Lately I've been thinking a lot about growth. Over time everyone changes, it's just how people, and the world, work. But most of the time we don't realize it is happening. By nature of writing things down, it is easier for us as writers to see how we have changed, and whether or not we think that change was good.
As a company we have grown so much in the last few years. We started out 5 years ago as four women with a dream and a goal. Now we have three published books with a fourth on the way. We have helped people, including ourselves, see their work in print and read by others. Many for the first time. And that work has only gotten better.
I spent the better part of the last two weeks re-editing all three of our current published anthologies. The end goal was to have three published across multiple new platforms. That was a success and you can find Pub518 books for your Nook, Kobo, and other e-book devices. But what amazed me the most was the change in each book. The books have gotten longer and the quality of story has gotten better. Which is saying something since the first one was pretty good! It felt really good to see where we have come as a company and to think about where we can go.
On a personal note, it was also fun to look at my own stories. I recently found the "novel" I wrote in high school. And man was it bad. I mean I can see where I was going, but the writing was terrible. I clearly remember thinking how good it was and that I was going to get it published! Then I look at my current work. I'm still not sure if it's best seller quality, but it is leaps and bounds above what I wrote back then. Realizing that helps encourage me to continue writing.
So some advice, if your feeling down about your work, or think it's not good enough, take a look at something you wrote a long time ago. It can help to remind you that you are better than you were, and can be better than you are.