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The writing circle went really well. Of the pieces we discussed, all were competent (at the very least) and two were well-written (but not so stunning that they seemed to have no need of a group). In other words, we were there to learn, all of us -- to get reactions and see how we were doing. (Well, except for one guy, fresh from Afghanistan with a hard mil scifi epic under his arm, which he described as an AK47 while telling me my story was more about feelings (from the three paragraphs I read aloud as a refresher, since he had *just* joined and had not received any of our work in advance).
That really amused me. I was less amused by the nice organizer, who came dubiously to my defense saying that we all have different styles, from Hemingway to Joan Collins. (I got the impression she preferred Hemingway, whom I only read when I could not avoid it for coursework, and whose stories tended to bore me until we got to the "thematic dissection" phase of lit class on them. I confess I really enjoyed Freudian criticism of his work, and not because I thought it had much validity.) I have never read Joan Collins, but I suspect she uses adjectives and adverbs. I try to avoid adverbs, but have no issue with adjectives, as long as they are not overused. (I mean, really? Adjectives are bad, now?) I probably have a higher tolerance for adjectives than the group's leader.
In any case, not having read any Collins, I wasn't sure how to take the comparison. Except I'm very glad not to be like Hemingway. SRSLY.
***
Had a long talk with![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
hominysnark afterward. She asked incisive questions. Considering my past writing group experiences (crazy stalker men, sulky teens, early stage ESOL folks, and one guy who shoved a shotgun full of commas and shot his manuscript with it repeatedly), I was glad that the subs didn't suck and that no one was mean or creepy to me or anyone else.
So, when she said, "But will this group help you do what you want to do?" I had to think about it.
I have now decided that it will, even though most of the others are not genre-friendly, and at least one of the genre writers... well, I can tell I'll find his work soporific and he will find mine frilly (despite the mutilations and gun fights). I have not seen any of the other lady's work, and she kept encouraging me to exposit through dialogue which makes me nervous.
I don't, however, think it will help me polish the novel. I think I'll wear them out on it long before I get to the end, simply because it isn't their cuppa. Also, I think a couple of them subtly disdain genre writing. I think that works in my favor, actually, because I cannot be perceived as a rival to them. We also have a screenwriter, a poet and a nonfiction writer. I think it will be instructive to have their reactions to my work, simply because it is fairly far afield from what they do or like.
The leader wants to have meetings at several different places all over the city, which I like, but I think it is an issue for some people. Several participants are driving in from out of town (even out of state) and I know they would be happier to not have to find a new hole in the wall in New Orleans every two weeks.
It was good to realize, yet again, that I can take criticism, and even better to realize that I can distinguish what is useful and incisive from what is personal taste, even when the critter cannot. So, baby steps.
***
Also, I am about to turn 41, and have finally reached the place in my life where I really don't give a flying fig whether everyone 'likes' me. Not everyone is going to like me, and it's not my job to make them. Life is too short for that crap.
***
My Beloved brought me a homemade waffle plate with blueberry compote in bed. (All of it he made from scratch, using fresh blueberries a co-worker picked and gave him.) Then he let me go back to sleep. When I woke up, he took me shopping for new summer dresses (my choice, since my birthday is this week). Hooray for Macy's One Day Sale. Once again I ended up with dark colors, but they are comfy like pajamas and look nice.
I am the luckiest beeyotch in Christendom.
That really amused me. I was less amused by the nice organizer, who came dubiously to my defense saying that we all have different styles, from Hemingway to Joan Collins. (I got the impression she preferred Hemingway, whom I only read when I could not avoid it for coursework, and whose stories tended to bore me until we got to the "thematic dissection" phase of lit class on them. I confess I really enjoyed Freudian criticism of his work, and not because I thought it had much validity.) I have never read Joan Collins, but I suspect she uses adjectives and adverbs. I try to avoid adverbs, but have no issue with adjectives, as long as they are not overused. (I mean, really? Adjectives are bad, now?) I probably have a higher tolerance for adjectives than the group's leader.
In any case, not having read any Collins, I wasn't sure how to take the comparison. Except I'm very glad not to be like Hemingway. SRSLY.
***
Had a long talk with
hominysnark afterward. She asked incisive questions. Considering my past writing group experiences (crazy stalker men, sulky teens, early stage ESOL folks, and one guy who shoved a shotgun full of commas and shot his manuscript with it repeatedly), I was glad that the subs didn't suck and that no one was mean or creepy to me or anyone else.So, when she said, "But will this group help you do what you want to do?" I had to think about it.
I have now decided that it will, even though most of the others are not genre-friendly, and at least one of the genre writers... well, I can tell I'll find his work soporific and he will find mine frilly (despite the mutilations and gun fights). I have not seen any of the other lady's work, and she kept encouraging me to exposit through dialogue which makes me nervous.
I don't, however, think it will help me polish the novel. I think I'll wear them out on it long before I get to the end, simply because it isn't their cuppa. Also, I think a couple of them subtly disdain genre writing. I think that works in my favor, actually, because I cannot be perceived as a rival to them. We also have a screenwriter, a poet and a nonfiction writer. I think it will be instructive to have their reactions to my work, simply because it is fairly far afield from what they do or like.
The leader wants to have meetings at several different places all over the city, which I like, but I think it is an issue for some people. Several participants are driving in from out of town (even out of state) and I know they would be happier to not have to find a new hole in the wall in New Orleans every two weeks.
It was good to realize, yet again, that I can take criticism, and even better to realize that I can distinguish what is useful and incisive from what is personal taste, even when the critter cannot. So, baby steps.
***
Also, I am about to turn 41, and have finally reached the place in my life where I really don't give a flying fig whether everyone 'likes' me. Not everyone is going to like me, and it's not my job to make them. Life is too short for that crap.
***
My Beloved brought me a homemade waffle plate with blueberry compote in bed. (All of it he made from scratch, using fresh blueberries a co-worker picked and gave him.) Then he let me go back to sleep. When I woke up, he took me shopping for new summer dresses (my choice, since my birthday is this week). Hooray for Macy's One Day Sale. Once again I ended up with dark colors, but they are comfy like pajamas and look nice.
I am the luckiest beeyotch in Christendom.