It’s funny, even as I was writing it. I don’t mean to puff up my own ego, because I don’t do that often, yet I was a bit surprised by myself.
I was able to start back writing in first person-narrative, only I was surprised by the fact that I was able to do such a thing. Years ago, I tried writing in first person, some went alright, most of them were very short lived. I tried again now, only to find that it is going rather smoothly than I could have ever imagined.
I don’t want to sound like a bragger, because my writing and everything is subpar, I have noticed the potential is very hidden within the trash writing.
Moving on, have you noticed that your writing is improving a bit? You are still learning and growing as a writer, but you can’t deny that your writing still needs improvement, even if you have been writing for years.
The stories I’ve written back then are far more horrible than the stories I am writing now. The only difference is that my current stories are horrible with some potential to be good stories.
Oh heck yeah, I’ve only heard of one case where someone never improved, just wrote at the same skill level for years on end, and that was in an AITA thread on LitHub.
You’d really have to work at staying in place, methinks. Every time you do something–play the guitar, ride a bike, ice skate, etc.–you can’t help but get a little better. (*＾-‘) 乃
I don’t like reading my old work for that very reason. I also find that the more I write, the better my ideas get. Maybe it’s because I have a better concept now of what makes a good premise, but whatever it is, it feels like my scenarios are getting more substantive. But maybe that’s just me…? ¯\_(ﭢ)_/¯
I didn’t read further, but the topic questions are rather interesting. LOL!
I mean, people really feel strongly about things they hate.
It’s funny how I am not much of a reader, but when I write fiction, I pick up on small things here and there.
I read when I am not heavily distracted by life and my mental health, on a spur of the moment. Yet I mostly write over read fiction, yet I do pick up on things a bit faster than most people. It doesn’t happen quickly, it does take a bit for me to realize it, when I do realize it.
Quick question: Have you ever written a story similar to a published author, without ever reading their work and knowing very little about them?
I did something like that in the same way. A YouTuber was reviewing an Agatha Christie book, then revealed the spoiler ending of the book. That ending reminded me of the ending I did for my short story Into the Chaos.
Not that I know of, but I did invent a phrase and publish it in a book in 2015, then later discovered that Margaret Atwood had written the very same phrase in The Handmaid’s Tale in 1985, which I didn’t read until 2017. Made me mad! (╯°□°)╯︵ ┻━┻
Recently, I was feeling like, creativity-wise, trying too hard, and therefore, writing myself into too much complexity, and ditching the entire “writing is free and fun!” aspect and feeling tired and not so excited working on a story. So, kind of like I peaked and stagnated and nothing was going right. Like I’ve gone so far into one direction to try to improve that it’s actually been to my detriment.
So, I’ve been trying to simplify plot recently. It feels like a digression as I’m doing it, but I really need to do it to find that story-writing freedom again.
I do like writing. It’s just been two steps forward, three steps back recently.
Hi!
I’m new and I’ve been lurking about. But your question and post really interested me. That is such a good question you’ve asked.
Yes, my writing improved every time I wrote something. But every time I would go back and look, it was very obvious where I was interrupted numerous times. That is something that I have to strive to work on. Back then I had so many distractions my children were small and my husband and all of the housework and laundry and everything. Now, my children are grown my husband passed away and I have no other distractions. Unfortunately, I’ve gone so long without writing that I have fallen away from it.
I believe that the more you write, the more you allow others to read what you’ve written and offer comprehension feedback, punctuation feedback or grammar or sentence structure or possible ideas, the faster and the better you will get as time goes on. I don’t believe a writer is ever really satisfied with what goes out. At least not for the rest of their lives. I feel sure that where I to get something published that as soon as it was published and put out I would find things that I didn’t like. Lol!
You commented about horrible stories, I believe. My dear, no story is a terrible story. I have often found that talking to someone you trust if you feel like it’s a horrible story can often help you see it in a different way. Everyone has potential - not everyone has the inspiration, the patience, or the dedication to write a story.
Well, that’s my take on it. Thanks so much for writing that post. Now, two questions for you.
When you sit down to write and you are looking at a blank piece of paper, an empty computer screen, whatever it is that’s in front of you right before you write. What do you see in your mind and heart in that piece of paper or blank screen as a writer?
I use my computer. It’s a tad strange because some stories, I can just type away without any hesitation, while with other stories, I do stare at the screen for a bit. It’s somewhat the same when jotting down notes. I never really pondered what I see as a writer. I honestly never thought about it that way. LOL!
Creating stories, being imaginative gives me hope and aspires to me so much. I love just building worlds and crafting stories in a way that is unique to me. Also, I have so many stories that I want to write and to share with others. Without writing fiction, my life would not be this entertaining.
My favorite thing to see is a blank sheet of paper or a Word document that has nothing written in it. You see, when I look at that emptiness I don’t see it as emptiness, I see it as millions and millions of possibilities and worlds and people and cultures and histories and stars and dreams of the characters and I know that right there has no boundaries. That blank piece of paper is waiting for me to create anything that I want to. The possibilities are endless. That’s what I see when I look at a blank sheet of paper or a blank word processing document.
My mother was the first thing that inspired me. She took a writing class. I can’t for the life of me figure out why because she was amazing anyway. I was quite small and she sat down and was reading to my father primarily and myself what she had written. It still sticks out to me with enormous clarity the purple grasses waving in the fields under the pale lavender sky. I had never even thought of anything like that. That one little bit about a young girl in a field of purple grass underneath a lavender Sky removed all boundaries in my mind as far as imagination went. I knew I could write anything. Even that small.
I love reading stuff that I’ve written before because as I’m reading it, far more Amazing Ideas will pop through my head. Also the grammar and the punctuation errors really stick out. That makes it easy for me to correct it. Especially if a lot of time has passed, I can go back and read and just so many new ideas will pop in my head. It requires a lot of rewriting, but boy it comes out so much better!
Oh heck yeah, I agree, if it’s something you’re still working on but maybe it’s on a back burner, then it’s great to reread it later. The errors do pop out at you when you’ve put some distance between you and the work. But once it’s truly done and published, then I hate to look at it ever again. (*＾-‘) 乃
