Writers, what’s your greatest weakness? While I believe it’s more important to focus on honing one’s strengths than getting too hung up on your problems, it’s still beneficial to recognize the areas you struggle. Then you can find ways to shore them up or at least minimize them.
My good friend Cassia Schaar asked how I deal with my writing weaknesses and it got me thinking! (I did a post on this topic waaaay back in 2015, but my writing has evolved since then.) So. I know my strengths include characterization, prose, and sometimes themes and worldbuilding as well.
But weaknesses?
Oh, that’s right, I’m perfect. *flips hair*
KIDDING. I am confronted by my writing weaknesses almost every time I sit down at the keyboard. And I think even our writing strengths can give us problems sometimes, no matter how naturally those elements may come to us.
I mean, novelist Thomas Mann did say, “A writer is somebody for whom writing is more difficult than it is for other people.”
So today I’m going to be spilling the tea on my weak points as a writer—and how I deal with them.
HERE WE GO.
Weakness #1: Plot
Yep, PLOT. Only the most important ingredient in a novel besides characters. 🙄 I can create a cast of people I love in a world that fascinates me, but the thing that causes me the most problems is what these characters DO in their world. Whenever I get writer’s block, it’s most often a plot problem.
How do I deal with it?
Edit, edit, and edit some more. I’m not the most extreme outliner, and neither am I a seat-of-the-pants writer. But when it comes time to whip a first draft into shape, out comes my organizational side. I make detailed notes, document my brainstorming sessions to get myself out of all those plot knots, create timelines, and basically track everything I can to get my story back on the rails.
When something feels off and I can’t figure out what it is, I’ll also refresh myself on story structure to help diagnose the problem. Maybe it’s a first act that stretches on forever or some puzzle piece in the middle is missing.
I also turn to my writer friends and beta readers at some point in this process. A fresh set of eyes will find plot holes I didn’t know were there. They’ll ask questions I hadn’t thought of and poke holes in things I thought were working. WHICH IS GOOD. Everyone has their blind spots, so getting critical feedback is precious to me.
Weakness #2: Conflict
Tied with the plotting probs are conflict issues. I hate writing myself into corners and not knowing how to get my characters out, so I’ll catch myself dancing around conflict and letting them off the hook too easily.
Author Suzannah Rowntree started a super interesting conversation in the Realm Makers Consortium Facebook group several months ago about MBTI personalities and writing. She shared her observations on how a writer’s personality often results in certain strengths and weaknesses, and she was bang-on for INFJ (my type).
Extraverted Feeling (NFJs and SFJs) – usually manifests in vivid, three-dimensional, deep, and lovable characterisation, together with juicy ethical dilemmas; but its Achilles heel is usually plotting, since these types lack the extraverted thinking function that sees the world in terms of “something’s wrong? What can I practically do to fix it?” …Watch out, because your tendency is going to be to write fascinating people who never DO anything to solve their problems or pursue their plot goals. (Worse, Fe users are often highly conflict averse…and their characters often are, too!)
Suzannah Rowntree
This was one of my WORST problems as a new writer in my early teens. You have no idea how easy it was for my characters to save the world!
But these days, I’ve been making a pointed effort to take the advice I once read on the Go Teen Writers blog:
“The writer’s job is to get the main character up a tree, and then once they are up there, throw rocks at them.”
Vladimir Nabokov
And I think (hope) that my beta readers for The Brightest Thread can attest to the fact that I’m improving in this area. 😉
So how I deal with this weakness is basically… keep an eye on it and throw more rocks (as long as they’re meaningful rocks).
Weakness #3: Themes
I did say theme is one of my strengths, but my problem is making sure the story’s theme isn’t too preachy or on the nose. Theme is usually pretty nebulous when I start out, but once I’ve got a grasp on it, my love of symbolism can be either my greatest weapon for executing theme or my greatest pitfall.
I also have to guard against over-romanticizing and ending things too tidily. I’m an idealist (somehow a realist too… such a paradox), so it’s easy to make my stories say something like, “YES! True love fixes EVERYTHING!” Hmm, this sounds like Weakness #2.
In that same conversation about personality type, Suzannah Rowntree said that those with introverted intuition (NTJs and NFJs) “will often create worlds of targeted symbolism, often highly individual and original with a bit of weirdness… The risk with Ni symbolism might be in alienating people to whom it’s too weird, esoteric… or occasionally too on-the-nose.”
How I combat this is usually a combo of gauging beta reader feedback and doing my own soul-searching as I edit. I’m also getting more careful about creating realistic, nuanced consequences.
Weakness #4: Keeping Track of Practical Details
Wait, how long has it been since my character slept? How did they get across the kingdom in a few days when a much shorter journey took weeks? How much food should they pack?
I’m telling you, I’ve dropped the ball on the logistics in just about every novel/novella I’ve written! And it doesn’t help that I seem to like writing stories with multiple timelines, or where time works differently in two different worlds. THAT was a major headache.
Again, it’s in the editing stage that I pull out my spreadsheets and play travel agent, quest scheduler, or juggler-of-the-universe. And also run after the little details, like making sure weapons don’t disappear from one scene to the next.
(I have lost an entire character at one point. No lie.)
Weakness #5: Low Idea Generation
Whether this is a weakness or just a neutral trait is debatable. But it often feels like a weakness as I watch other writers gush about all their plot bunnies or create a killer story concept in the space of a breath.
Barring the exceptional times when inspiration strikes like lightning, my ideas are slower to develop. They can take weeks, even years, to take shape enough for me to begin writing them. One of my future novels has been percolating for at least five or six years, and it’s still not quite ready to be committed to paper.
On the plus side, I’m very focused. When I do find my story, I stick it through to the end. So I guess that’s how I compensate?
But when I need an idea, and I need it NOW, I browse Pinterest for writing prompts, sift through the books/movies I’ve consumed lately for interesting components, brainstorm with writing pals, and consider what’s been on my own mind and heart. It’s like panning for gold.
OOOOH. I love this post idea! This was FASCINATING! Yes, it’s great to lean on our strengths, but it definitely helps to look at our weak points and find how to fix them. I feel like everything is a weak point for me and it’s only through the grace of editing and beta-readers that my books even sort of have a chance??? Lololol. Okay, okay. It’s not that bad, but some days it feels like it. XD
I honestly have the opposite problem with plot. My plots go SO over the deep end and I’m just like, “WILL THIS STORY EVER END???” My plots just will. not. end. *shakes head*
I did not know Suzannah listed out personalities and their writing quirks. :O THAT IS EPIC. Now I want to see ALL her thoughts. I may have to go bug her to send them to me, since I don’t have Facebook. But as an ENFJ, what you shared TOTALLY hit close to home for me tooooo. Do you know it was literally yesterday how I was thinking about my dialogue and how little conflict it has?? Like…my characters are way too nice and get along far too often. XD I just hate making them fight. *sobs* So yes. Yes… Conflict is something I gotta work on more as well.
(And also yes, knowing what you did to my Hadrian baby, I’d NEVER guess you struggled to make things hard for your characters… o.o)
I am also soooo with you on keeping track of things! While rewriting The Nether Isle, I’m just laughing at how often I forgot about things. Like, oh yeah, she had a severely wounded leg that SEEMED to have magically healed in a few hours. And right, they had TWO packs with them, not one. And where did that weapon even end up??? It’s so bad. So so bad. XD It makes me feel better I’m not the only one who struggles with this!
Thank you so much for sharing all this! Honestly, your writing is just… *clutches heart* It’s some of my favorite EVER and it’s hard to even imagine you having weaknesses. You’re doing amazing, girl! Keep writing those awesome books!
I have Cassia to thank for the post idea! But good gracious, Christine, that’s just Editing Brain talking. You’re a NATURAL at characters (who are deep, hilarious, and all-around heartwarming), theme, pacing, and originality. And that’s just naming a few things off the top of my head. Of course having something be a strength doesn’t mean we nail it every time, but seriously, girl, your writing is AMAZINGGGG.
Haha, once I finally get a plot rolling, it takes off without me and grows octopus tentacles and sometimes doesn’t want to end either. But I could use some of your plot momentum in the early stages for sure. XD
You should totally ask her to send you the whole post! It was fascinating! Bahaha, the too-nice characters, though. XD I wouldn’t have expected that would be your weakness after reading about a certain bristly Dragon or a certain older sister whose name starts with A… BUT YA KNOW. XD
(*chuckles nervously* I, um… may have over-compensated for poor Hadrian.)
Ha, I’ve done that exact thing myself with magically healing wounds! Our writer brains have sooo much to keep track of, though, so it makes sense that we’d drop a few balls along the way. #yayforediting
AHHHH, CHRISTINE. <33333 Thank you so, so much!!! And YOU keep up the fantabulous writing yourself, because I swear we're going to be publishing sisters one day. ^_^
Love this! You know….considering how much you’ve messaged me telling me about the horrible things happening to your characters, I never would have though you had problems with conflict. Then again, you HAVE been editing in those stages. I love that we have completely opposite strengths and weaknesses but also a few that cross over.
I think my biggest weakness as of lately is pacing. It’s hard to know what information to share with my readers and when (if at all). In my early drafts, I tend to write out every little detail and event and feeling—I think it’s part of the exploration of the story. But then my pacing is reaaaaaallllllyyyy slow. Like….that sloth from Zootopia slow. All of the sudden there will be a burst of action that will come and go and then back to the molasses pace. I need an outside opinion for this one most of the time. And often, it also involves some restructuring which I HATE but ya know…that’s the process
(also I love that quote about throwing rocks at your characters in trees XD I think Tolkien took that very literally)
*coughs* Yeah… I think I over-compensated a little in The Brightest Thread. XD It’s not so much that I can’t come up with conflict and obstacles, it’s that I hesitate right on the edge of the cliff and have to stop myself from throwing an easy lifeline and copping out. XD
Oooh, that’s a great point about complementary strengths and weaknesses! Pacing, ugh. That’s one of those things that I either breeze by or struggle with IMMENSELY. There’s no in between. But hey, lots of writers overwrite their first drafts as a way of exploring, and lots doesn’t survive in later drafts. I’d still say it’s a valuable part of the process. And YES, I hear you–restructuring is a major pain. -_-
(I think he did. XD)
Thanks again for the post idea!!!
Lol! As long as you give them hope too (and I know you will!) ^_^ But that makes total sense. It’s kinda hard to commit to conflict for me too. I built up to killing a character once and made sure to emotionally detach myself but then when I tried to kill her I started sobbing and complaining about how permanent it was XD After all that work foreshadowing in her arc too. *sighs *
I agree! Pacing is an all or nothing success. I need to give myself more grace on how awful my pacing is in the first draft because you’re right. Later drafts are often unrecognizable and that’s okay. (remembering YallWest stuff)
And no worries! Always happy to inspire 🙂
Yes! I’m not a fan of stories without hope. ^_^ Ahhhh, that’s the worst! I made it look like I killed off a character once (in my first novel, haha) but later revealed she was actually alive. So… I’m apparently not good at this either. XD
So true! I love what Neil Gaiman says about how a first draft is you figuring out the story, and the second draft is making it look like you knew what you were doing all along. (Yassss, Y’allWest!)
<3
I love this post so much! I’m an NFJ writer too, and that quote you posted ANSWERED SO MANY QUESTIONS I HAD ABOUT MYSELF. I just went through my first round of edits with my upcoming debut and oh boy was that PAINFUL because that meant I had to actually put together a plot *cries*. And yes…logistics is one of my weaknesses too. I think that’s a common weakness, but still. Having a character be in one country and suddenly seem to appear in another is a rather awkward thing for readers, just saying from experience…..
Thanks, Catherine! 😀 Now I’m curious: ENFJ or INFJ?
Isn’t it a genius perspective?! I had a major lightbulb moment thanks to Suzannah. Much sympathy for your plotting problems. That first round of edits can be a doozy… Haha, the character popping up in another country made me laugh–that’s a little too close to my early draft reality! XD
OOH THIS POST IS SO COOL.
My stories are all so different, and I think that’s the biggest thing for me…letting them all be individual in the process as well as the story. It’s PAINFUL, man.
And that point about introverted intuitives…bruh. I have a serious problem with pouring my own life experience into my stories and it…is not subtle xD but then when I want to make points everyone misses them. So yeah, I feel the pain. 😛
Fantastic post as always! This was fascinating! (And I totally admire you for being able to focus on THAT ONE STORY. I can’t do it xD)
*beams*
THAT is an excellent point. I think many of us (myself included) kind of idolize the idea of one set Process(tm) when in reality, it should be a fluid thing that adapts to each project. I know I can tell when I start to get stuck in a formula.
But using your own life experiences is awesome! And cathartic and genuine and all that jazz. Subtlety can be a hard thing, though. 😛 LOL, someone needs to figure out how to transfer what’s in our brain to the page with the push of a button…
Thanks so much! <333 (Well, on the flip side, I admire writers like you who pump out so many stories so wickedly fast!)
Oof this is so relatable. xD Writing weaknesses are the DEATH of me, I tell you!
Oh dear, I have trouble keeping track of details too. One time I had a character whose horse was killed, and then a few scenes later that character was riding the horse again. (Although I suppose that’s less missing details and more just a really bad memory xD) And yeah, when your characters are constantly traveling it’s just a MESS and I cringe to think about when the time comes to edit some of those messes. xD
I think my biggest weakness is writing middles. I kind of dread it every time I start a new book. I always know how the story starts, and where it needs to end up, but how to get there? THAT’S the problem. With my last couple of books, I’ve been able to get through it by one, just pushing through and writing the whole story even if I’m pretty certain that 95% percent of it is going to completely change, and two, not skipping around and writing all the good parts first. If I do that, I lose allll the motivation for the not-so-fun parts!
Fantastic post! 😀
theonesthatreallymatter.blogspot.com
Haha, I’m glad/sorry… XD Thank God for editing, right?
It’s a magically regenerating horse! That would be convenient. In all honesty, though, there’s just so MUCH to keep track of when you’re writing that missing some details is inevitable. Once again… thank God editing is a thing.
Oh, the muddling middles. I’m having that exact problem with a short story I’m currently plotting. 😛 I find that thinking of try-fail cycles helps with middles! I first heard about it on Go Teen Writers: https://goteenwriters.com/2015/12/11/try-fail-cycles/
Thanks so much, Emily! It’s good to know I’m not alone in some of these writing weaknesses. 😉
Ugh, #2 is such a weakness for me as well. I often accidentally pile on the plot armor and it makes for a rather boring storyline. I’ve started using a conflict chart while plotting to help me make sure I have conflict that consistently grows throughout the story and it’s helped quite a bit.
You too?! Well, at least we’re not alone in this. I’m so curious now–what kind of conflict chart do you make? That sounds super helpful!
This is a great post! I also have a problem with plot. I have one story where I have tons of characters and a great world but the plot eludes me. I’ve rewritten it so many times and I’m about to try again. 😂 However, though I’m a major peace maker and hate conflict, I love throwing rocks at my characters. 😂 Description is another weakness of mine. I tend to skimp on it in first drafts and then have to add it later. Once I get into it I love describing though.
Thank you, Tori! Oh plot, thou elusive beast… What that one story I mentioned (the one that’s been percolating for 6-ish years) is missing is the plot. I have scraps of characters, theme, and even a bit of the world, but not much plot yet. 😛 Good luck with your rewrite! You never know which draft will finally nail it!
Haha, maybe the fictional rock-throwing is cathartic. 😉 It’s so interesting to see how some people are overwriters and some are underwriters, and yet it all balances out by the final draft!
Oh my goodness. That quote about Suzannah Rowntree. I FEEL CALLED OUT. 😛 I notice that about myself in my first drafts, that I’m scared to really put my characters through the ringer when I really need to be putting up ALL the road blocks and adding that tension, so I have to add it in editing.
Such a great post!
RIGHT? Such good insight, though! And if we can at least recognize those weaknesses, then like you said, we’re able to fix them through editing.
Thanks so much! 😀
Such a neat post! Usually, people talk about their strengths, but this is much more interesting.
Keeping track of details thing is so difficult. I always forget the tiniest things and then I’m like wait! And have to go back and rewrite a few things, drives me nuts.
(You definitely have a lot of conflict and peril for your characters now. 😉 )
Thank you! I figured it was worth talking about, since those weaknesses will keep plaguing us unless we learn to deal with them–or at least recognize them.
Right?! It gets tedious, scrolling back and searching for all those little things. 😛
(Mwahahaha… 😉 )
If this isn’t me to a T, I don’t know what is. Fellow INFJ high-five! XD Basically yes to all of these, ESPECIALLY plot. I can come up with entertaining characters, but then…they pretty much just stand around until I know what to do with them. XD
As for coming up with ideas…I usually get little tiny snippets of ideas that I really like…and then they sit in the back of my brain for years, forever percolating. It’s MADDENING sometimes. O_o
Yesss, high-five to my fellow INFJ! Right?? You make this charming cast of characters and then… wait, they have to DO something? XD
I know the feeling. They’re hardly ever fully formed, and most often they’re some vague cloud of FEELING or AESTHETIC (so useful, wow) and require me to dig a lot for the actual storyline. You’re not alone!