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Mine seems to have improved a whole lot Caredoe so I feel it's being among other writers and observing how they write that I have learned so much. even though I feel I still have so much to learn.

My first attempt at writing a story was in Junior High School. I'd had quite a vivid imagination from as early as I can remember. My first real writing attempt was a shot at trying to put my creative visions to paper. I remember the story and how BADLY it was written. In fact, it was so badly written that after having asked a couple of grown-ups to review it for me, I was discouraged from writing for eons - literally.
I resigned myself to cartooning as a way of expression, and that eventually got me an invite to write a commentary piece about a place where I was employed. This was in the early 90s. Between that invite and the embracing of a modern-day word processer typewriter, I found I could write well enough to gain praise.
Having had limited publication of both fiction and factual presentations thru the past 15 years has really helped build confidence and that confidence serves to inspire me. I'd write the better part of each day away if I didn't have so many other things to do!

When I submitted my novels they were evaluated by the publishing house. What I learned from that evaluation put me on the right track. I'm verry konfidant wit mah riting now.

While writing the sequel to my trilogy I expect very little correction-except for occasional punctuation errors.

I hope I'm better. I pretty much have all the non-commercial writing I've done, starting with a single page in 5th grade on yellow-lined paper, marked with positive comments from my teacher. That's the piece that got me started.

Writing is different for me than many: I couldn't type out a story to save my life.

For my 1982 chapbook I collected 400 pages of automatic writing, clipped the parts I liked best, then arranged these fragments on my living room floor until they made some sense.

I filled in the gaps with third-person comments, and wound up with 52 pages, total:

THE WISDOM OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA (1982)
view link

There used to be an unsigned copy on this page going for $9.00, but somebody bought it. The signed copies remaining ask $19.95 -- which means my signature is worth more than the book itself !

(Very humbling, I must say.)

I used this same technique for FORTY-FIVE YEARS: A Novelette. Published by the Inevitable Press in 1998.

Here's what fellow Laguna Poet Pat Cohee was kind enough to publish on the back of this slender volume:



I mean, when someone turns your last name into a literary adjective...what could be more flattering?

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orphans, talking about your sequel, when can we expect to see it in the book stores? I can't wait to see how the saga continues!
Hugs, Caredoe

Skeeter,

I have to confess, I've never heard of pages of automatic writing. What are they, and where did you find them? I can't imagine being able to put a book together with snipets of writings. And I wonder about plagiarism. I'd be interested in seeing your work. Your link didn't work for me. By the way, I like your warm smile.:)

Hugs, Caredoe

At least I'm writing. It's going to be a while until I build up some self-confidence. I have heard from several people who were in writing programs or groups and got their work shredded by criticism. They all got some degree of writer's block. Some criticism is necessary and helpful but when I had twelve people going at my work like pit bulls I ended up feeling that I wasn't competent to write down the alphabet.

That's why I've been really avoiding online writing groups and also why I'm glad that I found this one. I just wish I could find more time.

Critique in not way means to shred a writer's creative works. It simply means to carefully evaluate it and give your thoughts (in a thoughtful manner) to the writer. When critiquing, always remember - the writer's work is his/her baby. We merely give our suggestions, hopefully in a kind and thoughtful manner to be accepted or rejected by the writer.

I do not know of any writer (whether on this site or the most published author ever) that does not need a critique on his work. It would be a miracle if anyone ever presented the 'perfect' writing.

So, at least for here on Writers Web, do not be afraid to submit your work. If you want a critique, ask for it. We will all give you the best advise we can, but it won't be to humiliate you.

Also, remember one thing - when a writer asks for a critique, this means any member can critique - not just the management.

So - keep on writing!

Sunny

Critique is never about the artist: it's just an assessment of certain points regarding a work of art, made for the benefit of all.

Further, critique is really not about the piece at hand, although that is what is discussed. It's really about how to improve one's work going forward.

If we didn't critique at university, we'd have had nothing to do.

Caredoe, there are two URL's in my post above. The first leads to a page at Amazon offering two used copies of my chapbook. The second shows the back cover of another chapbook.

To see the back cover please click on the "REFRESH" button on your browser: this should bring up the image.

Regarding automatic writing, it is known to be the most effective exercise one can practice to:

1. Abolish writer's block forever.

2. Become a better writer.

I was fortunate to enjoy about 6 years at university as a playwriting student, and this was when I did most of my automatic writing -- generally between the hours of 10 pm - 2 am. (We drama students sleep in late.)

I wrote just about every night in the following manner and it made me into a real writer. I called my work produced in this way "Wall Poetry," because I framed some of these pieces and sold them at my readings.

PLEASE REFRESH YOUR BROWSER TO VIEW...



Here is the exercise. Students who have actually done this have thanked me.

-- Typewriter Version --

1. Set your margins to their widest width and your line spacing to single-space.

2. Position a piece of typing paper at the very top edge.

3. Begin typing WITHOUT ANY THOUGHT and continue until the page flies out of the typewriter. (You must begin and cannot stop until the page flies out.)

4. DO NOT ALLOW YOURSELF TO THINK WHILE YOU TYPE. No thinking allowed during this exercise. That comes later, during editing.

5. The result will be something like you see above.

What causes writer's block is self-censorship. The brain is basically saying, "I'm not good enough to write: who do I think I am?"

Automatic writing (in my case, "Wall Poetry") when practiced on a daily basis for a period of at least several months eliminates this inner censor completely.

One must understand that WRITING MEANS PUTTING WORDS ON PAPER -- NOTHING MORE.

If you are not putting words on paper (in our case, out into cyberspace), then...clearly...you are not writing.

The key to this exercise is to learn how to suspend your inner editor and just type without any thought whatsoever. Shrinks call it "free association"...we do it through our fingers.

If you practice the exercise for a reasonable period of time, soon you will find there is no such thing as writer's block: it's all in your mind. You'll be able to type as freely and as effortlessly as I do, which is sans pain, sans interruption, sans self-censor.

Then you'll be a writer and create what you wish to create at will, because your censor will no longer be looking over your shoulder. Just type and worry later about what you said.

It's a great adventure, Caredoe: give it a try.

-Skeeter

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I guess I have gotten used to what may be a different kind of automatic writing. I "see" the story as it develops in my imagination. It's almost like watching a movie. I simply write what my imagination sees. There are times when I'll see different versions of the same story. Through later editing, the final version comes together like a puzzle where some of the pieces are from one possible scenario, and sometimes from another. It sounds confusing, but for me it's the way my brain seems to work. When I first tried to put words to paper, I tried to craft words into sentences, and sentences into a story which sometimes worked and sometimes didn't. I had to learn to let the words flow from my mind to the story naturally, without stopping to worry about such things as spelling, grammer and punctuation. I had to force myself to allow this flow of words tell the story, and then craft it later. Much of the progress I've been able to make in my writing has been due to the critique I have recieved here and in other groups. Others can sometimes see things that we can't because they can be objective about our efforts. I'm grateful for each one who has over offered their advise and pointed out things that I had to work on over the past couple of years.