FYI, this is totally not helpful to 99% of writers. I will probably get flamed for the "negativity" of this. But this is how I roll. And Kitty asked....
Honestly: in my browser, I keep a folder of bookmarks titled "Why I Am A Good Writer." These are bookmarks of the locations of things which I consider to be poorly executed, lacking in style, or suffering from various grammatical diseases. They're clips from everywhere--newspaper articles, short stories and poems, informational pages, really anything. And I can read any one of them and say with confidence, "I could have done it better. Here's what I would fix...." When I feel myself starting to suffer from le suck,I run through one of these examples. And the more things I can pick out, the more I am reminded why it is I do what I do, why I can continue to believe that I am better than others.
Because writing is really just an exercise for the ego--a way of saying, "my interpretation of the world is better than anything you could imagine, conceive, or put words to." (At least, for me it is. So sue me. I'm being honest, not pretty.)
I live and breathe negativity--couldn't get by without it, honestly. It drives me. Positivity really has nothing to do with it, personally. It's all anger, rage, self-importance and ego, thanks. If I got too pleased with my lot in life, I'd probably stop writing all-together.
When I get stuck, I read the work of writers I respect. Then I go back to my own work and examine the places where it was working and try to build from the good things going on there. It's an ongoing process. But I believe that sometimes you have to hate what you're doing if you want to get better. That "negative voice" can be a writer's greatest ally.
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Date: 2012-01-31 07:07 am (UTC)Honestly: in my browser, I keep a folder of bookmarks titled "Why I Am A Good Writer." These are bookmarks of the locations of things which I consider to be poorly executed, lacking in style, or suffering from various grammatical diseases. They're clips from everywhere--newspaper articles, short stories and poems, informational pages, really anything. And I can read any one of them and say with confidence, "I could have done it better. Here's what I would fix...." When I feel myself starting to suffer from le suck,I run through one of these examples. And the more things I can pick out, the more I am reminded why it is I do what I do, why I can continue to believe that I am better than others.
Because writing is really just an exercise for the ego--a way of saying, "my interpretation of the world is better than anything you could imagine, conceive, or put words to." (At least, for me it is. So sue me. I'm being honest, not pretty.)
I live and breathe negativity--couldn't get by without it, honestly. It drives me. Positivity really has nothing to do with it, personally. It's all anger, rage, self-importance and ego, thanks. If I got too pleased with my lot in life, I'd probably stop writing all-together.
When I get stuck, I read the work of writers I respect. Then I go back to my own work and examine the places where it was working and try to build from the good things going on there. It's an ongoing process. But I believe that sometimes you have to hate what you're doing if you want to get better. That "negative voice" can be a writer's greatest ally.