\"Reading Printer Friendly Page Tell A Friend
Rated: 18+ · Book · Personal · #2348964

This is a continuation of my blogging here at WdC

◀ Previous · Entry List · Next ▶
#1110536 added March 13, 2026 at 12:53am
Restrictions: None
20260313 Overthinking
Overthinking

This sort of follows on from my last post.

I do beta reading for a few people for short stories and, of course, review here and also on a Discord server. And there is one thing I think differentiates the writers who have some success and those who struggle.
          Oh, by “struggle,” I mean to finish, to be happy with their story or to get it looked at.
          The strugglers overthink their stories. Now, I want to say again (from last post) this is not the technical side – that should be as good as possible. I mean they try to make their stories just like all the “professionals” and online writing courses and YouTubers and the like tell them to do.
          They try to have their message front and centre. They try to have their theme completely explicit and transparent. They try to have their characters represent ideologies instead of being people. They try to make people think over encouraging them to read on. They then try to have the perfect three-act structure using whatever plotting technique is the flavour of the month. They change plotting styles and writing styles and writing practicalities (where they write, how long they write, etc.).
          You would not believe how many online courses I have seen that contradict other online courses.

And this brings us to the writer. Especially those at the start of their writing journey, the writers are confronted with all of this and then try to do it all, even the contradictory things. Too many writers overthink the process.
          Writing is an art, which means there is as much emotion as there is intellect in what is produced. Overthinking the process and the execution and even the planning/ plotting can lead to not only story stagnation, but also a decrease in joy in the writer.
          Artists need to like what they are doing in order to produce the art that resonates. Yes, some might find it hard and it might be frustrating, but an artist does need to like what they do. Overthinking can lead to that joy being diminished.

My suggestion is, especially at the start… go with the flow. Enjoy the process. If you want a message/ theme/ ideological representation… add them in the second draft.
*Thought*  Comment

© Copyright 2026 S🤦‍♂️ (UN: steven-writer at Writing.Com). All rights reserved.
S🤦‍♂️ has granted Writing.Com, its affiliates and its syndicates non-exclusive rights to display this work.
◀ Previous · Entry List · Next ▶