How to Stop Hating Your Own Writing (Tips for New Writers)

Do you ever find yourself writing and then go back to read what you wrote, only to hate it? It can be hard to write something meaningful when writing for the first time. We all have different writing styles! 

New writers tend to hate all of their work. To stop hating what they write, they can work on developing a strong voice and take ample breaks during the writing process. And let go of the thought that it will be perfect. Perfection is the worst expectation any writer can have of themselves. 

This blog post will help you stop hating your own writing. Keep reading, and you will learn how to write with confidence and create content that people love reading!

How to Stop Hating What You Write

First, writing is not about perfection. It’s something you want to get better at, and it takes time! Do not compare your writing with others’ writing because everyone has a different style! 

You might like reading Shakespeare but hate what you write; that doesn’t make your writing bad or wrong. To stop hating your own writing, you must learn to accept writing as a process. There are no shortcuts or secret magic formulas, just hard work!

Writing what you feel is the first step to stop hating your writing. Giving yourself permission to do this will make writing easier and more enjoyable!

Stop Feeling Like You Are Not A Good Enough Writer

The process of writing can be frustrating, especially if you are a new writer. You might feel like your writing is not good enough, and those people will not enjoy it (whoever “those” people are) – but this is just part of the writing process.

If you want to stop hating your own writing and get better at writing in general, use the following tips:

  • Avoid writing what you think other people want to read. Instead of writing for others, write for yourself! 
  • Don’t rely on spell check to edit your writing! Spell check only checks the basics of writing, so you must use proper grammar and punctuation. Spell check will also leave you going to and fro instead of going to the store for…
  • Read over everything yourself – out loud before posting it online or sending it out to the editor. Reading out loud helps you catch mistakes your eyes won’t.
  • Try to read as much writing from other people as possible. Reading will help you build a writing career and gain experience!
  • Use writing prompts to help you come up with ideas for writing. If you’re struggling, try writing down your thoughts and feelings on a piece of paper! 
  • Write every day and schedule time into your calendar so that it becomes an activity or habit rather than something stressful or haphazard.

The writing process can be difficult, but writing is an amazing way to express yourself. You must believe in yourself to be confident in your writing.

It is not easy to stop hating your writing, but you must realize that writing is a passion for everyone who does it – that includes you! It takes time and energy to improve on writing skills, so don’t give up if you feel like quitting. 

You are never alone when it comes to how you feel about writing – there are writers out there feeling the same way as you do right now!

Re-Think The Criticisms of Your Own Writing

Sometimes writing requires you to take a step back and take in your entire piece. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes! 

There is no such thing as perfect writing.

Write from your heart about things that you enjoy or are interested in so it’s more fun for you and easier to write. 

Do not let your inner critic get the best of you. The writing process can be scary and frustrating, but writing is an incredible skill.

The writing journey may not always feel easy. In fact, it seldom will, but don’t give up! If you’re struggling with criticism of your own writing, try the following to become a better writer today:

  • Keep writing because you love it – There will always be days where writing feels harder than usual but just keep going anyway. If not today, there is another tomorrow for creating new content inspired by something from everyday life to become a better writer!
  • Set simple goals – Aim to finish a writing goal each day. This gets you excited to write. Even if you are unhappy with the end product that day, you are flexing the skill and can only get better!
  • Take a break – Give yourself time and space so that you don’t feel rushed or stressed when writing

If writing is not something you feel like doing on a certain day, don’t do it at all! Take some time off if necessary but keep writing because there will always be days when you want to write again. That said, don’t let that become a habit or an excuse. Successful writers sit down at the keyboard regardless of how they are feeling.

Do Not Trash Your Writing Because You Hate It

If at the moment you hate your writing, that does not mean you should get rid of it altogether. All the writing you are doing is working toward creating stronger stories, and there will be another day where you love it again.

There are days when writing just feels like an uphill battle, but that doesn’t mean writing is not for you! Sometimes you may need to start somewhere else and return to a piece at another time. 

There are all kinds of writers out there with different: 

  • Abilities
  • Personalities
  • Styles

This means you should not write off writing as something that’s not right for you if one or two works aren’t your best pieces. 

Some people think they’re great at writing poetry, while others find their strength in prose. Some hate everything they’ve written so far, whereas others can hardly stop themselves from starting on the next piece immediately! 

In Summary: You Won’t Hate Your Writing Forever

It is well known in the writing community that most writers hate their work and are never satisfied with what they produce. But you can be the exception to that stereotype. 

You can learn to love your writing, and much of that love comes from the understanding that anything you put out will never be perfect. As you get more comfortable with your style of writing, you will begin to love your work all over again!

Remember what Samuel Beckett wrote about failure: “Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.” Keep working hard to fail better!

Sources:

https://www.standoutbooks.com/hating-your-own-work/

https://medium.com/@stacey_laatsch/the-surprising-and-simple-explanation-when-you-hate-your-own-writing-c9c45c2dfa1a