note to self: i’ll be there for you, always
written june 6, 2021. Photo by Kristine Cinate on Unsplash I have always looked for myself in other people. I think the idea was that they would somehow hold the pieces of me that I felt were missing. That maybe, if I wrapped my identity up in theirs enough, we would somehow make a whole person. It's not healthy to live like this, but I did it anyway — burning through relationships and searching for something I couldn't quite name. It was never enough, not to be myself, but it was never enough to latch my identity to other people, either. I got close, several times — I thought I had reached the pinnacle of self discovery. I thought I had completed myself. But in the end, relying on other people to help build yourself is never a viable way to do things. It's only recently that I've started to become comfortable with the idea of being enough, as I am, on my own. Several years ago, in this same position, I would have searched for another person to attach my identity onto,...
First off, LOVE the bracelet!
ReplyDeleteSecond. Oh goodness....(I'm also tired, but my achy self is hurting and won't let me sleep, pardon if I don't make any sense in this whole comment). What have I learned about writing that has been the most valuble to me...
I think the biggest thing, is that nothing is junk. I'm always looking at my writing, and thinking, "This is crap. This isn't as good as Mirriam's". (yeah, I think that) "I'll just stop, start something new". But I've learned to keep writing. Even if it seems terrible. And to never throw any writing away.
And that's about it. XD
I read all your blog posts in your voice now - it's so soothing and therapeutic! I like it.
ReplyDeleteAlso, that question . . . erm . . . i have absolutley no idea. I just do it because I love it and it keeps me sane. I like playing with words.
I think the most important thing I've learned so far is to let the book decide its voice, and to play around with it until it tells you you've found it. Some of my books, I've tried to do in first person, but ended up later realizing that it's a third person book, and vice versa and so on. Let the book tell you how it should be written, and don't be afraid to experiment and step out of your comfort zone if your book is asking for it.
ReplyDeleteWould it be horrible if I gave two things I've learned most about writing? My overly indecisive mind just can't decide which to put. :x
ReplyDeleteFirst, something I've really, really been learning lately is to not go overboard with too much detail at once. Usually my first chapters end up being more like encyclopedias then an interesting tale, and thus the readers will not want to keep reading like that. I've learned I need to weave the details here and there while also keeping to an exciting story that keeps readers interested. I still find myself putting too much detail at once, but I'm trying hard to get over that!
Second, this kind of goes with Kendra's advice. Just as we should let the books make their own decisions, so should we let the characters do as they wish. I have many a fight with my charries, trying to make them something they're not. I've learned to just lean back, let them take my hand, and pull me along on a wild ride, letting them be whoever they wish and do whatever they want without forcing them. Because, as frustrating as they can be, the book ends up being so much better when you let them use their own minds. (Yes, my characters totally have their own minds. *cough*)
I feel like I've cheated here. Sorry! Those are just the two biggest things I've been learning about writing as of late.