My Best Writing

If you asked me to describe my blogging style I might say that it is fast and furious. I have a tendency to blog in waves. There have been days in which I have put up somewhere between eight and ten posts. We're talking about original content and not the cut and paste work that some people thrive off of.

And if I am doing it write then the quality of the posts matches the quantity. I don't want to be like the rockstar who puts out a new album with fourteen tracks, only three of which are worth listening to. That is not to say that I don't miss the mark, because I do. There are posts that should be shredded and burned.

I have spent some time trying to identify what characteristics my best posts have. Simple truth, identify what elements you need to be successful and then try to replicate that over and over again.

I have come to believe that some of my best writing comes during moments when I am upset. It bothers me to say that being really sad is a great tool for putting up great posts, but there seems to be some truth in it. That feeling of loss and disappointment really lends itself to coming up with more descriptive sentences.

Especially when it comes to writing posts for Fragments of Fiction. Not unlike many writers I take elements and experiences of my life and use them in my stories. It is a useful tool. So sometimes when I am trying to write and having trouble I go searching for the pain of the past. I look inwards and try to remember the sorrow.

Sometimes I look in those dark corners and I remember what it was like to feel like the world had collapsed upon me. I think about how it seemed like my ability to be happy had been stolen from me. I focus upon how unfair it all was, to be so close and yet so far and the words just flow.

But I can also say that there have been many good posts that were written in moments of great personal satisfaction and happiness. Sometimes that bubbly feeling lends itself to the post/story just as well as the sadness.

I suppose that the confession of the moment is that I read this and wonder if I am saying that the only way I can write is to be really happy or really sad. Does it really have to be so extreme. I am fairly confident that the answer is no. I can produce solid content without having to rely upon emotion.

So now I am going to have spend more time trying to figure it all out. Damn, blast and blarney. And now if you'll excuse me I am off to gather enlightenment by banging my head against the wall.

4 comments:

The Misanthrope said...

The muse tends to arrive when we are at an emotional ebb. We are not the first to figure that out; my guess is that is why alcohol, adultery, and drugs tend to plague writers, maybe more than other occupations. However, lawyers and cops have their issues too.

Anonymous said...

i have started reading "The Artist's Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity" by Julia Cameron. she has a couple of things she suggested that i started doing and they work great for me, i am not going to tell you...you have to read the book. check it out from the library.

i have enjoyed your post
tali

Anonymous said...

Yes, I agree that it does seem to be extremes of emotion that inspire me to write - and when I say that, I also include any writing that I do concerning facts - comments on world situations etc.

I'm hoping that I can tap into these resources when I write my essays for the Rabbininc Board....

Rachel

Jack Steiner said...

Misanthrope,

So what we are saying is that in order to be a good writer/artist you need to be emotionally disturbed. ;)

Tali,

I'll have to take a look. Thanks.

Rachel,

Important issues usually do a good job of bringing out the feelings. We can hope that it translates into eloquence.

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