you from writing. Despite those moments that my confidence withers, I always remind myself in one way or another that I am exactly where I need to be. Writing is a journey, not something that you can be good at instantly. All of those authors that I look up to and admire, they were once in the same spot that I am now, and even they are still growing and improving. Your writing always has room to grow and be developed. If it didn’t, then it would be difficult to bring anything new and exciting to the table. 

While writing, and honestly any artform, is full of these challenges, it is still my favorite thing to do. Amidst all of the chaos that comes with it. Being able to call yourself a writer is an honor and a privilege, one that shouldn’t be taken so lightly. The work and effort that you put into your creations is a testament to your patience and creativity. It is a work of art, and should be treated and admired as such despite all of the challenges.