What is the most difficult aspect of the writing process?

[Eridanus]

We have some wonderfully talented writers here at OTz (I simply love reading the poetry, short stories, essays etc that are posted here in the Lit. forum), and I was wondering what stages of writing that everyone finds challenging.

Brainstorming/generating ideas? Writing that first draft? Rewriting a subsequent draft? Editing?

Is it hard for you to come up with ideas, but easy for you to write about them once you do? Do you find sharing your work with others to be difficult?


I have no problem generating ideas and getting them down on paper, however, I do have a problem with rereading and editing my work, and I'm always nervous sharing my work with others.

 

[memento_mori]

hardest part about writing is writing. lately i've been writing a bunch of rhymes on paper, because i get really picky with the way my words sound, their originality, whether they mean anything, and how much flow my stuff has. i'm still not completely satisfied by anything i've written yet. i'd like to do some short stories, because i'll have to do those for english comp ii, but i can't push myself to do them.

i've got too much nervousness over the ideas i have for short stories. i have so much awe and reverence for their ideas i feel like i fail to express them right on paper.

 

[memento_mori]

best advice i've heard from an english class is just to write. doesn't matter what it is, just finding your voice is the first step. write anything that comes to mind on paper.

 

[dragonbelle]

i haven't written anything "creative" since my senior year of highschool. i don't know what it is, but it's like all my creative skillz just drained out of me when i got to college.

on the upside, i've found more of my academic voice, and i usually like the finished product of my papers. the problem is getting them started...

the last time i think i even tried to write a poem was my first semester of college, in a music theory class. depressed out of my head over a breakup and for a few minutes it was like BAM! creativity. so i guess i might just be out of practice now. maybe i'll pick up my lost artistic pursuits now that i'm not drowning in school work and school drama.

 

[UncleBacon]

I have a million ideas that go through my mind but I can't write it down for some reason...I feel like I can sum everything up in one paragraph...

 

[Kat]

i dont usually edit my writings...maybe to add to em but not change what was written...i have a hrad time getting things to come out though...only when im really emotional does it flow at all...and not even all that well when it does.

I can sit there when im just plain happy normal...or even sad normal and i can want to write so bad it almost kills but i can never get something to sound even ok until it hits hardest

 

[Eridanus]

I've started to carry a notebook, and pen around with me, so when creativity hits me I can readily jot down lines as they come to mind, however, I find my most creative (poetry wise) comes in the early hours of the morning.

Does anyone else have a particular time that they find there writing is at its best?

 

[SilentEyz]

i dont usually edit my writings...maybe to add to em but not change what was written...i have a hrad time getting things to come out though...only when im really emotional does it flow at all...and not even all that well when it does.

I can sit there when im just plain happy normal...or even sad normal and i can want to write so bad it almost kills but i can never get something to sound even ok until it hits hardest

Dammit Kat, Get out of my head ..lol


But yeah like Kat said, I never edit my work, but nothing really flows until its hitting me the hardest, There are always ideas and thoughts and begginings and ends floating in my brain, I can get out a part here and a part there.. But nothing works or comes together until its coming from my pain rather then my thoughts.

 

[Kat]

but i like it in there silent

and lacey for me i started keeping a pen and notebook by me at night...it sometimes hits when im laying in bed stewing over the days events...if not before that

 

[Eridanus]

Dammit Kat, Get out of my head ..lol


But yeah like Kat said, I never edit my work, but nothing really flows until its hitting me the hardest, There are always ideas and thoughts and begginings and ends floating in my brain, I can get out a part here and a part there.. But nothing works or comes together until its coming from my pain rather then my thoughts.

That is why you, and Kat have such true emotion in your poetry...it's not simply a bunch of well turned phrases thrown together in a nice rhythmn. Popel connect with your (and Kat's) poetry because you write about what so many people experience, yet have not voiced.

 

[Eridanus]

but i like it in there silent

and lacey for me i started keeping a pen and notebook by me at night...it sometimes hits when im laying in bed stewing over the days events...if not before that

I've thought about keeping a mini recorder by me at night for that reason.

 

[SilentEyz]

I tried the Recording the stuff that came to me at night.. but when I listen to it the next day.. the feelings behind it are gone?/ the thought process is gone, and so I still cant formulate what was involved in the thought.

 

[Kat]

yeah same here silent...damnit now get out of my head...gah :tongue:
actually once things start coming at night i usually finish it off...its just the matter of me laying there thinking but if i get up to write it down...i lose my though

 

[Eridanus]

I'm starting to think that Silent , and Kat are two minds in the one body.

I tried the Recording the stuff that came to me at night.. but when I listen to it the next day.. the feelings behind it are gone?/ the thought process is gone, and so I still cant formulate what was involved in the thought.

That does make the process much harder to move from thought to a finished piece, and even though it may come from anguish your poetry has such a realism to it that most likely wouldn't be there otherwise.

yeah same here silent...damnit now get out of my head...gah :tongue:
actually once things start coming at night i usually finish it off...its just the matter of me laying there thinking but if i get up to write it down...i lose my though

I tend to jot lines down that for some reason--through an experience, an emotion I'm feeling at the time, or an event that has triggered thought--then I'll go back to that one line, and just write the poem straight out.

 

[Maritxu]

I'd say the most difficoult is having the chance to write what is on your mind on a piece of paper. That's why I'd always recomend carrying something to write on everywhere.

 

[Lady Shada]

It honestly all depends on what I'm writing. Some things come easier than others. Novels, short stories, fanfic...I have a hard time with anything fiction. Plots are not my strong suit, and I know that.

Poetry just comes to me when it comes, and I let it go where it wants to. Oftentimes, I don't force it; I just let it flow. Ususally it's just word vomit on the page that happens to come out in rhythm. Silly, huh?

Sometimes I'll edit something, make it sound a little smoother or something. But typically, I keep things on a first-run basis.