7 Ways To Not Hate Your Writing

#1: DON'T FORCE THINGS!! Take breaks or even drop projects if you're not into them!

I was tempted to put "Give up and give up often" but I figured that wasn't really what I wanted to say right off the bat. It might come off as too discouraging, and that's not my intent, nor is this sarcasm. Sometimes, it's just better to abandon a project or more likely put it up on a dusty shelf for a rainy day (or a zombie apocalypse).

If you work on projects you aren't interested in, you will ruin them. You will make the problem worse. It's like smoking double the amount of gaja instead of taking the 48 hour brain receptor tolerance break your mind is craving.

Others might tell you "Never give up!" like it's a rule.

I think it should be "Never stop writing!"

You have my full permission to throw in the towel on any project, no matter how far in. Don't let others judge you for it. Don't hate yourself for it. It's okay to move on and it's okay to start new projects, even if you never return. One thing is always going to be true--you'll keep improving no matter what. (The caveat to that is always try your best. Don't half ass anything)

#2: Manage your time effectively. 

I am not a certified expert or guru in this, I just know it's important. I won't say much on the topic.

I will, however, mention the POM technique. No, it's not Presence of Mind for you WoW heads (I rolled Boomkin during BC for the record) but the Pomodoro technique. I learned this (no bullshit) from an erotica author who swore by it. I might not be into what she was writing, but I've found she's right in her assertion that there is no better way to crunch through projects. Her output proves that.

There are five basic steps to implementing the technique:

• Decide on the task to be done
•  Set the pomodoro timer to {n} minutes (traditionally 25) 
• Work on the task until the timer rings; record with an {x}
• Take a short break (3–5 minutes)
• After four pomodori, take a longer break (15–30 minutes)

* http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pomodoro_Technique

Don't let yourself get frustrated or write things when it feels forced. At best, you'll write garbage and lose interest. At worst, you'll hurt your eyes so badly wearing the wrong glasses that you have to take half a week off from work and get your eyes dilated. Take it slow. You're in no rush. 

#3: Find a writing/editing partner to exchange work with!

The earlier you team up, the better! Make sure it's with someone you trust and that you're teaming up with them because you want to, not because you think you should or need to in order to succeed. It's like a mirage, or a relationship with an editor. Don't just jump on whatever or whoever comes along. You shouldn't jump on people in general. But for beta readers or critique parterners you need to make sure you do your research. Do you even want to be reading what they're saying? Do you even value your opinion?

Suggestions of places look for critique/editing partners: 

• Local writing groups 
• Book stores
• Friends on Faceboogle 
• Reddit: /r/Writing , /r/Shutupandwrite , /r/DestructiveReaders , /r/KeepWriting 
• The local or school library (put up a flier)
• Bloggers! Really! Don't be afraid to reach out for advice. Just make sure what you're asking of others is reasonable and you're willing to give back in turn.

Places to generally be avoided:

• 4chan/b/
• YouTube comments
• The mall
• The homeless oogles begging for change down-town
• House parties
• Army barracks
• Playgrounds 
• Airport tarmacs & subway stations (specifically the tunnels) and Subway sandwich shops because that shit is never a full foot long!

You might make some really good friends doing this too. You might find you live near each other. You might meet up! You might even find you're attracted to them! You might fall in love. ʅ(◔◡◔✿)ʃ

#4: Do drugs Find supplementary forms of motivation. 

The do drugs thing isn't a joke. Remember, this is a hippy blog first and a writers blog second. I'm not your scholarly professor. Now don't think I mean go out and do any and all drugs. Don't do that. Please. Preferably just some ganja (#LegalizeIt) but I also wouldn't judge you for dabbling in other safe drugs after you've given them some dedicated research. DMT, LSD, Psilocin all in moderation but not as some type of answer to writer's block. They can help, but only because they can help your life.

You should also exercise more. I'm serious! Prove fact people think better while walking. Trust Stanford. You should also play video games and read what you're interested in. It will expand your mind. That's all motivation is in my opinion. Finding a push to expand your mind into the unknown.

#4a: Mix writing in every facet of your life! 

What inspires you? What make your head rush? What gets you going? I do my best writing and creative brain storming when I'm high on a nice day going for a walk in the park. Maybe a hot shower? Rock climbing? Find your beat and stick with it.

#5: Work on multiple projects at once.

This won't work for everyone, but for folks like me (ADHD hippies) it will save you a lot of trouble. Or, you might find you hate it. For me, I find it easiest to work on several variations of a single project. Maybe something as simple as two parallel chapters to see which word choices I prefer. Maybe in one things are totally different. Scrivener allows me to do this with ease.

(Example: In one world, the character is a real prick.)

Similarly, when I'm working on other (especially different genre) projects, I often draw inspiration between the two. I love mixing genres. Vampire cyber-punk has forever been my favorite. I mix that with mystery and I have a lot of fun doing it. It's unconventional, and it will likely never publish--but in conjunction with the "multiple versions" it can be pretty dope to see you story take place in different worlds. Protip: If you have a God complex (like me!) you'll enjoy this most.

#6: Change your writing platform.

I mentioned scrivener in #5.

Are you sick of MSword? Get scrivener. At minimum, change the background/page color.

Don't know how? ugh, hold on...lemme make a tutorial for you dudes and chicks. You know I love you <3

Not good enough? GET SCRIVENER! 

(ew I caught a few errors in my first draft! should be . . .broccoli, it's from . . . And that Raja intro needs a serious rewrite. 3 antecedent shifts? Yuk!)

Sick of writing with a pen and your hand is cramped? Sick of spell checker? Basically, just change it up. Do some painting. I'm serious! Also, for anyone who wants a really cool program, check this out (I freaking wish they'd paid me to shill!)

#7: Know your strengths and your weaknesses. 

No this isn't a cop out. The cop out is not being able to think of 10 and cutting 7. This is serious.

Once you know your weaknesses and the issues that pervade your writing, you will be more likely to enjoy what you're doing.

 If you don't even know why you hate something, how can you hope to fix it?

Do you think you know your weaknesses? Really?
 How about this super common mistake: Over-filtering.

• Filtering is where you force everything through a filter [E.G] "he said", "he knew" , "he saw". Consider revising when you find yourself doing this. It's a relatively basic technique I wish I'd mastered earlier

[E.G] "She could feel a cold sweat breaking over her, it felt like ice water pouring down her slender spine.

Should be → A cold sweat broke over her, like ice water pouring down her slender spine.

[E.G] "He could see several birds pecking at the tall tree. His eyes caught a glimpse of one larger bird, possibly an eagle circling overhead."

Should be → "Several birds pecked at a tall tree. An eagle circled overhead."



Although not part of this blog, I am a professional freelance editor by trade. If you would like to know more about my services, you can check out my business page here [LINK]. Or feel free to send me a 500 word Free sample to GlitchHippy@gmail.com or /u/GlitchHippy on reddit.