Topic: Yikes!

[PhillipAEllis]

I keep a bibliography of all of my published work, and wanted (tonight) to get a rough idea of how many poems and prose pieces I have published. Since the total bibliography is the basic html file for my website's page, the coding takes up a lot of space; rather than relying on just the raw size (the whole takes up just under 96 A4 pages in single-spaced 12-point Times New Roman), and since each item has a single definition term (the whole is a series of definition lists), I counted the opening definition tags.

I have just under 1300 of them.

That's almost 1300 poems, articles, reviews and other short prose pieces published since late 1997. And my jaw literally dropped open.

I have, for many years, been afraid that I have not been productive enough, that I have not lived up to my potential as a creative artist. I think, for maybe the first time in my life, that that fear is misplaced.

What do you think?

[markc]

 I think it is great but keep going and shooting for more. I knew an acclaimed poet (do not remember his name) who was an acclaimed classical guitarist who had trouble making $$$$ so he turned to painting to fill the void. To see him in the store I do not think anyone would have guessed just how talented his was at his other artistic endeavors. 
MDC

[PhillipAEllis]

Thanks, Marc: I've got the writing bug bad. As of 2014 I aim to write a working draft of a poem a day, as well as sending off a poetry submission a day. For as long as I can.

[GrumpyOldFart]

There's an SCA bard I have known for many years who I think put it best:

"There are a thousand or so bad-to-mediocre pieces of work inside you... and you need to let them all out so the good stuff can start coming."

Congratulations. In theory at least, you've arrived. 

[PhillipAEllis]

Thankee, Mister Fart!

I'm pleased I can say I have written
a thousand and more and have bitten
the top off a pen
which isn't as Zen
as saying I've cursed and have smitten!

[ironmaul]

We creative folks gotta get the bad stuff out so the good stuff shines through!

It's funny how you(I in particular) look back and think man you really weren't that great. I cringe at the some of the work I did back then.
I's only now I'm starting to really like my own work, that's not to say a bad one pops it's ugly head now and then but I'm starting to see real improvement and style.
That sounds a little pompous but believe me I'm a very hard self critic...so is my wife actually when it come to my work, she don't hold back and I love her for it!

Thankee, Mister Fart!

I'm pleased I can say I have written
a thousand and more and have bitten
the top off a pen
which isn't as Zen
as saying I've cursed and have smitten!

Mister FART! lol!

[PhillipAEllis]

If I don't like something I've written, I destroy it. That's why nothing of the thousands of pieces predating 1997 have survived, and why I have, since then, deleted maybe 10-20% of everything I've written since then. I have started something as a variation: if it's an abortive fragment, and the fragment doesn't reek, then I tend to preserve it rather than destroying it.

[Cory Magel]

My wife and I often have a difference of opinion on if we should put our creative work 'out there'.

For example, she puts far more of her photography shots up for display than I do.  When she asks why I don't display more of mine (usually shots she likes that I don't think are great) I say "Because I have to think it's good before I'll let it represent me."  She see's it more as; someone else might like if even if I don't.

[PhillipAEllis]

I understand: we have to be happy with our work first, then let others decide whether they like it or not.