Tuesday, May 03, 2005
Reading what you've written
The other day, someone asked me an interesting question: "Do you read what you've written after it's been published?" Very rarely, if ever.
Why? Well, it's not because I think what I've written is junk. I don't see the point in reading it. Even with most lengthy lead times, I'm still too close to the work to learn a lot from it. Sometimes, I'm afraid that an editor cut some of the best parts out of the piece. But, mainly, I'm too busy trying to move forward to dwell on what I've written in the recent past.
I have to admit, though, I'll sometimes look at an article or essay that I wrote several years ago. In some cases, I'll cringe slightly. But I'm often pleasantly surprised to find that the piece has held up. Maybe, just maybe, I'm doing something right.
Why? Well, it's not because I think what I've written is junk. I don't see the point in reading it. Even with most lengthy lead times, I'm still too close to the work to learn a lot from it. Sometimes, I'm afraid that an editor cut some of the best parts out of the piece. But, mainly, I'm too busy trying to move forward to dwell on what I've written in the recent past.
I have to admit, though, I'll sometimes look at an article or essay that I wrote several years ago. In some cases, I'll cringe slightly. But I'm often pleasantly surprised to find that the piece has held up. Maybe, just maybe, I'm doing something right.
