An ouch for tomorrow.
Oct 29, 2006 in Life-logger
I'm going back to work tomorrow.
Sniff.
I realized something quite a while ago, that real, real writers, never had the cheek or guts to admit that they could write well. Most professional writers have some kind of inbuilt radar to withstand flack and shit from brickbat throwers, and they survive them anyway. More importantly, these respectable people knew that criticism was never met to hurt them, criticisim usually served only to help one improve, and true writers always welcomed the critics.
True writers get worried when all they get in return from readers are heaps of praises and meaningless worship. Cos they know they can't improve otherwise.
On a side note, I thought it funny how self-professed writers think so highly of themselves. I wish I could write well honestly, I know I've had people telling me 'Hey I love your writing, your style,' but many a time I've scrutinized what I've written and while I'm able to recognize stylistic twists in the way my other peers have chosen to express their feelings in words, I've yet to come to terms with what my readers have credited me for.
I think I'm slightly lucky though, and I'm learning. But I've many many more years to go, and then I also realize, with these twists in my career paths, and the new decisions I've been forced to make, I might never be able to qualify as a true artist in this field I so love.
But I'm trying. Not nearly there yet, still years to go, but still, trying.
I'm rambling a lot, but I guess what I'm saying here is this, when I was an editor, I dreaded working with authors who think too highly of themselves. Because the moment you think you're a genius, you're not giving yourself anymore space to improve. I've met many people along the way since working, since blogging, since university, people in the field, and I've got to say this, I've never met a true blue writer who writes awesomely and thinks the world of himself/herself. I think humility is not an easy trait to have, but I've got to give it to real writers. I think they've got that humble touch, and it comes naturally to them, and all they do in life is strive and strive to write better than they think they already can. That's why, when they write, we can connect so easily to their writing, because you can feel the emotional attempts and strengths in their compositions, and we find honesty seeping through their lines. They write clearly, crisply and are extraordinarily unpretentious. Naturals.