#seriously my writing and works feel downright worthless compared to that shit

[burningcheese-merchant]

I've read your stories, so well written! Which is what I want to talk about, HOW ARE YOU SO GOOD AT WRITING!?! Half of the words you use I have no idea existed! How can ya write an engaging story from looking at one sentence so quickly?! What are ya secrets?!

(If you have already answered a question like this, can ya link me?)

Thank you, my friend :3 I'm not that great, trust me haha. I'm just a turbo nerd with 20-ish years of books under their belt, that's why I'm relatively well-spoken. I'm also afflicted with an overactive imagination that helps keep me awake at night (among other things), which is how I'm struck with inspiration in the way that I am. (Seriously, I get writing/drawing ideas constantly, all throughout the day. I have docs I write them down in so I don't forget them)

I did answer a question like this before, but I don't mind answering it again just so I can offer another bit of writing advice that I consider very important:

Don't compare yourself to others. Well and truly, comparison is the thief of joy. Learn from others, yes. Read the classics, look up to the greats, dive into works that are lauded as masterpieces so you can grasp what works in storytelling and why. But, on the flip side, don't allow yourself to get discouraged while you do so (which might be easier said than done, granted). Envy and inadequacy are tragically common feelings every person grapples with, in every aspect of life, writing included. You might read something so great that you'll feel like a damn fool standing next to it. Don't let this happen. It's ok to feel bad; someone will always be better than us at something, for better or worse. But you can't let it drag you down. Use it as fuel for improvement. Compare to gauge your own strengths and weaknesses and find inspiration, not just to put yourself down. You'll never want to do anything if you do, because you'll think there's no point when you're not as good or beloved as someone else. Work hard, get better, do not be afraid to tell yourself "good job" - and, with all of this, do it for YOU. Write because it makes you happy. Don't chase trends to be popular and appease others, don't browbeat yourself because you don't measure up to someone "better". Just write what you want and improve your technique for your own sake. You can become the greatest writer in the world and still be miserable because you keep comparing yourself to someone else. The only person you can be is YOU. Take SOME measure of pride and joy in your own work, however good or bad it turns out to be. You'll never know peace or happiness otherwise

[mimiplaysgames]

I’m baaaaaaaaaaaaack.

I’ll still need time to readjust my queue and everything, and even though the con is over, I have deadlines, my troupe director suddenly wants me to substitute a class last minute, so I don’t have the time to breathe like I thought I would.

But there are things I just wanted to vent out, now that I’ve had a bunch of serotonin pumped into my brain and I’m still on a high from that.

First of all, it’s so true when they say to move when you’re depressed or going through a rough time. Dance (or movement) is incredibly healthy for you, not just for your muscles, your tendons, your fascia, but for your brain (especially if it’s sick). I can feel the worst and would loathe to go to class, or to prepare for a performance - I can feel burnt out, stressed, uninspired, etc etc but at least a little movement helps to keep that stuff at bay. As someone who has MDD and other disorders, take my word for it. It cannot cure despair, which is a severe emotion that needs to be ridden out and experienced and then let go, but it’s better in the long-run for sure.

Anyway, it was also just so good to be away for a while. I seriously needed it. My last piece was a massive failure, and when I’ve worked so hard on it, it was truly devastating (I also had to deal with people lying to me through their teeth about liking it - which is dehumanizing to go through when this fic took a part of my soul. And from someone who is like a colleague in this community, it made me feel worthless, like my work would never be good enough and that I don’t belong. I didn’t feel welcomed or respected at all, and that was worse than the piece being a flop. I write to belong, and when writing is the only thing I can offer, that rejection is loud and clear, and downright disgusting. I deserve better than shit like that).

But when life hands you lemons, you throw them away and move on (I hate lemons). And that’s where I’m at now. I think if it wasn’t for the con and the 22 hours of dance, I’d probably be at a really low place still, but I feel so much more uplifted. I hit a breakthrough in dance (because I also deal with spinal disorders that limit my movement, and instead of dealing with people who tell me that I won’t be capable of doing certain things, I’ve met teachers who will legitimately help, and that’s so invaluable), and just going through that made me realize the exact same things I’ve been telling myself since I started writing - fuck the haters, fuck the people who are apathetic to you, fuck those who look down on you and your work, fuck those who compare you to others. Do your thing because you need to. Do your thing to spite those who don’t support you. Do your thing because it’s your thing, and everyone not on your boat is pretty much useless to you (not like it’s easy and one day soon, I’ll hit a new low because I know myself very well).

It’s something I have to say, because I know so many other people go through down times, and in the aftermath of this recent release, if someone feels like I don’t have a right to be a part of this community or that my work isn’t good enough to be a part of this community... well then truthfully I hope they get IBS.

But if I’m going to be the responsible role model and tell y’all not to get petty with those who put you down (but shit, I’m petty who cares?), then the responsible thing to say is not to let your doubters win. Wish them a painful visit to the dentist that will last them a week and then be merry.