Writing wins!

[JLiana]

Hello all! Hope you're all well.

Uh, not really a question, just a minor celebration of getting eleven chapters into my novel. I know it's not much, but I struggle with my mental health and it feels huge! I'm learning how to actually apply myself and make myself write everyday instead of waiting for motivation. Even if it's just a paragraph or two. It just feels good for an ADHDer/PTSDer. :')

So huzzah! Go me. Anyone else got some writing wins to share?

 

[casval]

Nice!

I am on the spectrum too, and every habit I can form and stick to feels like a hard-won battle in the war against my own brain. It took me many years to be able to make it past Chapter 2 on a writing project, so congratulations for making it to the double digits!

 

[JLiana]

Nice!

I am on the spectrum too, and every habit I can form and stick to feels like a hard-won battle in the war against my own brain. It took me many years to be able to make it past Chapter 2 on a writing project, so congratulations for making it to the double digits!

It's such a good feeling! I know exactly what you mean.

(And also thank you!)

 

[Gurkhal]

Nothing special to share, but good work on getting eleven chapters done!

 

[JLiana]

Nothing special to share, but good work on getting eleven chapters done!

Thank you!!

 

[Penpilot]

Keep kicking that word count's butt and chewing bubblegum.

 

[JLiana]

Keep kicking that word count's butt and chewing bubblegum.

I will!

 

[Naruzeldamaster]

I am currently plugging away at chapter 5, and very soon chapter 6

Chapter 5 is a biggie because it has a whole 'mini' arc in one chapter.

I am also on the spectrum and it is very difficult for me to not start a new project every time I have an idea. It's half of the reason I never finish anything.

 

[JLiana]

I am currently plugging away at chapter 5, and very soon chapter 6

Chapter 5 is a biggie because it has a whole 'mini' arc in one chapter.

I am also on the spectrum and it is very difficult for me to not start a new project every time I have an idea. It's half of the reason I never finish anything.

5 chapters is still impressive! I believe in you!

 

[Karlin]

every chapter, every paragraph counts. Don't belittle yourself.

 

[Naruzeldamaster]

5 chapters is still impressive! I believe in you!

Literally the furthest I've gotten on a project since my last completed project when I was like 16 lol
It's both a blessing and a curse that my brain has ideas in the middle of current ones.
But I wouldn't have my brain any other way :3
So many good/fun characters have come from it.

every chapter, every paragraph counts. Don't belittle yourself.

I agree, progress is progress, but the itch to write a different idea gets way too strong at times heh ._.
I don't know how to discribe it, it's like the dogs from up when they say 'squirrel!'
Briefly distracted then back to the main project, I'm the same way with video games if I'm playing multiple at a time.

 

[Prince of Spires]

Uh, not really a question, just a minor celebration of getting eleven chapters into my novel. I know it's not much,

You're wrong on this one. Getting 11 chapters is a lot and amazing progress. Don't dimish it by seeing it as not much. You've done way more than most people even dream of.

And just keep plugging away. All stories out there have been written 1 word, 1 paragraph at a time. There's no other way to get those words down. So you're well on your way to a finished novel. Go you!

 

[JLiana]

You're wrong on this one. Getting 11 chapters is a lot and amazing progress. Don't dimish it by seeing it as not much. You've done way more than most people even dream of.

And just keep plugging away. All stories out there have been written 1 word, 1 paragraph at a time. There's no other way to get those words down. So you're well on your way to a finished novel. Go you!

Thank you! 🩷

I'm very used to diminishing my own achievements, I'll confess that much—but I do actually feel proud of what I've done. I'm sat with fifteen chapters, now, and that's so many more than I thought I'd be capable of!

 

[JLiana]

Literally the furthest I've gotten on a project since my last completed project when I was like 16 lol
It's both a blessing and a curse that my brain has ideas in the middle of current ones.
But I wouldn't have my brain any other way :3
So many good/fun characters have come from it.


I agree, progress is progress, but the itch to write a different idea gets way too strong at times heh ._.
I don't know how to discribe it, it's like the dogs from up when they say 'squirrel!'
Briefly distracted then back to the main project, I'm the same way with video games if I'm playing multiple at a time.

Oh, totally relatable. I have other projects on the side too. The ADHD brain flitters about like a highly distractible butterfly.

It's not always a bad thing, though. I find that when I get stuck on one thing, I've always got something else to work on until I get my mojo back.

(I can't actually remember the last time I finished a video game. I have nearly 700 hours on BG3 and I have not finished it ONCE. )

 

[Naruzeldamaster]

Oh, totally relatable. I have other projects on the side too. The ADHD brain flitters about like a highly distractible butterfly.

I'm on the spectrum for similar but different reasons (Still get distracted similarly to ADHD) but I'm very high functioning. You'd never notice I was on the spectrum unless I/my parents/a doctor told you. I also have a personality disorder which at times is a boon, other times a bit of a curse lol

It's not always a bad thing, though. I find that when I get stuck on one thing, I've always got something else to work on until I get my mojo back.

I do this to, but I'm really focusing down this one project because I want to try to finish at least most of it by the end of the year. If I don't finish the rough draft I'll be a bit sad, but I'll have a good head start for finishing it next year.

(I can't actually remember the last time I finished a video game. I have nearly 700 hours on BG3 and I have not finished it ONCE. )

It is VERY easy for me to get distracted with video games. I'll often 'plug away' at a 'main' project (Which right now is the new Fire Emblem) and have 1 or 2 side games 'on deck' for when I'm not in the mood for that one. Occasionally, side project #2 will be a game that I played but got 'distracted from' and never finished. I'm thinking my next one of these will be HK.

Right now my brain is mega distracted by Ocarina of Time Remake coming soon. I'll be better once the thing is paid for and pre downloaded though.

 

[pmmg]

Writing wins! Remember the title. 20 years from now, you wont be proud of the video games that came and went, but you will be proud of what you've written.

 

[Naruzeldamaster]

Writing wins! Remember the title. 20 years from now, you wont be proud of the video games that came and went, but you will be proud of what you've written.

I dunno, 'defeating' some games that are ridiculously hard ( like dark souls) makes me feel accomplished.
I don't know if it's been obvious but a lot of my story ideas come from 'sparks' of insperation from video games.
I get inspired from regular media too mind. Video games are a great way to encounter a wide range of character types. (I'm sure reading is too) I think having more (personal) agency in what's going on is what gets me more invested in video games than books.

I get what you mean though, even though my plan is to publish a book of my manuscript first. It'd be funny if people found out about the book from playing the game and decided to buy it.

 

[pmmg]

I dunno, 'defeating' some games that are ridiculously hard ( like dark souls) makes me feel accomplished.

Sure, it does, but remember, you beat it the same everyone else who played it beat it as well. It just feeding dopamine. Empty as sugar.

 

[Naruzeldamaster]

Sure, it does, but remember, you beat it the same everyone else who played it beat it as well. It just feeding dopamine. Empty as sugar.

I mean yeah, that's why I tend to 'take my time' with games rather than rushing to the end. (people have already 100% the new Fire Emblem and it's only been out like a month ish) Sure, defeating grueling bosses n such is a W, but I'm a story guy. So many games have unexpectedly good stories in them (Even those cheesy Visual Novels) and they give me ideas for writing. I'm always taking notes on what I would do different/better or what I would do instead at x point. Doesn't interfere with my writing progress either.

That being said I am trying to increase how much per day I write slowly. I don't always get the same amount of progress done, but progress is progress.