Like An Onion

Introduction

Three years ago I put the video above on my Youtube Channel to talk about my creative process. This article hopefully will give you some insight into how I create things and how I feel about my creations.

Like most creators I suffer from Imposter Syndrome but luckily I have the encouragement and support of other creators and that makes me believe that my work has value, although, to be honest, if I believed it didn't have value I would not publish it.

Peeling Away The Skin

I have a lot of experience in life, and have so many hobbies and interests that give me a wide range of things to write about, sometimes they can be very off the wall.

Ever since the eighties I wanted to write a book, starting with pen and paper, then typewriter and eventually a computer, and in that time I have left a lot of wreckage behind.

When I read a book I think that there is no way I could map out and plan a story like that, although Vocal has shown me that I can write short stories, although oftem when I write things, I leave them open hoping that the reader can draw their own conclusions, but usually what happens is that people ask me to write a follow up story, which I usually do, although I never plan to.

The one that started here resulted in a seven story series which required adjustments to earlier stories so that the later ones make sense. I think this is what "real" writers must experience:

I am thinking of publishing this as a book, but as yet have not taken that step.

Very often imposter syndrome makes me feel my work is not good enough, but I still publish, and then comments from other creators make me see that my work is good and that gives me the resolve to keep publishing on Vocal.

Vocal is the best publishing platform for individuals that I have come across, although before I joined Vocal I had been blogging for fifteen years with Seven Days In, which I still use for diary entries about what I am reading.

I do believe that I am one of the best Villanelle Creators on Vocal and even posted a piece on how to create a Villanelle:

I have done a similar piece for a Pantoum but that is a more fluid one.

When I write I prefer defined structures, which is ironic because I don't like to be constrained by definitions but I think they give me a path to follow, especially in poetry.

When I write fiction I often start with an interesting premise and then work around that. The premise can be anywhere in the story or may just be an overall concept.

I spread myself out over a number of Vocal Communities and my lest twelve publications have covered eight Vocal Communities:

I have seen some advice that says you should keep to your favoured communities. I am a Top Creator" in Beat and Confessions but that does not seem to give me any edge in those communities.

Conclusion

Thank you for reading and I hope this self critique has given you a little more insight into what I do on Vocal.

Ironically, when I looked at the new Vocal Challenges I thought there was no way I could do this.

I don't know if I have got it right, but this is my interpretation of this challenge.