I made the decision to restart 'No One Will Recall' the other day. I moused over the select-all box and clicked, and the boxes below, the ones next to my posts with titles I had felt "witty" or held some imagined depth, were marked in turn. And as I hovered over the delete button I hesitated, though I felt no reluctance. I hesitated as I waited for some pang of guilt or change of heart but it never came. I have a history of keeping most of my previous writings, no matter how terrible, as a kind of growth mark. My old writings are a notch on the wall so-to-speak that allow me the chance to gauge how far I've progressed, or grown. This time, however, I had no desire to save or reread my disparate writings one last time before I consigned them to oblivion. My default state normally embodies some level of disconnect but I had become disconnected from my writing, an unusual circumstance for me. I had experienced a betrayal of self in my words and my writing suffered accordingly. I was writing for the wrong reasons. I clicked delete and started from the beginning.
Now, more than ever, my site name is exceedingly appropriate. Of the dozen posts that used to clutter this anomalous corner of the net, all are now absent. Gone. I doubt anyone would have known had I never mentioned the matter.
I consider myself a writer, even if I cannot call writing my vocation at this time. I write so that I can hone my ability, expand my mind, and examine my thoughts. I write because I have heard that much can be learned through mastery beyond the scope of a skill, and I want to test this for myself through writing. I write because I enjoy writing and have things to say, even if I don't always know how to say them. I write because I am arrogant enough to believe that what I write, or will write, is worth reading and might make a difference. That's why I write, but I had forgotten for a time. Without those reasons I'm not really sure why I was still writing. And even now, though I have refocused my thoughts on why I began writing, I cannot say why I chose writing and not, say, graphic art.
With all this in mind I've decided that if I am starting from the beginning I should build a good foundation for my writing. I've struggled for several years now, writing on and off, to reach this point; that is, I have reached a point where I can really start to take my writing more seriously. So, as my first step forward I'm hashing out a basic open-ended framework for bettering myself and my writing. I have every expectation that this list will change in the future. After all, this is only the beginning.
5 Basic Rules for Improving my Writing
1. Write often.
2. (Regarding #1:) Do not worry about what you will write about. If you write enough you will figure out what you really want to write.
3. Whenever possible: Wait at least 24 hours, reread, and revise.
4. Read often and actively, not passively.
5. Explore different genres and styles both in writing and reading.
Now, more than ever, my site name is exceedingly appropriate. Of the dozen posts that used to clutter this anomalous corner of the net, all are now absent. Gone. I doubt anyone would have known had I never mentioned the matter.
I consider myself a writer, even if I cannot call writing my vocation at this time. I write so that I can hone my ability, expand my mind, and examine my thoughts. I write because I have heard that much can be learned through mastery beyond the scope of a skill, and I want to test this for myself through writing. I write because I enjoy writing and have things to say, even if I don't always know how to say them. I write because I am arrogant enough to believe that what I write, or will write, is worth reading and might make a difference. That's why I write, but I had forgotten for a time. Without those reasons I'm not really sure why I was still writing. And even now, though I have refocused my thoughts on why I began writing, I cannot say why I chose writing and not, say, graphic art.
With all this in mind I've decided that if I am starting from the beginning I should build a good foundation for my writing. I've struggled for several years now, writing on and off, to reach this point; that is, I have reached a point where I can really start to take my writing more seriously. So, as my first step forward I'm hashing out a basic open-ended framework for bettering myself and my writing. I have every expectation that this list will change in the future. After all, this is only the beginning.
5 Basic Rules for Improving my Writing
1. Write often.
2. (Regarding #1:) Do not worry about what you will write about. If you write enough you will figure out what you really want to write.
3. Whenever possible: Wait at least 24 hours, reread, and revise.
4. Read often and actively, not passively.
5. Explore different genres and styles both in writing and reading.
