In no order, the suckiest of the suck (in terms on self-torture, lack of productivity, and the general ennui that– for me– accompanies creative endeavours):
5. NEGATIVE SELF TALK
examples
“that is really crappy”
“you are never going to finish it”
“if anybody see that they are going to to think you are a weirdo or a pervert” (For the record, I am aware that I am likely both of these things, but sometimes I feel oogy about all and sundry knowing this. I guess I want to be a closeted weird pervert).
4. DISTRACTING SELF WITH OTHER MEDIA
examples
“Surely one more episode of The Walking Dead won’t hurt, will it?”
“But I *need* to re-read every single book of the The Black Company again this year! I know I’ve read it 4 times, but I need to do it for research!”
“Just one more game of Don’t Starve. I have to get even with the spider horde.”
3. TAKING IRRELEVANT FEEDBACK TO HEART
In other words, giving too much weight to the opinions offered by people who don’t like UF or horror. Ditto lending credence of the opinions of people who think that only literary novels have value. There is no point in listening to the opinions of peeps who don’t read my genres. That would be like someone in a ska band taking critical notes from a classical music enthusiast.
2. PLAIN OLD FASHIONED FUCKING LAZINESS
Sometimes I just don’t wanna. I could if I forced myself, but I decide to let myself off the hook.
1. SIMPLY NOT SITTING DOWN AND DOING IT
Sometimes I am too squidgy and I let other people and priorities take me away from writing. I have a helluva time saying “no”. That gets in the way of me sitting down and doing what I want to do.
Chloe Cocking 