Being impressed by your own work isn’t so weird. Maybe I did write that…
For 2021 I have written a total of 6 new books.
Four are the launch of my Forgotten Fodder series. Two are the continuation of my Void Incursion series.
As part of the work, editing must occur. This is a three-part process.
Part One – I reread and edit my work. Much to the amusement of my cat, I tend to read aloud. Long ago I found that you catch many errors you might otherwise miss. This can be especially amusing if a lot of time has passed since I last looked at this work.
Part Two – I send my work off to the editor. My new editor is awesome, and she does an incredible job of both proofreading and altering contextual issues in my work.
Part Three – I go over my editor’s edits. This is necessary because some contextual changes might not be applicable.
For example – with The Source Chronicles, one of my editors wanted me to change the poetry of the prophecy that drives the story. The changes desired didn’t make sense in the context of the way the prophecy was written and presented.
Another matter tends to be dialogue. Sometimes proper grammar and dialogue don’t go hand in hand. Editors don’t always see it for what it is and change it as such.
But in all the rereading of my work – sometimes something strikes me. Not negatively, but more surprising. Did I write that?
Why pose the question?
I love quotable statements. Often, I make use of them in my blogs. My favorites include:
“Try not. Do, or do not, there is no try.” – Yoda
“Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one.” – Albert Einstein
“The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” – Franklin Delano Roosevelt
“Tell your heart that the fear of suffering is worse than the suffering itself.” – Paulo Coelho
Stirring, memorable, impressive lines. These are four among a lot of great quotes I love to use and share because of the power and impact they make.
Thus, from time to time, I’ve written something along this line. Something profound, inspiring, empowering. And I had to step back because I was struck by this. Did I write that? Damn!
At other times, particularly in fiction, I’ll write out a scene, drop a hint, throw in something humorous that I again have this reaction. Did I write that? Whoa, so cool!
If you are not a writer or artist of this ilk, you might think – well, duh, you’re the one writing it. But sometimes I still put something on the page or screen that strikes a chord when I reread it later and makes me pose this question.
The reason is this – when I am writing I am in the moment. Writing is an expression of the here-and-now. In the zone, tapping away at the keys and putting the idea or imaginative scene on the screen flows. And my focus is on getting the concept shared from start to finish.
Thus, along the way, it is forgotten. Not in the sense of lost, more in the sense of a product of the moment impressive when looked at later.
Improv falls along this line
In the medieval reenactment society that I’ve been participating in for almost 30 years, there are two things I most love – medieval fencing and court heralding.
In our organization, we have kingdoms headed by a crown made up of a sovereign and consort. They do a bunch of ceremonies and present awards of merit to the people. To do this, the crown holds court and has a herald to call people in. Then, the herald reads the scroll (some stunningly gorgeous artwork) aloud to all those attending court.
To all intents and purposes, this is live theatre.
Sometimes the scroll isn’t present. It may not have gotten completed in time or delivered to the event where court is happening – or was done spur-of-the-moment by the crown. When that happens, the herald gets to improvise.
We call this a “Zen” scroll. And like improv theatre – some are better at this than others.
I, for one, pride myself on being really good at this. Frankly – I was damned good at improv theatre.
The act of doing the Zen scroll can be simple – sovereign and consort ‘x’ give award ‘y’ to person ‘z’ on this date at this event. Or, it can be more complicated – something flowery and maybe more personal akin to what an already complete scroll might say.
So why am I sharing this? Because more than once, I’ve been asked to give the person who will make the absent scroll the words that I used. Why create something new when I already said something well and apropos?
Problem is – once the words have passed my lips, I seldom recall what it is I said. Unless someone recorded it – it’s gone.
Thus, Did I say that? is damned similar to Did I write that?
Did I write that? It’s okay to be amazed at yourself
Another quote, again Star Wars, from Han Solo,
“Ya know, sometimes I amaze even myself.”
How many of us did that totally resonate with? Sure, it was delivered with due arrogance – but we all experience it sometimes.
And it’s okay to feel that way. I suspect a great many of the most quotable quotes were not intended to be taken as they have been. They just got put out there. And then – they struck. I have no doubt almost every author, artist, actor, and the like has said or thought,
Did I do that? Cool! Did I say that? Whoa! Did I write that?
Not because it’s a negative – but because it’s surprising to you, even as its creator.
So, when you have this moment – and I would bet all creatives do – being impressed by your own work isn’t so weird. Coming back later to something you did that got lost in the moment – a perfectly normal experience – can have that impact.
To be fair, there ARE times where “Did I write that?” gets followed by, “Shit! That’s just awful!” We tend to normalize that far more than the “Damn, that’s amazing!” variation. But both are legit and not at all unusual.
Did I write that? I think that aha moment is a pretty cool experience!
Thank you for being part of my ongoing journey, for joining me, and for inspiring me and my craft.
This is the one-hundred and eighteenth article exploring the ongoing creative process. Please take a moment to check out the collection of my published works, which can be found here.
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