Hmph. Why would you want to read anything I wrote?
I guess I feel like responding to this one.
I think that people would want to read what you write because of why people read. There are a lot of theories as to why people read, but I like the theory that says that people read so that they can connect with someone else. To quote the film Shadowlands "We read to know that we are not alone."
So people who read what you write are looking for a way to connect with you, the author, and with the characters, conflicts, ideas and world that you have presented.
Now the problem in our current world is that Academia, literary critics, editors, and the general commercialization of writing have taught us that some things are just not worth reading. So in a way they are saying that there are some people just not worth connecting with. Despite the other merits of these professions for the writing field, I find this to be a great disservice to significant portion of society.
So as I see it, when an English instructor hands you back a paper filled with corrections and comments, it can be interpreted that your work to establish yourself is not worthwhile. That your attempts to connect with someone else are not valuable and that perhaps you shouldn't try to connect with anyone unless you can do so perfectly. And in a way, it tells you that perhaps you shouldn't waste everyone elses time by just being.
Now, Admitably, most editors and english instructors see that what they are doing is aiding you to create better writing. Unfortunately, most of them are working from someone elses opinion of what is good writing. However, after have read a lot, I find that there is really multiple versions of what is considered to be good writing. There is no such thing as "perfect" writing.
So then we have to ask, what is bad writing? Well, bad writing is what you say is bad writing. To me, James Joyce's writing is bad. I don't connect with him and his concerns, so therefor I think he is a bad writer. Now my saying that is not going to stop new copies of
Portrait of an Artist... from come out every year or from countless academics teaching it every year. James Joyce has made his voice be heard by finding his own little audience.
The point is that bad writing can not really be proven absolutely. It is largely a matter of opinion where even basic spelling and grammer get questioned. The voices telling you that your writing is bad are simply not right all of the time. If you listen to them all of the time then they are actually hurting you and your writing rather than making anything better. So don't let them.
It comes down to having enough confidence to make your voice be heard. There have been many good voices that have been stifled by the nagging of a few who have made their voices louder.
So just repeat to yourself--I'm here, there is a reason that I'm here, and I going to make others know that I am here (by writing). There is really no reason for you to be unheard and alone.
