Argh

[indri]

I've just reread, for the first time in years, this novel I abandoned halfway-through when I was working on my PhD.

I used to write much better than I do now. It's depressing.

I should probably try to complete it, now the PhD's done. But only once I've finished those damned fanfics.

Comments

[onetwomany.livejournal.com]

You know, I have come to the conclusion that too much academic writing destroys the creative spirit. Granted, I never actually wrote fic before Buffy reared it's head, so I don't have that fore reference, but I look at the roleplaying stuff I use to develope and wonder if it was really me who did that. It must be all that critical thinking and reflective over-analysis or something!

[indri]

I'll blame all those technical reports I have to write. They're written in substandard offhand pseudo-academic prose.

Also, I need to read three novels a week the way I used to. Only then I might have to pare down my LJ time.

[speakr2customrs.livejournal.com]

Also, I need to read three novels a week the way I used to. Only then I might have to pare down my LJ time.


Tell me about it. I got the new Terry Pratchett book for my birthday on October 4th, and it's still lying unread beside the computer. I used to read 2 or 3 novels a day.

[indri]

My SO can read more than book a day; I never could, unless you count Dr Who novels. I really must make time for it. During my studies, I deliberately avoided reading novels so I could get some work done, and now I need to get back into the habit of reading.

[makd.livejournal.com]

ITA Academia can be deadly to the spirit, sometimes. I don't do nearly as much, artistically, as I used to. I tend to channel the creativity into lecturing, teaching, mentoring, writing, research, yadda yadda.

I look at some of the artwork I did 30 years ago, and I think that someone else did it, but of course, I did it --- just a different person at the time.

[indri]

I'm not currently in academia but "industry", strictly speaking. I just find that I can't focus to the level I need to during the day and then use my brain in the evenings for anything constructive. I'm going to give in to that and try to do creative stuff on the weekends instead.

What kind of artwork did you do?

[makd.livejournal.com]

Finish/re-write the novel. There will always be time for fanfics --- but strike while the writing iron is hot!

[http://users.livejournal.com/peasant_/]

I feel oddly responsible ;o)

Having spent years trying to learn to trust my own judgement when writing, I have now come to the conclusion that judgement of ones own writing is as variable as the ability to write - so I am now painfully training myself not to pay too much attention to my own opinion. I'll let you know if the method works.

[indri]

I feel oddly responsible

Oh, it's entirely self-inflicted :)

I still like many of the sentences and paragraphs of the novel, but I now see that whole subplots are naive and fit poorly in with the rest. I suppose this is an extreme example of the "put it away in a drawer for a week" school of self-editing.

I have now come to the conclusion that judgement of ones own writing is as variable as the ability to write

I am laughing ruefully at this because it sounds all too true :)

I am now painfully training myself not to pay too much attention to my own opinion

But how can that work? You need some level of self-judgement to help you shape the work. I can imagine doing that if one raced through a first draft before contemplating revision, but IIRC neither of us take that approach to writing.

I'll let you know if the method works.

Please do!