Ever read what you wrote a few years back? I did recently and was shocked at the way I put some things. I suppose it could be a way of determining progress in the art form.
To be honest, this happens to me almost every time I look back at one of my stories, even if I was working on it the day before. I always seem to catch a sentence or a paragraph that was worded strangely, or just plain doesn't make sense. If this is progress, I still have a long way to go.
Yes. I read one of the excepts I posted in the Writing Workshop. It could use a lot of work, and I don't need a critic to tell me that lol. It's even worse when you look back at something you wrote when you were ten and it's just... -vomits-
I see the flaws in my earliest works but I also see many things working in the stories, which is amazing because it says something about my innate storytelling abilities. And, like you said, it gives you a chance to see how far you have come. So, always be proud of your flawed first story.
Look at the bright side, we are constantly evolving and growing as writers. Some of the old writings can be hilariously bad in retrospect and make for good comedy if you post them on Facebook.
My friend just send me a couple of pieces I asked him to read years ago (I don't even remember when I wrote these). They're horrifyingly bad. My first "novel" though wasn't too awful, so it's nice to know I'm improving
Haha yes all the time. I'm always secretly a little relieved when a computer I've had for a while dies, because all that old awful writing I had saved is officially gone from the universe and can't come back to embarrass me!
Yes. Oh God yes. Though if my stories are bad even now, at least my writing was decent back then. I always had talent with words - in Portuguese, mind you -, but I still have a long way to go with storytelling.
The good thing is that you recognize something is wrong with the way it's worded! Seeing your own mistakes is half the battle. I actually love when this happens, cause it lets me know, I'm making progress , growing as a writer.
A lot of common experience here. I suppose it's better to "eeeek!" and know that you have improved, rather than be blind and remain less skilled. Some affirming responses, thanks guys 'n gals.
Yeah i was going through stuff last night and went through old writing. Supringsly, it was good! I don't know about now though XD
Oh I'm sure we all have those cringe-worthy moments. I wrote a short story when I was in high school where I used the work 'like' as if I were having a conversation and not writing prose (remember when you said like, like all the time?) As with GillySoose, I can look at things I wrote even a few days ago and be dumbfounded by it's lack of finesse. I think that reviewing old work is all part of the process and I'm glad I can reflect on my writings and laugh.
I had a friend read a dream I had about three years ago. When he got done, he wanted more to read, so it has turned into a novel. Of course, I had to go back and change some of the lengthy descriptions and material that was not needed to tell the story. I think it's a great way to see how you have evolved!
I love to look back on my undergrad writing and see how I've progressed. It gives me the encouragement I need to carry on when I hit a wall.
