As an added reading challenge for myself this summer, I decided it was time to go back and read my own stuff, since I can never remember most of the things I had written. I've always had mixed feelings about doing that because I am so critical of my stuff. I don't find it enjoyable.
I decided to start with A Million Little Things because it's the one I don't remember AT ALL! And one a lot of people have mentioned as being a favorite. I just finished it which to me is a big accomplishment! LOL I haven't even been able to get through one of my stories! I admit, for that one I didn't cringe once. I thought it was pretty good actually. LOL I'm sure I won't feel like that for all of them though. I just started reading my cough medicine one and already am cringing! LOL
So, here are my questions to you. There are quite a few!
How often if at all do you go back and read your stuff?
Do you tend to find it a fun experience or do you tend to cringe?
Do you read your own stories more than anyone else's?
Do you find youself comparing your work to other people's?
If you find mistakes in the older stuff you've written, are you prone to go back and fix it or just leave it be?
Do you tend to agree with people and their assessment of it after you've read it?
Are you ever surprised for better or worse after reading your own stories?
Do you find yourself repeating themes or lines you've written in other stories without realizing you've done that?
After reading it yourself, would you recommend it to someone else?
What's one thing you've found surprising or enlightening by reading your own work?
One thing I found entertaining in A Million Little Things was how much stuff I managed to touch on in only 15 chapters. I never realized I wrote about that whole sketchy Lou being slimey with Nick issue or the whole Nick and Brian's waning friendship and blurry Brian confrontation LOL Weird to have no memory of that!
So things like that, maybe you've read something and realized wow I named this character after my ex boyfriend and didn't remember doing that!
Okay this was long, but I am curious