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Blanche
Very good point. Like we do with most things in life...we also read with our hearts. As for me it brought up every single insecurity I have about my own writing. I drive Carl crazy because as Cap stated we Libra's never feel good enough.
I remember shortly after my publication in "Chicken Soup", Carl suggested I try my hand at other writing. My response "I couldn't, that publication is just a one time fluke." Honestly, everytime I am published, I still in the core of my being believe it's a fluke.
posted by
bel_1965
on June 16, 2006 at 2:02 PM
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Cringe
I get the same feeling. Sometimes we just need a safe place to be.
posted by
bel_1965
on June 16, 2006 at 1:58 PM
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Bel (and Azur)
Azur's comment inspired me to go back and re-read the post in question (and I found the one following it) and I did rethink my reaction. Nothing he wrote suggested that he himself was personally denigrating journaling as a practice, just that it wasn't for him.
Well, that's my perception of it, anyway. Good writing should provoke a reaction. I really hope he sticks around. As usual, it's not so much about what he wrote as how I felt about what came up as a result, so it really was my own perception or reaction.
posted by
Blanche.
on June 16, 2006 at 1:56 PM
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Bel it's very evident you write from the heart and by reading what you do
journal here (though I haven't been here long), I tend to agree about the heavy editing and thinking too much about it, I think it can take from the reality of who you are (a little) and what you are trying to convey.
I feel a huge amount of freedom here, like I can be upfront and honest, and avoid all the polictical face to face BS people either conciously or subconciously feel compelled to indulge in when they interact with people in their everyday lives.
I get that same feeling from you, and I agree with your reasons for coming here (which aside from different circumstances) are somewhat similar.
posted by
Cringe
on June 16, 2006 at 1:54 PM
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Azur
You are right. As I said I was troubled by that post because I also noticed it made many feel as if they needed to defend their writing and why they are here: myself included.
I have read this persons following posts and I honestly don't think he realized how painful that was for many to read. I do believe he was just frustrated that some weren't taking advantage of what he has to offer...which happens to be very good advice for any level of writing.
I had someone take away my love of writing by criticising and tearing it apart for many years. It took me a very long time to start writing again...I never want to see that happen to anyone else.
posted by
bel_1965
on June 16, 2006 at 1:53 PM
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Kris!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You found me!!!!! You make some wonderful points. We all have our own style and that is what makes this place so unique and so wonderful.
BIG HUGS TO YOU MOM!!!!!!
posted by
bel_1965
on June 16, 2006 at 1:49 PM
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Bel
Now, see.....here's the thing.....and the way I've now started writing is a good example......unless you are in class to learn the basics, which I think everyone should learn in elementary and junior high, there really are no rules to be rigidly adhered to any longer. Even in formal writing, the ending with a preposition rule is no longer enforced; or, so I was told by someone who keeps up with those things. At one point, I was an English major, and I used to spend hours diagraming sentences for fun; I love to diagram complex sentences. I wrote perfect papers. Now, I write like I talk....... If, I'm in a perfect talking mode, then that is how I write....... If, I'm in a lackadaisical talking mode, then that is how I write....... Anyway - sorry, ADD in full-swing today! - there really just aren't all these rules anymore and it drives tight ass people really nuts!
posted by
Krisles
on June 16, 2006 at 1:39 PM
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To be
fair. I think that the post made clear that those were the feelings of that blogger - his own feelings about Blogit and how it makes
him feel at this time , I didn't think that it said that others were wrong to have their own reasons to blog. He just explained that he did not feel the same. As a professional writer and sometimes teacher (when there are gigs**!!) I understand his dilemma. Unlike him, I am a slightly (cough, splutter - understatement) more addicted.
Lovely story about the man who was rear ended.
People can have a strong voice without grammar and punctuation and spelling but there are places where not having that reduce the chance of publication. Sometimes I get the impression that people imagine that "professional writers" spend their lives with tiny brushes and fine tooth combs policing grammar and checking spellings. Grammar, spelling, punctuation is very far from the top of the mind. It is just something you attend to like putting the bins out, or wiping the kitchen bench, or doing the dishes. You just do it.
posted by
Azur
on June 16, 2006 at 1:34 PM
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That seems like a good idea, Bel, that's why we have the option of multiple
blogs, imho. I was just curious to see if you felt the same about not re-reading. I like Strat's suggestion. I'd like to see Scoop do something similar, edit and publish some blogs about your and his experiences/observations about Iraq. You probably don't need me to tell you, that there must be a market for that, for your own personal perspective.
posted by
Blanche.
on June 16, 2006 at 1:32 PM
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Bel
Doing what you did....helping someone discover that they are capable of more than they realized, and coaching them to develop skills they didn't think they could....was always the most satisfying aspect of management for me...I simply loved it...it's really not quite the same as teaching or training.....great job!!! ANYWAY, about the writing thing.....I hope that other person read your post and got some pointers. I completely agree with you, of course.....you've always had
such good sense....but, then, I raised you that way!(Remember, you're my fantasy second daughter!)
posted by
Krisles
on June 16, 2006 at 1:30 PM
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Blanche
The only journals I have read after are the ones I sent to Carl last year. I am working on Strat's suggestion of putting them all together and writing SOMETHING with them to help other families and wives understand and survive the process.
Otherwise, just getting them out of my head is the only goal I ever have.
BTW, with all this fuss about Grammar, etc... I think I am going to set one of my blogs with tips, etc... to improve the technical end. Many have expressed a desire to learn more and the information is easy enough to come by, so instead of just going on about it, I'm going to do something about it. Opps ended a sentence with a preposition!
posted by
bel_1965
on June 16, 2006 at 1:30 PM
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Amen! Bel, I feel passionate about that!
That's why I won't give up this class on Saturdays for anything. I hope to get more techniques to use to teach or counsel journal as therapy. I have done it since I was about 12, and it has been a lifesaver for me, too. I hardly ever (never really) go back and read what I've written, though. I just need to get it down on paper out of my head. How about you?
posted by
Blanche.
on June 16, 2006 at 1:25 PM
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Blanche
You will be a wonderful therapist! I will say that for many, many years the only safe place for me was between my pen and paper. Writing saved my life..I would hate to see anyone give it up because they are worried they are not good enough!
posted by
bel_1965
on June 16, 2006 at 1:21 PM
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Bel,
You said it. I read the same post and it elicited much the same response from me. I stay here and I come back here for the same reasons that you just listed. There is a camaraderie and people come and go and scoff at this being a chat room. But I like what one person wrote on my post: to each their own.
There are so many people every day, willing to put someone else down, and we each of us have those internal censors and critics, that it inhibits the flow. What you did for that guy, or witnessed, in getting him to open up, is what I really hope to do as a therapist/counselor, using journaling, the freeflow format, of creative writing, to get people who never thought they could write or express themselves clearly to open up, and tell their stories.
Because nothing in my life has been as liberating as telling my story, my way. Which is why I don't really object to anything anyone else does or says, as long as it isn't directed at shutting someone else up or putting them down.
posted by
Blanche.
on June 16, 2006 at 1:16 PM
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Spudnuts
Well said. There are many that do not have the best technical skills. SO WHAT, some make me laugh, some make me cry, some make me think. I could not imagine this place without their presense.
posted by
bel_1965
on June 16, 2006 at 1:09 PM
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Passion
Thank you! My grammar, especially when I am overly emotional is not the best. But like everyone else, I hope to learn everyday.
posted by
bel_1965
on June 16, 2006 at 1:08 PM
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great post...your spelling a grammar is much better than many here.
This was well-written and interesting...
posted by
Passionflower
on June 16, 2006 at 11:33 AM
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I have read many on here who had poor grammar, spelling, and
punctuation, but their writing drew me in nonetheless! I count myself as one of the screw-ups!
What matters is that you are giving voice to that which is usually bottled up inside. There are so many things that can be expressed in no other way. So we write it.
If you enjoy it, if it makes you happy, if you find peace in it then it does not matter what is said by any "professional". There will always be others who will find fault in you. We must all learn to ignore them and move on, but never allow them the power to stop us!
That, or we track them down knock on their door and when they open it slap them with a carp!
posted by
Spudnuts
on June 16, 2006 at 11:21 AM
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Cap
One of my greatest joys in those days was watching as a student "got it". The pride they took in that was so wonderful. I came very close to teaching because of those experiences.
posted by
bel_1965
on June 16, 2006 at 11:04 AM
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Poetic
Thank you. Not everyone has had the benefit of a good education and even some who have, also have other issues such as a learning disability. I don't know that this person realized how they came across, I truly hope they did not. But as a writer, I am always seeking input from others. I do want to knowwhat others liked but if they see a place that could be better if they say something like "you know paragraph two is just a little vague" or something like that, I will go back see try to improve upon that. He seems to have a change of attitude, so I suspect my first impression wasn't who he is.
We can all learn and should continue to learn for the rest of our lives.
posted by
bel_1965
on June 16, 2006 at 11:03 AM
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Bel: Beautiful insight!
This seems to be a popular theme on Blogit recently.
It's neat to hear how you were able to enlighten a student to a whole new world of creativity that perhaps he might not have been aware of before.
posted by
Captain_Gulliver
on June 16, 2006 at 11:00 AM
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I just wanted to add that....writing is an art to be viewed differently by everyone. IT needs not grammar nor correct punctuation....so long as it dances across the page on the same note....writing comes from the deepest part of our souls...it is a part of us that we paint with words of visual art for all to embrace. When have thoughts ever been clear??? When and how often do they make sense to us let alone some one else....It amazes me that some one who has been taught and teaches professionally would decide to take an open forum of expression as an opportunity to be pompous and judgemental. NO one here is being graded. I didn't read the article.....but I do know that my writing is a very special part of my life....paper and pen are the one thing in life I get and gets me...as I am sure goes for many writers. I'm glad that there are genuine people like you that reach out to others and let them know that they too can be embraced by the beauty of word art.
posted by
PoeticInk
on June 16, 2006 at 10:58 AM
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