Then and Now - Some Writerly Rambles

[kriadydragon]

Of course it's always interesting to go back, look at your earlier works and figure out if you've progressed - or better yet, realize you've progressed. My mom found some of my earlier novels written back in my early twenties. Just picking out paragraphs and reading them, I have to admit that - structure wise (sentences, spelling, grammar, etc) - my stories weren't as bad as I thought they would be. I'm sure that were I to clean them up they might make fairly decent young adult novels (and they would have to be YA novels or aimed at a younger audience. I have the characters walking on soft, fluffy clouds, literally, for crying out loud, because the world is that kind of ridiculously magical). But it's still the flowery language of a young writer who thought that by emulating Tolkein as much as possible it would make their stories the best thing since Lord of the Rings.

Which, obviously, in hindsight, is completely ridiculous, but it's also all part of the learning process, so it's not something I look back on and groan about in embarrassment. I might laugh, but never groan, even when I read over those early attempts. Especially since those early attempts are gold compared to my even earlier, teen-years attempts, when nothing got finished and if it did get finished it was only fifty pages long if that.

I think one of the ways that you know you are progressing (other than the gradual erosion of your ego until you feel balanced on the head of a pin between hope that your writing is at least descent, and despair that it probably isn't) is when you find yourself emerging from the desire to be "the next *insert famous author here*" and immersing yourself in being your own author. I'm not speaking for everyone, but speaking for myself I was one of those writers who really did want to be the next Tolkein - that is, Tolkein for the YA world. Now I'm just a writer with a lot of stories I want to tell, and no care about how well they're received or how popular they become. As long as someone is enjoying them, then I'm happy.

Although, yes, a little popularity would be awesome. One of my books made into a movie? That would be mind-boggling wonderful, but then so would some random artist doing a series of pictures based on one of my books.

Comments

[nefhiriel.livejournal.com]

I think one of the ways that you know you are progressing ... is when you find yourself emerging from the desire to be "the next *insert famous author here*" and immersing yourself in being your own author.

That is super insightful. Because I see how true it's been for me. I mean, I think there's always a part of an author that dreams of achieving celebrity status someday. But I think you're right. You do need to progress from wanting to be your favorite author, make-believe/mimic-like, into wanting to develop your own unique voice.

Ironically, I think I fell into almost an identical Tolkien-admirer's trap. It's only been in the last couple of years that I think I've realized it's okay to want to set your fantasy in ancient roman 'verse instead of a strictly medieval Europe setting. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis were the two authors that introduced me to fantasy, and although I do hope I've learned a lot from them, just seeing how different they were from each other has shown me the importance of being what you, individually, are gifted to be as a writer.

[kriadydragon.livejournal.com]

I remember when all I did was medieval fantasies, but funny thing is that these days I hardly touch on that particular setting at all. I think one of the things that helps you to find your own style is coming to realize that the possibilities are limitless, that fantasy doesn't have to be swords, wizards, dwarves and elves (dragons, however, I will never tire of ;)). Or at least it doesn't have to abide by all the same rules. Once I realized what was out there - urban fantasies, fantasies that have nothing to do with elves, faeries and so one, even fantasies mixed in with sci-fi - I became obsessed with expanding my own horizons and, well, just having fun with it all.

Funny thing, though; it wasn't until after I wrote my first completed novel that my interest in medieval fantasy began to wan. I think that as much as I enjoy that particular genre of fantasy, the desire to write it had been a simple enough craving that once written, I was satisfied and I was able to move on. I still hope to one day complete a couple of other ideas I've had but I definitely think my days of coming up with Tolkein-like fantasies are over.

[nefhiriel.livejournal.com]

I think "getting it (the good, the bad, and the just plain ugly XD) out of your system" is just a large part of growing up as a writer. And I consider fanfiction one of the best teachers I've ever had, especially in that regard. I mean...I know I'm at the place where I need to start branching out, and being brave enough to stand on my own two feet. But fanfiction has been the training wheels that enabled me to write--say--LOTR fanfiction, and get it out of my system.

[kriadydragon.livejournal.com]

I think "getting it (the good, the bad, and the just plain ugly XD) out of your system" is just a large part of growing up as a writer.

Very true. I think every author has that "must get out of system!" story. I do know there are those authors who only ever had one story to tell, and wrote nothing else once they told it.

I used to feel guilty about devoting so much time to fanfic and practically no time to original fic. Right up until I realized that I was in dire need of improvement. I'm terrible at whipping up original short stories, which is how most authors get their practice in, so wasn't writing as much as I needed to in order to improve. Then came fanfiction and I was writing like crazy. Now I look back on finding fanfic with nothing but gratitude. (However, I should confess that I do kind of, sort of regret the reading aspect of fanfic. Not majorly or anything since there's so much great stuff to read, but there are quite a few stories that I regret running into - some my fault, some that came at me out of the blue, but that squicked me in ways that took me forever to get over).

[black-raven135.livejournal.com]

Like nefhiriel I believe when you move past *insert famous author here*
you have arrived.
If the talent is there, it then will follow.

Your Castles in the Sky, Jabberwocky, Hound of Hell You Cry, Wayfarer, and Of Coloring Books and Lt. Colonels still remain in my mind. There are others of course, but those are firmly planted.

[kriadydragon.livejournal.com]

I also believe it's crucial to find your own thing rather than milking what's already been done. As much as I enjoyed Tolkein-like sword and sorcery novels there eventually came a point where I couldn't stomach them anymore. It was all elves, dwarves, wizards, men and I wanted something different.

Which, yes, can't be said for every reader out there - there will always be an audience for Tolkein-like fantasies. Still, the more you try to do your own thing, I think, the more your story stands out in the reader's mind (thus getting the reader to tell others about the book, who then tell others and so on. I didn't get into Harry Potter because of ads or commercials. I got into it because my dad sent me a copy after he read it).

[black-raven135.livejournal.com]

"I also believe it's crucial to find your own thing rather than milking what's already been done............"

(((((NODS)))))))
So true even when it comes to ff dedicated to SGA or some other fandom. I notice a definite trend, unfortunately, to just write in the same format, ie Sheppard in trouble, team to rescue, infirmary etc.
I read and feel "been there, done that" and often move on.
It is why when I started my attempt I thought about it.......asked myself
if what I was contemplating was different or was it standard cookie cutter
format.