What do you do when your work doesn’t feel good enough?
In my experience, this is a question that haunts most writers to some extent. But I’ve been struggling with it a lot these past few months. It’s hard to sit down at the keyboard and feel the agony of a blank page, or the disappointment of words that seem limp and empty. It’s harder still to come back to those words again and again (and again) and still know that something’s just…missing. Failure is part of writing. I know that. But it’s incredibly demoralizing to work long, brutal days and emerge from them feeling as though everything I did was subpar at best.
If someone else came to me with this problem, I’d tell them to take a step back from their work for a little while. But sometimes that’s not an option. So…what do you do when your work doesn’t feel good enough, but you have to write anyway?
Here are a few things that have made me feel a little better. Maybe they’ll help you, too, if you’re struggling with something like this.
1. Let someone else read your work
Sometimes, it can be hard to remember that a manuscript is ultimately meant to be read by other people. And even if your work feels messy/unfinished/vaguely incoherent (mine sure did), that might still be worth remembering. I find it very very difficult to hand my writing over to people when I consider it disastrous, but…those are often the times when I need another person’s help the most. Having a trusted beta reader or friend take a look at what you’ve been working on is a great way to get some new perspective.
If you’re in the space to receive notes and actionable feedback, maybe that will allow you to re-center and find your way. And if you’re not, a total cheerleading read might remind you of why you wanted to write this book in the first place!
2. Revisit old favorites
At some point in my general despairing/crying/gnashing of teeth, a library hold came through on one of my favorite childhood books. I decided it was a sign and read the whole thing in one sitting. It took me back to when I lived and breathed books, when they felt like the whole world to me. And it made me feel just a little less horrible about trying to get this project right.
3. Remember that pretty much everyone feels this way sometimes
Seriously, I’ve yet to meet a writer who hasn’t had an experience like this. Writing is deeply rewarding, but it can also be…so frustrating. Especially when the gap between where my work is and where I want it to be feels insurmountable.
Bridging that gap takes time and effort, and, if you’re me, it sometimes takes a detour into the land of Extreme Woe. But knowing that many writers whom I look up to and respect, including the authors of some of my favorite books, have had periods of time where they felt like this? It helps me put it all into perspective.
I’m still struggling to feel good enough. But the fact that I’m sending you this newsletter instead of staring in horror at this mini essay, convinced it’s yet another piece of writing I’ve failed to execute correctly, means I’ve definitely made some progress.
