Expert: Susan Rand - 1/25/2007

Question
Hi Susan,
   I'm about halfway through my novel but I'm feeling as if I've fallen into a slump. I keep having really negative thoughts about it, that maybe I should just scrap the whole thing etc.. I have an agent and this is my first novel but I don't feel good enough and I'm panicking. Are these thoughts normal in a writer? The first 20,000 words are being critiqued as I write this and I'm dreading the response. Please could you give me any advice on feeling more positive with my work and how to hold the panic back! Thank you. Theresa.

Answer
Hello Theresa:

It is entirely normal for a writer to be thrown into a panic halfway through their novel. I don't know who you have critiquing your work, but you may be pleasantly surprised at the results. If you are not, take your novel to worddistillery.com (You will have to cut and paste as this site does not support hyperlinks). Some of the people there are beginners and others are more experienced. They will give you all sorts of advice. How can you tell if the advice is good? I tell the writers I mentor: take advice only from those who can not only tell you that something's wrong, but what it is and how to fix it. Some people may know those things but not be willing to teach them to you.

Many writers panic because they are afraid - some of failure, some of success. In regard to your fear, I suggest you get a tape recorder and make yourself an encouraging message. In addition to your own words of support, record  the positive responses you get from other people - 15 minutes of this should be enough. Whenever you get ready to write (or a couple of times a day, anyway), lay back, close your eyes and listen to the tape. Don't think about it, just listen. Try this for two weeks. If it doesn't seem to help, come back and we'll try something else.

If it was me, I'd be incredibly encouraged by the fact that I had an agent!

I hope this helps. If it does, a nice rating would be greatly appreciated. I am proud of my high score over 860 questions.

And good luck with your writing!