Upon re-reading my old writings, I can tell I have improved because those old writings were really bad. At least in terms of grammar. But at the same time, I think my writing has gotten a bit less fanciful. Before, I seemed to write with a somewhat poetic style which may be because I had been writing poems but I don't know. I now write in a bit more direct way and I don't try as hard to make every sentence sound good but I still look up tons of words just to see if I am using them correctly. I like to think this change is an improvement but I'm not 100% sure.
I guess the way to see if you have improved is to ask people to read your stuff and give their opinion but then you have to decide if you trust their opinion more or yours. If you ask an editor about your writing, you might get a more accurate answer but again, this depends on if you trust them or yourself more. In the end, it's your writing so you are the only one who can judge.
What about you? How can you tell if your writing have improved?
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I remember the problems I had with my first manuscript and see that my current one was pretty strong in my first draft and even better as I revise it. I think getting feedback from critique group members can help you see if you're improving or not. And I prefer direct vs. flowery language in stories.
ReplyDeleteNatalie Aguirre: Getting feedbacks from critique group is a good idea. I still haven't find any good ones. I also prefer direct vs. flowery language.
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I think it boils down to a combination of things. Getting feedback from others is important but ultimately you have to be happy with what you've done. I know my writing has improved because when I read something I just wrote and am able to find the mistakes, it's not earth shattering anymore. I know my limitations and aim to express my creative ideas first and perfect the text second. Each writer has to find what works best for them. The fact that you are working to improve your writing means that you're already on the right track.
ReplyDeleteTori Thomas: It's true, you have to be happy with you have done. I also sort of create a draft first and then perfect the text - that's most easy method to writing, I think.
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Stephen King's comment is sound that writers should read four hours and write four hours each day. You are reaping the benefits of this advice by accessing outside sources daily. I laughed at your comment that you still "look up tons of words" because while writing my post for today I relearned the difference between immersed and emersed! As for scary stories: My all-time favs are the chicken skin tales of marching spirits and ghostly appearances in Hawaii.
ReplyDeleteGail M Baugniet: Some words can be confusing so looking them up is useful.
DeleteI've not heard of chicken skin tales but it sounds a bit scary.
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I've also run into feeling like too much research/reading on craft can sometimes throw more wrenches into the system because they make me question myself. I feel like I lost some of the exploratory ways I had and that I'd closed in, so I'm working on expanding my writing again and enjoying it instead of being so business-like about it.
ReplyDeleteShannon Lawrence: I guess you have to decide what's useful and what's not. Sometimes we forget the process don't always have to be so strict or business-like as you.
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I think we get better as we go and do more writing over time.
ReplyDeleteMary Kirkland: I agree with you, we do get better as we keep practicing/writing.
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Great that you are always learning and trying to improve-Christine cmlk79.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteChristine: I hope to keep improving and learning. Thank you for coming by. Have a lovely day.
DeleteInteresting post, Lissa! I die from cringe when reading over my early writings, so filled with adverb abuse and bloated writing. I consider tighter writing to be better, personally, but maybe your poetic style is more true to you. (I believe we all bring our unique writing style--no one can write like me.) One sign of improvement for me is my critique partner and editor spending less time on my later works.
ReplyDeleteJennifer Lane: I also cringe a bit at my earlier work. Critique partner and editor - they would know if you have improve. Now if only I can get a critique partner and editor.
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I think that writing (like so many other things) is a permanent work in progress. There is no such thing as perfection but we can keep trying.
ReplyDeleteOn the positive side, you mix up your tenses much less often now - but you need to be true to yourself. Are you happier with your more poetic writing? If so, go back to it.
Elephant's Child: I agreed, there's no way to perfect anything you do but you can sort of get your work to the point that is close to it somehow.
DeleteI'm glad I'm better with my tenses, that much, I can be certain of, most of the time. Honestly, I don't think I'll be able to write the way I used to, I don't think I have that same beginner writer's sensibility.
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I find my writing style changes depending on a lot of factors - what I've been reading lately, the tone I'm looking for, even what physical medium I'm writing in (whether it's on a computer, my phone or by hand on paper). The quality of your writing can improve over time (though I've read old stuff, sometimes it's good, sometimes its bad), but I find that my style changes more.
ReplyDeleteC.D. Gallant-King: In terms of style, I don't think I have one but maybe like you, it depends on what I'm writing. I do think writing on paper is different when writing on a gadget, somehow, something is just different.
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I think it's a good change. Find a couple critique partners and let them read it.
ReplyDeleteAlex J. Cavanugh: Good advice. Now if only I can find some critique partners.
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