My fears, out of many as a writer, is being mediocre and not having readers. I'm not a published author but I do post stories on my blog and that maybe gets read. I like to believe my writing is slightly above mediocre and sometimes on days when I especially thought myself clever, even a tad higher than that. I know I'm not born with an innate writing talent so I do work hard at it. Most of the time. Maybe I can be a bit lazy with grammar and maybe I get tired of editing my own writing that I sometimes don't work too hard at it.
Even we are not picky about grammar and structure, we can be picky about what we like. People's preferences can make them dislike what they read. This doesn't change how authors write or at least, I don't think it should. I prefer to write what I want to read so even there is no audience, that's something that I can accept.
I do try all the time to improve my writing but there is so much you can improve after a while. So I try not to think about if what I write and share is mediocre or not but whether I would enjoy reading it. But mostly, I just keep on writing.
[More about the group over at the Insecure Writer’s Support Group blog here]
Good to explore these fears
ReplyDeleteChristine: Sometimes but probably not do it all the time.
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It is always good to explore. Sadly I am a woeful editor of my own work. Spelling/grammar issues pass me by. Reading what should be there rather than what is?
ReplyDeleteElephant's Child: You're right. Sometimes I see what I want to see instead what it is. I suppose working at it helps.
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EC hit the spot with "Reading what should be there rather than what is" this is why we, as authors should let our writings rest, settle, whatever you like to call it for a period of time no shorter than three days. Then we can re-read wit fresh eyes and read what it instead of what we know should be there. This is one of my pet peeves and battles with authors when editing, so please do!
ReplyDeleteCharlotte: That's exactly what I do. If there is time, I would leave a piece alone for a while and then get back at it later and not just fresh eyes but maybe fresh thoughts as well.
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So far it's taken me a lifetime, and there is still so much to learn. I've got a group you could join if you're interested.
ReplyDeleteAnna from elements of emaginette
emaginette: We learn as we grow so hopefully, I will think differently.
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That last sentence is the key - just keep writing. I didn't know another writer existed when I started out. It was just me, my kitchen table and a notebook filled with scenes from a story in progress that never got finished. The day I had the good fortune to attend a local writers' meeting was a life - and career! - changer. Accountability kept me focused on the way to that first of 80 (!) sales.
ReplyDeleteNancy Gideon: Keep writing - that's really all you can do sometimes but it helps you're not the only one writing.
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I think writing what you like is key. First, there's probably other people who like the same books as you, so you do have an audience. Second, you'll enjoy yourself in the process. At least that's what I tell myself, because we can't control whether people will like our writing. And yes, keep writing!
ReplyDeleteJenni: You can never tell what people might like but I do like to not to have to cater to a certain group just to be a success.
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Write what you want to read - that is how I have written from the beginning!
ReplyDeleteAlex J. Cavanaugh: Absolutely.
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I agree with all the other commenters! As for reading what you think is there, I'm on round four of editing what I and my beta readers have edited for content and typos, and I still pick up ones that nobody's mentioned before. Mind you, I also picked up four in a published book from the library this week.
ReplyDeleteHave fun with your writing.
Jemima Pett: I, too, have seen mistakes in already published books but it's okay. There's no perfect writing.
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