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As to your question...Is there truly any other kind?
My son can technically play better guitar than I can, but he is actually tone deaf and used to keep pestering me to "teach him how".
I just kept telling hi he had to "live the blues" until he went away. Trying to teach him to get just enough creative "wiggle" into his playing would compare with teaching me to draw or sculpt or dance...like trying to teach a pig to whistle, it rewards poorly and just irritates the pig (Thanks S. Clemens).
posted by
majroj
on August 29, 2005 at 7:12 PM
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The best advice that I ever received
I was told by an editor friend of mine to write from the heart, to choose subject matter in which you are passionate about. It may not be the correct way but has worked well for me.
posted by
StrickGold
on August 29, 2005 at 6:43 PM
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mayb
Kind of makes everything worthwhile.......you have to be proud
posted by
TIMMYTALES
on August 29, 2005 at 1:44 PM
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MayB
I come from a family of educators. When my dad died, there were prior students who drove many miles to come pay respects, and told Mama and me the impact he had on their lives...I hope he knew. The job review I will always treasure is one written for promotion in which my manager wrote that I had the ability to help my employees discover skills and confidence they didn't know they had. I didn't know until then that I should have followed the family calling because it's what I spent most of my time doing. Keep doing what you do....it's so needed.
posted by
Krisles
on August 29, 2005 at 1:42 PM
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Temple, that was an incredible compliment that teacher paid you. I think that teachers must easily be able to see when someone has something. The tricky part however is how they handle that. I also had an English teacher when I was 17 who had great faith in me. I would love to see him and thank him
posted by
Azur
on August 29, 2005 at 12:41 PM
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Word.smith, thanks. I couldn't spend my life at it. It is something I'd like to do for about 20 per cent of the time. It does remind you of things to do and watch in your own writing
posted by
Azur
on August 29, 2005 at 12:38 PM
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MerryAnne, good to see you. Of course I'd like to be the one who makes a difference to someone but in reality I'll never know. Also the one you try to reach might not be the one you do reach
posted by
Azur
on August 29, 2005 at 12:36 PM
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I think I would have pointed out ways she could make the whole piece shine, not just the diamond hidden in the middle. But not if it was going to take too much time.
posted by
Julia.
on August 29, 2005 at 12:35 PM
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Tweeter65, that is excellent.
posted by
Azur
on August 29, 2005 at 12:34 PM
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QuirkyAlone, no I left her in the dark.
What do you think?
Mind you it is not a job you do for money. The pay is almost as poor as at Blogit
posted by
Azur
on August 29, 2005 at 12:33 PM
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so did you give her pointers on how to make the dull part more interesting, so that the piece as a whole is improved??
posted by
Julia.
on August 29, 2005 at 9:31 AM
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B
Feedback (when it is to someone who cares) is the greatest. I just wrote my Am. Lit. teacher to encourage him to not go easy on me, that I can readily handle critiquing. I wish to improve my skills and want all the help I can get. I am so happy he is looking for essays from his students.
posted by
Tweeter65
on August 29, 2005 at 9:05 AM
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MayB
It's the gems that keep you motivated to keep grading. I remember the first feeback I got from an instructor and it changed the way I looked at my writing!
posted by
MerryAnne
on August 29, 2005 at 8:23 AM
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Even though you haven't been at this for long,
I think that you will make a great teacher. Providing detailed feedback will help your students know where and how they went wrong and it's nice that you took the time to do that. Not everybody would be bothered with the extra effort.
posted by
word.smith
on August 29, 2005 at 7:48 AM
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I'd like to think there is such a thing.
I had two teachers, one who just taught us to keep a journal, and one who was a creative writing teacher, who both were instrumental in my beginning to realize I had the ability to write things others would want to read. Actually, also, a journalism teacher in elementary school. It was the creative writing teacher that was the strongest, that was high school. She said I would be providing a "disservice to the literary world" if I didn't continue to develop my craft and skill and put it out there. I took her seriously because she hated me (I was a punk). But, in journalism (elementary) we ran a little paper. I was told by my favorite teacher of all time that I had a true gift and wrote beyond my years. She made me promise not to stop, in whatever format I liked. It was because of her I got a BA in Journalism. Then, in middle school, my teacher had us journal every day and turn it in. She read it, so we were some what censored, but it was all privileged (unless of course we were suicidal or homicidal or something). She said even my entries were beautiful. I've kept a journal ever since. The right teachers can make all the difference. :)
posted by
Temple
on August 29, 2005 at 7:04 AM
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NCWriter, yes!
posted by
Azur
on August 29, 2005 at 6:51 AM
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MayB,
Isn't that the most wonderful feeling? Finding a diamond like that?
posted by
NCwriter
on August 29, 2005 at 6:44 AM
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Meringue, you're right.
The feedback is one of the most important parts of the teaching. Many of the students are far away and so this feedback is main teaching they receive
posted by
Azur
on August 29, 2005 at 12:18 AM
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I am trying to improve my creative writing
and can completely identify with your poat.I hate it when a reviewer does not give me feedback on how to improve,Just deducts points and leaves, or worse, puts in flowery words and gives the stuff a great rating, which I know it does not deserve!
posted by
Meringue
on August 28, 2005 at 11:52 PM
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