Let the Page—and Not Your Mood—Decide Its Quality · 2:27am Feb 19th, 2023
To be productive, one must work even when they don't feel like it.
Breaks are needed. Sometimes, it's something very real asking you to break/pause. You should listen to and care for yourself in such situations. There is no sense pushing yourself intensely when the recovery of such will put you behind anyway. No reason to go the extra mile if stops you from completing the ever-going marathon.
But there are times when you don't feel like writing for various reasons. Tried. Out of ideas. Not liking the current direction of a piece. Or further, external or internal context. While it is wise to handle—or think through—such matters during off time, you'll find yourself with a low word count if you put off writing until those matters are solved.
It's important to keep writing.
Should something be so terrible with your current project that added words would be a waste of time, shelve it, and attempt something else.
However, if, like me, you don't feel like writing because you fear your current state won't output quality—you have no right to decide that. I cannot speak for other writers, but I believe it's safe to assume that none know how their writing session will go.
Writing is a gamble. We might have impressions. We might think or feel it to go well or poorly based on mood, the previous sessions, and such. But only a few writers can confidently say how their writing session will go. It's different from editing, which is mostly a logical pursuit.
You cannot know how well a session will go.
Therefore, despite your state, you cannot decide if a session will be 'good' or 'bad.' Sometimes, you are surprised when an unexpected revelation improves the process. You could find a new angle to write things from, or some issue works itself out into a new, enjoyable line of action. You've found your stride again.
If one cannot decide how well a session will go beyond mere impressions (impressions, as we have seen, that are only sometimes accurate), then it makes sense to assume that you should allow the finished pages to decide the worth of that session. Let the page decide its own quality. You might be tired, your mind hazy, but you still might turn out a paper cleanly thought through.
Or, it could be rubbish, but should that be the case, you can give up the session or throw out what belongs in the bin. In either case, regardless of your state, you should try to write—and let the session decide whether it was worth it.
A new story is on the way. It's a micro erotica written nearly like a horror story.
I need help.
~ Yr. Pal, B_25
Never really thought about it like that; gives me a lot of food for thought.
You can edit a bad page.
You can't edit a blank page.
I so enjoy seeing your words and advise pop up periodically on my feed. Thank you for still sharing, friend!
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I find it really endearing how consistently supportive you guys all are for each other. I feel like anytime B posts something you two are always somewhere in the comments saying something kind.
It’s sweet.
5714521 pssh it's not like we like him or anything.
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He do be kinda likeable tho
5714606 he's a quirked up dragon boy, what's not to like?
Also sorry if this sounds weird but I think you were one of my early followers way back in the day. Super cool to see another fimfic vet out here
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That’s not weird at all, It’s actually really nice to hear you say that.
Like Romance, Just Different was one of the stories way back when that made me wanna try writing on here. In fact, I kind of wrote a fic that was basically just a very uninspired carbon copy – sorry.
What’s that thing that they always say: Imitation is the most sincere form of flattery (that mediocrity can pay to greatness), or some such…?
Just know, I admired your early work and what I lack in creativity myself I make up for in enthusiasm to pay homage to authors I adore.
5714651 That's really kind, thank you!