I write constantly, but - perhaps as a result of this - I don't really value what I write. It's very rare that something I write really stands out. I don't know if I'm crippling myself with self-criticism, if I just have impossibily high expectations of my own writing. Poetry is worst for me; if I'm telling a story, I at least have the desire to convey the details and keep it moving. When I try and write poetry, I usually muster one line tops. It's like nothing I write is really self-justifying. Whine whine whine Anyone else have any views on this? I should be writing a lengthy essay on Bjork at the moment, but I really can't be arsed to.
yeah i can definitely relate... people always say "the more you write, the better you'll get" but i seem to be going in quite the opposite direction! i write quite lengthy entries in my livejournal most days, and am taking 4 humanities essay subjects for AS level... and that's a lot of writing. i also attend a creative writing club which sets assignments weekly. so i think if the above statement is true, i really ought to be a much better writer than i am! i guess if you write a lot and never get anywhere, you might get less confident about showing your work to others... i know i am. so you end up being the sole judge of your work, which isn't the most well-rounded viewpoint. maybe it's just that you need to think less about your writing and just go for it. and maybe i should take my own advice and do the same! an essay on bjork? interesting... i really should be doing one on richard III. but also can't be bothered. we are terrible. xxx
It's not like I think what I do is shit, it's just like I'm kind of numb to it. I have no idea whether what I write is any good or not. It does make it REALLY hard to start essays and things; I'm guessing uni expect a lot less from my writing than I do.
yeah i know what you mean... i'll write the first thing that comes into my head and just hope for the best, but usually i end up getting good marks... then i think "what?! that was awful!" weird!
know what you mean..in fact im more likely to get a good mark if i just shove down the first thing i think of. poetry is the worst thing to write, if you think it's good when you write it, it's guaranteed to sound like the worst kind of cheese when u reread it. lyrics are easiest. and you're less critical as the music can cover up anything particularly terrible.. self expectation by definition rises above what you produce.. does that make sense? probs not ah well i'm meant to making eng notes as i type..ugh je deteste ca love daisyness xxx
Yeah, my real problem is actually getting into a mindset where I can just get something down. I usually have to be drunk, and I don't have any alcohol at the moment. When I'm drunk, I don't care if what I'm writing meets my standards, and as long as I read over it when I'm sober, I would seem to be good enough at it for most people.
