WPNTA #10; When you know you won't get better at writing unless you actually practice. But you don't know WHAT you should do to practice, or HOW you should go about it, so you just don't. And then make the surprised Pikachu face, when you don't get better. I feel this WPNTA IN PARTICULAR, in my soul. Every day. XD
I feel this in my soul, too… XD
Often times, when writer’s block isn’t the culprit, my reason for not writing is a rather strange brand of intimidation I that manage to bring upon myself. I don’t know what it is, but when I think about the idea of a big audience of readers waiting to see what happens next in my story, I freeze up. I struggle to write, and then more and more time goes by where I simply don’t write at all. Annnddd then I get even more anxious because so much time has gone by and I can feel myself getting rusty. It’s a vicious cycle grounded in anxiety and perfectionism.
For a variety of reasons, sometimes writers stop writing simply because they allow things to get under their skin. In your case, it might be not knowing what to practice. In my case, it’s a perpetual fear of disappointing everyone–including myself. Either way, simply ceasing the craft altogether is going to do nothing but serve as a self-fulfilling prophecy. If you don’t write, you won’t get better. It’s as simple as that.
But here are some things I’ve done to combat that mental block (and simultaneously practice your writing!) regardless of the reason why you stopped writing in the first place:
It’s been a godsend for me to have a close group of writer friends to confide in. Even if I feel a lack of motivation to work on my fics, I can always get a writing quota in for the day merely by catching up on correspondence with my friends. We PM each other, talk about writing, and share stories. It’s been amazingly therapeutic for me! It eases a lot of my stresses, because I know I’m not alone in my worries as a writer. I’m in the company of friends. So I kinda manage to kill two birds with one stone–I’m getting myself to at least write something, and I’m interacting with like-minded people.
Going off of that, if you happen to have a close writer friend or two, perhaps ask if you could get their opinion! Plainly state “I need to know what I can practice, and I need some constructive.” I’m a firm believer that an honest friend will have something to tell you. All genuine, kind-hearted writers want their writer friends to succeed in the craft and get better. They won’t just tell you what you want to hear–they’ll help aid you to growth. If you’re caught between a rock and a hard place, and you simply aren’t writing, it always helps to know you have a support net. Kinda like a gym buddy, but for fanfiction. I have a few very dear “writing gym buddies,” and they’ve been positively instrumental in making sure I’ve stayed on task, haven’t given up, and improved.
If you don’t feel comfortable sharing your writing with friends, perhaps look into getting a beta who can offer a bit of advice! My beta and I have a bit of an unorthodox relationship (she was a fan of my fic, familiar with the fandom, and reached out to me initially instead of vice versa.) Therefore, I’m not well-versed on all the ins and outs of obtaining a traditional betareader via FFN or another system. I do know they’re out there, though! People want to help!
H’okay! As per usual, I went off on a giant rambly ramble! I guess I’ll end on this note: sometimes writers have a hard time writing, and countless reasons can be behind it. Writing is simply a hard thing to achieve with self-motivation alone and zero input from others. So utilize your resources! Graciously accept constructive criticism! Keep your friends close! And you will improve if you’re heart is in it, and you’re determined to learn, grow, and look past what’s daunting you! Good luck to you and every other writer out there who’s having a tough time. I believe in you!