I’m predisposed to being really hard on myself, so it’s super hard to know, even after years of revising, at what point my stories don’t suck. Admittedly, I sometimes have to say, okay, Amy, good enough, time to call it done. I could stand to learn how to endure longer because I’m up for some breakthroughs…just not sure how to work and rework without, like, beating the crap out of myself?
I’m predisposed to being really hard on myself, so it’s super hard to know, even after years of revising, at what point my stories don’t suck. Admittedly, I sometimes have to say, okay, Amy, good enough, time to call it done. I could stand to learn how to endure longer because I’m up for some breakthroughs…just not sure how to work and rework without, like, beating the crap out of myself?
I recently got a good laugh from a New Yorker cartoon. Two scientist are observing three sad robots sitting at a long table, all writing on computers. One scientist says to the other: "The robots have become self-aware and self-loathing. Now all they do is write novels."
I’m predisposed to being really hard on myself, so it’s super hard to know, even after years of revising, at what point my stories don’t suck. Admittedly, I sometimes have to say, okay, Amy, good enough, time to call it done. I could stand to learn how to endure longer because I’m up for some breakthroughs…just not sure how to work and rework without, like, beating the crap out of myself?
Thanks for posting this. Makes me feel better about my own worries. I wish we could just skip over that part, the beating the crap out of self part.
Ya no kidding!! Maybe comes with the territory...
Writers are self-loathing narcissists, too…
Or self-loathing masochists, writing and rewriting until it hurts so good!
I recently got a good laugh from a New Yorker cartoon. Two scientist are observing three sad robots sitting at a long table, all writing on computers. One scientist says to the other: "The robots have become self-aware and self-loathing. Now all they do is write novels."
Pure genius.
Right! I think I might have to practice some Zen meditation while revising; practice non-attachment.