Yes, I do. A lovely turn of phrase or an usual form or structure to tell a story -- to discover these in my own writing is amazing and mysterious at once. And gratifying, too.
I love it when I come across a piece of writing from years ago, and I think, "Darn--that was good." I usually can't even remember that I wrote it, so there's no way I could remember how I came up with it in the first place. Lol.
I pretty much agree with all the other comments. The first time I discovered that those college term papers I worked frantically on and thought were sh*t were actually good was a revelation.
Constantly. Which is why when I feel stuck, I know that I can write my way through it. The imagination is amazing. It can be a battle, too: Novels seem to require a structure, and the imagination doesn't always want to accept what you've given to it. I remember reading in Jeff Vandermeers's Wonderbook that trying to codify the writing process too much might be a fear of unpredictability of the imagination. That's because creative processes are so different from business processes, the latter of which are praised when they are timely, linear, and efficient. "If it's not clearly a means to an end, it must be a waste of time" is the wisdom we've heard in our jobs. We have to accept as writers that sometimes we need to play.
On occasions. I came across a story I'd written more than ten years ago. I stared at it for some time, trying to remember how I came up with it. I've no idea.
Yes! And I often think that it's better than I remember thinking it was at time of writing. Reminds me of looking at old photos and thinking how "pretty" I was back then, which I certainly did not think at time photo was taken. A lesson here, I think, in self-perception, and how we can get in our own way of fully embracing/embodying our unique beauty in the moment, both in writing and in life. This is one reason I'm working with a book coach (shout out to the amazing Suzette Mullen!) on my memoir-in-progress: she helps me see the worth of my story as I write it; she helps me get out of my own way.
All. The. Time. I just finished reading a proof POD paperback of my newest novel, and even though it is fresh in mind, I came across some scattered turns of phrase and quotes that made me smile. Although on the whole, once I self-publish a book, I never reread it.
I'll be a contrarian here and say that no, I usually don't wonder how I came up with something. Instead, I experience the surprise more in the moment of writing, a delight when something comes out clearly or beautifully or is expressed in a way I'd never thought of it before. This might be due to many years of tech writing, or just the nature of my memory. Whatever the case, some part of me is always unavoidably observing myself in the act of writing. That self-awareness is a real asset at times, but also a liability because I'm never *wholly* immersed in the art.
Maybe that'll change as I do more fiction/creative writing. So far it hasn't. :)
Yes, I do. A lovely turn of phrase or an usual form or structure to tell a story -- to discover these in my own writing is amazing and mysterious at once. And gratifying, too.
I love it when I come across a piece of writing from years ago, and I think, "Darn--that was good." I usually can't even remember that I wrote it, so there's no way I could remember how I came up with it in the first place. Lol.
I pretty much agree with all the other comments. The first time I discovered that those college term papers I worked frantically on and thought were sh*t were actually good was a revelation.
Constantly. Which is why when I feel stuck, I know that I can write my way through it. The imagination is amazing. It can be a battle, too: Novels seem to require a structure, and the imagination doesn't always want to accept what you've given to it. I remember reading in Jeff Vandermeers's Wonderbook that trying to codify the writing process too much might be a fear of unpredictability of the imagination. That's because creative processes are so different from business processes, the latter of which are praised when they are timely, linear, and efficient. "If it's not clearly a means to an end, it must be a waste of time" is the wisdom we've heard in our jobs. We have to accept as writers that sometimes we need to play.
All the time.
Yes, both in satisfaction and in bewilderment. And almost never return to a piece without realizing it could have been said differently.
On occasions. I came across a story I'd written more than ten years ago. I stared at it for some time, trying to remember how I came up with it. I've no idea.
Yes! And I often think that it's better than I remember thinking it was at time of writing. Reminds me of looking at old photos and thinking how "pretty" I was back then, which I certainly did not think at time photo was taken. A lesson here, I think, in self-perception, and how we can get in our own way of fully embracing/embodying our unique beauty in the moment, both in writing and in life. This is one reason I'm working with a book coach (shout out to the amazing Suzette Mullen!) on my memoir-in-progress: she helps me see the worth of my story as I write it; she helps me get out of my own way.
No I do not, although I can recognize when something is good and when it is not. I don't question my muse when she comes upon me.
Sometimes!
All. The. Time. I just finished reading a proof POD paperback of my newest novel, and even though it is fresh in mind, I came across some scattered turns of phrase and quotes that made me smile. Although on the whole, once I self-publish a book, I never reread it.
I'll be a contrarian here and say that no, I usually don't wonder how I came up with something. Instead, I experience the surprise more in the moment of writing, a delight when something comes out clearly or beautifully or is expressed in a way I'd never thought of it before. This might be due to many years of tech writing, or just the nature of my memory. Whatever the case, some part of me is always unavoidably observing myself in the act of writing. That self-awareness is a real asset at times, but also a liability because I'm never *wholly* immersed in the art.
Maybe that'll change as I do more fiction/creative writing. So far it hasn't. :)