Oct 3, 2012

Tangled

IWSG



I started this earlier as I always find my insecurities have burrowed back into hiding beyond some level of bliss by the time that fateful Wednesday appears.

But I am starting to wonder if I have been... I would not say limiting but something along those lines.

I hunger desperately for prompts, for the right prompts, to fully flesh out the ideas being neglected in my mind, its hard to remember the last time I wrote flash without the intention of fulfilling a prompt or submitting a linky.

Its like having that requirement, knowing it will be viewed in the light of some goal, makes it more valid?  I can write, and feel elated by my accomplishment, that I succeeded satisfactorily.

If I just write any old thing what standard will I measure it by?  What guidelines will I follow?  (I mean not that I am all that great at adhering entirely by the rules, but its nice to know they are there...)

How will I know it is the best flash I am capable of if there is no motivation to prove my ability?

I know this sounds superficial, but its the deeper fear of how will I salvage an idea if I write it terribly the first time...


In more recent news I still cannot comprehend the generous following growing alongside, even with my lacklustre schedule, but want to thank all for their consideration of my little place, and am stubbornly determined to publish something- tomorrow!

incapable of editing,
from sjp.

8 comments:

  1. I know what you mean about prompts being really helpful, and editing really sucks. But then again, once the editing is done and you make it out to the other side, it's amazing what you can accomplish. It's kind of like exercise. It's painful, but worth it.

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    1. You never regret exercising :) I will have to keep this in mind!

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  2. It's funny how I find prompts being too confining and not conductive for my creative drive... funny indeed, but I do understand where you're coming from. Creative people, artists, writers, we always worry that our creativeness is tide to a certain set of events (a glass of wine while writing, never writing wearing socks...whatever). I read this happened to Stephen King, and many other big names but you, like them, will get over this fear as soon as you try. Write something for the heck of it and AFTER look for a mag to publish it, there are many interested in flash pieces. The first time might be hard, you might find the writing is not good, but as you keep going you'll find a new way to do it and you'll feel better.

    Best of luck!

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    1. Exactly! I somehow cornered myself into a prompt seeking schedule without realising, but after writing out a couple of ideas I found more flowing without depending on prompts :) thanks for stopping by.

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  3. I'm going through edits at the moment and it's the most excruciating thing. I have the opposite problem to you in that I tend to break under the pressure of knowing I need to meet some deadline. A part of me really thinks that you have to be able to let yourself write terrible flash just to practice before you can produce anything at standard you're happy with. In the meantime, why don't I give you a deadline to meet? Maybe make it a goal to write a short piece by the next IWSG?

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    1. Challenge accepted ;) I always plan on working and extending flashes but somehow never get there, but now I am determined.

      When it comes to editing I just freeze up, I dont know where to start or how to change... I think it will be interesting tackling that.

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  4. I, too, feel your pain. I've been working on a novel for what feels like forever. The 100 word challenges and photo prompts really get me going to the point that my wife said maybe a novel is not for me. Maybe I enjoy a shorter form. I don't know. I'm still with the novel and still with the prompts.

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    1. I really do love flash, its great to work on certain aspects of your writing, to experiment, and it suits how I write which is putting down the first thing that comes. But I still want to write a novel too :)

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