Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Getting Better As I Go

I pulled up a very old manuscript of mine the other day -- one that will never see the light of day, one that most of my CPs don't even know exists.  I gave it a quick read through and realized just how much my writing has matured.  My sentence structure is now more complex, the threads more complicated, and the themes more edgy.  I understand the concept of well-placed back-story, realized there are hundred of ways to display emotion, and get that dialogue, although fun to write and essential, is only a small component of a well-written manuscript.  I have learned that an kick-ass first chapter is useless if the rest of the book falls flat and that scenes and chapters need to flow together seamlessly.  Am I done learning?  Is my writing done maturing?  Hell no!  But, it has come a long way  . . . from the dark, embarrassing crevices of my laptop to a manuscript I am not afraid to toss at my agent for review.

So how about you, has your writing matured over time or are you one of the lucky few born with an innate ability to just let the words flow?

8 comments:

  1. Yes, my writing has changed and will continue to do so.

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  2. Oh man, my writing has changed SO MUCH. I still love my first manuscript, but it will never, ever, ever be allowed out of its drawer. It has zero threads. My more recent WIPs are braided together so much more nicely... with a lot more zest :)

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  3. It improves with every draft. I can look back on old works and see potential in areas. Now I know how to really make the writing shine.

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  4. You've always been pretty damn fantastic though:)

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  5. I've just started writing so I have quite a way to go before I can compare my writing but I would hope that my writing would mature over time!

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  6. Heh.........I cringe when I look back at my old writing. ;)

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  7. That is wonderful, Trisha. All that hard work paying off.

    Has my writing improved? Hmmm, that's a tricky one for me to answer. I'd like to say yes. It must have done, surely?

    ooh, I just don't know. Certainly I know a lot more craft than I did. I'm just going to have to look back at some of my early drafts and have a think.

    sorry to be so wishy-washy. But hooorah for you.

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  8. I love coming across snippets of old work. I cringe, but at least I know I'm improving!

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