Signs your writing has gotten better!

Jack Nog · Apr 9, 2007

The other day I was sending off some emails and I sent one to some friends of mine about the Masters golf tourney.

It was a just a simple observation, but I wanted their input. I'll spare everyone by posting it here.

So one of my friends fires a reply/all back saying; Hey, where did you cut and paste this from.

At first, I got all mad and I was like, what the hell does that mean. Emails flew back and forth and he finally said, "It just didn't sound like you. I mean you don't talk like that, and you've never said anything like that.

These three guys have been my friends since early high school (20 years). They don't know that I used to write all the time, and that I'm just getting back into it. They don't know that I've been writing steadily for the last 3-4 months, nor that I've submitted anything for publication. However, they know me best in this world after my wife and parents.

While I know they aren't critics, and have no ability to judge my writing, I thought it was gratifying.

So, when did any of you realize you were getting better? Any similar stories?

TheIT · Apr 9, 2007

I just finished the first draft of my fantasy novel (still feels great to say that). I'd gotten about 62,000 words in when I put the novel aside to do NaNoWriMo last November (50,000 words on another project), then I went back to the novel and finished the draft a couple of weeks ago. When I reread the novel from first page to last, I could see a definite improvement in what I wrote after the break.

czjaba · Apr 9, 2007

After sending emails back and forth for about 2 years, last week, my friend asked me how I learned to describe a situation so vividly that she could see it.
Yes, I felt wonderful.

Azure Skye · Apr 9, 2007

When I go back and look at my first draft or even think about it. *shudder*

I'm a big golf fan and watched the Masters on and off this weekend. I'm curious about what you wrote.

Siddow · Apr 9, 2007

I realized I was getting better when someone paid me for something I'd written. But I have gotten comments from friends and family that I write the best letters. Yeah, I write letters! Post mail letters! It really freaks people out.

Jack Nog · Apr 9, 2007

I'm a big golf fan and watched the Masters on and off this weekend. I'm curious about what you wrote.

Ahh, well I just commented on Thursday before the 1st round how it seemed unfair that Tiger and Vijay (although I don't like the man that much) seemed to be paired with guys far below their level. Then looked at Phil and Adam Scott, Ernie Els and Ogilvy grouped together among others. It seemed unfair. I equated it to running a race. If I'm running a mile with a bunch of ten minute milers, well I'd just do enough to win the race. If I'm in a race with a bunch of 4:30 milers, I'm going to up my game a bit.

In the end, it didn't matter for squat...

Azure Skye · Apr 9, 2007

Jack Nog said:
Ahh, well I just commented on Thursday before the 1st round how it seemed unfair that Tiger and Vijay (although I don't like the man that much) seemed to be paired with guys far below their level. Then looked at Phil and Adam Scott, Ernie Els and Ogilvy grouped together among others. It seemed unfair. I equated it to running a race. If I'm running a mile with a bunch of ten minute milers, well I'd just do enough to win the race. If I'm in a race with a bunch of 4:30 milers, I'm going to up my game a bit.

In the end, it didn't matter for squat...

No, it didn't. I think the course won the green blazer this time.

Jack Nog · Apr 9, 2007

No, it didn't. I think the course won the green blazer this time.

You ain't kiddin'!

alaskamatt17 · Apr 9, 2007

People have been commenting lately on the quality of my emails. It kind of freaks me out whenever somebody uses the word eloquent to describe a thought my mind produced, but it's been happening enough lately that I can no longer consider it coincidence.

Etola · Apr 9, 2007

I noticed my writing's improved when I go back to older stories I've written and can see larger and clearer flaws compared to the stuff I'm writing today. Not that my writing today is flawless

But if anything, it's a roundabout way of noticing that my overall skills are getting better if I can look at a piece I wrote five years ago and say "Man, I'd never make this kind of mistake if I wrote this now!"

engmajor2005 · Apr 9, 2007

One of my English profs was ecstatic that I asked if she had any spare books lying around.

swvaughn · Apr 9, 2007

I've noticed lately, as I'm struggling through edits for The Third Novel I Ever Wrote (having just finished The Tenth Novel I Ever Wrote, which is under representation yay!), that I have improved -- since I sold Third Novel (and Four through Seven) to a great little e-pub, my editor there has been kicking my a** through edits.

The story, I think, was a good idea, but back then my execution was... well, melodramatic. Really, really melodramatic. Like, worse than emo, even. I think it's taking me longer to rewrite it than it did to write it in the first place!

In the end, though, it'll be worth it. I love signs of improvement!

TheIT · Apr 9, 2007

One thing I'm noticing recently is that I'm getting a better handle on what to leave out of the narrative. Just because the story covers several day's worth of time doesn't mean I need to tell the reader what happened every day.

Julian Black · Apr 9, 2007

All I have to do is read some of my old stuff--and not just the atrocious, thousand-shades-of-purple dreck I wrote a decade ago, but also the halfway-readable stuff I wrote two or three years ago.

I started making a conscious effort to identify and overcome my bad habits as a writer about five years ago, after one of my history professors gave me hell for relying on passive voice and using the same damned adjectives all the time. My papers were much better than average even with those flaws, but he made me think about language, and what good writing is, in a way that no one else had before.

Unfortunately, the better I am as a writer, the worse I am as a reader. Writing that I might have found acceptable at one time is now distractingly awful.

Etola · Apr 9, 2007

Julian Black said:
Unfortunately, the better I am as a writer, the worse I am as a reader. Writing that I might have found acceptable at one time is now distractingly awful.

Depends on if you're reading for pleasure or if you're actually reading to critique someone's work. Many people would find a critical (and honest) reader very helpful.

NEGO · Apr 9, 2007

Etola said:
I noticed my writing's improved when I go back to older stories I've written and can see larger and clearer flaws compared to the stuff I'm writing today. Not that my writing today is flawless But if anything, it's a roundabout way of noticing that my overall skills are getting better if I can look at a piece I wrote five years ago and say "Man, I'd never make this kind of mistake if I wrote this now!"

Same here. I can look back at my older stuff and see the progression. And it's not just with technical things, but also with style and voice. It's pretty cool to look back sometimes and see the improvement. And as hard as I am on myself, I normally have to admit I wasn't that bad back in the day.

Spiny Norman · Apr 10, 2007

I remember a few years ago when I posted a story on a site about how my apartment had nearly burned down the night before, due to, well, sheer stupidity on the part of all parties involved. I think the first response was, "You're an idiot, but a writing savant. Too bad your utter lack of common sense will probably kill you before your considerable talent flourishes."

I took it as a compliment.

ccarver30 · Apr 10, 2007

Hmm. I may be my worst critic and with writing my new WIP, I realized how much better this one flows and that I am paying more attention to detail. I already am feeling this second novel a little more than the first.

Jamesaritchie · Apr 10, 2007

Jack Nog said:
Ahh, well I just commented on Thursday before the 1st round how it seemed unfair that Tiger and Vijay (although I don't like the man that much) seemed to be paired with guys far below their level. Then looked at Phil and Adam Scott, Ernie Els and Ogilvy grouped together among others. It seemed unfair. I equated it to running a race. If I'm running a mile with a bunch of ten minute milers, well I'd just do enough to win the race. If I'm in a race with a bunch of 4:30 milers, I'm going to up my game a bit.

In the end, it didn't matter for squat...

It never matters. If you ever just do enough to win, you aren't competitive enough to win.

Elodie-Caroline · Apr 10, 2007

Hi,
I don't know if anyone else out there is like me. But when I am writing seriously, which means my work on my novels, I write far better than what I do on boards or via e-mails. In my WIPs, I take my time and craft it, hopefully, to perfection, and I use what I call my telephone voice in which to write in, I also contemplate very seriously what I am going to write in my books.
I never use that kind of writing for forums or e-mails, because they are going to be read within seconds, and simply forgotten about, whereas, I never want my WIPs to be forgotten.

Oh, and going back to three years ago, when I first started writing, my writing is a lot better over the last year, than the first two. The writing from my first two years looked kind of childish to how I write now.

Elodie

Jack Nog said:
At first, I got all mad and I was like, what the hell does that mean. Emails flew back and forth and he finally said, "It just didn't sound like you. I mean you don't talk like that, and you've never said anything like that.

Meerkat · Apr 10, 2007

Uh oh....

Signs your writing has gotten better!

Jack Nog

Brain-farts are useful too.

TheIT

Infuriatingly Theoretical

czjaba

dreaming of the day...

Azure Skye

Huh?

Siddow

I'm super! Thanks for asking

Jack Nog

Brain-farts are useful too.

Azure Skye

Huh?

Jack Nog

Brain-farts are useful too.

alaskamatt17

Etola

Still looking for stars...

engmajor2005

swvaughn

adrift

TheIT

Infuriatingly Theoretical

Julian Black

Will Read Slush for Food.

Etola

Still looking for stars...

NEGO

Spiny Norman

ccarver30

Nicole Castro

Jamesaritchie

Elodie-Caroline

Meerkat

Claims the loan was a gift