Mangling The Writing Myth
because we need to22 total reviews
Comment from nor84
a lot of very good tips, especially about that first draft. You got me wanting to pull up one, ignore the bad parts, missing parts, and so forth and concentrate on what was good. The bad stuff may simply fade away, replaced by something else.
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a lot of very good tips, especially about that first draft. You got me wanting to pull up one, ignore the bad parts, missing parts, and so forth and concentrate on what was good. The bad stuff may simply fade away, replaced by something else.
Comment Written 28-Aug-2022
Comment from Pam Lonsdale
This is the kind of advice I would expect from a very good creative writing instructor - someone who truly wants their students to do well. I grew up being told that the "greats" were so because they had crappy lives, or were alcoholics (like drinking makes you a great writer). I also totally agree with your words regarding the first draft. I've come to expect that mine will be completely unusable and will require about half a dozen edits, but I've also come to believe that if I can just get those first words down, I WILL be able to pull it all together. I think accepting and believing are a huge part of writing.
Great piece. Hope everyone takes something away from it that will help them with their craft.
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This is the kind of advice I would expect from a very good creative writing instructor - someone who truly wants their students to do well. I grew up being told that the "greats" were so because they had crappy lives, or were alcoholics (like drinking makes you a great writer). I also totally agree with your words regarding the first draft. I've come to expect that mine will be completely unusable and will require about half a dozen edits, but I've also come to believe that if I can just get those first words down, I WILL be able to pull it all together. I think accepting and believing are a huge part of writing.
Great piece. Hope everyone takes something away from it that will help them with their craft.
Comment Written 28-Aug-2022
Comment from jessizero
I often say that I am a writer who sometimes writes poetry, but I am not a real poet. I guess I need to let go of that one.
Thank you for all of your constructive advice. I honestly appreciate it. Best wishes to you.
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I often say that I am a writer who sometimes writes poetry, but I am not a real poet. I guess I need to let go of that one.
Thank you for all of your constructive advice. I honestly appreciate it. Best wishes to you.
Comment Written 28-Aug-2022
Comment from aryr
This was totally amazing, G. I think what I liked about your words is that you spoke the truth. Telling it like you did was phenomenal. Now of course, I am going to bookcase this. Very well done and greatly enjoyed.
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This was totally amazing, G. I think what I liked about your words is that you spoke the truth. Telling it like you did was phenomenal. Now of course, I am going to bookcase this. Very well done and greatly enjoyed.
Comment Written 28-Aug-2022
Comment from LovnPeace
I adore this writing. It is very helpful. I have said many times, "I'm not a real writer." I have been told that- I came here to FS nearly illiterate. No real education. Reviewers were brutal. I worked hard and learned. Today, I am still far away, from being a professional. But that is not my aim. I have something to say and it might even help some people. I don't give a flying fuck what a mean, arrogant, elitist might have to say. Consider the source. I apologize for language, but it proves your point of how words count. Well, done. Blessings, Barbara. Xo
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I adore this writing. It is very helpful. I have said many times, "I'm not a real writer." I have been told that- I came here to FS nearly illiterate. No real education. Reviewers were brutal. I worked hard and learned. Today, I am still far away, from being a professional. But that is not my aim. I have something to say and it might even help some people. I don't give a flying fuck what a mean, arrogant, elitist might have to say. Consider the source. I apologize for language, but it proves your point of how words count. Well, done. Blessings, Barbara. Xo
Comment Written 28-Aug-2022
Comment from Shirley McLain
You are an excellent writing instructor, and I enjoy your classes. Excuse me, I mean writings. I'm going to do a lot of copy and pasting on a Word document, so I can print them out and keep them handy.
Have a blessed day. Shirley
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You are an excellent writing instructor, and I enjoy your classes. Excuse me, I mean writings. I'm going to do a lot of copy and pasting on a Word document, so I can print them out and keep them handy.
Have a blessed day. Shirley
Comment Written 28-Aug-2022
Comment from Wayne Fowler
Excellent counsel. Thank you.
. it's like calling a baby a crappy human because it isn't an adult yet! - i love this line. I even love that your cap. finger slipped just like mine does all the time!
All critique needs to be handled sensitively.- AMEN! I birthed that thing and an insensitive critique drives their truck over it!
Best wishes.
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Excellent counsel. Thank you.
. it's like calling a baby a crappy human because it isn't an adult yet! - i love this line. I even love that your cap. finger slipped just like mine does all the time!
All critique needs to be handled sensitively.- AMEN! I birthed that thing and an insensitive critique drives their truck over it!
Best wishes.
Comment Written 28-Aug-2022
Comment from Spitfire
These myths are all excuses wannabe writers use as blocks. Your exercises will help them get rid of these bad 'habits'. I always honor the first draft.
It's too bad FS members can't accept constructive criticism. I like your 'advice' to keep emotive words or rudeness out of a critique. Once, I received a rude reply to a suggestion for improvement. I wrote back: There is no excuse to use language if you disagree with me.
I'm happy to say the writer apologized.
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These myths are all excuses wannabe writers use as blocks. Your exercises will help them get rid of these bad 'habits'. I always honor the first draft.
It's too bad FS members can't accept constructive criticism. I like your 'advice' to keep emotive words or rudeness out of a critique. Once, I received a rude reply to a suggestion for improvement. I wrote back: There is no excuse to use language if you disagree with me.
I'm happy to say the writer apologized.
Comment Written 28-Aug-2022
Comment from barbara.wilkey
Your posts like this are always helpful and encouraging to us. I appreciate them. I can always find something, usually more than one, LOL, that I can apply immediately to my writing.
Don't give it a derogatory name. it's like calling a baby a crappy human because it isn't an adult yet! (capital 'I' needed on 'it's')
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Your posts like this are always helpful and encouraging to us. I appreciate them. I can always find something, usually more than one, LOL, that I can apply immediately to my writing.
Don't give it a derogatory name. it's like calling a baby a crappy human because it isn't an adult yet! (capital 'I' needed on 'it's')
This rating does not count towards story rating or author rank.
The highest and the lowest rating are not included in calculations.
Comment Written 28-Aug-2022
Comment from Susan Newell
I think you offer very sound advice in this piece. I'm an incorrigible self-editor and sometimes don't know when to stop. I particularly liked what you had to say about the nonexistent "muse." Inspiration does strike at irregular intervals, but that's just the way it is with everything in life. To demand more than that of one's self is to become robotic and can result in some lesser quality products.
Creativity is different for everyone, and I suppose that is why we all have a "style" of our own.
I also liked what you had to say about criticism. You and I got off to a bad start on that one. I suppose I use less tact for those I perceive to be seasoned writers who have more experience with what is intended to be constructive criticism.
A positively brutal writers' group bludgeoned me so much with blunt criticism that my skin toughened. But I am ever so grateful to every member for how much they helped me to improve my writing. I don't always agree with all my critics here, or make dramatic changes based on a single opinion, but I appreciate the feedback from all. Ultimately, it's the writer who must make the decisions as to what changes, what stays and what goes.
Well done.
Sue
Sue
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I think you offer very sound advice in this piece. I'm an incorrigible self-editor and sometimes don't know when to stop. I particularly liked what you had to say about the nonexistent "muse." Inspiration does strike at irregular intervals, but that's just the way it is with everything in life. To demand more than that of one's self is to become robotic and can result in some lesser quality products.
Creativity is different for everyone, and I suppose that is why we all have a "style" of our own.
I also liked what you had to say about criticism. You and I got off to a bad start on that one. I suppose I use less tact for those I perceive to be seasoned writers who have more experience with what is intended to be constructive criticism.
A positively brutal writers' group bludgeoned me so much with blunt criticism that my skin toughened. But I am ever so grateful to every member for how much they helped me to improve my writing. I don't always agree with all my critics here, or make dramatic changes based on a single opinion, but I appreciate the feedback from all. Ultimately, it's the writer who must make the decisions as to what changes, what stays and what goes.
Well done.
Sue
Sue
Comment Written 28-Aug-2022