Reading things I wrote in the past—often I sound so dumb. Not that I thought it was all brilliant in the first place, but you know, I did write it and keep it, so I must have thought there was something worthwhile about it. Another problem is that I don’t write enough, so the duds really stick out. Obviously there is a way to help that.

An additional problem is that I over-censor to the point of hindering my writing. Before I even move a finger, I’m weeding out anything too unsure, too controversial, too already-been-said that that is also hindering the whole process… with the effect that I look back at the finished product years later and say to myself, what was the point? But any writing is better than no writing. So thank you, past me, for at least occasionally trying to write something.