On Plowing On Through

There comes a time while writing your Great American Novel when you will probably think that it is stupid.

Or, possibly, you don't know where you're going with it and why didn't you think it out ahead of time well it's too late now.

Then there's always, why did I start writing anyway it's a waste of my time because who will ever read it.

I know that I've definitely had thoughts similar to this. My work is junk, I'll have to start over if I want to save it, etc, etc, etc.

But you know what? This isn't the part of you that should be writing your novel. This is the very worst, the critical stick-in-the-mud voice in the back of your mind. Whatever you do, DON'T listen to it! It doesn't know what it's talking about! And if you listen to it, you could lose the passion for your story, and that's just not right.

You have to acknowledge that yes, there will be some completely crappy elements of any first (or second...or third...or sixty-fourth) draft. And that is perfectly okay. Because you can fix it later. Now is the time to get that story out onto paper (or computer) and not WORRY at ALL about what problems you run into. Now is the time to Plow On Through and see where it gets you.

Best of luck!

Inky