Don't Shoot the Messenger! (Adventures of a Critic)

The Monster You've Created

Every writer gets there at some point. You look at your story, one of them, and you go "why in the actual Hell is this a thing?"

It's even worse when it's online. And more worse yet when it's noticed. 'Cause then people are looking for it to be updated, and you're like "why? Kill me now. Can I just kill all the characters and call that an end? Who cares if it's a romantic comedy novel. They can die from their laughter and kissing." 

This is a topic that I was discussing with a friend of mine, and admittedly, I'm feeling it too, and have felt it in the past. There are times when you just hate your story, and that's the way it is. 

Here are some tips to go through before you make the final decision of "to keep or not to keep". 

Numero One: Have you ever finished a story?

I mean it. A real, whole story. Have you ever finished a novel, or short story, or anything? Because if you haven't, you get to go to question number two. 

Number Two: Do you have commitment issues with your story? 

Is this not the first time you've "hated" your story and wish to kill it with fire like some cockroach? Do you seem to be feeling this every time? Then that goes more to show that you're procrastinating from finishing it more than you are actually hating it. Instead, you need to create a schedule. It doesn't matter if it's shit writing during this schedule. Seriously, create one. Write every day at three o'clock. If you can't do that, write every monday, wednesday, friday at three o'clock. It will at least help you plow through. 

 And if it's not that, then it might be:

Number Three: Like the Eleventh Doctor, do you just not like endings?

Whether you hate writing them or hate them in general, you want this baby to fly forever and never end. "THE STORY MUST GO ON, SOMEHOW. IT CAN'T BE THE END. I'LL ADD A PLOT TWIST" (add not thought out plot twist) "OH GOD, WHAT HAVE I DONE?" 

You need to learn to let things go. Think of it as a life lesson. There are things that end. Relationships, school years, even lives. Times end, and doing it with the world you created might help you come to the realization that it's completely natural. Also, the ending of a story is liberating. It makes you feel like all the stress is gone. I finished my first novel and literally cheered and screamed and ran around. I finished the story of a religion for a book I'm making recently, and I was in a coffee shop and I seriously danced in my chair - albeit the people of books and coffee thought I was very strange, but it is a phenomenal feeling. 

Number Four: Perfectionist Hell. Are you too much of a perfectionist on this draft? 

"OH GOD I POSTED THIS OUT TO SEE AND NOW EVERYONE CAN SEE THAT I MISSED THE PERIOD IN THE THIRD PARAGRAPH AND ACCIDENTALLY PUT A COMMA. THIS STORY IS SHIT NOW, I CAN'T FINISH IT EVER. THE CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT IS WRECKED BECAUSE OF THAT DAMN COMMA, FUCK MY LIFE." 

When this happens, here's what you need to do. Relax. Take a deep breath. If you're really that self conscious about it, ask one of the thousand people who want to edit to edit your story - but KEEP GOING. Just because you made a spelling mistake or have an open plot hole on THE FIRST DRAFT does not mean that the story is worth being terminated. 

Number Five: Do you have no idea how to go on in the novel? 

Maybe you didn't thoroughly plan. Maybe you're at the end and have read some "writer's tips" (like this one!) and are sitting there going "MY ORIGINAL PLAN ISN'T WHAT THEY SAY I SHOULD HAVE! AH!" Here's a few tips.

A) I'm going to tell you again: make a schedule. Schedules are a really good drive because those are set times to do it. If you have reminders all over the place, post it notes, text reminders, emails, make it almost nauseating so you get your rear in gear and do it.

B) If it's a draft, the ending is not going to be the greatest. Your story is not magical after the first draft, I apologize. It's not going to be some magical experience. Once you're done with a story, there is this liberation that comes with it. This freedom. Even if your ending is so bad, even if the story itself is terrible at the moment, there's this just great feeling of accomplishment. Don't cheat yourself out of that just because you're nervous. Now, don't just kill all the characters and make it a non-effort ending - that wouldn't be helpful to you because you'll just have to edit later. Give yourself some idea of where you want to go with the ending and stick with it. 

Number Six: Do you have some errors that you just can't look back at?

Did you make a mistake with the formatting you wanted? What if you accidentally changed the name of the characters mid way through? These mistakes sometimes happen, and when you get to that point, you just have to sit there and go "is it something that's easily correctable?". Who cares if it's on wattpad, really. It's okay to give yourself a break on large mistakes - you aren't the first one to have made one. We are a world of beginners and amateurs, and some of us are veterans too. In the end, we've all made mistakes in our past - gargantuan ones. Give yourself a break if you make a massive mistake. Remember: we're all novice on here. 

Okay, so here's all the ways to get PAST that feeling of anxiety and why it might be happening. But what if none of these are it? What if this story is literally the bane of your existence. You are depressed when you have to go write it. You hate the characters. The plot is lifeless. Your writing is lifeless. It actually makes you feel like you hate writing it - even if you have all the ideas in the world for it written down, even if it's got elements that in the beginning made you love it, what if you seriously can't deal with that story anymore? What if it just bothers you to even think about it?

Get rid of it. Or if you are a sentimental man (or woman) then take it off of wattpad and copy it down in a folder and leave it on a file in your computer, or on a flashdrive, or whatever. Stick it somewhere. 

Just get away from it for a while. And if that doesn't work, what do you do? 

Do you still want to kill it with fire? 

Then watch it burn. 

If you seriously cannot ever be happy with a story, then don't try so hard with it. If you find the idea of editing it to be a laborous task and horrific, and you don't ever think it will be worth publishing because you yourself hate it, then why waste your time? Get rid of it if it makes you happier. Seriously. Don't worry about wattpad - they'll deal with more traumatic experiences in their lifetime, I promise you. 

Still having doubts?

Ask those who are reading it. That's the beauty of wattpad. 

Tell them your dilemma. Tell them why you hate it so much. Tell them that you're ready to tear it apart and feed it to animals. Tell them how you would rather get Carpal Tunnel and become physically incapable of writing it to explain why you wouldn't write it. Tell them how seeing that story makes your eyes bleed. 

Then see what they have to say. 

Some people here and there will say "do what you want", and some people will try to defend the story. The people may be able to spark a life in the story again and make you love it - and if they don't and only affirm your hatred? Then get rid of it, and don't look back. 

It's really that simple. So, this is why I will be heeding my own advice. Go to "Things Left Unsaid" if you'd like to see the latest chapter on that story. 

Thank you for coming to Critic Land, sorry that the visit's been so long and far between. I hope you don't shoot the messenger because of the wait. Remember patience. (this is all utter sarcasm, I hope you realize).

Have a great day!