tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post5183017792987949038..comments2023-12-26T18:33:04.681-08:00Comments on Writability: Do You Read Your Old Writing?Gabe (Ava Jae)http://www.blogger.com/profile/04778524723148508140noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-18976764907109998882012-05-17T07:23:25.634-07:002012-05-17T07:23:25.634-07:00Considering you haven't had the opportunity to...Considering you haven't had the opportunity to write recently, I don't think that's weird at all--in fact, I think it's wonderful that your past writing is encouraging you to pick it up again. I hope that you do! :)Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-35639880167076144952012-05-17T07:20:58.717-07:002012-05-17T07:20:58.717-07:00This may sound weird, but when I read my old stuff...This may sound weird, but when I read my old stuff I usually think "man, I was good"/"shit, I can actually do this". <br /><br /><br />That's because back then I used to write a lot, but then personal things made me stop, and now my confidence in my writing abilities (and said writing abilities - thanks, college) are scarce. But reading stories I wrote in high-school - even if they need a less purple prose - give me confidence that I KNOW how to write, I just need to get back on the habit.Guillerminahttp://twitter.com/Ladysugarquillnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-60159332492472863162012-05-15T07:58:20.998-07:002012-05-15T07:58:20.998-07:00I won't pretend that I don't often find my...I won't pretend that I don't often find myself cringing when reading old writing (often followed by thoughts like <i>and I thought this was good?</i>), but just the fact that we recognize that it isn't exactly our best work is a pretty clear indication of how much we've improved, which is encouraging. :)Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-86645821502149130722012-05-15T07:42:59.837-07:002012-05-15T07:42:59.837-07:00Sometimes I go back and think Oh My! Who wrote thi...Sometimes I go back and think Oh My! Who wrote this?! and sometimes that a good statement and sometimes it's bad. But I do see the value in going back. I think it's important to see how far we've come as writers.Angie Richmondhttp://twitter.com/write_me_happynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-84326381106526778282012-05-15T07:10:38.185-07:002012-05-15T07:10:38.185-07:00Thanks for sharing my post, Doron! I really apprec...Thanks for sharing my post, Doron! I really appreciate it and I'm glad to hear you've been enjoying my blog. ^_^Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-24725288223826547552012-05-15T07:04:30.357-07:002012-05-15T07:04:30.357-07:00That's a very good point--there should be a ba...That's a very good point--there should be a balance between working on the technicalities and improving and remembering why we love the craft to begin with. It's good to take a step back and just <i>enjoy</i> the process as much as you can.Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-64999361629005472002012-05-15T07:03:25.236-07:002012-05-15T07:03:25.236-07:00I could understand not wanting to read published w...I could understand not wanting to read published work--I've heard of a lot of authors who won't touch their work after it's published because they know they'll inevitably find a typo or something of the like. Looking at work that <i>hasn't</i> been published, however, can be a very interesting experience. :)Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-6833197402390415312012-05-15T07:02:00.952-07:002012-05-15T07:02:00.952-07:00Glad this post helped, Angela! We often talk about...Glad this post helped, Angela! We often talk about learning from other writers, but sometimes we forget that we can learn from ourselves, too. Plus there's the added bonus of possibility working with old material again as well. Thanks for commenting! ^_^Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-20147771418416980832012-05-15T06:43:04.542-07:002012-05-15T06:43:04.542-07:00I have gone back to read my old stuff, but usually...I have gone back to read my old stuff, but usually I'm looking to see what I did right so that I can keep on with the good stuff. Sometimes I think we get so lost in the technicalities that we forget why we loved writing in the first place. It's always a good reminder :)J. A. Bennetthttp://twitter.com/j_a_bennettnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-6990048741732141902012-05-14T20:41:49.051-07:002012-05-14T20:41:49.051-07:00Great advice. I always gain something from looking...Great advice. I always gain something from looking at my old stuff. Shared on my "Mechanics of Inspiration" page (http://www.facebook.com/TheMechanicsOfInspiration). Thanks for the excellent blog!Doron Meirnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-64497531308194586592012-05-14T19:56:24.723-07:002012-05-14T19:56:24.723-07:00I try not to read too much of my published work ex...I try not to read too much of my published work except to reference it for my current book since I'm an obsessive editor, but I do like to dig out some of my writing from high school. I was even brave enough to post a 15 year old poem on my blog one day. Reading my old work shows how far down the rabbit hole I've tumbled, and I think that is a good thingCourtney Privetthttp://www.facebook.com/cmprivettnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-67840119859133784612012-05-14T19:24:07.735-07:002012-05-14T19:24:07.735-07:00Okay. I am finally getting a chance to put togethe...Okay. I am finally getting a chance to put together a somewhat coherent comment!<br /><br />Yes, I do think going back and reading your older writings is important. But mostly because I forget about stuff and think, hey I should go back and see if that's worth pulling back out again? Most of the time the answer is nope. And I shove it right back into its dark lil corner. But I've never thought about using it to compare to your current writing. With this thought in mind, it turns the whole experience into a much more positive undertaking. Plus, there are a lot of stories I would like to redo and/or build upon.<br /><br />And that's what I've got! Earth-shattering stuff I KNOW!<br />Great post. =)Angela (@ang_writes)noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-26182176527149818702012-05-14T19:21:57.456-07:002012-05-14T19:21:57.456-07:00Haha very true I'm sure. :)Haha very true I'm sure. :)Author Stevennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-50414544701819993392012-05-14T18:52:35.428-07:002012-05-14T18:52:35.428-07:00Thank you, Sydney! It's amazing how our writin...Thank you, Sydney! It's amazing how our writing can evolve over time as we improve. Whenever I look back at my old posts, I laugh a little at just how much my blogging style has changed over the course of a year.Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-44681000441463589512012-05-14T18:51:07.497-07:002012-05-14T18:51:07.497-07:00Not to scare you, but two years from now I imagine...Not to scare you, but two years from now I imagine you probably WILL feel the same way about your current writing as you do now about your writing from two years ago. But that's not a bad thing--it's actually a <i>good</i> thing because it means that you're improving. You want to be able to look back at your old work and see how much you've improved. :)Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-37075814552918923962012-05-14T18:49:48.009-07:002012-05-14T18:49:48.009-07:00Funny how that kind of timing sometimes happens. :...Funny how that kind of timing sometimes happens. :DAva Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-36835311032176845172012-05-14T18:41:48.195-07:002012-05-14T18:41:48.195-07:00I recently did a blog purge. I reviewed some very...I recently did a blog purge. I reviewed some very old blog post that I kept when I transferred over to Wordpress and discovered they were awful. It was embarrassing. All stream of consciousness, no structure and a lot of nonsense. I just copied them into a word document and deleted them from the blog. It was a great exercise in seeing how far I had come. I am quite proud of what I am putting out there these days. Even more so after reading that old crap. Great post.Sydney Aaliyahnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-88702059549409188232012-05-14T15:59:05.539-07:002012-05-14T15:59:05.539-07:00Haha this is probably good advice but my old writi...Haha this is probably good advice but my old writing (and drawing, this applies to art too) scares me. XD I think the reason why my art or writing from two years ago scares me is because part of me wonders if what I am writing now will give me the same feelings two years from now. O.o Haha great post! :)Author Stevennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-64274770024854929052012-05-14T13:30:48.528-07:002012-05-14T13:30:48.528-07:00It's so funny that you posted about this today...It's so funny that you posted about this today, because I happen to be spending the afternoon going through some of my old blog posts.Catnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-85730530737135314752012-05-14T10:33:04.347-07:002012-05-14T10:33:04.347-07:00Welllll, in that (hypothetical totally-not real) s...<i>Welllll</i>, in that (hypothetical totally-not real) situation, you <i>probably</i> want to finish WIPs 1 and 2 first, and go to the conference, and finish whatever extra editing/writing things the first two WIPs need, THEN think about WIP 3 assuming it's still demanding attention. Hypothetically, of course. But you probably already knew that. :)<br /><br /><br />Also, enjoy your (hypothetical) conference!Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-50847977786505546802012-05-14T10:26:49.847-07:002012-05-14T10:26:49.847-07:00Let's say (hypothetically speaking, of course)...Let's say (hypothetically speaking, of course) you are in between two WIPs and this is (hypothetically) the third WIP that's rearing its desire for attention. Hypothetical, of course :) Because I would never do that, nor plan on going to a conference in three weeks. Suddenly, I'm feeling tired...Ara Grigorianhttp://twitter.com/araTHEwriternoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-6297959484388599622012-05-14T10:23:19.374-07:002012-05-14T10:23:19.374-07:00I firmly believe we learn something from every WIP...I firmly believe we learn something from <i>every</i> WIP we write, and I like to keep my old works both to look back at, and to possibly keep for future recycling of content. Even if the entire WIP isn't salvageable, there could be other elements in there that I could still possibly use.Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-38902048447788862732012-05-14T10:21:29.294-07:002012-05-14T10:21:29.294-07:00Personally I see nothing wrong with revisiting old...Personally I see nothing wrong with revisiting old works...as long as you aren't currently working on something else (in which case, I'd say the current project takes priority). But if you're in-between WIPs and you feel inspired to rework an old manuscript, I'd say go for it.Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-58424589307525016352012-05-14T10:18:41.204-07:002012-05-14T10:18:41.204-07:00Ha. Yeah, I read my old stuff sometimes. Boy, is i...Ha. Yeah, I read my old stuff sometimes. Boy, is it embarrassing. But I keep everything, hoping there's a good gem or two hiding in there somewhere that I can fix in the future.Yesenia Vargasnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-40728318870430310732012-05-14T10:17:54.975-07:002012-05-14T10:17:54.975-07:00Lol well just the fact that you know just by looki...Lol well just the fact that you know just by looking at it that it sorely lacked plot, dialogue and grammar is a pretty good indication that you've improved since then, I would say. :)Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.com