When Your Writing Sucks

When Your Writing Sucks
and What To Do About It

Let’s face it—every now and then you recognize that, as a writer, things just aren’t going as you might have hoped. In fact, in being totally honest with yourself, you conclude that there is no denying that your writing just plain ‘sucks swamp water through a straw today’. Well, no need to feel alone. We all go through it at one time or another. Even the famous writers wrestle with the same problem. Feeling better? Didn’t think so. But, now that you know the club is much larger than you had originally envisioned, your next question is ‘what can I do to remedy the situation’, right?

Well, we never want to overlook the obvious. (No, I’m not suggesting that you just plain 100% suck as a writer.) Any number of variables may be affecting your writing. Let’s take a few moments to consider some of them. This will not be an exhaustive list, by any means. Your life is different from that of everyone else and will have certain factors unique to you and you alone, perhaps. Not a problem. We just need to determine the cause(s) of your block and either eliminate them or work around them, that’s all.

Okay, let’s get started, shall we? I will list these points of consideration as ‘possibilities’, for no other reason than I like that better than IM-possibilities. I hope you learn to think of it that way, too.

Possibility #1 – “Not Today!” There is a distinct possibility that today is just not a day you should even try to write. I know—sacrilege in its most virulent form, right? Not so. Do you have a sick child at home that needs your attention? If so, you can be reasonably certain that any time you find to type a few words will be time wasted, unless you are making brief notes as a memory jog. The time it takes to get into the “zone” (mood, for you traditionalists) is a lot longer than the time it takes for a child, a spouse, a phone call or knock at the door to distract you. You need to ask yourself whether you might be better off postponing the author gig altogether, until you can be assured of fewer demands that vie for your time and attention.

Possibility #2 – “Warning! Warning! Meltdown is imminent.” Are you spending too much time at the keys? If you are working too hard to accomplish it, you may be trying to force the muse to give up the goods. One word of advice on this method: “Ain’t gonna happen, Bro.” Creativity cannot be forced. It is not a faucet that you turn on and off when you wish. If you have been writing anything other than school textbooks, you already know that. You may want to walk away for a few hours, a few days or even a week. Rest and relaxation is required now and again. This refreshes the mind and body (relieves tired eyes and “chair-butt syndrome”). While you are considering the physical aspect, you might want to question whether you are using a monitor that is hard on the eyes. A flat screen monitor (LCD type) is much easier on the eyes than a standard CRT monitor. The flicker rate can cause all sorts of trouble for some folks. If you can't afford even a used flat screen monitor, consider whether you can alter the refresh rate of your present screen. This alone could help immensely to relieve eye and brain fatigue.

Possibility #3 – “Pssst! Over here!” On the opposing end is the concern that you may be spending too little time at the keys. If you seldom try to write, you may be having trouble getting a creative flow of any type going. The only cure for this is to write. Choose any topic that interests you. Let the creative side of the brain have free rule while you tell absolutely everything you know about the subject, no matter how dry and boring you may think it is. Later, go back and let the analytical side of your brain take over—this is your critic, your editor and your organizer. Now, assemble the information into logical and reader-friendly blocks. Can you then assemble this into chapters or sections? You may find you have the makings (or the beginnings of the makings) of a non-fiction book that some publisher will be interested in. If this appeals to you, I suggest you read Damn! Why Didn’t I Write That? By Marc McCutcheon. You can find this listed new and used on Amazon.com.

Possibility #4 – “I don’t remember this wall being here yesterday.” You may indeed have genuine writer’s block. Congratulations! That means you are a genuine writer. Okay, so it isn’t making you feel better, but there is an answer to that as well. The answer is as simple as going to a movie, a bookstore or to the mall, in many cases. You need to get away for a while and be exposed to different stimulation. Go see an old friend that you haven’t talked to for some time. Go to an old folks home and visit someone who doesn’t get any other visitors. You will feel better, you can ask a lot of questions (they will love that you are interested in their lives) and you may have the makings of a book—or several. Ask your friends what kind of book they wish were in print—“If you could buy any kind of book right now, what would it be?” Then go to the bookstore and see if any with that topic are on the shelves. If there are few or none, you might have a winner. If there are numerous ones, you might also have a winner. The way to know is to ask the manager how many are actually going out the door. (And while we are at it, ask other friends what they honestly think of that topic). Look over these existing books and if you decide to tackle the project, do these two things: make yours different enough to stand out and/or make it better in some way. Oh…and write a catchy title that won't lull a reader to sleep before the covers are even opened.

Possibility #5 – “Can We Talk?” Okay, so I’m not Joan Rivers, but you may have things on your mind that are troubling you. If you do, you can write about them, talk with a friend about them or just go take care of them and then come back to your writing. If your inner voices are having a ‘rave-in’ while you are attempting to be creative, you must attend to them before you can hope to focus on your writing—unless you are the type that writes about the inner demons you battle (I was always concerned about Stephen King in that respect).

Possibility #6 – “It’s about time!” Again, each of us is different. There is a distinct possibility that you may be writing at the wrong time for you. I am a ‘night owl’ and my wife is a ‘rooster.’ The times I choose to write are when there are fewer distractions. The times she wants to talk to me are very difficult. I feel as if my mind is torn and I get very irritated with the constant ‘channel switching’ I must do. That isn’t good for family relations, so I have to work around it in some manner. You may need to do the same thing. Are mornings best for you? Evenings? Weekends? I don’t write every day, contrary to the popular wisdom. You may not want to or need to, either. I find that I just don't need to or have the inclination to do so. It isn't that mechanical a process to me, so why pretend it is? I strike when the iron is hot, so to speak, and not until.

Possibility #7 – “Oops! Wrong Lane!” It could be that you are trying to put a square peg in a round hole, so to speak. Did it ever occur to you that you might be working on the wrong project at this time? Stranger things can happen—the truth is out there. Maybe you should be working on the non-fiction book or pamphlet instead of the poetry you love to write so much. If your poetry is suffering lately, then consider this strongly. Consider it a change of scenery--a vacation you owe to yourself. Or maybe you are trying to do all of these projects at once? Are you up to the challenge without something suffering terribly as a result? Maybe you need to prioritize your projects and set a timetable to accomplish them (Note: this is not carved in stone, especially if it is counterproductive. Tell your editor that patience is a virtue and that frequent interruptions are a hazard to your creative health--umm...and say it nicely, so you don't burn any bridges).

As I said earlier, this is by no means an exhaustive list. You may have considered items that I haven’t. If you have, you are encouraged to add them in the comment link for this article. The bottom line is this—there are always ways to overcome the problems, if you believe and patiently search for their causes and then diligently work those solutions when they are found.

Don’t be too hard on yourself. ‘Thoughts are things’, someone once said. More and more, I am coming to believe that. The brain is an amazing device. What you tell yourself about yourself is what the mind is programmed to act upon. Shakespeare said, “Assume a virtue and it is yours.” If you think your writing sucks, it will—you are obeyed implicitly. Henry Ford noted, ‘Whether you think you can or think you can’t, you are right.’ So…what do you think?