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9 CommentsI'm wondering if anyone else has experienced this in their life. This can also apply to blogging, as well as speaking.
I've written a lot over the years, I keep a book I write in, somewhat of a journal, which i'm saving for my daughter when she gets older. I can express my thoughts clearly in my head, and they seem so brilliant. When I write them down, via internet or just hand-written, I notice they don't seem familiar.
They're familiar to the point that I know I wrote it, however, the thought wasn't expressed as clearly as it was in my head, or not at all. I'm not sure if there is any better way to explain this, but for instance say a blog I write from time to time, I have a great idea for it, I begin writing after contemplating the structure, and various other parts pertaining to the construction of the blog.
I re-read over it, and I hear my voice in my head, and its constructed in a way that, It doesn't sound like I wrote it, and this strange happening is prevalent throughout all forms of communication that I experience.
Its like the only true me is in my head, everything else seems bland, dumbed down, or just unfamiliar. My wording, and structuring of the blog and or writing, is usually fairly high-end, I took all the English classes available so i'm certain my writing skills are at least decent in relation to everyone else in the world.
I'm sorry I can't really explain this condition any better, and as I read over this It seems just as confusing as the whole situation itself. If there is anyone here that can relate or at least point out the problem. It's like writers block, except, I can write, and blog, and communicate, but nothing I produce ever seems as good as it did while I recited and went over it in my head.
Any help would be much obliged.
glenndavid
Written Jul. 27, 2007 / Report /
i have exactly the same.
no really! you have this idea that will change the world, and once yu write it down, it looks so ridiculous and stupid.
i try to write down as much of it as i can, and then leave it to rest, and then a bit later look at it again... and rewrite it if you wish. and it gets better, every time you reread it, and re-develop it!
our language is too limited to express such powerful emotions...
LorriM
Written Jul. 27, 2007 / Report /
I keep hard copy journals, and always have. I just let the words flow, however I am feeling them or thinking them.
I do know what you are saying though...it has happened on occasion, but not too often.
Kamigoroshi
Written Jul. 27, 2007 / Report /
There is one problem about writing down your thoughts on paper though.
It's hard for people to comment on what you wrote.
JeffJ
Written Jul. 27, 2007 / Report /
I think Nietzsche talks a lot about this whole issue of expression. He discusses how all languages are insufficient at accomplishing what their goal seems to be, the sharing of experiences.
Two people could be in the same place at the same time, but because of current and past emotions, conversations, memories and a slew of other things they won't share that experience save for the physical side of things. The same goes for your thoughts and ideas. The words and language of your writing or thoughts are nothing by themsevles. They require a history of emotion, personal experience and many other things to create a context.
Languages and that expressed through them can be interpretted in so many ways because we each bring our own personal context to the table, so to speak. We also have a context that changes over time and so reading the same words under a different state of mind with a changed perception would lead you along the same mental path.
That's how I see it at least. I think you're just frustrated with the inadequacy of language itself, or maybe that's just me.
LorriM
Written Jul. 27, 2007 / Report /
Kamigoroshi: Yes, that is true, and is exactly how I like my personal journals to be written...so nobody can reply. LOL They are more of a legacy for my children to read, at some point in the future.
When I want comments, I write a blog...which is totally separate and different than my hard copy journals.
Kamigoroshi
Written Jul. 27, 2007 / Report /
This is why I create a scrapbook of pictures. Sometimes some words can't be expressed. Sometimes the only way to capture a moment is in the pictures we encase them in. It's not perfect, but I think that's a legacy I'd like to leave behind.
The image of moments forever burned into our minds.
Cas
Written Jul. 27, 2007 / Report /
You're not alone - I think most writers find that what makes it down on the page is a pale representation of what they 'see/hear' in their mind. What makes a writer good is constantly trying. The problem is that what you have in your brain is not just writing: you hear the words being said, you have all the background thoughts behind them, the gazillions of connotations around the words, the half-formed ideas...
To be true I'm amazed that what DOES make it out on the page makes half as much sense as it does!
Just keep trying and stop over analysing what you've written. In your instance it's a journal for your daughter - I'm guessing you want to express your emotions and thoughts and experiences in a form she'll find accessible. She's not going to care if you're not the next Hemingway or Joyce, you're her dad and you wrote it for her. That's all the brilliance you're going to need.
LorriM
Written Jul. 27, 2007 / Report /
Kami: Don't get me started on photos, lolol. Part of my legacy are the tens of thousands of photos I have taken over the years. My journals reflect both the written words, and the visual photographs.
solepsis
Written Jul. 27, 2007 / Report /
This happens to me sometimes. Actually, most of the time. I think it's because I'm much tougher on my own products than someone else's.