You know how on American Idol all of America watches scores of people, who've been lied to their whole lives, make fools of themselves? Yah.. those people who love to sing and whose friends and family have always told them they do it well because they didn't want to hurt their feelings?
That's kind of how I feel right now. Like my whole life everyone around me has been too afraid to tell me the truth about my writing. I write, and I share, and then I feel good about what I've written. Then someone who actually knows what they're talking about comes along and helps me realize that pretty much everything I've ever written is cliche (major no-no)and forced. It's like, SLAP! And then I go back and look at my writing and I go... it's true! It's all crap! And I've let so many people read it and all they do is pat me on the back and give me a thumbs up when what they should do is tell me to come up with something original and then "show, don't tell."
Grrrr. Nothing sucks more than realizing that your life's passion is going to take a whole lot more work.
Why can't it just happen magically?
I know, I know. Because (like I frequently say to other people) nothing worth while comes with out hard work.
3 comments:
Well, that may be true, but, it may also be that all the "liars" are honest in their praise because what they is better than anything they themselves could write on their best day and they really want you to know they liked it. :)
I have a friend who is considered a writer. I love everything she produces, but most of the things she does she feels is crap. I have learned something interesting in my years of reading, that there are critics and there are lovers. The critics of writing will pick a peice apart: it is cliche, overdone, everyone writes like this, the grammer was horrible, etc. Then there are the lovers, they take a peice of writing as it was intended. They know good writing when they see it, and allow it to touch their hearts. There is no such thing as a topic that has been explored too much, a plot that has been overused, or a feeling that has been persued too deeply. Great writers evoke emotion in thier audience. They bring you into thier stories and you embrace thier characters like old friends.
I have read the writings that you have placed here, and I can tell you that your wit and personality shines in what you write. I have cried over a few of your poems, and have greatly enjoyed every minute of it. Please do not stop writing.
I wrote a lot when I was single and full of all the typical single angst. Then I married and didn't write for a long time. I got very sick after one of my babies and it pushed me to write the things I wanted my children to know should they find themselves without a mother. Sometimes I wrote to teach, sometimes for humor, sometimes for spirit, but in my mind, however the actual presentation, I always wrote to my children as if that was all they might have of me with them. If others benefitted, excellent, (and they often did), but my purpose was clear - I wanted to give my children all the tools they needed so we would all successfully meet once again.
I recently taught a class at church that centered around writing. We talked about how the prophets of the Book of Mormon wrote to US, to OUR DAY. And then we talked about doing the same for the next generation or two - mentally write to somebody, and write with purpose. It can be trivial - a great deal of life IS trivial, it can be fun, it can be anything, just make it worth it to you and those you love.
Do not worry about critics. Keep writing because it is easier to continue than to start over again. Write to those people that matter to you, if others are blessed or pleased, excellent. I can promise you that the ones you love the most will treasure all you share with them through your writings.
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