tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2274987097756433491.post7832111365686137882..comments2024-03-05T11:26:21.204-06:00Comments on All the World's Our Page: Begging the QuestionUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2274987097756433491.post-22968291729369777042010-07-20T17:39:15.520-05:002010-07-20T17:39:15.520-05:00Susan, I had an experience very similar to yours. ...Susan, I had an experience very similar to yours. <br /><br />For several years I prepared huge monthly reports for the board of the government department I then worked for (we investigated complaints of unprofessional conduct against lawyers) and one of my bosses was a micro-management freak and would basically tear our reports apart until they were sounded like something she would have written ... huge waste of time, most of the time, IMO, and my next boss didn't edit/censor us at all, but there was no choice other than to just slash and burn my work to suit her ... with the outcome that, like you, I've learned to park my ego at the door and not be too precious about my work; hopefully a scathing crit or review now won't cut too deep, won't make me pack it all in ... time will tell.Rachel Walshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15406943046329566026noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2274987097756433491.post-87118962369414494322010-07-20T13:21:15.403-05:002010-07-20T13:21:15.403-05:00Very well said, Susan. :)
Perhaps, good art needs...Very well said, Susan. :)<br /><br />Perhaps, good art needs balance. Because I've seen the other side, when an author gets in a place where they receive so much praise they become lazy with the craft. And we as readers suffer for it.Kristen Callihanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01448274676402616525noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2274987097756433491.post-34580676010978695332010-07-20T13:15:06.402-05:002010-07-20T13:15:06.402-05:00Would I keep writing if I kept getting negative fe...Would I keep writing if I kept getting negative feedback? Hmmmmmm... <br /><br />For six years as the communications director for a non-profit agency, I wrote a lot of non-fiction stuff. I determined early on not to get defensive about my writing; I was there to serve a select group of people and if changing something I wrote served them better, I was glad to do it. <br /><br />The beauty, or irony, of it all, is that my Very Healthy Writer's Ego allowed me to do this. <br /><br />A writer needs an Ego, but at the same time she needs some humility to see the flaws that others see in her writing. The Ego keeps her going. The humility keeps her grounded. <br /><br />If I was pounded with negative feedback, I hope my Ego would not wither up and die. At this stage in my life I've had enough positive feedback to think I would survive the negative. <br /><br />SusanSusan Montgomeryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03194055286314636481noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2274987097756433491.post-16163726003049877882010-07-20T08:53:18.293-05:002010-07-20T08:53:18.293-05:00Deniz -- I've got to believe all artists feel ...Deniz -- I've got to believe all artists feel that way. :)<br /><br />Susan -- hmm...how about "I write, because I can" ?? *bg*<br /><br />Rach-- I do it for those reasons too. <br /><br />But do you all think you'd keep on with it if you kept getting bad feedback? Does the pleasure of writing decrease over time if there is no outside motivation to keep going? <br /><br />Just asking the question for discussion. <br /><br />Me? I think I'd keep going because, like Deniz, my head might explode if I don't. But you never know.Kristen Callihanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01448274676402616525noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2274987097756433491.post-5451997366858685032010-07-20T08:05:39.655-05:002010-07-20T08:05:39.655-05:00I write and keep on writing because I love the cha...I write and keep on writing because I love the challenge of writing a novel; because I love those moments when everything just flows, even though they can be few and far between; because I adore words and books; and because the only way I'll keep on learning about this passion of mine is if I *do* keep writing. :-)Rachel Walshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15406943046329566026noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2274987097756433491.post-56931992898667008392010-07-20T01:59:56.594-05:002010-07-20T01:59:56.594-05:00It's not about what others think of my writing...It's not about what others think of my writing, (although it's wonderful when they like it...) I write because I must. "I am, therefore I write." Or um, is it, "I write, therefore I am?"Susan Montgomeryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03194055286314636481noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2274987097756433491.post-35259340085276312792010-07-19T13:38:48.660-05:002010-07-19T13:38:48.660-05:00Or JK Rowling's success story...
I hear you on...Or JK Rowling's success story...<br />I hear you on the oysters vs chocolate. And when you apply that to writing it becomes very hard to say "I don't like this because it sucks and that's not just a subjective opinion!" I don't know how high school English teachers all across the world deal with this every day.<br />That being said, I write because I have to keep writing. The characters and scenes and emotions and events come, and must be put on paper. My mind might explode if I didn't.<br />Do painters, songwriters, etc. feel this way too?Deniz Bevanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17134553551048836979noreply@blogger.com