Hello all, My name is Clayton Woullard and I am a writer and journalist. I'm 24 and just graduated in August with a bachelor's degree in journalism. I also write creatively, mostly fiction and poetry. I have been published in my school literary magazine, as well as newspapers, including the now defunct Rocky Mountain News. I have no real reason not to feel un-confident in my writing abilities, but I do, which has affected how much writing I've been able to get done in the past. (Then again I'm not very confident in other parts of my life either). I'm hoping I can gain some insight on how to get past my writer's block (re: writer's fear) and start doing some writing I'm proud of. I know the advice is to just start writing, and I'm working on a novel this month, but I'm just stuck. I don't know if it's because I'm overly critical, which I probably am, or I just can't think of anything good to write. I think it's because I haven't written fiction in so long, maybe I'm just rusty? I'm sure I just need to start writing and get rid of my inhibitions. Thanks for reading my rant.
Hello Clayton, Welcome to the Writing Forums. The best way to attack writer's block is the same way to attack a purple cyclops - decide it doesn't exist and march straight through it. Of course, if you allow any doubt to creep in, you'll smack into it face first. Posting your own work should not be among the very first things you do here. It is worth taking the time to see what other people have done to improve their writing, and see if some of it applies to your writing as well. That is part of why we require members to review other members' work before posting their own for review. On the other hand, there are no restrictions, other than content and copyright rules, on showcasing your work in your member blog. Also, be aware that posting a piece of writing on any public site, including this one, will greatly diminish your chances of selling it for publication. Removing the writing later does not alter that fact - once posted, it is irreversibly considered published. So do not post anything more than a small excerpt of any piece you are planning to submit for publication. If you haven't explored the site yet, you should probably do so soon. Newcomers often gravitate to the Lounge, the Word Games, or the Review Room, but there is much more to be discovered if you poke in the corners. Remember to check out our FAQ as well, and be sure to read through the forum rules, too, to avoid any misunderstandings or hurt feelings. Respect for one another is our principal mandate. As for the Review Room, new joiners often wonder why we do things a bit differently on this site than on other writing sites. We emphasize constructive critique as a vital writing skill. Training your eye by reviewing other people's work helps you improve your own writing even before you present it for others to see. Therefore, we ask members to review other people's writing before posting work of their own. The Review Room forums on this site, therefore, are true workshops, not just a bulletin board for displaying your work (and on that note, please only post each item for review in one Review Room forum). Also, please use the same thread for all revisions and additional excerpts from the same piece of writing. See this post, Why Write Reviews Before Posting My Work? for more information. And while you're looking around, don't forget to check out our Weekly Short Story Contest and Weekly Poetry Contest. They actually run more than one week apiece, but any member may enter, and all members are urged to vote for their favorites. Enjoy your stay here, and have fun!
