Besides studying other people, observing their emotions, etc. one
surefire way to make characters more believable is to merely write them
that way. I’ve seen a lot of posts (especially on Tumblr)
on writing believable characters and I feel the easiest way to do that
is to sit down, stop studying people, stop writing sparse notes in
notebooks, on napkins, and edges of desks, and merely write the
character through chapters, dialogue, and/or scenes.
It may seem revelatory, but I assure you, the sooner one stops
listening to the myriad voices shouting into the void (yes, such as this
one), the sooner one can sit down, find their own voice, and successful
shut out the other voices telling them what ‘rules’ to follow or
what ‘techniques’ to pay heed to.
"When you feel perpetually unmotivated, you start questioning your existence in an unhealthy way; everything becomes a pseudo intellectual question you have no interest in responding whatsoever. This whole process becomes your very skin and it does not merely affect you; it actually defines you. So, you see yourself as a shadowy figure unworthy of developing interest, unworthy of wondering about the world - profoundly unworthy in every sense and deeply absent in your very presence."
It’s that feeling we’ve all experienced where, despite our accomplishments, we’re unable to feel like we’ve earned our spot. Like we’re a creative imposter and someone is going to find out we don’t belong.
I don’t know any creative person who has never internalized this feeling.
But the truth is: we’ve all earned our spots, because the only opinion that matters is yours. So shake off those insecurities and learn to be the boss of your creative life.
Remember…
You are your harshest critic. Don’t beat yourself up. Treat yourself like you’d treat any other critique partner.
If you don’t respect your writing time, no one else will. Make those quiet moments count.
You decide what your idea of success is. Don’t let anyone tell you who you should be.
If you want to write for you, that’s okay. Getting published doesn’t define a writer.
Give your life breathing room to allow creative thoughts to come in. When you schedule your day down to the minute where will inspiration come from?
If you want to be a writer you must do two things: call yourself a writer and write.
Imposter syndrome means that people overcompensate to outwardly show like they belong. But what matters most is quietly chipping away at your goals in a way that is meaningful to you.
We spend our lives writing, talking and also non-verbally communicating. Listen and look at what’s happening around you: those are the honest parts of life that need to make it into your writing to make it come alive. Desk time isn’t the only writing time.
Give yourself permission to make mistakes. As long as you learn from them they’re all part of your process. And give yourself permission to break routine. As long as you know the difference between a routine that’s no longer working and taking a day off.
A “no” only gets you closer to the “yes” that matters. And all it takes is one yes.
