Is your writing always on par with your standards?

6 replies
I know I shouldn't wait for divine inspiration to strike me, and that's why I just go ahead, drag my fingers on the keyboard and write something anyway.

But the problem is that my mood is reflected in the words. I just wrote 500 words and they are factually correct, but man are they boring. They lack personality. They don't engage the reader as I'd wish to, and the entertainment factor is almost nonexistent. The little that is feels forced. When I'm in the mood, I don't have to think about being entertaining, I just am.

What do you do in these cases? Do you write anyway and come back later when you're in the mood and re-write them, to bring those words to life?
#par #standards #writing
  • Profile picture of the author Tinkerbell
    I use the senses to liven up the piece. I go back through what I've written and add what could logically be seen, heard, felt, smelled, or tasted. Then, I add what thoughts might occur. Most of the time, this helps. But then, I write fiction. :-)
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  • Profile picture of the author butters
    Don't put it down, your be surprised that's pure factual content can be perfect depending on the article. When I read something to do with science, I just want facts! I don't want all the other chitty chat language around the facts, I just like it getting to the point right away. Without knowing the niche of course this may not being the case, take a 20-30 minuet break, put on an episode of the office or something and just relax. Once your relaxed, it will flow.
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    • Profile picture of the author fin
      I never publish something after I've finished with it.

      I always come back at a later date and edit it.

      "I'm an editor; not a writer" - Unknown
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      • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
        Lucian, you have two possibilities operating here. One, you could be right and what you've written could be dull and dry, etc. Or two, your mood could be coloring your evaluation more than your actual writing.

        The good news is that the answer is the same.

        Put it down and walk away. Wait until you've done something to change your mood - TV, exercise, a good meal, whatever - and then come back and read it again. It might have improved while you are away. Or the words to fix it may be easier to find.
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        • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
          Banned
          Originally Posted by JohnMcCabe View Post

          Put it down and walk away. Wait until you've done something to change your mood - TV, exercise, a good meal, whatever - and then come back and read it again. It might have improved while you are away. Or the words to fix it may be easier to find.
          This.

          (Is what I do, anyway. Sometimes it's apparently "improved" by the time I get back to it, i.e. it wasn't so bad, after all. And sometimes I can re-work it easily after a break, posting here! :p )
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  • Profile picture of the author PerformanceMan
    I edit the heck out of my pages. Some of them have been edited 80 or 100 times. At that point - they're up to my standards.
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