Tuesday, August 22, 2006

Fear of revision

I really want my story to be good, really, I do. So why do I refuse to work on it? I DON'T KNOW! And it's pissing me off. I did a tad bit of work last night. I just went to open the file that I emailed to myself and my heart started racing and I thought of a thousand other things I'd rather do. I'm hoping that blogging about this fear will make it go away.

So here's a brief interview with my fear. I've named him Bob.

Q: So, Bob Fear, why are you here? What is your cause?
A: Well, I'm hear because you are afraid of failing. You're afraid that if you try to fix up your story, you'll just prove that you can't. [Insert evil laugh here] You're afraid that any failure now just means you weren't meant to write. That you should accept that you'll always need a "day job". So just avoid the fear and don't write!

Q: But aren't I just proving the fear right if I don't do any work on the story? I mean, if I do nothing, there's no way it'll get better?
A: Umm, umm ummm Best Blogger Tips

7 comments:

DJPare said...

If you weren't meant to write, you wouldn't have come this far. And if you weren't in touch with emotions (like fear) you wouldn't be a good writer, so either tell fear to "fuck off" and work on your story or let fear come along for the ride as you work on it, but transfer it into your characters. What is dad afraid of now, without his wife of many years? What is Susan REALLY afraid of? The heck with the fear of having her marriage fail - what is she REALLY afraid of? And Harold? He's afraid of something, I guarantee it... :)
Don (insert evil laugh here)

Writer Bug said...

LOL (insert nice laugh here). That helps. Thank you, Don!

TI said...

Bug, I can relate! This may sound cliche, but sometimes we fear success as much or more than failure because it means change, whereas if we never take risks, we can stay comfortable. I agree with Don: tell the fear to get lost. I'm about to do the same. TI

Idiot Cook said...

Wow...BobFear, that slut. He sure does get around. He was knocking on my door at 2:00 a.m. this morning.

Bastard.

Listen, Bug, I'm gonna talk tough. Put your butt in the chair and write...just start somewhere...don't stop or look up for 15 minutes...just do it (BTW, I'll expect you to talk tough with me when I'm freaking out, which should be happening any time now).

Writer Bug said...

Thanks TI and FC! You both made me smile. And FC, I'm going to do your assignment RIGHT NOW. :)

January said...

That Bob Fear gets around. B*st*rd!

Y'know...I know people. I can have him "taken care of." (Wink. Wink. Nudge. Nudge.)

Just give the word and Bob Fear is a grease spot on the highway of life!

Writer Bug said...

January: DO IT! For all of mankind, snub Bob! (And can you introduce me to your connections? I have some annoying neighbors I'd like "taken care of" ;)