Could do better

[nice90sguy]

I just read an old story of mine and thought "I could have made that story so much better". But then I realised that's always the case with my stories.

I guess the majority of authors in this hangout are perfectionists like me, rarely satisfied with what they've written.

Reading back on this post, I'm not that happy with it, but fuck it, I'm going to post it anyway.

 

[Devinter]

This is the 7th version of this post - excluding the first draft - and now I'm starting to think that the 5th version was better..

 

[FeralSmile]

[placeholder response here, edit later]

 

[SimonDoom]

I guess the majority of authors in this hangout are perfectionists like me, rarely satisfied with what they've written.

I wouldn't describe myself that way. When I re-read stories I've written, I always find faults and things I would change, but the faults don't bother me. I'm content with leaving old stories the way they are and moving forwarding and writing better stories in the future.

 

[Rob_Royale]

I think we all have that notion from time to time. Especially in our early stories. I've found errors in almost all of them but the only one I think needs a complete re-write is Getting Busy. I like the story a lot but it was my second story and I hadn't yet given third-person narrative a try until my third story. I think Getting Busy would have worked better in the third person. But as it's an 18k-word story, and would undoubtedly be longer in 3-P, I just can't see spending the time to re-do it.

 

[12oclocktales]

I wouldn't describe myself that way. When I re-read stories I've written, I always find faults and things I would change, but the faults don't bother me. I'm content with leaving old stories the way they are and moving forwarding and writing better stories in the future.

I agree. I think it’s natural to think you could improve on a story already published, but revising it should only occur if it’s being posted on a different site or venue. Re-posting stories on Lit containing probably only minor changes makes readers think you’re only practicing on them.

 

[EmilyMiller]

Could do better​

Does it make me a terrible narcissist to say that I like reading my old stories. I often have the opposite experience. Oh, this is better than I thought it was. Of course, especially my early work, is technically very immature and also basically just stroke stories. But even there I find some positive things, glimmer of ideas to come.

I do hate finding errors though.

Em

 

[JusticeGrey]

Does it make me a terrible narcissist to say that I like reading my old stories. I often have the opposite experience. Oh, this is better than I thought it was. Of course, especially my early work, is technically very immature and also basically just stroke stories. But even there I find some positive things, glimmer of ideas to come.

I do hate finding errors though.

Em

It drives me nuts if I find a grammatical, spelling, or punctuation error in anything I've written.

 

[nice90sguy]

Oh, well I already posted here, that when it comes to jerk-offs, I like some of my own stories best. And I'm not tallking about errors, or stylistic issues.
I actually mean that I could have changed the whole direction of the story to make it a much better one (hotter, tenser, more interstesting, etc)

 

[SamBomb]

I don't want to reread old stories, I'm sure they suck

 

[Kelliezgirl]

I suspect most writers feel that way.
Look at Neil Gaiman, even when he's just adapting his works to a different format he makes lots of changes not related to the different format. Neverwhere had significant differences in it's incarnation as a book, radio drama and mini-series.

To Rob_Royale's point, Treason was Orson Scott Card's second novel, and he's said he regrets writing it in the first person. He felt he could have done more without the limitations of 1st person.

 

[EmilyMiller]

It drives me nuts if I find a grammatical, spelling, or punctuation error in anything I've written.

Yeah - I’m sure Laurle hates me. I’ve posted edits with two typos fixed .

Em

 

[Euphony]

I just read an old story of mine and thought "I could have made that story so much better". But then I realised that's always the case with my stories.

I guess the majority of authors in this hangout are perfectionists like me, rarely satisfied with what they've written.

Reading back on this post, I'm not that happy with it, but fuck it, I'm going to post it anyway.

Even the greats struggle reflecting on their work. (see: On Writing, Bird by Bird, Big Magic, similar)

Perfectionism is a terrible driver. Ask most kids of a Tiger Mom. Lean into your curiosity. If you can't express yourself like you want, go exploring to figure out why. And if the resources you find at first don't mesh with you, keep exploring til you find someone that does.

The payoff is unlike any other I know. Creativity rocket fuel.

 

[nice90sguy]

I don't want to reread old stories, I'm sure they suck

As do most of my female characters, in more ways than one

 

[Voboy]

Does it make me a terrible narcissist to say that I like reading my old stories. I often have the opposite experience. Oh, this is better than I thought it was.

Similar.

I‘m usually very happy with my stories, even years later.

 

[Jackie.Hikaru]

Ask most kids of a Tiger Mom.

Hey that's me

Edit to answer the question - I still suffer from a bit of perfectionism so I try my very best to not read my stories after I publish. But then someone will write a comment about something they read in my story, and so I must reread that part. 9/10 that's when I find something I wished I wrote a different way.

 

[JusticeGrey]

Yeah - I’m sure Laurle hates me. I’ve posted edits with two typos fixed .

Em

It's worth it to get it right.

 

[EmilyMiller]

Similar.

I‘m usually very happy with my stories, even years later.

I suppose I’m still in love with many of my characters.

Em

 

[EmilyMiller]

It's worth it to get it right.

Ironically my post had a typo

 

[nice90sguy]

I suppose I’m still in love with many of my characters.

Em

Move on, I'm sure they're happier now

 

[Kelliezgirl]

Move on, I'm sure they're happier now

 

[EmilyMiller]

Move on, I'm sure they're happier now

My pet angel and demon would be lost without me

 

[intim8]

I just read an old story of mine and thought "I could have made that story so much better". But then I realised that's always the case with my stories.

I guess the majority of authors in this hangout are perfectionists like me, rarely satisfied with what they've written.

Reading back on this post, I'm not that happy with it, but fuck it, I'm going to post it anyway.

Not only that, but between then and now, you've probably learned and grown as a person and a writer.

I'm pretty happy with mine, but I do see things I would do differently now.

 

[nice90sguy]

Not only that, but between then and now, you've probably learned and grown as a person and a writer.

Oh yes, I can move on very quickly. I'm shaking my head indulgently at posts I made only minutes ago.

 

[nice90sguy]

My pet angel and demon would be lost without me

Fuck the angel, she'll survive. I'm sure she'll make some nice chap a lovely wife