You worked hard on a written piece and then the document is returned containing numerous corrections. Over the years it happened to me hundreds of times. Whether it was corrections on an essay for my studies or a concept document for work.
Do you remember what thoughts ran through your head?
How did it made you feel?
Of course I cannot recall every moment I thought or felt. But it was all in the range of ‘that is a good suggestion I quickly adapt it’. To feeling frustrated thinking ‘why did they gave me the task to write this report when my colleague rewrote half of my version?!’
In the process of going through the first three pillars I realized something. Over the years bits that marked a piece of me through my writing style, were slowly chipped off. It made me sad and I needed to stop that process.
Writing and sharing about it helped
A little while ago, before I knew of the existence of Substack, I had a conversation with my older sister. We started off with a small talk about our daily lives. Then she inquired how I was getting along with my writing. I answered briefly that I started writing a book that bears the working title:
“Help! Where has my writing style gone?!”
On saying this, my sister responded with a loud laughter.
“It reminds me of all the times I have had to correct your writings.”
Sighing deeply I looked at her:
” That is exactly what my journey is about. Since I was a child people have said something about my use of language and writing. And you were one of those people.”
”But I never changed anything about the content you wrote..” my sister responded to her defense.
With a vague smile I looked at her and nodded affirmatively.
“There have been plenty of people in my life that did and I am writing about that. I don't know whether this book will actually be published. All I know is that for now I need to embark on this quest and just write.”
A tactical response followed:
“At least it sounds like you're doing well!”
Thinking back on this conversation, it stirred me up. All my life I had looked up to my sister. Her language skills were excellent. Since her teenage years she effortlessly corrected writings for family members and friends. Later flawless translations to and from English, German and Hungarian were added.
Sometimes it made me jealous
Not because of her language skills but about not being corrected. Meanwhile I hid myself in my diary as my safe haven. The only place where my writings were not corrected. Years later when her first book with short stories was published she wrote in the prologue:
“Someone else's life, someone else's story can help us to look at ourselves differently.”
And I cannot agree more! In fact let´s use this for moving on when you get stuck. Don´t let thoughts and emotions build up in you like it did in me. So the next time you are confronted with having someone correcting your writings, stop for a moment. Thing about a conversation you had or something you have read that had a good impact on you. Hold on to that good memory and use it to get through your correction process.
If I manage to do it this way, so can you!
Want to find out about the first three pillars?
Pillar one: You listen to the stories that were read to you
Pillar two: You learn to write
Pillar three: Understanding the difference between spoken en written language
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