tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280582018791422638.post8009631324849856255..comments2024-03-28T17:44:17.403-07:00Comments on The Weaver of Grass: Busy old foolThe Weaver of Grasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13947971556343746883noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280582018791422638.post-15951340489767756882010-01-20T17:21:07.899-08:002010-01-20T17:21:07.899-08:00Oh John Donne I believe!! I had the misfortune of...Oh John Donne I believe!! I had the misfortune of having the 'Metaphysical Poets' to study for English Literature A Level many years ago and I still remember some of the quotes. To be fair, I actually quite enjoyed a lot of the poems but they took some understanding. I loved the way some of them led quite debauched lives, then 'got God' in later life so they could be sure of their ticket to heaven!!<br /><br />Anyway, what was all that about? I suppose you can teach something of creative writing. Stop, think about different adjectives, etc. I don't know really, but from your list, it seems it worked for some.<br /><br />I wouldn't write in a library book even if it was riddled with mistakes. I make too many myself!BThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16800917080090010655noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280582018791422638.post-46390425513802141922010-01-19T02:28:13.505-08:002010-01-19T02:28:13.505-08:00What an interesting lot of comments - thank you fo...What an interesting lot of comments - thank you for taking the time to really think about this. As usual they are really well-worth reading through. In addition you will see the Poet has given us a link to the 100 best creative writers - that is well-worth a look too.<br />Also please look at the comments on Haiti and click on the link on my blog if you would like to help.The Weaver of Grasshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13947971556343746883noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280582018791422638.post-89089462076072236992010-01-18T17:47:00.948-08:002010-01-18T17:47:00.948-08:00I think Dave King says it perfectly: creative writ...I think Dave King says it perfectly: creative writing courses facilitate rather than teach creativity. It's much the same as teaching visual art, the potential and talent need to be innate but the techniques and skills can, and usually need to be, taught/learnt. Some lucky people can teach themselves, some need guidance. <br /><br />What has really helped me – I'm just finishing an M.Litt in creative writing – were tutors who, once they got to know how I tick, were able suggest writers it could have taken me years to discover but whose work really sparked something in my own. And, of course, the irritating questions tutors ask such as, 'why do you switch tenses half way through?' It really helps one get to know one's writing goals trying to answer such questions.Erylhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06008344023000459577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280582018791422638.post-46741628221066726522010-01-18T17:26:52.763-08:002010-01-18T17:26:52.763-08:00Thanks for your comments and the tip on Mad Bush F...Thanks for your comments and the tip on Mad Bush Farm. She seems a lovely person. As soon as things wind down a bit, I am going to go investigate her blog a bit more and perhaps find a kindred spirit. It is so difficult at times trying to explain what life with this child has been like, most people just don't "get it"!Leilani Schuck Weatheringtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04517660684870960794noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280582018791422638.post-5721950560043060112010-01-18T15:29:17.958-08:002010-01-18T15:29:17.958-08:00I am not sure you can teach but suspect you can gi...I am not sure you can teach but suspect you can give confidence and direction to those who have talent and perhaps don't appreciate it!Elizabeth Musgravehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09473705107636868753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280582018791422638.post-42675338423774850362010-01-18T13:38:48.368-08:002010-01-18T13:38:48.368-08:00I am amazed that somebody has the nerve to cross o...I am amazed that somebody has the nerve to cross out offending words in a library book, and put the correction in the margin.<br />To write a book takes a lot of talent, patience, knowledge of the subject of your book, and apart from this you need not despair if people don't understand you.Reader Wilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06384603525251159272noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280582018791422638.post-36623887040541316762010-01-18T05:27:02.218-08:002010-01-18T05:27:02.218-08:00HOT TIP:
A useful link to a list of the
TOP 100 ...HOT TIP:<br /><br />A useful link to a list of the <br />TOP 100 CREATIVE WRITING BLOGS is available.<br /><br />It's at GEORGE ORWELL on my blog A-Z Links but I think Dominic has the ORWELL DIARIES link too.Gwil Whttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03305768121713053837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280582018791422638.post-53422536055412250172010-01-18T04:32:48.856-08:002010-01-18T04:32:48.856-08:00Hello Weaver,
I read a piece about creative writi...Hello Weaver,<br /><br />I read a piece about creative writing recently via a blog (though I can't remember where!) which I could see would be of great help in making a person think differently about their work. But I agree that the creativeness needs to be there inside. As for grammar etc. we all make mistakes but for some readers excessive errors can distract from the actual content.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00861397533660827678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280582018791422638.post-6897189319444148862010-01-18T03:25:06.064-08:002010-01-18T03:25:06.064-08:00As Gwilym rightly says - this is an interesting su...As Gwilym rightly says - this is an interesting subject and we will all have differing views. I shall now read Hemingway's book on the subject of writing - Orwell's book on the same subject is interesting. I think the main thing is to get one's head down and write, write, write. And let's face it, we are not all going to make great novelists.<br /><br />Thank you for the comments - much appreciated and very interesting to read.The Weaver of Grasshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13947971556343746883noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280582018791422638.post-21162438826087595732010-01-18T03:13:32.739-08:002010-01-18T03:13:32.739-08:00My instinct is the same as yours - that you probab...My instinct is the same as yours - that you probably cannot teach it in the sense in which the phrase is normally meant. Obviously, you can give a student a grounding that you hope will serve them well. We do that in school, though rarely call it creative writing, but you can give hints and tips and you can give prompts to get a person started, but that's it, there are no rights and wrongs, so you cannot teach it, on ly facilitate it.Dave Kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08430484174826768488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280582018791422638.post-75979133385123831512010-01-18T03:07:15.708-08:002010-01-18T03:07:15.708-08:00Re creative writing classes/courses...I think it d...Re creative writing classes/courses...I think it depends on the individual. Some people want and need a course to give them direction/confidence/hints/nudges, others are quite happy and productive working completely on their own.<br />xRachel Foxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11803852725693518924noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280582018791422638.post-1089498242084941662010-01-18T01:49:28.277-08:002010-01-18T01:49:28.277-08:00Weaver, Many thanks for flagging up the Haiti thin...Weaver, Many thanks for flagging up the Haiti thing and for everybody's comments. I've contacted the Canada office of Reporters Without Borders. Maybe it's a way forward.Gwil Whttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03305768121713053837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280582018791422638.post-86524994606454550802010-01-17T21:43:44.363-08:002010-01-17T21:43:44.363-08:00I agree with the three central ideas you explore h...I agree with the three central ideas you explore here: that writing can be improved though learning about it; that to write and complete a book of merit, at a certain literary level, requires a degree of talent; and finally, that to write successfully one needs a capacity to persevere or to have, as I once read elsewhere, enough 'bum glue' to keep you at the task. <br /><br />Thanks Weaver for an interesting post as always.Elisabethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04015624747225433940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280582018791422638.post-3240120696577140442010-01-17T19:52:53.859-08:002010-01-17T19:52:53.859-08:00It is very intesting subject, the post is very goo...It is very intesting subject, the post is very good to read.<br /><br />Regards<br /><br />Dinesh ChandraDinesh chandrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03258082864099940181noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280582018791422638.post-63219737730524446572010-01-17T16:56:01.531-08:002010-01-17T16:56:01.531-08:00I agree with David WITH your addendum.
Blogging d...I agree with David WITH your addendum.<br /><br />Blogging does satisfy me...my little Hawaii novel "Aloha Where You Like Go?" is my child, my gift to the world, my apologia, but it took 10 years from idea to book in hand!<br /><br />When asked when the "next" one will be ready, I always think (but don't say) "Done that!"<br /><br /><br /><br />Aloha, My Friend<br /><br />(have you seen our Anglican cathedral at today's post?)<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://comfortspiral.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">Comfort Spiral</a>Cloudiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05853753108637831069noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280582018791422638.post-66987614671538312132010-01-17T15:06:32.528-08:002010-01-17T15:06:32.528-08:00We can be taught how to write properly, but can yo...We can be taught how to write properly, but can you teach a person to think creatively? The teacher, I think, would be training writers how to explore ideas, be open to new experiences, think in new ways, block out what is and consider what might be. <br /><br />My mother used to write in library books, "Smutty trash. Not worth reading!" As a librarian, I was appalled and at the same time exasperatedly amused at her efforts because those words would cause a good many people to read the book just to see what she disliked so much.Granny Suehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01129064020727041161noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280582018791422638.post-15877915843108371192010-01-17T12:48:45.689-08:002010-01-17T12:48:45.689-08:00Well said Weaver. I found it quite hard chosing th...Well said Weaver. I found it quite hard chosing the right words to explain my working methods to you recently and hoped I had expressed myself clearly, so can appreciate the hard work that goes into any kind of writing. To express one's thoughts clearly is a gift in itself and to create an entire cast of characters and get them to interact with one another, set scenes and think of plots is an enormous task. Hats off to those who do it so well.Heatherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06826501916623305535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280582018791422638.post-34599898038793270922010-01-17T12:35:35.385-08:002010-01-17T12:35:35.385-08:00One more thing, The real art of writing is what yo...One more thing, The real art of writing is what you write, not how. Leave the corrections for the editors and concentrate on the content.<br />CindeeCenyahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14995723033134976164noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280582018791422638.post-2859591006109308632010-01-17T12:32:14.209-08:002010-01-17T12:32:14.209-08:00Hello Dear Weaver,
As someone who has taken a numb...Hello Dear Weaver,<br />As someone who has taken a number of creative writing classes, I will tell you that the best classes have teachers who ask a lot of questions and have you learn from your own answers. They make you go deep inside your mind and find lots of interesting tidbits hidden there. <br />I think you are already an excellent writer!<br />CindeeCenyahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14995723033134976164noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280582018791422638.post-57353736890532551242010-01-17T12:16:43.571-08:002010-01-17T12:16:43.571-08:00I think the talent has to lie within and College/U...I think the talent has to lie within and College/University/School helps nurture that talent. One may learn the mechanics of a craft, however if the passion and soul is non-existent, then the expression of self is not manifested - just an outpouring of the 'tricks of the trade'. I have taught children writing - some could write the most wonderful pieces, but their spelling and punctuation were atrocious. However their writing had 'soul'. Others could write with the mechanics executed accurately but there was no passion, no giving of self.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280582018791422638.post-53283056441107113862010-01-17T08:23:43.206-08:002010-01-17T08:23:43.206-08:00hello weaver, i think that many people are born wi...hello weaver, i think that many people are born with an innate sense of themselves as creative but the mechanics of expressing themselves creatively obscure the flow of their expression. all too often i see young people trying to fit their expression into a frame, the result being that they focus on what they are supposed to do and say rather than what they need to do and say. i wonder how many natural talents have been contained in that sorry little box? this is not to say that there isn't a place for spelling, grammar, form whatever but that there is also a place for personal expression that leaves behind the need for capital letters for example! (so sorry jinksy!!!) <br />the wish to correct other people's expression has much more to do with the person doing the "correcting's" world view, than about the writing itself!! stevenstevenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14132104804524716898noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280582018791422638.post-57161739496826119402010-01-17T08:01:28.176-08:002010-01-17T08:01:28.176-08:00If we don't have anybody to underline our mist...If we don't have anybody to underline our mistakes, be they grammar or spelling, how are we to improve? I'm quite happy to be ticked off by a reader when I goof! And can you honestly say, you are able to read a post which has absolutely no capital letters used, and not be smitten by an urge to overtype?! LOL :)Jinksyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01686101468214361004noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280582018791422638.post-42481647826817566802010-01-17T07:42:14.477-08:002010-01-17T07:42:14.477-08:00What an interesting subject for a post, Weaver. As...What an interesting subject for a post, Weaver. As you say, the jury is out. I'm looking forward to reading the reactions that come in.<br /><br />As for the novel, I think the main thing is stickability. I don't have it, thank goodness. Nothing worse than boring myself to grey-haired distraction for the sake of a novel nobody is going to read.<br /><br />I may have mentioned it before but I think the following book contains the best advice I've ever read for would-be writers: Ernest Hemingway on Writing, edited by Larry W Phillips (Simon & Schuster / Touchstone).Gwil Whttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03305768121713053837noreply@blogger.com