Anxiety about writing. Need advice

[TheProphet]

Hello. I'm very new to writing novels, and I'm pretty worried/anxious about what will the reader response to my story.

Have you writers had this feeling or something similar to this before? I thought that I should write what I want, what I think it'll be best, and what I want to show the world through my story, yet it still gives my anxieties.

Need a lot of advice. Thank you.

 

[RepresentingWrath]

I had the same anxiety. You should indeed write what you want. Personal experience, my writing was affected by my concern towards readers' opinions. And those affected pieces of the story are the worst. In the first place, there is a chance that you won't get any reactions at all. So don't worry, and write whatever the heck comes to your mind.

 

[TheProphet]

I had the same anxiety. You should indeed write what you want. Personal experience, my writing was affected by my concern towards readers' opinions. And those affected pieces of the story are the worst. In the first place, there is a chance that you won't get any reactions at all. So don't worry, and write whatever the heck comes to your mind.

My another main concern is that I'm afraid the story would be ridiculous, doesn't make sense, or cringe.... that is my greatest fear.

 

[RepresentingWrath]

My another main concern is that I'm afraid the story would be ridiculous or cringe.... that is my greatest fear.

Every story is cringe. As for being ridiculous, you really shouldn't worry about this. There is a lot of questionable, crazy stories here. Yours won't be the first and surely won't be the last.

 

[owotrucked]

Can you dig deeper about what you are anxious about? Depending on the roots, we can manage it with different logic and feelings.

Are you worried to waste time on a work that nobody will enjoy?

Or are you worried that your work will be judged negatively, and indirectly deny deeper layers of your identity (such as things you value, your belief, your world views, your tastes in aesthetics, etc)?

Maybe your stories will indirectly reveal an "immature" understanding of people or the world, and that would hurt?

You could try detach yourself from your work. You are not what you state, as it will constantly change as you grow.

Your teenager self would definitely write something different from an adult self or elderly self. All of their concerns, thoughts, fears, desire, wishes and pain are valuable for you to record through stories. No matter how cringe they seem.

You could try putting more weight on what's truly important for you. If you're exploring a theme, it is valuable for you to discover what's buried in yourself. This feeling might counterbalance the paralyzing anxiety.

If you're worried about being judged by your bad writing, everybody start bad and no matter how much you progress someone will always complain. It's a dead end to be anxious about it.

Note: I write a smut hentai harem isekai and I have zero scruples about it lol

 

[TheProphet]

Every story is cringe. As for being ridiculous, you really shouldn't worry about this. There is a lot of questionable, crazy stories here. Yours won't be the first and surely won't be the last.

Thank you.

Can you dig deeper about what you are anxious about? Depending on the roots, we can manage it with different logic and feelings.

Are you worried to waste time on a work that nobody will enjoy?

Or are you worried that your work will be judged negatively, and indirectly deny deeper layers of your identity (such as things you value, your belief, your world views, your tastes in aesthetics, etc)?

Maybe your stories will indirectly reveal an "immature" understanding of people or the world, and that would hurt?

You could try detach yourself from your work. You are not what you state, as it will constantly change as you grow.

Your teenager self would definitely write something different from an adult self or elderly self. All of their concerns, thoughts, fears, desire, wishes and pain are valuable for you to record through stories. No matter how cringe they seem.

You could try putting more weight on what's truly important for you. If you're exploring a theme, it is valuable for you to discover what's buried in yourself. This feeling might counterbalance the paralyzing anxiety.

If you're worried about being judged by your bad writing, everybody start bad and no matter how much you progress someone will always complain. It's a dead end to be anxious about it.

Note: I write a smut hentai harem isekai and I have zero scruples about it lol

Yeah I have thought about what was the real reason why I feel anxious too.

The reason is...I don't know is quite blurry and unclear. When I try to think deep down to it I always feel like "No, don't go any deeper", but I can guess, I think I fear that I'm not good enough, or some kind like that.

May be because I have done too many cringe things and lost the attention from people who once follow or care about me?

Sorry it's getting a bit drama. But I do appreaciate your reply thank you so much.

 

[Daitengu]

My another main concern is that I'm afraid the story would be ridiculous, doesn't make sense, or cringe.... that is my greatest fear.

Meh, kid stories are cringe to teens. Teen stories are cringe to adults. Adult stories are cringe to kids and teens. It's just the circle of life.

As long as you stay away from edgelord protagonists, you'll already be 75% less cringe to your self 10 years from now. Unless you're some type of crazed neckbeard fadora trenchcoat weeb, then it might take 20-30 years. But it'll happen eventually. Even Steven King cringes from his pre-Carry work.

 

[RepresentingWrath]

The reason is...I don't know is quite blurry and unclear. When I try to think deep down to it I always feel like "No, don't go any deeper", but I can guess, I think I fear that I'm not good enough, or some kind like that.

Lol, just read some of the 'top' stories here, and you would be mildly surprised that they are not that good.

 

[TheProphet]

Lol, just read some of the 'top' stories here, and you would be mildly surprised that they are not that good.

Yeah I've read some of the top novels' ratings, and some say that some scenes aren't make sense.

But Thank you again. You help me a lot!

Meh, kid stories are cringe to teens. Teen stories are cringe to adults. Adult stories are cringe to kids and teens. It's just the circle of life.

As long as you stay away from edgelord protagonists, you'll already be 75% less cringe to your self 10 years from now. Unless you're some type of crazed neckbeard fadora trenchcoat weeb, then it might take 20-30 years. But it'll happen eventually. Even Steven King cringes from his pre-Carry work.

Not gonna lie that sentence really suprises me. I have really never thought of that before. Thank you so much.

Pre-carry? you mean before his white power phase?

 

[greyblob]

My another main concern is that I'm afraid the story would be ridiculous, doesn't make sense, or cringe.... that is my greatest fear.

It will most likely be all three of those. However, the majority of people I have seen on SH are surprisingly nice, so I don't think there's much to worry about.
And the anxiety is pretty normal.

 

[owotrucked]

As long as you stay away from edgelord protagonists, you'll already be 75% less cringe to your self 10 years from now.

wdym? Everyone liked Berserk xD!

The reason is...I don't know is quite blurry and unclear. When I try to think deep down to it I always feel like "No, don't go any deeper", but I can guess, I think I fear that I'm not good enough, or some kind like that.

I see. I don't know if it applies to you, but I believe some people's core personality are designed to put more priority to other's feelings than their own reasons. That's what makes them harmonious, natural entertainer, and deeply enjoy the contact with others, but also a bit insecure about their own worth.

If it's like that for you, asking to just trust yourself might painfully go against your instincts.

A workaround might be to find trustworthy supporters that will look after your work with good faith. Someone who can understand and validate what you try to express. (It means putting less weight on anyone else's criticism.)

There are probably other solution but,

 

[greyblob]

wdym? Everyone liked Berserk xD!

I am deeply offended. You better watch your back, truck.

 

[TheProphet]

wdym? Everyone liked Berserk xD!


I see. I don't know if it applies to you, but I believe some people's core personality are designed to put more priority to other's feelings than their own reasons. That's what makes them harmonious, natural entertainer, and deeply enjoy the contact with others, but also a bit insecure about their own worth.

If it's like that for you, asking to just trust yourself might painfully go against your instincts.

A workaround might be to find trustworthy supporters that will look after your work with good faith. Someone who can understand and validate what you try to express. (It means putting less weight on anyone else's criticism.)

There are probably other solution but,

Thank you, and also.

You drew your own cover? that'll be cool! I'm looking for some artist too.....though I have no budget

 

[LostLibrarian]

I'm very new to writing novels, and I'm pretty worried/anxious about what will the reader response to my story.

Anxiety is normal. It shows that you care. The best way is to accept that anxiety and use it to push yourself further in your craft. Try to find a way to tell the story in a way, you yourself enjoy it. And then believe that the right audience will find and like it. Don't try to write for that audience...

If it is any help: I spoke with a lot of published authors during conventions, readings, workshops, and other stuff. Some of them sold millions of books, have statues, the perfect life. They don't even need to write because they have enough money for multiple lifetimes.

And still, a lot of them have even worse fear of failure. Some of them sit there and just want to give up and drink alcohol in the morning because "they'll never top that last book anyway".

And then they stop thinking that stuff, sit down, start writing, better their craft. And often the next book will also be a success. Some sell more, some sell less. But that anxiety never really goes away...


So accept it. Find a way to use it for you. Write in a way that you can say "this was the best I could deliver". And then throw it out there and accept the outcome...

 

[CupcakeNinja]

Hello. I'm very new to writing novels, and I'm pretty worried/anxious about what will the reader response to my story.

Have you writers had this feeling or something similar to this before? I thought that I should write what I want, what I think it'll be best, and what I want to show the world through my story, yet it still gives my anxieties.

Need a lot of advice. Thank you.

Listen kid, go jack off first and then start writing. See what that post-nut clarity does for you

 

[owotrucked]

Thank you, and also.

You drew your own cover? that'll be cool! I'm looking for some artist too.....though I have no budget

Yeah I did my own cover. I don't really do commission. There are other artists here that will do great quality art for cheaper.

If you're not confident in your work enough to invest on cover, you can just use waifulab to make an anime girl cover if it's relevant or just photoshop some art on internet. It's the most cost efficient if you're not ready to commit into a story with 100% certainty

 

[BlackKnightX]

Hello. I'm very new to writing novels, and I'm pretty worried/anxious about what will the reader response to my story.

Have you writers had this feeling or something similar to this before? I thought that I should write what I want, what I think it'll be best, and what I want to show the world through my story, yet it still gives my anxieties.

Need a lot of advice. Thank you.

I had the same feeling when I started writing for the first time, but when I saw a lot of positive comments, the feeling just slowly disappeared.

What I’m saying is, I totally understand how you feel as I’d been there before. The only advice I can give you is this;

“Fuck it. Fuck it all!”.

Just write what you love and be honest with yourself.

One thing in mind though, if you start to feel bored about your story, then the reader will probably feel it too.

Though, it’s not weird especially if you are a plotter, you’ll see your works multiple times, so it’s normal to get tired of it.

But when it come to the writing process, if you feel bored, that boredom will show through the texts. It will become dull and colorless.

So remember this; Just have fun and fuck it! ??

 

[TheProphet]

Anxiety is normal. It shows that you care. The best way is to accept that anxiety and use it to push yourself further in your craft. Try to find a way to tell the story in a way, you yourself enjoy it. And then believe that the right audience will find and like it. Don't try to write for that audience...

If it is any help: I spoke with a lot of published authors during conventions, readings, workshops, and other stuff. Some of them sold millions of books, have statues, the perfect life. They don't even need to write because they have enough money for multiple lifetimes.

And still, a lot of them have even worse fear of failure. Some of them sit there and just want to give up and drink alcohol in the morning because "they'll never top that last book anyway".

And then they stop thinking that stuff, sit down, start writing, better their craft. And often the next book will also be a success. Some sell more, some sell less. But that anxiety never really goes away...


So accept it. Find a way to use it for you. Write in a way that you can say "this was the best I could deliver". And then throw it out there and accept the outcome...

Thank you so much.

Listen kid, go jack off first and then start writing. See what that post-nut clarity does for you

You do know that even jacking off doesn't help boosting confidence right? also. what

Yeah I did my own cover. I don't really do commission. There are other artists here that will do great quality art for cheaper.

If you're not confident in your work enough to invest on cover, you can just use waifulab to make an anime girl cover if it's relevant or just photoshop some art on internet. It's the most cost efficient if you're not ready to commit into a story with 100% certainty

that's a shame then. Your cover looks quite good.

 

[RayneStorm]

I totally get this and I've been writing and posting for years. It's made worst by the fact that most of my beta-reader feedback tends to be negative but I love my stories so much that I have to share them and I think they're fun. I usually write so far into the story that even if I do get bad feedback I'm already too invested to quit. My advice would be to get hyped about your own story. Get excited about scenes and characters. That way you'll have motivation to write regardless of what anyone else thinks. There is a comfort in being able to say that you've given your best to the story. Even if years from now you look back and cringe, you'll feel better knowing that you didn't half-ass it and gave it your all. And don't save ideas for a later story or for when you'll become a better writer. Write all your best ideas now and get that hype level over 9000. Better ideas will come later. You don't need to save them unless they don't fit into the story you're working on right now

 

[KoyukiMegumi]

Ah, a fellow cat. Hello! Anxiety is a normal response to any stressor. This is a learning experience. The best way to go about everything is to have 0 expectations, then the results will surprise you.

Don't think about how many readers you will get or if your next story is the next hot shit. Honestly, just write what you love and people will love it too. There is a reader for every type of story, even the morbid shit.

If you get hate, ignore it. If you get criticism, listen to it and get better. Otherwise, do what you want. Eventually, you will soar and that anxiety will go away.