Lost confidence

All the time. It's nothing but mind games.

Then stop reading through your writing and start writing. Seriously music88 we do all go through these periods of despair. All I can say is that they do pass. And if they don't just carry on espousing to a hostile world. Not even sure espousing is a word but hey ho I'm not at my best at five in the morning. Good luck and I will take a look at your writing not to give feedback but to see if I enjoy. Good luck and keep at it. Moya

i like Bukowski's poem, about the PEN conference take a writer away from his typewriter and all you have left is the sickness which started him typing in the beginning _____________________________________ that sums it up for me. the sickness remains untreated, without any (however hopeless it may seem) stab at self-expression.

I give up.

Just get your nose down to the grindstone and write however shitty you feel. I read a poem yesterday, I think it was, by Rhiannow, and I had this image of a misty, treeclad road that wouldn't go away, so I used it as the starting point for a story. I've written 5,000 words today, the story is pouring out, it's alive and true and I'm so happy right now I could cry! never give up, never say die, and don't let the bastards (whoever the bastards are) get you down - you are a mighty warrior!

We are our own worst critics if we are true and honest with ourselves. If we are ever our own best critics, then it is time to stop writing and join a cult. :) GGHades502

My advice, Music 88, and you can take it with however grains of salt you like, is in complete contradiction to everyone else's. First of all, I'll agree that everyone goes through these patches - it's called 'writer's block' of course - however, if you're contemplating giving up writing, you don't think it's any good and you feel its pointless, then I'd leave it for 6 months or so. Why force yourself? If you're sitting at your typewriter with about as much enthusiasm as a teenager has for doing his maths homework, or a husband has for being dragged into shoeshops by his wife, then that's going to come out in your writing and the reader will sense it. Writing shouldn't be forced. You should only write when the words are flowing around your brain, pulsating and swimming, knocking into one another until you can finally ambush them and leak them out onto the page. Leave it for 6 months and you'll be fighting to get to that typewriter. And then you can overindulge yourself and let it get out of hand. They'll be know stopping you. Good luck.

Well said, Karl.

Thank you W (although I should have noticed that 'they'll be no stopping you' which should have read 'there'll be ...' of course).

I lose confidence about once a week. I've learned to ignore it and keep writing. Sometimes I write some pretty good stuff. Sometimes I write crap. But every time I write I feel I've purged myself of some inner turmoil. And it gives me a sense of peace. At least that's how it works for me. I urge you to keep writing. When you hit dry patches, read about other writers and their writing process. One of my favorites is Stephen King's On Writing. I don't know if I've helped here, but I'll certainly be on the lookout for any future work of yours. A couple of favorite quotes about writing. “This is how you do it: you sit down at the keyboard and you put one word after another until its done. It's that easy, and that hard.” - Neill Gaiman “We have to continually be jumping off cliffs and developing our wings on the way down.” - Kurt Vonnegut All the best, Rich

Stephen King's 'On Writing' should be the writer's holy book as far as I'm concerned, Hudsonmoon.

Hello good people at ABC (including music88)---for the past little while I felt tapped out, a hole in my writing thoughts. Also sad about my sister later. I sat back and and did not write a poem or story for about two weeks. Music88 I read your rich words in two of your latest poems and although dark, I immediately thought of a fly and I thought, then wrote out these words--- Riding the Crest I am a fly revolting and disgusting am I yet in my journey today I strive to seek out those nasty places where the scent of rot is pleasant to me--- and although my image of me is revolting and disgusting I eat to live. I want to live. MORPHING INTO a butterfly I seek a new path replacement thoughts a new journey to behold and my path creates circles of sunshine and I wish to find smiles in my lifetime. ps. music88: live---survive---smile and why not write a poem based on a specific piece of your art? With best regards, Richard LP

Hello music88---so glad to read and hear you are getting good support from your ABC friends. Also good to hear you are receiving professional attention. Very best wishes to you, for a full recovery. Years ago I was approached by a publisher to write one poem for each picture on a collection of scenic photographs. Sadly the project did not get going. Lately I have been writing poems and prayers for people, including family who have lost loved ones. They read them at a hospital bed, or at a funeral, and it honours me. I began by writing on my own and sending them to the next of kin, or kin and now people approach me. I receive nor ask for moola, but get massive satisfaction in helping them deal with issues. Why not consider something like this in addition to the above. God bless, from Richard & Esther Provencher ps. My sick sister has now contracted pneumonia and is in a hospital induced coma for the next 48 hours to deal with it. Please continue to keep her in your prayers.

Hello music88---so glad to read and hear you are getting good support from your ABC friends. Also good to hear you are receiving professional attention. Very best wishes to you, for a full recovery. Years ago I was approached by a publisher to write one poem for each picture on a collection of scenic photographs. Sadly the project did not get going. Lately I have been writing poems and prayers for people, including family who have lost loved ones. They read them at a hospital bed, or at a funeral, and it honours me. I began by writing on my own and sending them to the next of kin, or kin and now people approach me. I receive nor ask for moola, but get massive satisfaction in helping them deal with issues. Why not consider something like this in addition to the above. God bless, from Richard & Esther Provencher ps. My sick sister has now contracted pneumonia and is in a hospital induced coma for the next 48 hours to deal with it. Please continue to keep her in your prayers.

Richard, I am so sorry to read that your sister, Susan, has contracted pneumonia. She and you and Esther are in my thoughts and in my prayers and will be until she makes a good recovery. Moya

Bless you Denzella. Yes, she is in a tenuous position right now. Richard

Richard, my own sister was in a 'hospital-induced coma' for a couple of weeks last year. It may be of some comfort to know it's for the best. In her case she stopped breathing and was unable to breathe for herself. Basically her body started to shut down completely. She's made a full recovery, although it was a long road. What I wanted to say is try not to over-worry too much. You'll be concerned, of course, but the hospital's know what they're doing and in this state they can breathe for the patient and ensure they get the right nutrients. I hope your own sister makes a full recovery.

Thank you so much, Karl. Your words are very encouraging. I suppose I feel a little sad because my work took me all over Ontario and then Nova Scotia far from my three sisters for too many years. We only had a chance to get together and keep in much closer contact these past years, since I retired and then my stroke kept me out of commission for a long time. So these last couple of years with dozens of e-mails and phone calls brought us all much closer. I was reminded of how precious a person Susan really is. Very please to hear your sister recovered. God bless. Read some of your work---very good. Having a hard time to concentrate these days because of Susan, so did not leave any comment. Keep writing, friend. Richard

Richard, my sister had a tracheostomy, which made it a lot easier for the hospital to breathe for her and then gradually bring her out of the induced coma (over a period of about three or four days) without the discomfort - well, relatively speaking. It's hardly left a scar.

Karl, isn't it amazing the equipment our hospitals have? We are blessed to live in the West where our governments share the wealth of the nation. Cynics may disagree and if so, I will feel sad for them. Your sister's recovery is also a benefit from God and Society. My dad had a piece (1/3) of lung removed in 1999 and that operation cost about $50,000. Imagine. And our health care system paid it all. He was placed twice on artificial breathing, and after leaving hospital lived another four years before a heart attack took him. I bet my sister's operation was at least $100,000 and all covered. PTL Richard

We will, music88 and thank you so much for your concern. Richard & Esther