Ever been embarrassed by your own writing?

1. 61

   RealityBombposted 12 years ago

   Has anyone ever re-read something they wrote in the past and felt embarrassed by it? Maybe it was poorly written or badly researched, or maybe your just a much better writer now.
   
   It happened to me yesterday and I must confess all of the above was evident, giving me a really uncomfortable cringe of embarrassment.
   
   Please tell me I'm not alone!

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      Mark Ewbieposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Yes, I agree.  I am working on the principle of only writing embarassing stuff, so no one piece is any worse or better than the rest. If I can maintain a consistently poor standard then I am satisfied.
      
      Seriously, er, because I think (hope) I am actually improving - yes, early pieces and hurried pieces, even pieces you thought at the time were good, can be embarassing.
      
      I revisit fairly often and tweak.

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      Sunnyglitterposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Absolutely.  I have some reviews on Epinions from about 7 or 8 years ago that are absolutely TERRIBLE.

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      Baileybearposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I don't seem to notice the spelling mistakes/grammatical errors until after posted.  Fortunately, can edit hubs.  I don't beat myself up about things I might have done wrong, or else I wouldn't write at all.
      
      I intend revisting at some stage to try and improve some technical things here and there, but as long as my writing is an outlet for me and touching some people, I'm happy with it.
      
      My hubs are about sensitive issues, that may have caused me embarrasment/shame in past - I'm at a place now where I can write about them without the raw hurt.

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2. 95

   thooghunposted 12 years ago

   I'm embarrassed by almost everything I write -- eventually. I'm my own worst critic (aren't we all?) and I aim to improve every single time I write something.
   
   I am often embarrassed by my commercial writing, it feeds me but I will always be a creative writer at heart, and there is a feeling of having sold-out.
   
   But the truth is, a least initially, writing online will involve compromises, monetization is often highly functional and stark, leaving little space for genuine creativity. Some claim that well written sales pitches are creative, but they are usually a distortion (and some will even use basic NLP techniques such as calls to action).
   
   Someday I hope I have the means to return to honest, opinionated and open writing -- the way it all started.

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3. 68

   Flightkeeperposted 12 years ago

   Don't worry, you're not alone.  I tweak my hubs often because my grammar construction is not the best. In fact, I'm embarassed while writing this post.

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   1. 91

      Urbane Chaosposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      ...you didn't include two spaces after your second period.

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         Flightkeeperposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         See!  Boy, is my face red.

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            thooghunposted 12 years agoin reply to this

            You didn't add a question mark.

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4. 91

   Urbane Chaosposted 12 years ago

   Bomb, I think everyone's like that.. I could go back 1000 times to every article I've ever wrote and edit it more.  Still, we have to call it finished at some point.  And yes, I've been embarrassed many, many times by what I've wrote.  It happens..

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5. 59

   saleheensblogposted 12 years ago

   I am always a sub standard writer in English, duh

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6. 0

   L a d y f a c eposted 12 years ago

   Ack! Yes! Bad grammar, the odd spelling mistakes, bad formation...ah! Sometimes I think I want to go back and apologize to readers for the mistakes, and ask that they read it again now.

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      prairieprincessposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      

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   2. 59

      saleheensblogposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      same here

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7. 0

   ralwusposted 12 years ago

   No. Why, should I be?

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   1. 59

      saleheensblogposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      hey ralwus, where are you these days?
      
      your hubs are great. You are not supposed to regret.

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   2. 80

      sofsposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Hi walrus oops Ralwus  long time no see.. how are you?

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8. 80

   sofsposted 12 years ago

   No you are not alone,  the stuff that I had written when I was a teen may be embarrassing to read now, but a teen friend of mine told me it was awesome.. so what do you know..
   I think we need to be less critical of ourselves but more interested to learn, improve and get better.
   
   Have a great day!!

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9. 60

   Anesidoraposted 12 years ago

   Yes! Me too! Bad grammar and mind drifts are the worse. I'm sometimes embarassed by some of my ruder forum posts as well. Hah!

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10. 71

    Cagsilposted 12 years ago

    Yes, I just unpublished a hub, I just wrote in a challenge. It was a mess.

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       sofsposted 12 years agoin reply to this

       you lost the challenge Cags!! 

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