After reviewing responses to the last few posts and talking with several of you on the phone, I think critique and discussion might be more comfortable for everyone concerned if we identify what we are looking for when we read and write, as well as when we offer and accept critique. I believe Em Jay’s comment about what she looks for when reading bumped into my thoughts about how writers are seldom satisfied even when others appreciate their work, and the two ideas meshed into a light-bulb-moment. Mark your calendars; this doesn’t happen often for me.
I took a break from gardening yesterday and used the time to explore my reading and writing goals. I haven’t put them in fancy format or wording (really, I am working hard, or is it easy, to earn the low ratings I get on these posts), but will share my thoughts here to get the ball rolling. If everyone will do the same over the next week, I think we might all end up on the same page – or at least have guides to help us find the page when we visit one another’s work.
Writing:
- I want to tell a story or convey an opinion in as few words as possible. The few words as possible part is personal preference and one of the things others can help me with through critique.
- I want to explore myself and the world, through writing. It isn’t enough for me to list activities without reflection.
- I want to move the reader – generate emotion/thought/action. Even in my fiction writing, I hope to generate activism.
- I want my writing to be flexible. I want to write on a level that anyone can understand, but with layers of depth that a reader can take to whatever level is comfortable for that individual. The biggest compliment a reader can give me is to say that s/he read my work more than once and found different things to appreciate or new ways to apply it to his/her own life.
- I want readers to be impressed with themselves for getting what I’ve written, for thinking after reading what I've written, or for being moved, more than I want them to be impressed with my writing. If I have written well, most readers should not notice how I have written. I’m not here to impress with vocabulary, the number of words I write, or popularity.
- I want my writing to take you somewhere you’ve been or want to go. It is not enough for me to tell you where I’ve been or what I’ve done if you don’t relate personally.
Reading:
- Plot is most important to me, whether it is character driven or action.
- I want what I read to move me somehow – make me laugh, make me cry, scare me, or anger me. Make me feel something.
- I want believable. Sorry, sci-fi and romance writers, if I can’t believe it could happen, you’ll lose me. Again, this is personal reading preference and no reflection on writers.
- If the plot is great and the writing notsogreat, I can overlook the writing. If the writing is great and the plot a little slow (doesn’t happen often), I can enjoy the read. But, if the plot is great and the writing atrocious, I am insulted and won’t read much.
Next! There are no right or wrong responses. Honesty is what matters, and what will make this most valuable to each of us.
As always, if you link your response in this thread where others can find it easily, you might get more views.
Tag: FunTueGoals
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2/24/2009 |
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WE - cast of characters | 2/27/2009 | |
2 - still a party, character development | 3/3/2009 | |
3 - field trip | 3/10/2009 | |
3/17/2009 | ||
3/24/2009 |
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6 - Going dark | 3/31/2009 | |
4/7/2009 | ||
4/14/2009 |
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4/28/2009 |
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10 - Dream | 4/28/2009 | |
11 - Now what | 5/5/2009 | |
12 - Good luck | 5/12/2009 |
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13- Enhanced | 5/19/2009 | |
14- You Care | 6/16/2009 |
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15- Picnic | 6/23/2009 |
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16- Member Survey | 6/30/2009 |
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17- Catch Up/Rules | 7/7/2009 |
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18- Critique | 7/9/2009 |
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19 -Dialogue | 7/14/2009 |
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Comments: 23
FWIW.
Giggle.
I must be getting old - I'm not sure I remember that story correctly, but this is what came to mind when I read your question.
Nippy: I saw that episode and nearly came up out of my chair with glee at the answer. I howled laughing, to the point where my husband wanted to know what I'd been drinking. He just didn't understand.
Anyway, I wanted to see what was going on, so I am hopping off and on realy quick to say Hey!!! How the cornbread heck is everybody??????
I enjoyed reading your goals and have been trying to read some of your posts Sandy, Just from the little I have seen, you seem to be doing exactly what you set out to do. My goals and wants and needs are close to yours and Barbs (just saw her post too)
I have been working on something while we have been gone, it really isn't one of the exercises but I hope to use it to tie things together, so that some of the exercises work better for my character.. that is what I have been working on, and wrote about while we were gone.. I hope to have that up and posted tommorrow.
I will try to post my goals and what I hope to achieve also, and you all can tell me if I am even close.... I really want to learn how to write, because sometimes I can be gardening, driving, ect and will have stories running around in my head, I hope that I can make them sound like they do in my head, on paper....
I would love to write well enough to earn some type of income from it. It wouldn't even have to be much, just knowing that someone thought enough to put my writing in a magazine or to be able to write for a paper and earn money... wow, that is just like a dream I have always had!!!!
Have a great night, if I don't get back:)
Anxious to see your goals!