Do you read your own work?

Usually by the time the book comes out ... it takes about two years before I can read the printed version for pleasure. That's just me. YMMV.

I'm not published either (that you can actually count) but after all the editing and rewrites, I'm sick to death of my work! Maybe after a few weeks I can stomach looking at it again, but not right away. It's like watching a movie you've seen a dozen times, no big thrill there...

I have two reactions.

One is to be horrified and the other is to be amused. Sometimes I think,"did I write that?" Somethings do not even sound familiar to me.

And, yes, I did write them.


For instance, my sister will comment on something I wrote about in my book and I'll say, "I wrote that?"

And I honestly don't remember.

I read snippets of it during my readings/signings. Other than that, no, I don't read it... of course, it has only been about half a year. Like Uncle Jim said, I might read it again for pleasure two years from now.

I'll re-read my published short stories on occassion. When I get my novel published, I'll let you know if I re-read it or not.

I love re-reading my stuff, published and unpublished (and I have plenty of both). In fact, I'm one of my all-time favorite writers. Which might be part of my problem.

I hate reading everything I write.
I love reading everything I write.

I recently re-read a work I did about 20+ years ago. It was painful, cliche' dreck. I look at it now and go, what was I thinking? That was after I took the anti-nausea pills.

But at the core, there was a good idea. Some I'm gonna try to do it again.

In the end, the answer is yes. I read my old stuff (all unpublished). Looking for a gem beneath all the coal.

I think it's mostly because I write for me and not for anyone else. The only reason I keep writing.

I'm not published yet, but I am already sick of reading my first novel.

I am pushing myself through the final polish right now - a chapter a day - because I just want it to be done already.

However, I can see myself coming back and reading it at a later date. I love my characters and the story line.

I don't re-read my published articles and shorts, so I doubt I'd re-read my own book (insert wistful sigh here). I can't stand reading my own published stuff because I know I can no longer change it. I guess being able to let go of my projects works for me. Write, learn as much as I can from it, then move on to the next project to keep improving.

As long as it's unpublished, I'm fine with re-reading it because I can always try to make it better. But once it's outside of my control, I won't return to it. Seeing my perceived mistakes fixed forever in print is just depressing.

I have one short story published. I do read it on occasion (sp?) I love the story. I just wish I could have gotten it published in a better paying market.

Mixed Feelings on Reading old Work

I recently found my first ever user manual on the internet because the company decided to put ALL their equipment manuals on their website.

I downloaded a copy for my portfolio, then read it for the first time in 15 years or more. I had mixed feelings: as a first try by an untrained - totally untrained - writer, it was pretty good.

But if I rewrote it today, it could be sooooooo much better.

After I've finished a piece I will go back and read it once through, as a reader approaching the work for the first time would do (a difficult mindset sometimes to put myself into, but I have to do it). This is mostly to check for things like clarity and overall flow. If I'm satisfied, I won't read it again until I have to proof/edit for publication. After that, I may do as others here have said, which is to give it some time and distance. Then I may be inclined to come back to the work anew.

My first novel is set for publication in November and after going through all the editing and re-writes, I have to admit-- I am sick of reading this thing.

I'm about 15,00 words into my WIP and it's like a breath of fresh air. The best therapy for "book fatigue", is to start another novel.

Likewise, I'm sick of the thing by the time it's published, and I'm already into the next so it's like yesterday's news.

But I have on occasion re-read bits of the older novel, and I have three simultaneous experiences:

1. It's like visiting an old friend who you've lost touch with - familiar but yet not.
2. It's frustrating because I can't help thinking, "Ouch, that could have been better phrased", or otherwise wanting to improve upon it.
3. I do come across pieces which, as others have said, I've forgotten I wrote and am pleasantly surprised at how well they read.

You'd think every word would be engraved forever, but that's not so. In fact, I was reading comments about my first novel on another forum (yes, another forum, apologies!) and they were talking about a line they particularly loved - and I had totally forgotten it!

I wouldn't know Probably after some time and distance.

I've discovered that if I re-read my first draft as I write it, I inadvertently set the words in stone so editing becomes much more difficult. For this novel attempt, I'm intentionally avoiding overreading the finished pages so I can come at them fresh during the editing stage. It's much easier to change something if I don't have it committed to memory.