For one, quit beating yourself down as a writer.
That's pretty much a direct quote from Bob Long Jr. speaking to me.
I'm passing the torch to you.
I go back and read my old stuff now and then. Now and then I had moments where it looks like I could put together a paragraph. Most of the time I feel I failed miserably. But for some reason, I get complements on it.
You already have a way with words, remember feculence? The hard part is keeping it up. Those who know me know I've slowed down dramatically, but at least I've been able to keep doing it for over 12 years. For better or worse.
Put it in writing, put it out there, see what happens. I wouldn't worry about it if I were you.
Before Husar died, a string of posts talking about him was on CLF. One guy said he couldn't read his stuff because it was too flowery. A lot of others agreed. I have his book that came out a couple of years ago, a few years after he died. It drives home how and why I write. I didn't read the hook, tackle and bullet crap. I read him and Gray's Sporting Journal. Husars was some of the best stuff you'll read, especially for local stuff. And then, even in the book, sometimes a story falls flat.
Just put it down and send it out there.
You'll know when it's crap, because we'll all tell you.
