writing tips

I am Series – #Writer’s World

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WRITING

I enjoy these writing prompts by Natalie Goldberg, not only because they get the mind exercised, but for the material they bring forth. Goldberg’s book is mainly directed toward memoir writers, although can be very useful for all writers. She explains that if we do short little writing exercises using her prompts, by starting our story with a memory or an object, it will take us into a deeper subconscious level where we find the topic we’re writing about  taking us to something we remember from the past or leads to things we feel strongly about.

 

Today I am thinking about famous writers from the past. Isn’t it ironic that back in earlier decades, many writers such as Dickens self published? Many of our esteemed fellow writers we look up to struggled for recognition, and for many of them, it wasn’t until they had long passed that they achieved their fame and recognition for their brilliance.

 

I don’t believe any writers are left unscathed from self-doubt. We are our own first critics. Later, when the editors and publishers get their eyes on our works, it is once again criticized and picked apart. As writers, we have to grow some thick skin. Is it any wonder many writers turn to isolation and alcohol?

We are constantly striving to perfect our work. The clock ticks time away for so long before we notice how long we’ve been living in our solitudes, in the confines of our own little bubbles in our special world, sometimes forgetting the world around us exists.

I sometimes feel this way and I’m grateful in those times for my writing friends; for only they are the ones who can identify with the angst a writer experiences.

 

The results of our work are simple words on pages. Simple? Certainly not a simple journey for our search for those perfect words we strive so hard to fine tune so they appear eloquent and effortless. The numerous strike-outs, rewrites, days, months and years, and then revisions again, all this before our work goes forth to the editor for our work to take on a new form yet again, weigh heavy in our hopes of achieving perfection.

To simply say, I am a writer is much too understated. Our minds are fascinating, filled with stories from almost everything we see and do. Our words fill people’s minds and feed their souls. We share our knowledge and experiences whether from our own lives, or from the stories we create, invented from our own knowledge.

Writing is so much more than simple.

D.G. Kaye ©June 2015

20 thoughts on “I am Series – #Writer’s World”

  1. I think it was Steve Jobs who said something about simple being harder than complex because it’s difficult to make things simple and clear. But, he said, once you get to simple, you can move mountains. So true.

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  3. I have taken a screen pict of the Orwell quote, have printed it, and now it’s posted in my writing space. When I turn my head left to look at it, I find a good reminder of what’s driving me to write. 😉

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  5. Yes, writing is not simple. When people who have no experience with writing say, “I want to write a book,” I have to turn away so they don’t see me roll my eyes. They have no idea. I had no idea just five years ago.

    The quotes in this piece are wonderful, as well as your own reflections. Thank you.

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  8. There are a few things you say in this post, D.G., that remind me of my post way back when entitled “Writer’s Lot” (https://ashbdavis.wordpress.com/2013/08/19/writers-lot/). Another good point you bring up here is that there is a lot to be said for the freedom of that first draft. You absolutely cannot hold back the first time through an idea otherwise you’ll end a 25 draft process with polished poo. You have to be so honest it hurts, THEN you can cut out what you think people won’t want to read. Great post!

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  10. D.G Dixit: “I don’t believe any writers are left unscathed from self-doubt. We are our own first critics. Later, when the editors and publishers get their eyes on our works, it is once again criticized and picked apart. As writers, we have to grow some thick skin. Is it any wonder many writers turn to isolation and alcohol?”…

    I agree with you dear D.G… By the way, your last words reminded me of Ernest Hemingway…. I think you made some really good points here… Thanks for sharing! Hugs and all the best to you. Aquileana 😀

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    1. Thanks so much for sharing your views here Aq. And yes, Hemingway was certainly not the only writer who seeked the bottle. Thanks for visiting. Hugs back to you my friend. ❤

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