Good or Carp?

[BrotherDave]

ProfAllen started such a good thread that I thot I'd continue it here, fresh.

Are we happy with what we write? Should we be happy, at first or eventually? Should we ever be happy? What is good and what is carp?
(carp is a scavenger fish which some people eat, but most of the world use as fertilizer)

I have found
my books, poems, prose, and ditties
are never finished.
Cut and paste is never satisfied.
New words are always tempting me
to exclude others and include them
as old words challenge me to make them
smarter, sharper, and more alive.

"Born to Do" has been in my files for several years.
I wrote it. Put it away. Pullled out. Rewrote it. Put it way. Pulled out. Rewrote it. And it continues. Now, after sharing the story with you all, I have new reasons to rewrite, but I'm not sure I have justification yet to publish it. It still never seems to have enough life. Yet, I continue to write and hope because I'm pressed on by an inner promise of eventual success.

And I read other stories and wonder how the author ever arrived at the "finished" level. I think I may be dead and gone, and my work may have to be discovered by archeologists before it is ever published. Sigh. Like other artists I may never see true appreciation for my work. Or should I even hope for it? I dunno.

But I'll keep writing, and editing, and filing, and waiting. Insecurity seems to be a writer's lot.

brotherdave

[Joanna L.]

The best writing comes from divine inspiration and necessity and longings and passions. Some stuff has to wait for further inspiration. Some stuff can be made to work with tweaking and force. Some stuff will never make a finished product. Something is good enough when it's ass-kicking good. BTW, I've eaten carp, and it's better than nothing.

[pb10220]

I wrote a book 2003-2004, and it's presently at a couple of publishers, one of whom has had it for more than a year. I have no idea if it is actually publishable in its present form, but I submitted it, not when I felt it was 'perfect,' but when I felt God said it was time. The thing is, even if I were to ever get it to that hypothetical 'perfect' state, publishers would probably want changes, anyway! One thing I've been learning is that when you are offered a book contract, it's because the publ. has been sold on the concept of your book, more than the little particulars we keep wanting to polish up.

Try praying about it; He really will guide and direct your paths. And remember that Satan will use our perfectionism, insecurities, or pride to further his agenda...which is possibly to keep your book in a drawer, if it is one which will further God's kingdom.

[ProfessorAlan]

I find that my writing life is sometimes like my prayer life, in that I don't wait to feel inspired start praying (or writing) -- I just do it, and sometimes/often/occasionally the act of praying (or writing) without inspiration brings on inspiration. I can't wait until I am in the Spirit to start praying (or writing), I have to start in the flesh, and I can end up in the Spirit.