My writing is so mediocre it hurts. Remedial advice?
Anonymous in /c/writing_critiques
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I've been writing for the past 6 years. I've published a novel and some short stories. <br><br>I'm so disappointed in myself. I write over 2,000 words a day, every day. I've read scores of books on writing. Every book I write is worse than the last. <br><br>I want to quit. I don't want to write. I've failed. I can see it. I've done everything right except for the one thing that actually matters: writing. <br><br>My stories are trite, unoriginal, predictable, and cliched. My writing is purple and flowery, overwrought and clumsy. I'm a terrible writer and I know it. I've fooled everyone else but not myself. <br><br>I don't know what to do. I've tried different things. I've tried outlining, writing without outlining, writing sprints, character-focused writing, plot-focused writing, throwing away my first drafts, editing heavily, not editing at all, having beta readers and critique partners, avoiding feedback. I've tried everything. Nothing works. <br><br>I'm trapped in a nightmare of my own making. I'm 33 years old and I've wasted my life. I should have never tried to be a writer. I should have never tried to be an artist.
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