tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32078352.post8137782678448498444..comments2024-03-06T10:39:37.128+00:00Comments on Tania Writes: The Michael Martone Interview ยป Quarterly ConversationTania Hershmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15781460794034586895noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32078352.post-58374183125328456062008-08-17T00:43:00.000+01:002008-08-17T00:43:00.000+01:00What a wonderfully creative article! The man clear...What a wonderfully creative article! The man clearly teaches novice writers to *love* to write, but also to learn to step back and look at their own work with an editor's eye. I think that the moment you have to ask, 'Does this work?' you're not really looking at what you have written and *how* you wrote it.<BR/>When you learn to be a harsh critic about your own work, I think you can face the critics out there in the big bad world.Deborah Reyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09506809786397910765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32078352.post-23159154266082346592008-08-16T10:09:00.000+01:002008-08-16T10:09:00.000+01:00Nothing to do with the post here, but just wanted ...Nothing to do with the post here, but just wanted to say that I have just read 'Dots' and absolutely loved it... loved it loved it loved it.<BR/><BR/>DDouglas Brutonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12625886640338360592noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32078352.post-78433756216851722002008-08-13T20:43:00.000+01:002008-08-13T20:43:00.000+01:00Hmmm. Having been at a Uni course, and walked out ...Hmmm. Having been at a Uni course, and walked out after less than half way through, because of the crazy insistence on 'this is the way to do it'... and a seemingly ridiculous and narrow perception of what was indeed publishable...I enjoy the quote above and am glad to see someone kicking against the conventions.<BR/><BR/>However, as WRW says, I have also been in 'anything goes and everything is wonderful' workshops, and whereas for five minutes the creative floodgates open, after a while the daftness of it all becomes as damaging if not more damaging than the first type.<BR/><BR/>There are many ways to kick creativity in the nuts. And many ways to let it flourish.<BR/><BR/>Every writer has to find their own best sort. <BR/><BR/>But it is worth reminding the flower-people that in the real world, the critics are not kind. So actually, learning how to take criticism is a valuable lesson that any good workshop will provide, in my humble hopinion!<BR/><BR/>I guess many people go to writing courses, just to pass the time. Maybe they need softness. If you really want to get on out and up, you need a bit of backbone... I reckon.Vanessa Gebbiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00833187671441310234noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32078352.post-63250620198785951282008-08-13T17:43:00.000+01:002008-08-13T17:43:00.000+01:00Interesting stuff, Tania and WRW.Plenty to think a...Interesting stuff, Tania and WRW.<BR/><BR/>Plenty to think about.<BR/><BR/>NikNik Perringhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07426321804560400335noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32078352.post-646106247415792702008-08-13T13:45:00.000+01:002008-08-13T13:45:00.000+01:00No, I totally agree with you. I don't think he was...No, I totally agree with you. I don't think he was advocating "everything is wonderful", but just that there aren't necessarily hard and fast rules that can't be broken. And yes, beginner writers' needs are different from more experienced writers who, we hope, have thicker skins and crave deeper, tougher crit!Tania Hershmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15781460794034586895noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32078352.post-9077628677757209102008-08-13T10:41:00.000+01:002008-08-13T10:41:00.000+01:00On the flip side, I don't like the 'everything is ...On the flip side, I don't like the 'everything is wonderful' workshops. There needs to be balance.<BR/><BR/>Beginner writers need encouragement and good, reasoned feedback; not just 'I don't like that'. It doesn't matter whether people like your work or not, 'Is it well written?', is all you need to know.<BR/><BR/>More seasoned writers need the tough stuff, and are better at taking or leaving others' opinions on their work.Group 8https://www.blogger.com/profile/07924947352624027079noreply@blogger.com