Nothing is lost, nothing is wasted! I can't tell you how many times I've used a line, an image, or a character from discarded drafts or never-finished stories, even many years later.
Great set of distinctions for managing this delicate process! I'm in the middle of this kind of re-evaluation of past writing. I went into a space that said "you MUST reread it all" except, as you point out, "who said?" Now I'm gathering something more intuitive: characters I remember who stay with me, stories I remember with pleasure, some intrigue -- all that come to mind naturally. Seems like a good place to start the look back at work done. Thanks for another great, relevant, piece!
Thank you! I've been thinking about this as I gather pieces for prospective collections--just because I wrote a piece with the intention of including it in X or Y collection doesn't mean I *have* to include it. Maybe the piece doesn't have the right energy, etc. It can be a hard decision to make, but it can also be quite freeing! I appreciate your comment!
This post came exactly when I was thinking about this! How do you do that? I don't think I am quite as driven as you are (in the same way) but occasionally I'll read a poem or piece I've written and think: is this even worth editing? I am getting better at trusting my judgment. Thanks!
Nothing is lost, nothing is wasted! I can't tell you how many times I've used a line, an image, or a character from discarded drafts or never-finished stories, even many years later.
Same!
The same thing applies to not only writing but things in our life.
Great set of distinctions for managing this delicate process! I'm in the middle of this kind of re-evaluation of past writing. I went into a space that said "you MUST reread it all" except, as you point out, "who said?" Now I'm gathering something more intuitive: characters I remember who stay with me, stories I remember with pleasure, some intrigue -- all that come to mind naturally. Seems like a good place to start the look back at work done. Thanks for another great, relevant, piece!
Thank you! I've been thinking about this as I gather pieces for prospective collections--just because I wrote a piece with the intention of including it in X or Y collection doesn't mean I *have* to include it. Maybe the piece doesn't have the right energy, etc. It can be a hard decision to make, but it can also be quite freeing! I appreciate your comment!
This post came exactly when I was thinking about this! How do you do that? I don't think I am quite as driven as you are (in the same way) but occasionally I'll read a poem or piece I've written and think: is this even worth editing? I am getting better at trusting my judgment. Thanks!
Trusting our judgment as writers can be really hard!