what is willpower? we just don't know

[fahye]

Whatever it is, I seem to be labouring under the delusion that I can replace it with white wine, the Of Monsters & Men album, and long periods of staring with ever-plummeting optimism at an unfinished story.

DEAR SELF: YOU'RE ONLY A WRITER IF YOU WRITE

I'm still not very good at the idea of first drafts; I've never really overhauled a story, once written, on any level more than sentence-tweaking or the occasional added paragraph. I can't get over my tendency to fret and stall because what if I don't get it right, what if it can't be fixed?

Plus, nothing pulls me out of the writing process faster than the conviction that I'm Writing Poorly.

Anybody got any non-alcohol-related advice for ways to shut up the inner critic for long enough to churn out the necessary words?

Comments

[surexit]

I write in exactly, exactly the same way. No massive overhauling, crippling fear of Writing Poorly. :( I HAVE NO SOLUTIONS, but I wish I did! I'm trying to train myself out of it by writing lots of little things without really editing or overthinking, but I don't know if it'll really help. And it obviously won't help you right now, with a deadline etc. :(