literature

Talent-less hack

Deviation Actions

Zaiav's avatar
By
Published:
1.5K Views

Literature Text

I'm just a vacant writer.
A copy-cat who only regurgitates lines that are cliche and stale.
They crumble in my hands at the slightest bit of tension.

How can I claim originality when this message has been spoken before?
I'm left with a un-needed poem, and words that won't inspire anyone.

"We don't need another talent less writer.
One who simply doesn't break the mold and instead fits themselves to it.
Carving out your own is what a "real" writer does."

"Hey now don't let this sorrow hold back your hand.
You have to use every opportunity of sadness and let it consume your work.
The darkest moments will eventually shine the brightest."

"What do you mean you're not sad anymore?
Don't you realize the art world craves sadness?
Because our darkest moments should be the ones that flip that creative switch."


But there is no creativity left.

I'll keep re-writing those words, even thought the meaning has been lost long ago.
Scribbled down lines with base-less motivations.
I'm not the first person to write these lines, and I won't be the last.

Because I lack originality.
A bit of backstory if I may? I used to write poetry avidly. It was a favorite past-time of mine, but after some time that became hard. I felt like my poetry was always saying the same thing and always worthless words. So I stopped writing. 
However a month ago, I received a rude message on one of my poems. I'm not going to say who or where but let's just say it kinda reminded me why I quit poetry. They basically told me that because I wanted attention and to have people like my poetry that I was wrong and not cut out for poetry.  Not only that they went about it in quiet a how I say it "rude" way. I started to get angry, who were they to tell me I wasn't cut out for poetry? Then I got sad, I realized that I couldn't fight back what was I to say? "haha well jokes on you! I quit writing a long time ago!" 

Since then I've trying to write. I wanted to prove something to her, I wanted to just say "ha sure you think my poetry is worthless but look now!" But no matter how much I wrote I kept hearing her words circle in my head. I kept thinking, she's right isn't she? I am just a worthless writer. I'm sorry if this poem isn't very good I'm very rusty. 

Comments and favorites are loved. I apologize that this isn't a new photo since I know 99% of my new followers watched because of that. Don't worry new photo's will be coming soon...This won't become a poetry page (I promise).
© 2017 - 2024 Zaiav
Comments60
Join the community to add your comment. Already a deviant? Log In
rin-a's avatar
:star::star::star::star-empty: Overall
:star::star::star::star::star-empty: Vision
:star::star::star::star::star-empty: Originality
:star::star::star-empty::star-empty::star-empty: Technique
:star::star::star::star-empty::star-empty: Impact

Originality in art, as in most things, is almost a myth. There's nothing that hasn't been done or said. What separates artworks then? What makes them different from each other? Point of view. Nobody can see something precisely the same way as you do, your vision of the world is entirely original, even if the message itself is not. There may be a multitude of poems about sunsets, it's not an original topic, but nobody can see a sunset the way you can. Your view of any given sunset will be tinted by your experiences, your moods, where you are and who you are. Art doesn't have to be about creating something nobody has ever seen before, it can just be about showing someone a point of view they haven't seen before. Show people what you see when you look at the world.

As far as technique goes there are basic grammatical errors that you could stand to improve on. The most glaring is the use of hyphens. Talentless, copycat, unneeded, baseless, and rewriting - none of these require a hyphen and should be as written here. Grammar can often be used or misused in a sacrifice for artistic intent in poetry, but hypens here are interrupting your flow. 'Real' in line 8 should be in single quotation marks, not double. Ask yourself if a period at the end of every line is necessary. Poetry allows the period to become a mood tool and changes the feel and flow of the writing considerably. A good question to ask when you're not sure if you need one or not is 'Is this the end of a thought?'. Lines are generally used as a comma would be, same thought but a pause required. So for example in paragraph 3 I personally would leave the period for line 1, but remove it for lines 2 and 3. A period represents a lot of emphasis.

Additionally maybe play around with not always using the contracted forms of words (I'm, don't, can't etc.), using 'I am' instead of 'I'm' in some cases will sound and flow better or lend more emotion or mood to the work. Not always, but it's worth keeping in mind that you don't have to always use contractions.

Impact, as you can see there's already been comments and critiques containing considerable praise and anecdotes of how your work personally affected them. Personally I think you have a lot more potential in you to grow and learn and giving you a flawless critique now would I feel be disingenuous and discouraging. You write reasonably well, but you require practice and polishing to reach your potential. You will never please or touch every person with your writing, that is impossible. But what you can do is strengthen your technical abilities and become more comfortable with writing. When you do that writing your authentic self will be easy and enjoyable. It will be easier to understand that when people try to tear you down, that they're just expressing how they see the world, and them not being touched by your work is never a reflection on the quality and value of your work or you as a person. Keep writing.