Writing Your Novel - The Primer - Part 2

Hi, all!
So what have you been upto since New Year? I have been reading and trying to stick to my reading goals. Last year, I had barely pushed myself to overcome the reading slump. But this year, I am going to seriously do it. Because a writer must read, although those days of reading carefree, in abandon, are long gone.

I finished two books in 2020, both of which I had reviewed on Instagram and my Facebook Page. The first one is Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman. The other, which I completed two days ago, is When I Hit You or The Portrait of the Writer as A Young Wife by Meena Kandasamy. And I am glad I read them both.

I am not gonna drag for today’s post. The previous post on Self Confidence was long since it had the introductory part, too. If you are new here, do sign up on the blog by submitting your email in the subscribe column in the sidebar on your right. And checkout the previous post Writing Your Novel – The Primer – Part 1 if you have not read it, because you are going to need continuity for the topic.

So, the second ingredient in The Primer – Self-Doubt.

What is self-doubt? I don’t intend to define it in formal terms. It is easier to clarify it through the monologues every writer has had at some point of time.

I have shared this quote in the previous post on self-confidence, too, and I want to drive it home, by quoting it once again.

The scenarios go like this, to bring up a few:

• “I can’t do this.”

You know you can, if you have already begun something.

• “I’m not good enough."

No one is, in the beginning. It comes with practice. Not being good enough even after writing a lot is worrisome, but in the beginning, it is just natural.

• “Who would want to read me?”

Does it matter, if writing is what you want to do? Also, there is always someone who is going to read it if you publish it someway. There is always someone who is going to love what you wrote, relate to it and feel something by those words.

• “My writing style is dumb/poor/boring/flat/simply bad.”

You can always edit and rewrite. And read lots because that is indeed what gives you the tools to write.

• “I have written a book, but I don’t want people to read it.

It’s okay and it is upto you to decide whether you want people to read it or not, but you still wrote a book. That was brave.

• “I am scared to publish it.”

Why though? Is it because of the next two points?

• “I’m scared of judgements.”
  

Know that you cannot please everyone. The job of a writer is to write, not to please people. There’s no shortcut around being judged. It is better to be judged for our writing than to be judged for no reason, because people judge anyway.

• “I’m scared of criticism.”

It is inevitable in writing life. The only way is to temper yourself and be ready to face it. Writing is, after all, a thing that takes courage to do. Not to mention how criticism helps to write better and to up your game. Just make sure you learn how to filter criticism coming your way and take only constructive ones to heart. People can be harsh in passing judgements and opinions, but remind yourself they are just words and you are a writer who would put words to better use than negative and toxic people who wants to see you 'not writing. Constructive criticism will be kind and genuine, not boastful, but in the tone of a suggestion rather than blatant demeaning. It will also put the changes your piece of writing needs at your disposal. Constructive critics will not be imperative or threatening you emotionally. Trust your gut and the vibes you get.

This quote has been wrongly attributed to Aristotle and most of the images you will find on the Internet with this quote will have Aristotle credited for it. But anyway, it is so deep and meaningful. There's one way to avoid criticism as a writer - to not write. And that is not an option for you, is it? :)

• “My story is not interesting, I’m afraid.”
  

Only you hold the key to making it interesting. Explore new possibilities. Read widely so that you know what could be clichéd and what makes high concept and fresh stories. Talk with other writers or readers – it will expand the horizons of your perspectives and perceptions. Write what you are afraid of, write outside your comfort zone – that ensures original and interesting details for sure (*wink and wicked grin*). Avoid writing the obvious and the unnecessary – this is simply the best way to make your story interesting. Beta-readers or critics will point them out for you if you are blind to them.

• “I’m not sure how good it is.”

Get it read by trusted, positive and well-read friends or readers who will give you constructive criticism and be honest with you. This is essential when you decide to be a writer for real. I have mentioned the importance of a dependable feedback team in my previous post.

• “I find more things to fix every time I open it.”

That’s good news to an extent. If you can better your manuscript, do it. Rewrite or edit as many times as you please, until you are satisfied. Albeit, you need to know when to stop because it could go on forever and your book might remain hidden for the rest of your life. That’s another instance where critique readings can be useful.

• “I’m stuck in writing, the story is not moving forward.”

This could arise in many situations.

1. You did not have a clear plot or story-line in your mind when you began: Take a notebook or a fresh document. Fill in your story’s synopsis – a rough outline with the main conflict and the direction the story goes, including the character names, like a book blurb to provoke your own curiosity. Map out stuffs so that you develop clarity about your project.
   
2. You don’t find the theme or story as interesting as you did in the beginning: Find out if you really care about this story you began. If yes, try changing something in it – the setting, the character names, the beginning, the point-of-view or the narrator (first, second or third person). If no is your answer, find a story you care about to write – this is crucial.
3. You find the topics hard to write about: Thoroughly research and find information and details that you need to develop the story. Research will also be a prompt, because all of a sudden you might find yourself describing places and situations and that is you writing!
   

If none of the above are reasons for getting stuck, close that file or put away that manuscript. Take a book to read. Go on a trip. Bake something. Give yourself some edible treat. And watch movies – yes, it is such a great way to exercise your imagination, to bring out storytelling. Do another creative hobby if there is anything else you are good at. I paint when I’m brain-fagged, it helps immensely to unwind.

Some people have tons of stories in their head, and they ask me: “How do we begin?”
My answer is: Try writing.

Did you just think: “That’s a dumb answer that escapes the actual question.”?
I know. Only that it is not. Because, before writing the story in your mind, you have to find a few things about yourself, like:

• Do you have the gift of writing in you?
  
• Do you have a burning passion and urge to write?
  
• Do you have the patience to pursue writing?
• Do you have enough tools like language, style, unique voice, with you to write?
• Do you feel good when you write?
• Do you feel confident or scared when you write?

And these questions can be answered only if you “Try Writing.”

So, wrapping it up on self-doubt with a note on it:

Self-doubt is a tricky thing. Like salt is in a curry. Like self-confidence is – on the other side of the coin. Too much self-doubt will barricade your very essence as a writer – your writing will never see the world and vice versa. No self-doubt will lead to over-confidence, which is pretty suicidal too. Because, you will not be able to improve or judge your own writing, which is a dangerous state to be in.

Self-doubt is nourishing in little quantities. In healthy portions, it makes you:

• rethink your words and thoughts
• makes you cross-examine your work
• helps you to judge your writing in a healthy way
• tells you when you need to better it
• make you open to constructive criticism and honest feedback, both staples to writing life.

The key is to balance self-confidence and self-doubt. Believe in yourself but at the same believe in your humanness.

When Self-Doubt tells you: “You are not perfect and you will make mistakes, you are not good enough.”, flip the coin and let Self-Confidence come up and tell you: “You are human, you are bound to make mistakes and you are not perfect in everything, but that’s okay. If you are not good enough, practicing will make you better and that is enough as long as you keep striving.” Apply this balance throughout your doubts and you are good to go.
 
So what are other instances of self-doubt in you as a writer? What monologues other than the ones I have listed do you hear from yourself everyday? How do you fight self-doubt and how do you balance it? Let me know. :)

Love and Peace, Sana
Reading now: All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr (Winner of Pulitzer Prize for fiction 2015)