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Maybe. Maybe not. If nothing else, they might be good for working in the yard. Or perhaps the laces can be used in another shoe. You never know. It's worth taking a look at if you ask me. Most of you know that I was on a little break from blogging over the last few days. I'm happy to say that I accomplished everything I wanted to accomplish and then some. House clean--check. Christmas decos up--check. Some shopping done--check. Really, I couldn't ask for more.
Anyway, while I was pulling out Christmas decorations, I came across a box of old things I'd written. I had seen them about a year ago but didn't pay much attention to them. They were mostly essays and short stories I wrote in high school and college, or poetry that I wrote anywhere between the age of 10 and 22. This time, I sat on the cold concrete floor of the basement and re-read every single word. Most of these words were complete crap (and by crap, I mean a total waste), but some of the words and sentences, and even the plots, were salvageable.
In one work, I found the glimmer of a totally unique and interesting story line. In another work, I found a beautiful description that I was surprised I'd actually come up with. Neither work in and of itself is worth much, but those two little pieces might just find a home in my more mature works.
So, today, I beg you not to discount any of your old writing. Just like the shoes above, you never know when those old words might find a new home. What about you? Have you ever salvaged old writing and put it in a new piece of work?
27 comments:
When i first joined my writer's group I actually submitted an older piece of my writing my college as my first submission cuz it was wayyy too soon. They loved it. I've re-editted it & made it longer & it actually became one of my fav pieces I've written. Definitely don't discount your older work!! =)
I took the idea from a picture book ms I had written and placed it into a chapter of my novel. I am always raiding ideas from myself.
Shelley
I've saved everything and I've found I've used a line or a description from something I've written years ago.
~ Wendy
I've done that too--run across old writings and spending hours reading instead of the task I started out to do. Some is salvaged but all is worth keeping as a reminder of the intention I had/have for writing.
I'm glad I don't have my writing from HS. I know it was terrible. And since I didn't write fiction back then (though I wanted to), there won't be any brilliant ideas waiting for me to discover them. ;)
I've saved most everything but have yet to go back and pull anything. I dob't think I would know where to start unless it was recent!
I love finding things like you did and reading them--the waaaaay back things as a child. Makes me wonder who I was then.
The only writing I recall doing in high school was writing essays. I have one on Wuthering Heights- it was actually good!
So your post and the picture reminded me of when people bronze their babies shoes. They might be old and worn, but then they become a treasure. I suppose old writing could be like that too.
I'm with Stephanie - I don't think I did any creative writing in high school. Oh, that's so sad. :-)
What a fun discovery, Susan! I too was not a writer in high school, so my old stuff isn't too old yet. But maybe in ten years I can look back at it and search for something good!
I wish I could read some of the stuff I wrote in h.s., but I think it all got thrown away when I moved out. That's so cool that you found stuff worth keeping, and you can see how much you've grown as a writer.
I'm trying to salvage something old right now, actually. It's been challenging, but very rewarding since I'm essentially writing new adventures for these old characters that I still love.
Of course, I've made them younger, changed most of the plot and switched povs, so it's like a completely different story.
I have scraps of stuff I started to write stashed away, including "The Autobiography Of A 16 Year Old" that made it half way into page 2! :) I can't say there aren't ideas that I might not resurrect some day but for now, it's just fun to see how my mind worked back then!
My mom had a shoe box somewhere with all kinds of horse stories she wrote as a girl. We loved to get them out and read them, to us they were every bit as good as the classics! :)
I found a first chapter that really surprised me. It was fun and interesting. I haven't picked it back up yet, but it's been on my mind. =)
A lot of my writing from ages ago is very less than, but there are jewels. I'm glad I saved it.
I love finding old work. Always something surprising in there! Also fun to laugh at myself. :)
Yep, I've recycled phrases and plotlines before. Always nice to see that I've improved!
I just think of it as repurposing - kind of like being sustainable only in the wonderful world of writing. :)
I always marvel at your brilliant ways of weaving shoes into your posts. Today's post is well done, friend. Great advice.
I keep everything, probably too much, but it's fun to look back.
Now I want to go treasure hunting! Thanks for sparking that!
I definitely recycle things from old pieces. I don't know if I've gone as far back as high school, but definitely rough drafts and bits of things from when I first started getting serious about writing. I love it...It's like finding hidden treasure!
I wish I would have kept all my work. I moved so many times and all that "organizing" cost me many a full notebooks. It's a good lesson for me to pass on to my kids. Great post.
Glad you found some hidden gems to use. Great treasure hunt! :O)
Maybe I should do what you've done--take a short blog break! I'm so behind in my Christmas shopping, cleaning, baking, etc. And although I have many of my old stories stuffed away in a file, I haven't read most of them in...er, decades. If only I didn't need to sleep. Sigh. Except I LIKE sleeping!
No, I haven't but I do have a giant folder on my computer where it all sits.
What a fun discovery! But no, I wouldn't use any of my old writing, probably not even the ideas. Those old "shoes" of mine helped me walk a mile or two closer to publication (helping me hone my skills) and that's the part they played in my journey. :-)
I haven't used my really old writing but I did draw use journal entries for setting details in one of my stories.
I've thought about it! I haven't done it yet, but I tend to keep everything, and I know there are some stories I wrote in grade school that I might be able to turn into picture books. Of course, I'd have to find the time to do it first... o_O
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