Yesterday, I wrote the first fiction story I have written since the stroke, just to see how it would go. I have been scared to write any fiction, because I really used to enjoy it, but it just isn't the same as it was, it doesn't flow. The story is perhaps "semi-fiction" in some way, as there are some bits of it that describe some of the real struggle I have.
The result wasn't great.
However, I have always tried to maintain my writing under "any conditions" which means that regardless of what is happening in my life or how I feel, I will still write something. This has meant that I have written when I have been sad, angry, happy, tired, with very high fevers, when drunk, when my daughter has been in hospital, when I have been in hospital, when I am in a rush, when I am depressed, when I have lost people I have loved, when I have been at the highest and the lowest points in my life over the last seven years.
But, I am still shy.
Writing a lot doesn't make me a great writer, but this isn't to say I am a terrible writer either. I am just "a writer". And, because I keep my work always tied to my own experiences in some way, whether it be direct or observational, there is no one else in the world, including AI, that can write like I do. Not yet anyway.
However, because I have written so much daily (this will be my 6424th article here), I can't say that each piece is a piece of gold. There seems to be some kind of expectation these days that everything that is put online for consumption has to be polished, but this is a huge error in my opinion. The reason people expect it perhaps is that there is just so much consumable content online that is being produced by teams and people who are doing it professionally for maximum impact, that it is expected that everything is meant to be of the same standard. It is like having a friend who is a fantastic singer, and then putting them down because they don't sing as well as Adele.
It is a sickness.
However, it is also an error, because what it means is that the content that people consume is all engineered for that impact, which actually takes the reality out of it, the human out of it. Everything is made to be consumed, but very little is actually made to provide nutrition. It is made for the sugar high, not the healthy body. But more than this, it reduces many people's attempts to be creative for themselves, because they know that they can't compete. Just look at how people embraced generative-AI as a way to be creative, when it isn't very creative at all. They are using a tool to do what they cannot do for themselves, like someone marrying a blowup sexdoll for companionship.
What is interesting is that the barrier for being creative has never been lower, but at the same time, we keep reducing the requirements to label something creative. At some point, we will take a morning dump and call the result sitting in the toilet a work of art.
But really, I think that at least part of the reason that so many people have actually reduced their creativity, is firstly because they consume so much content from others that makes them feel like they can't do as well, so why bother. And secondly, because they spend so much time consuming this highly sugary content, they don't actually have the space to develop their own thoughts on any subject with enough substance to write about it, or produce something decent. Or perhaps for some, because of all the time they spend occupying their mind, distracting themselves through a screen, they don't actually observe the world around them and experience all the potential stories that lay in daily life.
Perhaps they aren't moving from the screen much at all?
There are "writing prompts" everywhere in what might be considered the most mundane of circumstances, if only we pay attention and look a little deeper, and spend some time developing our thoughts on it. Each day is filled with joys and frustrations that can be small or large, but each gives an opportunity to reflect upon, to consider why it happened, what it means to us, if it affects other, and how we are going to use it.
Stories are everywhere.
Perhaps we should start by recapturing some of our curiosity from when we were children, where the most epic battles were played out watching an ants nest, or a game could be invented with whatever had fallen from the trees. Maybe then we will start to rediscover that we have always been surrounded by stories, and have always been capable to tell them.
It needn't be fiction.
Taraz
[ Gen1: Hive ]
I respect your ability to write good stuff T... Please do not be afraid to write your fiction... All will be well brother 💯❤️👌
This is really relatable because I do write a lot (because I'm not really good at relaying thoughts verbally), but this doesn't mean that I write well or badly. Like you, I'm just a writer, and I know I have a long way to go.
I also feel this one because there are really times that I hesitate to share my writings with other people because they tend to compare mine to those of other, more established writers. This somehow discourages me because I know it's true that my writing skill is really inferior to those with whom I'm compared. But... I realized, Why do I need to be bothered by what they've said? Those were just their opinions, and their opinions don't have to necessarily affect me.
Beautiful picture
My friend, hello!
Tonight, even though it's very late for me, I couldn't help but comment on you!
So, first of all in my opinion you are simply a legend! Your consistency is enviable and then every time I see you I perceive that you write because you like it, you write for the pleasure of writing!
I fully agree that we should all recover the curiosity we had as children, in general I believe that curiosity is very important and that it is also a sign of intelligence and sagacity!
I don't know if all your 6000+ writings are gold pieces, but they are yours, they are personal and they represent you; if we think about it, this is basically a blog that, beyond the discussion of rewards, follows the logic of a normal blog and I believe that the need to write comes from within and that it is not necessarily necessary to always write phenomenal content, sometimes we simply write what comes to mind to respond to our needs and then whether what we write is good or bad is fine anyway; At least that's how I see it!
Then let's be clear, I like to write well but it's not always possible and if out of 6424 articles 4 are not good or even if they were terrible, it's certainly not a tragedy, don't you think? ;-)
So I was very excited when I started reading your "fiction" story earlier todaym and thought your revisiting your older fabulous pieces inspired you to start anew. I knew that much of the first paragraph or two was from your real life experiences, but what fiction story does not contain some elements of the writer's true experience? I know my stories, if they come from the deep freewriting well, do build on what I already know and have seen. Your story, however, and I hope you don't mind my saying this, quickly became another of your "regular," of late, posts. Perhaps you are in a kind of rut, having not written outside of that rut since your stroke, except for your poems. You can still write those. Hm. Maybe try writing poem stories?
Content consumption is subjective, it does not necessarily have to be an appetizer for a reader, it could be for fun, just socialization. So we don not need to be a professional journalist kind of guy or content creator all the time. As long as it drives engagement it is all good.
I have seen you writing for almost 4/5 years and counting and that too on a daily basis. That in itself is a great achievement.
Story writing is very difficult. You are a good writer so you can write everything. I think your first fiction story is really good
I tried to write fiction in the past, but I retain so much useless knowledge that my stories always end up sounding very similar to something that has always been created and I ran across in my travels. I'm staying to think it might be smarter to write autobiographical fiction.
As you've said, it was the first fictional story in a while, so some rust can be expected. I hope it doesn't discourage you from doing more, and I think once you get the hang of it again, it will be up to your standards.
Dear my bro @tarazkp !
I hope you don't overwork yourself to write good literature!
I felt that you were wonderful because you gave me hope and joy!😄
I like to believe that there is something a bit childish about my art. Perhaps because I enjoy playing with colors and forms.
I can see that you’re not really cool with the fiction story you wrote. I’m sure when you do it over and over again like before, you’d get better at it
I wish you well!
I want to read more of this content!
That is an incredible achievement without ever missing a day!
At least then I can say that I make art daily! How creative.