A Revelation.

So I've discovered why it's been so doggon hard for me to write!
I've been editing and creating at the same time! Instead of me just getting my ideas out onto paper I've been fussing over the "correctness" and the "does this flow" which I should, eventually, but not while I'm trying to get the basic idea out.
To put it simply I was meshing the editing and creating process, which I've discovered makes a mess!

Why am I doing that now, when I didn't before? Because before I wrote completely for myself, I didn't expect people to read it, I didn't plan for people to read it. But then I went to a writers workshop and the idea of "publishing" made me feel as though my writing had to be perfect right off the bat. Also, I began sharing my writing more often with my friends, so I wanted it to be perfect before sharing it with them. What happened because of my perfectionism? That's right, a stunted writing process.

So does anyone else have a 'perfectionist personality' causing them grief in the writing world? If so what tips do you have on getting around that?
What other challenges do you face when writing?

Apology.

So I must apologize for the lack of attention that I've been giving you all. I've been so busy this month it's crazy! My writing has suffered also, I don't think I've wrote a sentence in my writings since I last posted in here.
Alas, my business will continue...
But will my writing?

Delays.

So I'd like to apologize for my lack in posting these past couple days, but the month of July has been crazy! I just moved so I haven't really had access to my laptop but now I do, until Saturday that is.
I will be out of town, so you all will have to survive another week without my posts. Not that it should be too hard to get by.
Now to get back to the subject of this blog... I've taken a break from writing, to give my imagination a time to "refuel" ... I don't know how effective this approach will be but I can't make myself write as of now. I haven't even had the desire to write lately. So while I'm out of town I guess I'll pick up some life experience to where I'll be able to intertwine it into a story. Maybe?
Wish me luck!

Where's the Spark?

Lately I really haven't had the desire to write, somehow I always find something "better" to do. Now, this is bothersome because I remember the days when I could sit down and write for hours on end and literally lose myself in my work. My mom's first question would be "what writing are you working on?"

So, where did that spark go?

Why is it that now, after I decided I wanted to write a novel, I can't even write a short story? Am I being too critical of my ideas because I second guess them wondering "could that ever get published?" Maybe I should go back to square one, forget about being published one day and just write because I enjoy writing, find that joy that allowed me to 'escape' my reality for a time.

I did some research and found a couple steps that may help spark my desire to write again.

"Read. A really good book makes me remember why I love to write and often makes me want to write."

"Study self. Go back and read some of your writing. Perhaps doing so will ignite the urge to write."

Well I've got the first idea down, that is for sure. I read a lot and it's true, reading those books helps me remember that I want others reading my work and falling in love with my characters someday -- but I'm always left with the same question: "How?"
The second step is painful :) although looking at old works shows me how far I've come, they're very bland and choppy. But, I guess if it can help me remember some of my own ideas and remind me of some forgotten plot line... maybe I could recreate them? rewrite them?

hmm... now I kind of want to go and reread them. Perhaps I could rewrite the forgotten?

Okay, well I guess I'm off to reread... I just hope I find my spark buried in the bits of my unfinished work.

First Person

So, I started to write something small in first person, but my question is that when you're writing in first person how do you "show" people what's going on?
If I am talking in first person it's always "I walked over to the closet" ... that is very telly if you ask me. I think that's actually why I started to veer away from first person because I'm not 100% sure how to approach it. "My feet hit the floor and I walked over to the closet." That "tells" what's going on.

Bottom line, how do I "show" in first person? Any tips?