I feel weirdly depressed about my writing. I've gotten some good reviews, but I wonder if those people just have bad taste. I read other fanfics and they are clearly way, way more polished than anything I write and I feel like I'm just floundering. I'm slow and I feel like everything is going so quickly cheesy and out of character. But I don't want to stop because I've had so many people asking for more.
I'm sorry, that's a really shitty feeling and I hope it doesn't last. I feel the same way a lot of the time, and I think a lot of other writers do too. Whatever your skill level is, you're always going to have moments where you're blown away by how much better someone else's writing is, but that doesn't mean you're no good. You're probably being far tougher on yourself than you need to be, seeing mistakes that seem glaring to you and glossing over the good stuff, while your readers are doing the opposite. If it helps, the things I like best about a lot of writing have nothing to do with polish. Sometimes a story is really funny or clever, or has a great take on a character or idea, even if it's not the most technically perfect thing out there.
This won't work for everyone and it might not be helpful to you right now, but would asking for a beta reader or some constructive criticism help? I find it helps silence the 'you know this is terrible' voice to get someone's honest opinion on what works and what doesn't.
With that said, you don't owe your writing to anyone, even the people who want more. You're doing this for free, so don't pressure yourself to meet a certain standard of writing quality, quantity, update speed, or whatever. If you write, do it because you want to, not because you feel obligated.
Just ask a writer whose work you like and/or is similar in some way to yours whether they want to trade beta-reading.
Seriously, I've done this in several different fandoms with great success and met some of my best fandom buddies. Most people are pleased & flattered just to be asked. Also, if you state that it's a tryout with no strings attached, that gives both of you an escape hatch if it doesn't work out for some reason.
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no subject
(Anonymous) 2015-12-31 06:25 am (UTC)(link)no subject
(Anonymous) 2015-12-31 07:09 am (UTC)(link)This won't work for everyone and it might not be helpful to you right now, but would asking for a beta reader or some constructive criticism help? I find it helps silence the 'you know this is terrible' voice to get someone's honest opinion on what works and what doesn't.
With that said, you don't owe your writing to anyone, even the people who want more. You're doing this for free, so don't pressure yourself to meet a certain standard of writing quality, quantity, update speed, or whatever. If you write, do it because you want to, not because you feel obligated.
no subject
(Anonymous) 2015-12-31 07:28 am (UTC)(link)I really do want to write it, but I think I go overboard with worry. I just want to be proud of what I'm putting out.
no subject
(Anonymous) 2016-03-29 11:10 pm (UTC)(link)no subject
(Anonymous) 2016-04-10 02:52 am (UTC)(link)Seriously, I've done this in several different fandoms with great success and met some of my best fandom buddies. Most people are pleased & flattered just to be asked. Also, if you state that it's a tryout with no strings attached, that gives both of you an escape hatch if it doesn't work out for some reason.