I may or may not always be an insecure writer – such is the nature of the beast – but I know that my style, creativity, and aplomb have evolved since I started writing free 7-8 years ago.
What began as a quest to accomplish wishes not yet explored in my life – like playing the French Horn or rollerskating with grace, balance, and finesse or writing without the prescribed stricture of clinical reports (I was a speech-language pathologist and had written thousands and thousands and thousands, some with fabulous fiction on the page 😉 – has turned into an encore career. I call writing my elegant hobby and to say that I’ve applied myself assiduously is accurate. My words play upon the pages, soaring with the spirits of joy or anger or doubt within me.
I am a hobbyist run amok.
The theme of this blog for http://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com is: how has one’s creativity evolved…? I didn’t ponder long to get to the confession that my natural inclination to ‘wing it’ has been reined in by structure. To write from one’s imagination to get a point across, to hand a reader something to benefit from and comprehend, not just a romp and a blathering of freely-associated words.
A firm conviction built into my spirit by my highly-literate and brainy parents was “anything worth doing is worth doing well.” Writing has that push for excellence built-in. I’ve learned to not swashbuckle with my prodigious vocabulary and show off words I can’t trot out conversation. I’ve learned to try to write for the benefit of the reader, to evolve a character in front of their eyes, and not to baffle them with BS and a handful of pretty words flung onto a page.
I know I do not have to dress to impress with my words.
That is, I’ve whittled, winnowed, and honed. I’ve learned to self-edit and compose. I’ve learned to trust a reader and show them how to trust me and my voice.
My creativity has evolved into something with form and function, as well as fun.
Thanks to our Ninja Captain Alex Kavanaugh http://www.alexjcavanaugh.com and co-hosts of today’s blog hop. Evolve on!
What a wonderful way of putting it! I agree the reader comes first and any study of craft that gives them a product they can enjoy is always the ultimate goal.
thanks for the validation, Elizabeth!
No, we don’t have to use those big, fancy words. I understand how sometimes it’s tough to just let go and let the words flow.
the big words flow along with the rest of the lava/blather, Alex. How I evolved was to learn to artfully excise them so that I didn’t bury the lead 😉
Kill my darlings – I didn’t even know what they were!! Yikes!
You are leaving your mark of future authors. You will be quoted in English AP courses in the future.
whoa and wow – thanks, Peggy 🙂
Oh my, yes. My mom always told me “anything worth doing is worth doing well.” I disagreed that washing dishes was really worth doing! I love your line–“not to have to dress to impress.” And the best is you’re having fun with your creativity!! Enjoyed your blog post. I had to visit with your blog with Boomer in it. I’m a Boomer too. Good to meet you.
JQ Rose
Boomer humor… because there is no other way to ‘meet’ middle age 😉
hahaha – my sister and I (the oldest) supposedly traded washing dishing… guess who ‘won’?
Hi, PJ! Your post lifted my spirits! You sound like you are having a blast running amok. Wishing you happy writing this month!
Thanks for recognizing my ebullience, my high-flying act of bravado, and zest for the task. “If it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing well” – and I’m doing my best to have a blast!
Happy writing to you!
So happy to have found you via #IWSG. Greatly enjoyed your post. Cheers!
I am an insecure writer, so there is no better group to join! Are you an ‘insecure writer,’ too, Cheryl?