Any other young writers/artists ever feel hopeless and miserable?

Question

Well I love to write. I've known since I was like 10 that what I wanted to be when I grew up was a writer/author. I also love to draw. I'm not bad at it, but it doesn't come naturally to me. It takes me hours to draw one picture; in the end it's usually worth it because it looks great but it's still a pain because I'm not a natural born artist.

Lately I've had absolutely no motivation to write or draw. I still love writing and drawing, I just haven't felt like it.

A friend of mine is like, REALLY good at drawing, she's truely a artist; not only that, but she writers too. And her writing is pretty darn good.

She's in a special class now for gifted artists.

No, I'm not jealous. I think it's awesome she's so talented. But I feel all hopeless about my own work.

I guess I'm sorta comparing myself to others; I'm not purposely trying to. It's just that I wish I could be as passinate as my friend is; I wish it came that naturally to me.

Answer 1

aww well thanks. I knew my drawing and writing was wonderful! I didn't need you to tell me it again. I mean everyone says that to me. :)

Don't be upset!!! I think that you are wonderful!! Just show off your work. You may start to realize that people really do like it.  I love you to peices even if you hate yourself. :)

Answer 2

I am the same way as you with my writing. I am very self conscious about my work, I rarely show it off and I am constantly thinking the next person's poetry/papers, etc are better than mine. But, you have to remember that you are your own worst critic! For all you know, your friend could be thinking the same things about your work that you think of hers. And art is a form of expression, emotion, and imagination. If what you are writing and drawing is coming from deep inside of you, it must be beautiful.

Answer 3

I'm not young anymore but can remember, besides, it doesn't really go away for most of us.  First, I think every artist (visual, musical, wordcraft, all types) wants recognition just like you do.  I know I do.  I also know that I get really down sometimes.  There are two times that it gets bad.  Of course, when things aren't working right in what I'm trying to write and then, strangely enough, when a big project is finished I get depressed.

One thing that strikes me in your post and that of the previous answer is the reluctance to do something with your work.  That, I think, is a mistake.  You should be looking for competitions to enter, periodicals at your level to submit to and do it expecting rejection because it will surely come.  But you will both learn from them and get stronger for doing it.  

Another thing that I think you should do is find some others near your age that write and get together at least a couple of times a month (weekly would be better) and read your work to each other and tell each other what you think works or doesn't work.  Critique like that will help you learn how the reader will experience your writing and, remember, when you write, it's for someone to read.  That kind of critique will also help you develop the ability to handle it when someone doesn't like what you have written.  Believe me, there will always be some of those. Stephen King's work is not universally loved and neither is anyone else's.  What is important is, if you want to be a writer, WRITE.  When nothing will come, write about not having anything to write about but WRITE.  When it comes to inspiration, I have a strong feeling about that.  If you write, you're a writer, if you wait, you'll be a waiter.  Don't doubt yourself.  Do what you love to do.  Know you're not as good at it as you will be and keep working toward the perfection that you know can't be reached.  A great contemporary writer once said, roughly (don't hold me to the exact words) "All it takes to be a successful writer is talent, luck, and determination and if you have enough of the latter, you only need one of the first two."

I think you have plenty of numbers one and three,  just let them out and luck will take care of itself.

I will try to remember to watch this post for anything you might add and if you have any questions about getting a critique group going, I'll try to answer.