I was organizing my writing projects and as I put them into different folders, I could not resist
the urge to flip through some of the pages I put inside the YA folder. I have never had much
success with this genre (as far as I have had success at all in some writing competitions) and
have never managed to get published in any journal or magazine, traditional or online.
What I read made my heart race and then plummet. Neither in a good way.
At first I almost felt proud reading the introductory paragraphs, the intense and descriptive
words, thoroughly enjoying the aura they created.
But as I progressed down the page, the words and sentences started to pull away and any
sense of them being representative of the genre just melted away.
As the story developed, or rather, as the story stalled, I almost felt my blood drain into my
toes. The dialogue was flat, the characters uninspiring (and definitely not young adults), and
the storyline common and boring.
I felt embarrassed that I had actually been ignorant enough to submit something so amateurish
and poor. As I never had any positive responses to my YA stories, I stopped writing YA and
now I focus only on general fiction and literary fiction.
Perhaps not being able to (or work harder to be able to) cross over makes me a bad writer - or
at least an embarrassed one!
Anyone else feel these pangs of literary pain?
YES! If it's any comfort, I've heard the same thing said of J.K. Rowling's writing. We just keep plugging away, and we will improve.
ReplyDeleteThanks Jenn! That is certainly comforting :-)
DeleteYes, I honestly feel that often even when I read back through my WIP. I just keep telling myself that like any other skill/talent/craft, it's with lots and lots of practice that I'm going to get better and that it's not going to happen overnight. I tell myself that and then I pray a lot of divine help to improve, lol.
ReplyDeleteOh yeah, I too ask for divine intervention! It can be really hard to have all the elements together to make it a good (no, excellent) piece!
DeleteThanks Leslie!
Yes, yes, and YES! =P This is part of the reason why I never feel done editing...not that I feel this way about all of my writing, of course...but every once in a while I'll read something (already published) and wish I could go back and change it.
ReplyDeleteI wonder, does this stop happening with growth as a writer...or is it just part of being a writer?
BTW, E.D., I have a Kreativ Blogger Award for you on my blog:
ShannonTaylorHodnett.com
Hope you enjoy! =)
xoxox, Shannon <3
Good point - that is probably why I have been editing for a year and a half....
DeleteThanks for the award - I have been away but will certainly collect :-)
Don't go there is the best I can suggest. Yes, I have those feelings everyday but mostly because of my lack of confidence. Someday you can go back to that genre perhaps and give it another whirl.
ReplyDeleteI know, but it is so hard, isn't it?
DeleteThanks for your support!
I think most of us can relate to that! I too read some of my earlier work and cringed down in my chair as I was reading! Just don't go there... Take comfort that that was then and you are a much better writer now - you must be if the old stuff made you feel bad.
ReplyDeleteHi E.D,
ReplyDeleteWhen I was younger, I was a sport journalist for a monthly magazine. Every time I had to submit an article, I was asking myself: "Is it good ? Is it worth it ?" In short, I was doubting myself. One day, my collegue told me to stop fretting...if somebody is willing to publish your work, you have your answer. Sure you can always improve and do better. Maybe you will never be the next Sallinger or the next Balzac but is it important ? Maybe just to try to do your best at being yourself is already a reward.
Now, when I reread myself I roll my eyes a lot. Is it about my writing or just because I've matured and gain some experience that make me see things differently ? So maybe we are not the best judge of our work...
Lucie
http://newbooksonmyselves.blogspot.fr/