Freewriting

[raefinlay]

My expectations of self are way too high when it comes to writing. I'm a perpetual loser in my own eyes. So, I've decided that if I can't elevate my prose to the level I want it to be at, I will simply lower my expectations.

A funny thing happened.

I semi-freewrote 687 words in two hours tonight. I concentrated on telling the dang story as opposed to making it sound pretty. Just get it out, I told the stubborn self, and don't pay attention to awkwardness or cliches or contradictions.

So, I just read what I wrote, and inexplicably, it's not all crap. Sure, I'll have to tweak a few sentences, re-locate an entire paragraph, find a better way of saying "her eyes sparked defiance" --but on the whole, not so bad.

Yay low expectations!!

In other news: my stomach hurts. Every night for a week I've wanted to throw up. *would rather die than throw up* My Pepto Bismal bottle is almost empty. BUT, maybe this means I can call in sick to Christmas!!! I really don't want to drive 140 miles in fog and Christmas traffic to get to the parents' house, only to drive right back the very next day for the annual extended family Loud Fest. Bah Humbug.

Ok, night night, and Merry Christmas Eve! (or happy holidays, or just...good night!)

Comments

[cricketshay.livejournal.com]

*hugs* I'm sorry you feel so bad. YaY!!! for words! I love your music choice, btw.

[matociquala.livejournal.com]

Poor baby. :-( But yay calling in sick for Xmas.

And yeah, there is something to be said for permitting yourself a crappy first draft. *g* They're often better than we expect.

[topmom.livejournal.com]

Aww Rae. I wish for you...relief from tummy trouble...confidence in your abilities...and renewed strength & energy.

You're very special, and those who get to spend time with you this Holiday season will consider themselves very fortunate. Put on your favorite tape, relax, and enjoy the journey -knowing those loving arms await you.
*prayers & hugs*

[dark-geisha.livejournal.com]

*hugs* Poor Rae.

And I've found that when you stop concentrating so hard on whether or not the story sounds pretty and just bloody write, the draft doesn't turn out so bad at all.

[aaron-mag.livejournal.com]

Sometimes I think we psyche ourselves out. I'm totally stuck writing this next scene and I *know* I'm overthinking the words. So many 'cliches' to avoid. No rippling muscles and such.

Then again, rippling muscles from the Notebook mades lots and lots of money. So maybe we have it all wrong.

Got a review from Holly saying just what you are talking about (that I have too much prose that focuses on pretty words and not enough imagery). But now I'm cursed because I stare at words and think, "am I overthinking these words..."

Arrrgghghhghghghh!!!!

:D

[stillsostrange.livejournal.com]

Poor tummy. :( But if you throw up you'll probably feel better--your body often has intelligent reasons for wanting rid of things.

Merry Christmas!

[raecarson.livejournal.com]

Thx Shay. Yep, Enigma is teh r0x0r!

[raecarson.livejournal.com]

Kinda like not worrying about chronology, eh?? :-)

[raecarson.livejournal.com]

*patpat* I know how you feel, dude.

Just WRITE about rippling muscles. Who cares? You can always change it later. Yay rippling muscles! Yay soft skin! Yay breath coming in gasps!! *giggles*

[jmeadows.livejournal.com]

Poor tummy. :(

But yay freewriting! That's what I'm doing with Thieves, dude, and I tell myself I can always go back and fix it, but when I look at it it's really not that bad! It sounds like you're doing the same thing! Go us! :D

[aaron-mag.livejournal.com]

Damn you!!! I had the soft skin and one, just one, reference to a gasp.

*makes revisions. Can't get rid of soft skin. But gasp is gone (by something equally cliche, unfortunately...

:P

Dude. Their getting into this long rambling conversation right now. She is supposed to stab him with the knife, but they won't shut up!!!

[raecarson.livejournal.com]

no no no! Don't revise! Just let it go, dude. It's ok to have a gasp every now and then. Really (er...what did you replace it with? she caught her breath...O_O)

oo, stabbing... Can't wait to read!!

[aaron-mag.livejournal.com]

Too late. Already revised. Up to 1300+ now!!! Going to send to Jodes to see if it is any good so far.

And another thing I should have pointed out. Which of us here is actually happy with our words? Isn't satisfaction a sign of complacency? Isn't angst our 'red badge of courage'?

:D

And your final versions are never 'crappy'. Do you know why this is? Because of your damnable high expectations. So don't change that. I want to read stories that have cool things like joining 'the one and the two'.

-Later dude.

[everyonesakitty.livejournal.com]

aw. poor rae!!! so sorry your stomach is messed up! Maybe it's christmas anxiety. I get it sometimes. Being around crowds and shopping and all those expectations and like you can't ever possibly do enough. whew. *vomits* better now. :D

hmm... maybe I'll see if you're online...

[everyonesakitty.livejournal.com]

LOL!!! Everyone is telling rae to vomit. HAHAHAHAHAHA

[janeorben.livejournal.com]

Hey. This is Martha Knox (the LiveJournal name is fake) from OWW. Just read another chapter in your book and decided to take a look at your website.

Pepetual loser, eh? As long as the writing is perpetual, it's good you're so self-critical. Better to ever-more improve while thinking you are a loser than stagnate while deluding yourself into thinking you're God's gift to literature. ;-)

[raecarson.livejournal.com]

Yay!!! Martha is on LJ! Love the green hair.

Hey, thx so much for such an encouraging crit. I seriously needed that! ;-)

And yes, I think it's better to be overly critical than overly confident. Makes us better writers, eh?

Happy New Year!