Writing … (especially fiction)

I like to think I can write fiction somewhat well. I could be wrong, of course, but one thing gives me confidence my self-evaluation is mostly accurate: that same self-evaluation tells me my non-fiction leaves a lot to be desired.

I always end up thinking of the things I’m leaving out while writing the first draft, so I delete everything and start over. Or I think of a better approach. Or I have issues with my voice: too pedantic, too cute, too serious. Even if I endeavor to persevere to a first draft, when I go to edit, I invariably start re-writing and deleting until I find myself back at square one.

It doesn’t help that it’s been quite a few years since I read a really original bit of writing advice or commentary, so doesn’t that mean I’m just re-hashing thoughts that can be found in numerous places online?

This is not productive. Worse, struggling to write essays takes away from time better spent writing fiction. But I still feel the need to put my thoughts down somewhere. I needed to come up with a better plan.

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Welcome to Albert Terego’s Blog … (link below)

This time I’m going to do my best to make these bits short and simple, writing in a conversational tone, and pretty much going with first drafts to get the words down on paper (which means into an electronic file of some sort), which will then be posted after sitting for a night and getting a quick edit. I probably won’t be happy with anything much at this point, but I’ll have something I can reference if needed, and as time flows by, I know I’ll compulsively re-read them and make changes — possibly for the better, but who knows?

And I will feel guilt-free with this, and not be embarrassed by the bad writing, because the important thing is the points I’ll be making in the bits; I’ll be creating a ongoing “do you get what I’m saying even though I’m saying it badly?” kind of situation. A working out the thoughts even as they’re being written and re-written.

And maybe a reader will then get into a “I think what you’re trying to say is this isn’t it?” kind of situation, correcting me, and I’ll learn something I can then pass on in another badly written sorta-essay. Or maybe that reader will write a good essay and post it and I’ll be able to link to it, and everybody will learn a little bit more about writing.

Sounds brilliant, right?
So with no further adieu (was there any previous adieu?)
… but with an apology … here is the link to my blog: