Writers Do Lunch Interview Meme -- Part 2
Mar. 31st, 2004 06:35 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
sun_set_bravelyBehind the cut are questions 6-10.
6. Does it matter to you if people interpret your work in ways you never intended?
It irks me a little bit, sometimes, especially if the interpretation is due to lazy reading, but in the end, the only part of the interaction that I can control is how well I present my stories and words to the reader. From there, it's up to them.
7. How honestly do you critique the writing of others?
If someone asks me to critique their writing, I do it with complete honesty, and thoroughness. They've given me their words to critique and I have accepted; I take that responsibility very seriously. My brand of honesty is a gentle, specific urging of the author towards what s/he is really trying to say. I try very hard not to project my voice onto their work, but to listen carefully to what they're saying, and to pull their voice out even further.
8. Do you worry about plagiarism when you write creativly on-line?
I usually post my creative writing in some level of friends-only protected mode, so I don't worry about it being stolen. As far as more general LJ writing goes, I've never really thought about it. But then again, I've never been plagiarized (as far as I know).
9. Can writing be taught? How important is a formal education to making the writer?
Yes, writing can be taught. I don't necessarily like the elitist idea of all writers being Given a Gift From God and if you don't have that gift, you can't write. I think that you can hone your writing voice through practice, learning technique, and more practice. Yes, some people will catch on more quickly, and some writing will shine where other writing will just sort of ... exist. But if my craft and my art is not something that other people can learn, then what kind of craft is it?
And a formal education is important only in the ways that it shapes the writer her/himself as a person, especially if we're talking about the undergraduate level here, where so many people choose a degree in their last year of high school, a dubious time for critical thinking. You don't have to go to school for creative writing to be a writer. But you can go to school for creative writing and hone your talents as a writer. I think it depends on each individual.
10. Writing Workshops: What is your opinion of them? Have you ever been to one?
I've been to a couple, through school. They're okay, but the teacher has to be vigilant about monitoring student criticism, if that's going to be solicited at all. It's very hard to talk about a creative work, and many people end up saying "I didn't like this" or "I would have done that" instead of giving any useful criticism for the writer. I recently heard about Chris Abani's teaching style for his writing workshops. They learn about quantum physics, jazz, architecture. They don't discuss content at all, they just talk about the way to form the writing. Sounds like an interesting exercise.
6. Does it matter to you if people interpret your work in ways you never intended?
It irks me a little bit, sometimes, especially if the interpretation is due to lazy reading, but in the end, the only part of the interaction that I can control is how well I present my stories and words to the reader. From there, it's up to them.
7. How honestly do you critique the writing of others?
If someone asks me to critique their writing, I do it with complete honesty, and thoroughness. They've given me their words to critique and I have accepted; I take that responsibility very seriously. My brand of honesty is a gentle, specific urging of the author towards what s/he is really trying to say. I try very hard not to project my voice onto their work, but to listen carefully to what they're saying, and to pull their voice out even further.
8. Do you worry about plagiarism when you write creativly on-line?
I usually post my creative writing in some level of friends-only protected mode, so I don't worry about it being stolen. As far as more general LJ writing goes, I've never really thought about it. But then again, I've never been plagiarized (as far as I know).
9. Can writing be taught? How important is a formal education to making the writer?
Yes, writing can be taught. I don't necessarily like the elitist idea of all writers being Given a Gift From God and if you don't have that gift, you can't write. I think that you can hone your writing voice through practice, learning technique, and more practice. Yes, some people will catch on more quickly, and some writing will shine where other writing will just sort of ... exist. But if my craft and my art is not something that other people can learn, then what kind of craft is it?
And a formal education is important only in the ways that it shapes the writer her/himself as a person, especially if we're talking about the undergraduate level here, where so many people choose a degree in their last year of high school, a dubious time for critical thinking. You don't have to go to school for creative writing to be a writer. But you can go to school for creative writing and hone your talents as a writer. I think it depends on each individual.
10. Writing Workshops: What is your opinion of them? Have you ever been to one?
I've been to a couple, through school. They're okay, but the teacher has to be vigilant about monitoring student criticism, if that's going to be solicited at all. It's very hard to talk about a creative work, and many people end up saying "I didn't like this" or "I would have done that" instead of giving any useful criticism for the writer. I recently heard about Chris Abani's teaching style for his writing workshops. They learn about quantum physics, jazz, architecture. They don't discuss content at all, they just talk about the way to form the writing. Sounds like an interesting exercise.
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no subject
Date: 2004-03-31 07:40 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-03-31 09:01 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-03-31 10:28 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-04-01 12:29 pm (UTC)sticker fun!
Date: 2004-03-31 10:15 am (UTC)all the stickers you sent.
I'll mail you a few of the photos
after this crazy crazy week (and week-end) is over.
thanks again Jen! xo
henok
Re: sticker fun!
Date: 2004-03-31 10:22 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-04-05 08:35 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-04-05 11:25 am (UTC)