The Write of Way [Work in Progress, Member Driven]

The Burning Questions to Ask Yourself Before You Flounce Off Wattpad...

This is from a post I wrote in response to someone who was threatening their readers with flouncing off Wattpad due to criticism.

I thought these are the questions, if I was still in social work, that I would ask a writer across the desk from me.

The first challenge is deciding WHY you write.

The second is deciding *why you publicly post it*?

The third is deciding *why you post WHAT you post*.

These are all options you've chosen, driven by some inner need, if indeed you are.  For you, is writing a NEED, A WANT, or A DESIRE? Don't answer that one, yet.

If you are truly a writer at heart you will be driven to write so there will be times that you will forego food and sleep for your obsession, thus I classify it as a NEED not a "want" unless your reasons for writing--aren't writing. That's not to say you should be obsessed enough to do that on a regular basis.

Before you can look at how you're responding to honest criticism and bullying attackers you need to figure out your motivations. You do it for your characters, it is time to do it for yourself.

Would you write if nobody read it?

How MUCH attention do you require to continue writing. Be honest with yourself. Most writers need *some* feedback or support. Let's not lie about it.

What in the criticism of your work is hitting a nerve for you? Is it fair? Is it unfair?

How much of the commentary is bullying [personal attacks, doesn't help you improve or point out errors] and how much is critiquing of people who trying to help you write better? How much is directed towards your *choice of material* and how much is directed towards the actual skills of writing?

How much do you know about the *process* of writing? Do you realize that it takes *hundreds* of stories and a decade of writing before someone becomes the next Stephen King or JK Rowlings? Would you expect to work for Marvel Comics after you drew your first comic or would you accept that it takes 10,000 hours of drawing to be a professional artist?  Do you believe you will ever be finished learning HOW to write well?

Are your expectations of your writing, given your age and more importantly--the amount of time you've spent actually writing, realistic?

What are you hoping to get out of writing/posting on Wattpad? In what ways does it meet/not meet your expectations?

These are questions that all writers have to grapple with at different times during their writing "careers".

The sooner you can grapple these doubts and insecurities to the ground and make your peace with them--the less drama you will enact and feel around the process of writing.

______________________

It's dedicated to SomeGrace because she has a lovely booklet about her adventures in critiquing ;)

Please feel free to post your self discoveries, comments and critiques in the comment section.