I'm in a rut...

Most writers go through times like this. I write a little bit myself. I am writing two books right now. I haven't got either of them finished because I keep going back and changing things. Sometimes I feel like I'm not a good enough writer to make an effort, either, though. But I always remember that whether I am or not, writing is something I love to do and it makes me happy. You don't have to write for a living. It can be a side thing for you until you really make it big. I'm sure you are a great writer though. I can tell just by your discussion that you seem to be a good writer. Don't let your dream die, though. I heard somewhere that writers get 'writer's block' occansionally. You could take a break for a while and then jump back into it. Just don't give up completely. Anyway, I hope things turn out well for you. Good luck and I hope I was of some assistance to you!

I am on my sixth draft of my novel and I heard that it takes at least nine before it is ready for publication. My problem was that I did not think I could afford to finish my novel, so I would either quite working that one, or sabotage my computer so I would have to start it all over. I figured that if you sent one finished novel to a publisher or an agent sent it to a publisher, and could only afford so much, when you ran out of money, you could no longer afford to send out your novel to another publisher. So it could be that you have a secret fear like that and your mind shuts down and you cannot produce any more writing. Now it could be that you are finishing a chapter at a time, and of course if you have perfected chapters 1 to 14, and when you start on the 15th chapter, of course it is going to be crappy, because the first fourteen chapters are perfect and of course everyone is going to say you are good, but unless you go through six editions of number 15, it will not be as good as the others. That is the part of the problem, so you have to put the good chapters aside, and go back to your first draft, and continue with that first draft, then take a break, work on something else, until you have all the sixth draft done. That is, if you stopped at chapter 12, you have to continue until you get to chapter and it says the end. I cannot sit at the computer for that many hours at a time, and of course, I would go stir crazy if I spent six hours working on my novel. What I do is work for thirty minutes to an hour and then take a break, go for a walk. I do something other then writing. I may take a day or two off, and then my mind is clear, and I can get back to writing.

Perhaps you're afraid of success?

I'm with you there. As far as the procrastination. I've been writing my whole life and I'm 37. Before I married I would move 'cross country with one suitcase of clothes, the other of my writing. It was more fire hazard then a hobby. My husband solved the last - by getting me little accordian file boxes - really nice looking. However the mystery of why I've written 15 short stories the 150 page start to a novelette, hundreds of poems and about 100 sarcastic and romantic cards and yet have done nothing with it. I even spend good money to get the year's Writer's Market - $50. Sometimes its gotten for me. My husband got it as present one year and family has as well. Well before this year is over I told myself I'd enter the L. Ron Hubbard Science Fiction Short Story of the year contest. Sure he's a Scientologist - or was - the organization behind the contest offers $2000 for the winner with no entry fee and the 1st place winners vie for a Grand Prize at the end (there are 4 quarterly contests) for $5000. You can find contest details here: http://www.writersofthefuture.com I'm also going to start the process to enter next years NEA - National Endowment for the Arts - award which is 20,000. Unlike the first where I can't be a published writer yet - the second wants has certain requirements for publications first. So I have to meet those and then enter. So these are my firm goals! I hope. :)-- Sounds hokey but I'm in the process of making a inspiration/visualization board - which I haven't made since I was a teen. Back then I was able to get juicy words and pictures from teen magazines, now the magazines we have lieing around are things like Time Magazine and Parents and some paranormal thing Daniel gets - but would never want me to use! I know as a teen it always helped. I told pywacket here on mylot and apparently she does these all the time - I remember - since I used plays on words - it actually helped getting creative juices flowing. Just an idea. Good luck!

first of all beliv in urself.. nd as others hav advised tak a break.. do not fear succes..beliv in urself nd u wil achiv wat u want