That’s it exactly. It isn’t that I haven’t improved over the years, but that there’s really nothing to be ashamed of in my work. Now, go back to the fiction I wrote in high school (none of which, as far as I know, survives at this point) and I’d argue: Ick. But by the time I was being published? It’s all, um, publishable.

When I decided to start a Web site of my writing in 2002, I had roughly 400 pieces that I had written going back to 1984, none of which were in electronic form. To get them in shape to put on the Web, I had to retype all of them.

At first, I was afraid I was going to hate my earlier work. Clearly, I had to be a much more sophisticated writer now than I was then. And, truth be told, my writing has changed a lot with time and experience. However, having had years away from it, I found that I could see the older writing almost as if it was new, and I found that I enjoyed it.

The worst I will say about older writing is that I may not write that way now, but it was the best I could write at that time in my artistic development. I like to think that that’s a healthy attitude.

Enjoy the traveling.
Carol

But, he decided, it wouldn’t be fair to the person and writer he used to be.

An interesting thing to say, I thought, for a person who wrote so many time-travel stories.

Very interesting post — thanks. (I am so totally tweeting it, too.:)

That’s refreshing to hear. The more common refrain from authors is that they’re embarrassed by their first works. I have the same reaction as you when I look back at my first novel. Sure, there are tweaks I’d make here and there, but still think the story and craft are good.