I started reading more and now I can’t write
I only started writing last year after a “awakening” or whatever you might call it. I wrote furiously for about three months. However, being a complete novice to novel writing, I was unaware of writing dos and don’ts and lacked self-editing skills. Consequently, my manuscript was deemed a failure by a line editor I hired.
He seemed to have some faith in me - or at least I liked to think so - and gave me invaluable feedback. This made the next few months of writing a challenging yet rewarding experience.
In between the many notes I received, there was one about reading more. I guess that’s what one could call a cliché, being every second post in here echoes the same, yet I took to heart and started reading whatever I could grab my hands on.
I gravitated towards classics because I adore beautifully overwritten narratives. Gradually, my confidence – once seemingly blinded by my own reality – began to wane.
Today it’s been almost six months without writing. There has been a lot of pursuit, yet I can’t put a sentence together - and mind you my “poor” manuscript entailed around 80k words and I had several novels being worked on the side as well. Lack of words was never a problem, but now everything I write seems so mediocre it’s hurtful to watch.
I’m finally at a perfect moment to sit and write. Previously, work dictated my writing time to evenings or sleepless nights. Now, having distanced myself from my business, I have at last time for my passion but it feels pointless which worsens the situation.
I would love to hear any advice from anyone with a similar experience and how to overcome it.
I felt as I typed my first words down last year that it was the first moment in my life I was doing something I actually loved deeply and there was such a strong sense of purpose which followed as well. I feel an echo in me now and it’s so frightening.
Sorry for the rant. Thanks for reading and please be kind.