(no subject)

[butterfly]

Are there any other authors out there who go back through their old stuff and find themselves reacting as if someone else had written it?

I've been going through my dS stories in prep for finishing up two WIPs that I'm working on, and I couldn't read my Fraser pov Ray/Ray fic. I wrote the fic, I know what it says, but I couldn't read it, because Ray/Ray breaks my heart. And I read my one big sex story (Fraser/RayK, natch) and thought it was totally hot. I fell in love with my versions of the characters, which makes sense, because they are how I see the guys, but it's also really cool, because I love my fic. I think that it's really good. Two years ago, one year ago, and I would have been whimpering (to myself only) about how horrible every word that I've ever written is, but now... I may just have more confidence as a writer. Or I'm just better now, as a writer, than I was two years ago, which I also believe to be true (I suspect that when I do get around to reading my older work -- BtVS, *NSYNC, etc -- I'll be pulling out the red pen).

Whatever the reason, it's really nice. Tomorrow, I have work at four, but sometime before that I'm going to be rewatching Perfect Strangers as prep for the next section of Queering the Text. I may also rewatch Victoria's Secret so that I can do more work on Diamondhead.

Comments

[dlgood.livejournal.com]

Are there any other authors out there who go back through their old stuff and find themselves reacting as if someone else had written it?

I distinctly remember re-reading my High School and College papers and being totally chagrined when I was trying to put together my portfolio and samples for Grad School Applications.

Some of the stuff I wrote was just... Heh. But it was kind of neat. There were a few papers I really liked, but which seemed atypical of my writing style, and I would look over them and think: "I really wrote this?"

(Though, college being college, there were papers I wrote in the deep hours of the night where I couldn't remember what I'd written come morning when I turned them in.)

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

It's really interesting, that's for sure. Especially when you do run across something that doesn't feel as though you wrote it. It's neat.

[charlietudor.livejournal.com]

Are there any other authors out there who go back through their old stuff and find themselves reacting as if someone else had written it?

Oh, yeah. Sometimes I cringe, sometimes I think "Dude, that ain't half bad." A couple of weeks ago I ran across a story I'd utterly forgotten I'd written, so I really could look at it with fresh eyes. That was kind of fun.

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

Yeah, some of my older stories make me giggle. I made mistakes back then that I wouldn't dream of now. And sometimes I would hit on something that totally worked, by complete accident. Fun times.

[treetracer]

Are there any other authors out there who go back through their old stuff and find themselves reacting as if someone else had written it?

Oh yeah, both in the "wow, that's pretty good!" and the "who wrote this nonsense?" variety.

I may just have more confidence as a writer. Or I'm just better now, as a writer, than I was two years ago, which I also believe to be true

Most likely both, hon. I'm not too into the dS fandom, but I have greatly enjoyed all your SG commentaries... Good luck with the writing!

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

Stargate is so pretty and shiny. Right now, Teal'c is telling me that he need to have an essay comparing him to Moses. I have been trying to protest, but he grows insistent. But I'd have to rewatch the Jaffa episodes and pay attention! What if my eyes start to spontaneous bleed?

[jic]

I did that once because the email in the header was an old one and I didn't remember it was mine. I was all, "This is pretty good! Who's this "Black Flame" chick and where can I find more? Oh, yeah. That's me and I haven't written the rest. Damn."

And then other stuff is, "This is supposed to be funny? WTF!"

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

Hee!

Yeah, I've had that reaction to some of my really old WIPs.