Advice I got from my Creative Writing class

imagineyoungjustice:

terra-writes:

Whenever you go to share your work, whether by posting it online, handing it to someone else to read, or even reading it out loud, never say “this isn’t that good” or any variation of. Similarly, don’t brush off compliments about your writing with like phrases. By doing so, you’re setting yourself up to fail. When you tell someone that what you’re giving them, or sharing with them is “shitty” or “bad,” that’s what they’re going to expect when they read it, and sometimes that’s what determines the kind of feedback you receive (if you receive any). 

It can also have the effect of making the feedback you receive from others to not be genuine. If they’re a friend (or not, this is just and example), hearing you criticize your own work and put yourself down might make them sympathetic, so that even if your writing is “bad” they will be unwilling to give you the criticism you need to improve your writing, limiting the growth you will achieve because of pity.

It’s okay to ask for specific feedback in a particular area, if you were unsure, or of you tried something new and different from your usual style. But that is a different thing than putting your entire piece down as well as your own skill.

You will also put yourself in the mindset of having “bad” writing. Constantly apologizing for everything you put out or personally share will also have an effect on your own mind. Eventually that voice will be all you hear, and it will drown out any of the positives that you come across. Writing, like any art form, is a skill. The only way to improve is to keep doing it. When you see someone who has “better” writing, it’s likely only because they have more experience than you do either in that particular field or overall. You shouldn’t let this deter you. Everyone starts off with zero experience. You will get to their “level” in your own time, and you shouldn’t rush to play “catch up” with anyone else. Yes, it might make you feel down at times, but just know that with every story/poem/etc you write, you are improving every time. You will get where you want to be, and even when you get there, you’ll still keep getting better. There is no “cap” to one’s writing capabilities, it will continuously keep evolving and changing for the better.

But it’s a journey that you cannot rush, and cannot skip ahead in. 

I meant to type this up last Thursday when we went over this, but I was a little busy so I’m just getting around to this now. I’ll probably be doing more posts like this as the semester goes on she really gives good advice. -Terra