Writing the first draft of your story can be both joyous and torturous. I’m on page 21 of my new novel. It’s the follow-up to Pennies from Burger Heaven (still unpublished), so I have book two already plotted. Although it’s nice to know what happens next, the blasted book still needs 75,000 more words! Those first two chapters were not easy to do, but I at least enjoyed myself. I thought, “This book will be different. It’ll be fun!”
When it came time to tackle chapter three, fun went bye-bye. I encountered the dreaded…
Loser Writer Syndrome.
Yes, make an ‘L’ with your hand and plant it firmly against your forehead.
Marcy’s unofficial definition of Loser Writer Syndrome: You cannot writeth; therefore, you sucketh.
Here are the gory details of my tragedy. I crawled to my laptop at 4:38 am that Friday morning because I woke up extra early and couldn’t fall back to sleep. Because I know me, I’d already shut down my two email accounts the night before to avoid distraction.
I promptly opened both and read my entire inbox. I also checked how many comments I had to answer on a guest post for a huge blog.
Lots.
They’d have to wait. I had my priorities straight. I was focusing on my novel first, by Gawwwwd.
Oh, I forgot, I also went to Mudpie Writing’s Facebook page to count Likes, Shares, etc.
No, no, no. I’d just wasted 22 minutes.
I stopped that utter nonsense, closed all Internet sites and returned to chapter three.
Only, it wasn’t happening. From scene to scene, I clinked and clunked around. I never found my story’s rhythm.
The sun was just rising and I already hated myself. Of course, I would try again tomorrow, but today I had to suffer through 24 more hours of Loser Writer Syndrome. It feels like a rain cloud, showering you with gloom and doom.
Intellectually, I knew this slump would pass, but Fear kept storming over me:
What if I’ve forgotten how to write?
What if my days of success are over?
What if I never publish my novels?
What it…what it…what if?
Day after day, I kept hammering through the scenes of that chapter. They kept not working. I made it decent enough, then moved on to chapter four. Fortunately, the first 1,000 words there poured from my fingers.
I’m feeling hopeful again, but not enough to try and fix chapter three yet. I don’t want it to jinx me, so I’m pressing on with my story. I’ll go back and revise it later.
3 Tricks to Combat Loser Writer Syndrome
I’ve been writing a long time, so this much I know is true:
1. Loser Writing Syndrome (LWS) is temporary – I once read an interview with a New York Times’ Best Selling author (I can’t recall his name). He talked about having good and bad writing days, but when he read the final product, that beautiful novel from the bookstore — he couldn’t tell the difference between the good and bad writing. He’d smoothed it all out in the end.
2. LWS will only be temporary IF you continue to produce new pages – Don’t wait for the muse to inspire you, or when you retire and have more time, or when every detail is plotted before making writing a priority. The more you show up to battle the blank page, the faster you’ll improve. It’s called practice for a reason.
3. You’re not the only writer to experience LWS – Most everyone has encountered this painful condition at some point on their journey. More than once. It’s not happening because you’re new to the craft, you lack talent, or are too lazy. It’s because you’re human and Fear is part of the creative process. Every writer battles Resistance. Fear of failure. Fear of success and a thousand more phobias in between.
Bottom Line: You’re going to experience Loser Writer Syndrome, but you must decide whether you’re going to move beyond it and get those words onto the page (even if they’re awkward and ugly), or if you’re going to let Fear shut you down.
The choice is yours.
If you’ve ever suffered Loser Writer Syndrome, what do you do to combat it?
Please leave a comment. I’d love to chat.
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Hi Marcy,
Well – I did the “L” on my forehead and it is stuck there! Just like writing! 🙂 Thanks for this article – I loved it! You have a great sense of humor!
Don’t let the ‘L’ stick there, Cindy. Keep writing, keep improving and don’t let Loser Writer Syndrome win.
Cindy, let the L stand for lets get the fingers moving or the pen gliding over the page.
Ha, Debra. I like that! “Let’s get our fingers moving” is so much better/nicer/positive than “Loser”! I’m going to try that next time. Gracias!
It’s happening to me for a couple reasons… I’m struggling to juggle writing and the other areas of my work and having enough time for all of them. Also I’m beginning to think beyond book one and the plot lines for book two are taking shape before book one is finished. Argh
Wow, you’re a busy woman. It’s sounds like you’re doing the work (writing), you just need to prioritize: I’m writing book one during THIS time, I’ll work on plotting book two during THAT time, etc.
I know it’s frustrating, but you actually have a GREAT problem. Having too many ideas at once. Just do the best you can with your focus and it should help with your writing.
Good luck!
Thanks Marcy! The ideas for book two are pretty new and they’ve made me realize that while the first draft of book one isn’t yet finished, there’s more than basic editing that needs doing to it, including possible additional chapters/ extensions to existing ones. It’s an exciting time, but I could use 48 hours in every day to get it, and my other work done. Is that asking too much? LOL
Ah, I hear you. Thanks for the clarification. Like most of us, you need more time to write.
Like most of us, you can only squeeze out so much more time from your life. My suggestion is to just RELAX. You’re working on both books. You’re doing the best you can, so let it be. NO, it won’t happen as fast as you like, but a little bit everyday, will get you two completed novels.
BREATHE! :0
Thanks again and thanks for all you do to inspire and encourage us! While I write most things on the pc, I love journals for notes. One other problem has been using one journal for all aspects of me. That should change in a few days when some newly ordered ones arrive. Should help to clear my head a bit of the fluff LOL
Honestly, I think you’re doing just fine. You’re writing, you’re journaling…just honor the fact you have several other commitments that also demand your time and attention. Be grateful for what you accomplish with all.
Thank you! 🙂
Hi, Marcy
What a coincidence I am also at page 21 of my new novel. I haven’t written one line for three days. I think I am suffering from the syndrome of looser writer. For three days I haven’t had anything to say or write ( when I have something to say I have something to write) until I met, at the café, some friends who have been away for a while. Uncounsciouslly they helped me to reload my batteries as they say in French.
In my culture Orality takes a great part and I am the kind of person who listens more than speaks. They related three facts from their lives that where just what I needed for my novel. And here I am again sitting at my computor.
P.S
Do not pay too much attention to my English.
Re. PS
I am sitting at my desk. I have a window on my left. The sea is rough, a little wind but the day is sunny.
I love that we’re both on page 21, Madani. You’re lucky that your friends helped my LWS go away, because for ME…waiting it out doesn’t help. The longer I wait, the worse LWS gets. I have to keep at it to reload my batteries! Thanks for your comment.
I hope you’re right about LWS being temporary. I’m stuck. I know the beginning of my new project, I know how I want it to end, I wrote down a few lines as an outline, a brief one and….
My minds goes back to the edits on the MS that is now with the editor, or to the MS that is with the online critique partner, and I end up writing blog posts or posting comments, and replying emails. A terrible fear sucks my energy and will to write, for the moment. Thank you for the post!
You can do this, Carmen. Obviously, you are WRITING because you have manuscripts with readers, editors, etc. But, you’ve got LWS with this NEW PROJECT. Just make yourself hammer words with this new project to get your mojo back.
I so needed to hear this. All this rain has me blah and it effects my writing. Guess it’s time to hitch up my big girl panties and get the job done. Thanks I’m so glad to know LWS is not fatal. @jeancogdell at Jean’s Writing
You make me laugh, Jean. After reading you comment, I thought:
Loser Writer Syndrome: Although, it’s not fatal, it may be hazardous to your health.
The trick to LWT is to keep writing to make it go away. You must write through the pain! Best o’ luck!
I live in sunny South Africa in a town called Bloemfontein. I have been reading your blog for quite some time now. I have aaall the fears and joys of writing. I think my biggest fear once I REALLY start to write is that I will not stop to do my day job to keep the roof over my head. Sometimes I sit down to write on The Novel and then I write something completely different. I struggle to have a writing schedule. Once I start to write and I am on a role NOTHING, absolutely nothing will let me stop. Not hunger, time, night or day, losing my home . . .. nothing will keep me from this words in my head and soul. It scares me to death. . . .and people get annoyed with my uncommunicativeness . . . and sometimes I hit this LWS . . . . just when I am getting my ducks in a row . . .sort of. I’m afraid I am a messy writer too. I do not like rules and regulations and schedules . . .
Hi Anita,
If you haven’t read Steven Pressfield’s THE WAR OF ART, I HIGHLY recommend it. It explains all about fear, the Muse, etc.
Two things came to mind for you: 1) you hitting LWS just as you’re getting “your ducks in a row” with your writing is NO mistake. Fear is trying to shut you down.
2) I think you need to give your Muse more credit. She’ll make sure you go to your job, so you get fired, etc. That, set a timer to remind to go eat, go to work, etc.
If you haven’t read Steven Pressfield’s THE WAR OF ART, I HIGHLY recommend it. It explains all about fear, the Muse, etc.
Hi Marcy, Thanks for the advise. I will go hunting for The War of Art this week!
Will keep you posted!
Do, Anita. I skimmed through it again just today and always find wisdom there. Enjoy.
Marcy, I’ve been there many times! I love how you muscled through that chapter and then kept on going, not looking back. To me that is key. Writers who get bogged down revising challenging scenes or chapters early on risk never moving forward and that can be paralyzing. The quote from the best selling author is also great, when a book is complete you won’t be able to tell which writing days sucked! Thanks for more solid advice, as always 🙂
Hey, Dana,
Love this new profile pic of the you, btw. You said it, too — muscling through the LWS is the key to making it going away. I WISH I could remember the author who gave me that story.
I hope your writing is going gangbusters and pushing forward.
I finally, after a long time of research, got the book finished. My critique group said it was too long for a picture book, so I put it into chapters and made it into a chapter book which is a better fit anyway. Then I sent it out to five (5) publishers, and now I wait and wait and wait. Don’t you get irritated with those publishers who only let you know if they’re interested? I sure do. All that work, and they might just throw it into to the circular file, but you won’t know! I would really like to know one way or the other. Now I have to think up something else to keep my brain and creativity going, but WHAT? I can’t think of a single exciting, creative, or funny idea to start on. What do I do while I agonize through that loooong wait to hear?
First, CONGRATS on finishing your book! Isn’t it interesting the process of creation? At first, you thought it was a picture, but no, it turns out it was a chapter book. Perfect.
Five publishers? That’s wonderful. Sadly, silence is the new rejection. It also seems like you always have to wait longer than you expect. In June 2014, I had a literary agent email me to say my novel was next in his queue to read. EIGHT MONTHS LATER, I got a one line response, “Thanks, but not a right fit.”
I don’t think you’re going to like my suggestion, but I’m going to say it anyway: “Forget that chapter book, and get started on your next one. Don’t waste time waiting around do nothing, because it’ll just make the wait that much more longer and painful. Write your next story, so you can get that much better. Utilize this time, don’t waste it.
If the publishers give a time frame, it’s fine to check it. Otherwise, just move onward and upward.
Thank you for this. How did you know I needed to hear about LWS? It’s been 2 months that I finished my novel. I expected to have a bunch written on the next one. Not so. The break helped. I finally started writing again yesterday.
I always find the actual first writing tortous, but once it’s done I find the editing enjoyable. I like to work with an outline, and that helps me stay on track sometimes. Other times I have to scrap the whole thing and start over. I hate to do that. I’ve read that we have to just get that first draft down no matter what mistakes we make. Don’t even stop to edit them. Once that first draft is finished, take a chocolate (or ice cream) break. Then when you are ready start editing.
Wow, you sound so organized. I edit SOME as I write my first drafts. I try to get at least a page/scene/certain word count….whatever my mind is best connecting with that day, then go back and clean it up some, but then press on with the story.
I’m now on page 50 of my new novel, but the old Marcy would’ve still been polishing chapter one. I’m grateful to now know that you don’t truly understand the beginning until you’ve written THE END.
Congrats on finishing your novel, Quirky! It’s weird how ending a book can bring on sadness….sometimes, that is, indeed, LWS — other times, you just need some time off. Good luck on getting your groove back and starting book #2!
Oh my God. It’s not just me. Even seasoned writers like you go through the ‘losers’ syndrome! The solution you gave in this beautiful write-up can be related to by writers like me.
I often get stuck after writing a few lines, always on a lookout for a particular word or line that I like. Need to carry on, can’t afford to wait till eternity for the inspiration as you said. A few small kinks can be ironed out later than wasting precious time today.
And yes, social media, especially Facebook and Twitter, is a big distraction these days. Started to hate them.
GREAT to see you here, Amrut. Most every writer (all every one whom I know) has struggled with Loser Writer Syndrome over the years. Yes…carry on, keep writing even when you can’t find the particular word…you can fill in the blanks later.
I hope this helps you!
Agree! Thanks Marcy.
Hi there – I have LWS – I’ve lost all confidence in my novel even though I’ve read through my previous versions (i’m rewriting for the 4th or 5th time in 10 years) and they are good. I just can’t settle on how to execute the story! So I avoid writing and then it becomes this vicious circle. UUUGH!
Hey Amanda,
Sorry about the LWS. It’s so painful, but curable. 🙂 So, for whatever you’re in perfectionism mode. You were able to SEE previously over the past 10 years that your novel was good.
Now…suddenly…the book is horrible. That’s fear. You need to ignore it and get back in that book and take it up a notch.
The best way I know how to do so is to buy a workbook by famed literary agent, Donald Maass. It’s called Writing the Breakout Novel (I think it’s about $14). There’s his book by the same name, but if you want to save $$$, the workbook is terrific by itself:
http://www.amazon.com/Writing-Breakout-Novel-Workbook-Donald/dp/158297263X/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1418843968&sr=8-2&keywords=writing+the+breakout+novel
I don’t write in the workbook, that way I can use it over and over. I either get a notebook and answer all his questions, or write on my laptop. Good luck!
Thank you for the advice! Adding this to my Amazon wishlist right now. 🙂