I mean humiliating stuff, stuff that's not who you are anymore. I have a couple of old notebooks of stories/notes/ideas that now make me cringe. The thought of burning them has crossed my mind, but... *unsure*
No. Even though past writing is no longer who I am it’s a part of me, and shows how I’ve grown as a person - my history. When you throw away your heritage/history that’s when you begin to lose yourself. My opinion is to hold onto parts of you that no longer exist because they embody who you were and who you are now. Just my two cents.moth said:I mean humiliating stuff, stuff that's not who you are anymore. I have a couple of old notebooks of stories/notes/ideas that now make me cringe. The thought of burning them has crossed my mind, but... *unsure*
Very well said! This is exactly why I've kept pretty much everything I've ever written.KitKat said:We're constantly changing. That was you at one given point in time. Of course you're not the same person. Five years later, you'll look back on work you're doing now and wonder if you're still the same person who wrote it. You won't be. You'd have changed.
You'll constantly change. And your work will always continue to reflect who you are at a given point of time. Be proud of it, even if it embarrases you.
Put it away. Don't look at it. But don't destroy it.
moth said:I mean humiliating stuff, stuff that's not who you are anymore. I have a couple of old notebooks of stories/notes/ideas that now make me cringe. The thought of burning them has crossed my mind, but... *unsure*
KTC said:Answer #1: Because.
Answer #2: None.
I do it just to do it. I get a lot out of getting the bones down...editing it to final copy. I don't need the rest. Sometimes I get stuff published...but to date I've had no desire to attempt to get any of my manuscripts published. Maybe the day will come, but probably not.
I have painted for almost 30 years now. I have spells where I will paint all my finished canvasses black. The stuff I write and paint isn't mine...it comes up from the creativity well, I grab onto it and throw it onto paper, screen or canvas. Then it doesn't really matter what happens next. I often throw it back into the void from which it came. Ie...DELETE, DELETE, DELETE. Somebody else can find it floating in the void...grist for their mill.
KTC said:OMG and OKAY. This thread was made for me. I destroy almost everything eventually. I don't care if I think it's good or bad. I have deleted full manuscripts without blinking. I'm just that kinda crazy. No reason. Delete, delete, delete. I deleted one that an agent was interested in. I just don't care.
KTC said:It isn't just you, what?
**Looks around. Tries to figure it all out?**
She wore the most atrocious eye glasses I have ever seen. I mean, they made her a spectacle! I could not, in good conscience, place my manuscript with an agent who wore such monstrosities.
To make sure no one ever sees them. Especially family.