You don’t start out writing good stuff. You start out writing crap and thinking it’s good stuff, and then gradually you get better at it. That’s why I say one of the most valuable traits is persistence.

– Octavia E. Butler

  • @[email protected]English
    3•1 year ago

    One way to think of it is the stages of competence.

    1. Unconscious Incompetence - You’re bad at it, but you haven’t learnt enough to yet see you are bad
    2. Conscious Incompetence - You are bad at it, and now actually understand you’re bad at it!
    3. Conscious Competence - You’re getting better, but only because you’re really applying your skills hard and putting in effort
    4. Unconscious Competence - You’re good at it, and being good comes easily

    2-3 is the low point where people tend to give up, because you go from that euphoria of being a new writer where you are cranking work out so fast and easily to the depths of self-loathing where even 1 page feels like a huge effort.

    I feel it, because I’m there.

    But this progression of skill applies to a lot of things in life other than writing. I work in IT and I’ve seen it there in myself and in others, so I know if I keep going then maybe one day 4 can be a reality :)

    • @CaspianXIOPMEnglish
      3•1 year ago

      I love this way of looking at it. My first novel was crap – I just didn’t know it.

      But the only way to advance through the levels is to write.

      Keep writing!