Here's a question

[delphipsmith]

Every so often I go on a binge of re-reading my own fics. And almost every time, I end up thinking the same thing: "These are pretty good. But...did I really write these??" In other words, it feels like I'm reading someone else's work. It's a little unnerving. I can't quite figure it out.

So, for those of you who write fanfic, do you go back and re-read your own old stories? How often? Is there a particular concatenation of circumstances that causes you to do so? How does it make you feel when you do? How do you find that you react to them -- do they feel like your own work or someone else's?

Now, for those of you who also write original fic: same questions.

Comments

[madeleone]

do you go back and re-read your own old stories? How often?
I do go back and read my own fics from time to time. It's kind of a random thing, no real pattern.

Is there a particular concatenation of circumstances that causes you to do so?
Sometimes I just get the urge to re-read one of them. Sometimes it's because someone leaves a comment, or maybe something I'm currently reading or writing reminds me of a particular story or scene. Sometimes I do just because I feel like it. I have a lot of fanfic as well as all my own (aside from drabbles) loaded on my calibre program so it's very easy just to pop one open and read when I feel like it.

How does it make you feel when you do? How do you find that you react to them -- do they feel like your own work or someone else's?
In general I do like my own stories. Although of course there are always instances when I think 'oooh I wish I'd done that a bit differently'. For the most part they do feel like mine but once in awhile (especially if it's something I haven't read in forever) I'll think 'This isn't bad, did I really write it?'