Interestingly, all my work is scattered willy nilly around the house. You'd think as a hoarder of something as personal as my writing, I'd have everything in binders and plastic covers. Actually, that's not a bad idea for a rainy day project!
I have copies of books, magazines, newspapers, print outs and I even go back and read through them from time to time just to remind myself of why I do this writing thing. I love love love looking back over and re-reading my work. Talk about an ego boost!
I like to think that I'm not the only one who does this. I'm pretty sure I'm not. But I do know that there is a breed of writer that doesn't have a single copy of their work. Doesn't want copies. Won't even read what they've written once it's been published.
Granted, I'm sure their offices, computer rooms, and attics are a lot less cluttered! The idea is that it has been written and published and people have read it, so the author doesn't feel the need to keep a copy for posterity.
Then there are those for whom simply being published is enough. Some people avoid collecting copies of their work for superstitious reasons as well.
And I guess you could argue that, in today's day and age, pretty much anyone can get published (whether it be online, through traditional or self publishing, or in the school newspaper), so having your work published perhaps is no longer that big a deal.
I think it's very interesting that although we are all writers and creative minds, we each go about the process, the journey and, yes, the business so differently.
Are you a hoarder of your work? Why or why not?
Image: DesertNana aka majamom, Flickr
© 2011 Tiffany Jansen, writer
