Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Getting Inside My Head

I write this blog as an experiment. I am curious how my perceptions of my writing compare to the perceptions of readers. This blog will likely showcase my insecurities and hidden fears.

Like most people, I am my own worst critic. I am crankier about my writing than others are. I carry my mistakes with me. So a week after a post, I'll still be thinking of that little typo, the grammar error I should have never made, or the wordiness in a sentence because I couldn't express my thoughts clearly. The revisions I make in my head rarely make it onto the paper. I chose a blog because it encourages quick thoughts and limits revision time.

I also expect one of my recurring faults to be noticeable. I am consistently frustrated with the way my words are well received when read, only to have them misunderstood when spoken.  While on paper, my words tend to be clear and to the point. When the words come out of my mouth, they are often interpreted as stilted, uppity, and roundabout.

As a writer, I need the ability to make people feel at ease. I need them to want to discuss the topic they are experienced with. This also holds true with fiction. I need my characters to be understandable when speaking to each other. I need to effectively show their personalities through their own words.

I strive to offer an honest vision of myself and my writing. I'll knock my inner critic and dutiful censor out of the way. In return, I welcome any feedback from all who take the time to read this blog, regardless of your experience with words.