Got me thinking
Nov. 9th, 2005 07:26 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
madbakerWebsnark had a good essay on What good is Nanowrimo?
One of the first professions I ever wanted to have was "writer". Probably because I was (and am) a voracious reader. I was always good in English, highly literate and literary, smart even if I say so myself. It was a natural progression. What could possibly go wrong?
Just that I never... had that spark of talent.
It took a while to realize. I'd write long, rambling stories that were incredibly derivative of whatever I'd been reading. I'm sure they were crap besides, but some of that is fixed with experience. Many professional authors state that what they wrote as kids was crap. Practice would have improved the technical aspect of my writing.
What can't be fixed is the lack of originality, of inspiration, of muse.
It's been educational reading posts from professional authors, and friends who are striving to get to that level. Writing isn't necessarily easy for them; Neil Gaiman talked candidly about hitting the "Can't write for toffee stage". But he, and they, get through it with work and produce works of beauty.
Those who can create in that fashion, I respect. I do envy them somewhat. But -- like hand-eye coordination -- it's not a talent that I will ever possess. I'm not fishing for compliments or wallowing in self-pity here; I can't change that.
I can wish for what might have been, though.
One of the first professions I ever wanted to have was "writer". Probably because I was (and am) a voracious reader. I was always good in English, highly literate and literary, smart even if I say so myself. It was a natural progression. What could possibly go wrong?
Just that I never... had that spark of talent.
It took a while to realize. I'd write long, rambling stories that were incredibly derivative of whatever I'd been reading. I'm sure they were crap besides, but some of that is fixed with experience. Many professional authors state that what they wrote as kids was crap. Practice would have improved the technical aspect of my writing.
What can't be fixed is the lack of originality, of inspiration, of muse.
It's been educational reading posts from professional authors, and friends who are striving to get to that level. Writing isn't necessarily easy for them; Neil Gaiman talked candidly about hitting the "Can't write for toffee stage". But he, and they, get through it with work and produce works of beauty.
Those who can create in that fashion, I respect. I do envy them somewhat. But -- like hand-eye coordination -- it's not a talent that I will ever possess. I'm not fishing for compliments or wallowing in self-pity here; I can't change that.
I can wish for what might have been, though.
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no subject
Date: 2005-11-11 03:12 am (UTC)I think you're a good expository writer, and most people are terrible at it. Also, you know enough about good writing to know what GOOD writing is. This is a gift.
But I often feel the same way when I read something REALLY good: damn, I wish *I* could do that!