Creative Writing Standards

Posted on: October 16th, 2009 By: Shen-Li

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It appears securing the bronze creative writing badge is not nearly so easy as I had anticipated. Whether I am just out of practice or perhaps I just suck at creative writing, I’m not entirely sure which. It has been a while since I have been able to produce a decent piece of creative writing.

Compare the two pieces “Memoirs: Rock Climbing” and “Poetry: Missing Life” which were taken from my old collection of writings back in 2004-2005 to a couple of pieces I wrote recently – “Reflections: Giving Birth” and “Poetry: Let Me Be Myself” and you will agree that my recent work lacks the panache of my older work.

At this rate, I’m taking myself even further from the bronze creative writing badge. Creative writing appears to be a lot more challenging than I had anticipated. When you write an informative article, it is simply about stating the facts in a manner which is most easily understood by the reader. Creative writing is a whole new arena altogether.

I hope it is just a case of being out of practice and that with time and a host of badly written pieces, I will find a way to bring up the standards again. It is a shame I cannot delete work that isn’t well received by the other writer’s on Helium, except through substitution with another piece which may be equally as bad…

It’s a huge blow to the ego, but I guess I had it coming after the smooth run of positively received articles. What better way to spur on the desire to improve than to receive negative feedback. In life, I have often discovered that all the things that come too easily are rarely really appreciated for what they are. Perhaps if I had to struggle with a little blood, sweat and tears, I might relish my writing accomplishments a little more.