I have a dream that I will one day start writing poems that matter. Ones that spark with the essence of me and hold symbols and metaphors that will pick at your mind forever. Maybe this is a hope or a pipe dream, but that’s sincerely how I feel. Sure, I do write for sanity and to discover little things about myself I thought I knew, but I also want to change lives for the better.
My pessimistic mind feels as though in recent weeks my poetry has gone on a sharp decline. Either that or the self-confidence I once had has. I do write a lot, but I limit each writing style as to not burn out. One could say to stop writing other forms of words, but I enjoy scripting plays and really short fiction. Perhaps, throw a novel in here or there. I do read but not as often as I write. I pretty much either have to choose whether to read a little and write a lot or write a little and read a lot. I prefer the former, because it’s cheaper, I’m very picky about work, and it helps me savor over the books more. I do read a lot of online work, but I mean in the realms of printed poetry.
I know I will improve. I look at work I produced just a few months ago, and I wonder what the hell was I thinking. Not all of it’s bad, and I usually can salvage something in the rewrites I’ve finally started doing. Perhaps, I’m more lax with my words which will help me sculpt something better in a rewrite, but I really try to write something that’s pretty good on the first shot. Then, afterwards, I try to sculpt it into a finer piece of art.
I have always been and will always be my hardest critic.
6 comments
Comments feed for this article
February 20, 2009 at 6:03 pm
Selma
I think everyone is their toughest critic. I know I am. I have entire screenplays and manuscripts in my filing cabinet that I can’t bear to edit because I think they’ll be crap. Yet when I look at them they’re actually not that bad.
Do you have someone you trust who could read your work for you and give you an objective opinion? That might restore your faith in yourself.
What you are feeling is what we all feel. We go through stages of extreme inspiration when the words just pour out or extreme perspiration where we are sweating on the fact that nothing comes.
I think you can write. My advice to you is just keep writing. And reading. I borrow a lot of books from the library (as I can’t afford to buy every new release). It is hard to find the time to do both but I feel reading the work of other writers really improves my writing.
Keep at it. You’ll find your groove!
February 21, 2009 at 12:27 pm
Geraldine
Keep going, keep experimenting, keep writing. We do improve at the things we love, if we persevere. Some timely advice here, glad I stopped in.
Love your blog name btw!
I’ve stopped by via Sel’s place.
February 22, 2009 at 2:34 am
Cricket
I agree with Selma. We all go through the ups and downs of writing. Yes, I too would love to be published someday. But for now I am just enjoying the pleasure and release I feel when I finish a short story. My advice, write for the enjoyment, if anything else becomes of your writing then it is icing on the cake.
February 24, 2009 at 10:11 am
Lauri
As the ladies have said- we all feel this way. I have hundreds of published articles, many published short stories, a few contests under my belt and seven published books and I still get days when I say- ‘Am I any good at this?’ Maybe it is what keeps us working and trying to improve. The bulk of success in writing is sticking to it and hard work. There are loads of far more talented writers than I who will never be published.
Also like Selma has mentioned- reading is very important. I find if you prioritise, time is everywhere. Good luck and keep at it!
February 26, 2009 at 6:43 pm
Kayt
ditto the rest of the crew – I would emphasize reading and finding some poets you respect to give you feedback on your work, both are essential to improving your writing – I write a wide variety of stuff, poems, short story, essay, technical, it helps keep me sane and all the writing feeds all the writing, but I do allow poetry to be my primary focus, sometimes it can help to focus on an aspect of your writing for a while – the critic is on everyone’s shoulder have no doubt, trick is not to take it too seriously – listen, but keep it in perspective – & keep writing, keep writing – - oh, and btw, to get published you have to submit work, lots of it – the accept rate is low, even for excellent writers so just keep working on making the writing better and keep submitting – Lauri is so right, a large share of the gig is just plain hard work – best of luck with it all!!
February 27, 2009 at 4:52 pm
DavidM
Hi,
I agree with the others. What I would add is that I have found that, more often or not, it is good writers and those with the potential to become good writers who doubt their writing abilities and are their own hardest critics. Many bad writers believe that everything they write is gold and have no doubt about it-and react negatively when told otherwise.
Cheers,
DavidM