Evolution of style

[athousandsorrows]

I've come to accept the fact that I prefer to write strictly verse. Not that I'm opposed to writing novels or stories. Its just my heart lies with poetry.

I've been writing verse for two decades or so. I find it interesting to compare my early work with my work of late. Seeing how and why I've grown in my writing.

For me, my poems are expressions of ideas and/or emotions structured in free verse or rhyme. To put it simply. Sometimes though it feels like I've lost some of the heart of my earlier writings. Like my newer poems are missing something my earlier writings had more of. Other times I look at my more recent stuff and think that they are just as good, if not better, and that I'm just growing as a poet.

I'm curious to hear someone else's thoughts on the progress of their writing (verse or prose) and how you've grown as a writer.

 

[Mr Mononoke]

Seeing how and why I've grown in my writing.

Hello @athousandsorrows, I really enjoyed reading this statement from you. It is something I do often and there is a simple joy in comparing what you were to where you are now.

I write short stories as a way to learn my 'trade' but every time I edit, I save it under a new copy so if the new one doesn't quite work, I can fall back onto the version before.

What I have found is that my earlier works were raw; in style and emotion, and later versions after, are smoother but sometimes the roughness of the earlier versions before connects more. Strange.

But writing is tough. Trying to keep that emotion and balancing it with a smooth read, to create immersion where words pull a reader in, is not so easy. I feel a writer's style constantly evolves as they write and learn more, and also the writing changes because the views of the writer changes through experiences. And that I didn't come to expect.

It is why I have come to really appreciate early words from a writing friend who told me that writing is a journey. As the years pass, I understand this message more.

 

[athousandsorrows]

Thanks for the reply. Would you say that your newer stories are better or just different?

Hello @athousandsorrows, I

But writing is tough. Trying to keep that emotion and balancing it with a smooth read, to create immersion where words pull a reader in, is not so easy. I feel a writer's style constantly evolves as they write and learn more, and also the writing changes because the views of the writer changes through experiences. And that I didn't come to expect.

Makes a lot of sense. What I was getting at. I still can't help but feel like I'm leaving a part of myself behind as I grow in writing. I've never been good at letting go. To speak generally.

My earlier work was heavily influenced by Edgar Allen Poe. All my poems had rhyme schemes then.. I eventually branched out to free verse. Though never fully leaving traditional verse behind. I can't quite explain the feeling I'm trying to convey. Writing for sure is a journey. I probably need to just embrace the changes in style as a natural progression. I hate to think a part of me that made the earlier poems has passed away. Id like to think that, just as what's been said, hasn't died just grown.

I'm reminded of this verse from the Bible.

John 12:24-26 ESV
Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies it produces much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.

 

[Mr Mononoke]

That's a lovely verse.

I don't think the past is ever written into dust. I tend to think that the past makes us who we are and is reflected in how we act, who we are and how we write.

This line really resonated with me:

I still can't help but feel like I'm leaving a part of myself behind as I grow in writing. I've never been good at letting go.

My stories revolve around letting go. There was a lesson I learnt, many years ago now (and I'm sure many will know this too) where a teacher places a glass of water onto the outstretched hand of a student, and just left him.

The glass didn't weigh, wasn't heavy, but overtime, his hand began to ache till the student couldn't keep his hand up. The teacher taught the importance of letting go because you don't know that it weighs on you, but it does, until you have no strength and everything collapses.

This and many lessons shape our thinking and naturally how we write, because once you put the glass down, it is still there, but you can move and do other things.