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what could i say
I have always felt that we write best when we write about what we know. So here I sit, staring at the paper of a yellow legal pad, twiddling the blue pen between my fingers thinking just how much or how little I know.
I made the mistake of thinking I knew it all when I wrote my first novel. When I say novel I refer to the notepads full of romantic nonsense that I had pooled together with the help of all the Sweet Valley’s, Sweet Dreams and Love Stories I had read during my early years of idealistic puppy love. To Love, Loose and Find is what I had called it, all in all a story littered with plot inconsistencies and clichés.
The disastrous first effort certainly proved the point of writing what you know, as I knew nothing of romance but only of the fabrications of others that I had read. But along the way I learned that I truly enjoyed writing. It was not a question of good or bad, success or failure; I loved to write whether it was a term paper or an email, a poem or short story. Putting pen to paper, yes I believe in pen and paper, the computer screen does nothing to inspire me; and allowing the words, thoughts and feelings, opinions and statements to just tumble out, it is freeing.
Today, a few days shy of turning twenty four, fresh out of college, married and unemployed; I still sit and wonder how much more I have yet to know. I am no expert on anything then what could I possibly have to write that others may want to read? What could I possibly narrate that others haven’t heard before?
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| Some interesting questions raised and I'm sure you are on the way to finding answers. I noted with interets your distinction between pen and paer and writing on the puter. all my own work starts of in a notebook I carry aroond with me permanently. Does it really matter if its been heard before? you have a unique take on what you see and experience, even if its only for an audience of one! |
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Comment by: precar - 2008-02-03 06:36
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| It's nice to know other writers ask the same questions I've found myself asking, like what is there for me to write that hasn't already been written? I read Tolstoy and Dostoyevsky and Goethe (and others) and I feel they've said everything there is to be said, but then I think that every person needs to say for themselves what they feel and experience and know, and in that process of putting it down for yourself is your liberation, growth, and evolution. |
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Only those who realize they don't know anything continue to grow, to learn, to expand, no matter their age, experience or education. Only my opinion but that counts right?
First of all, you have your unique experiences, your unique perspective, your unique family, background, friends, and so on about which to write. Nobody else can know what you know or what you have lived and believed and experienced. Your life is unique as are you. No one in the history of the world can write or has written about that - it is waiting for you to express it.
Be careful of spelling such as "learnt", rather than "learned". I would also change "supposedly wrote" to "wrote" - because you didn't supposedly write - you DID write.
Thanks for a great read!
Bayley |
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