ForEverAfter
Ex-Bluelighter
I’m planning on reviving the Words Workshops. If you’re not familiar, the workshop threads were a series of weekly/fortnightly editing groups focused on contributions from aspiring wordsmiths. Writers were asked to specify the level of brutal honesty they expected from editors. The difference, between these and other Words threads, was the standard of contributed work.
Typically, in Words, we discourage potentially upsetting feedback. Sometimes, if you have nothing positive to say, it’s best to say nothing. A lot of the contributions we receive here are not so much serious attempts at writing. This is a sub-forum of a substance-abuse harm-reduction website. Consequently, people tend to post things that are very personal in nature. Words is, in part, a place people can come and express themselves creatively, without fear of judgement or ridicule.
Having said that, there are genuinely talented poets and lyricists that frequent this website. I have encountered an enormous amount of genuine untapped talent, during my time as a moderator, and I’d like to help some users to realize and – hopefully – begin to approach their true potential.
Previously the workshop threads revolved around lengthy pieces of writing, including essays and creative non-fiction. They were relatively successful, given the limited traffic this little sub-forum of ours produces. We encountered a couple of minor conflicts. Some of the contributors weren’t ready for the level of feedback they requested. It can be quite overwhelming – and embarrassing – having a group of people rip apart your work in order to expose the flaws. I have attended editing groups in the past, face-to-face, in which particularly brutal sessions have culminated in tears and tantrums.
I don’t want to upset anyone, but sometimes tears are unavoidable. It’s cruel to lie to people about the quality of their work, anyway, if they have a desire to become published. “Honesty is hardly ever heard,” according to the Billy Joel song. “But it’s mostly what I need from you.” Similarly, honest feedback is what you should be seeking out if you want to write. Re-affirming your talent, on the other hand, sedates the motivation you need to improve the quality of your writing. Writers are often depressed, because they are driven by self-loathing.
It is important to hate yourself. The worse you regard your writing to be, on the literature spectrum, the better it can become. At the beginning of his career, when he was struggling to get funding for Star Wars, George Lucas was a young man with everything to prove. After decades of praise and adoration – twenty-plus years of being worshipped – he returned, a God-like celebrity, beyond self-criticism. The driving force of his genius, destroyed by his obsessive fan-base, destroyed by success. In order to avoid this, creative types should always be ready to “Kill their Darlings.”
It is difficult to be conscious of your true self, even in retrospect. Our egos protect us, emotionally, but they also interfere with self-perception. We cannot see ourselves, physically, without a reflective surface or a camera. Similarly, it is very difficult to be self-aware without entertaining another perspective or two. To have someone by your side forever ready to be your mirror, that It is invaluable. Feedback – truly honest, no-holds-barred, feedback – should out-value gold.
Writing, in a professional capacity, is not an expressway towards self-confidence. It’s actually quite the opposite. Great words don’t emerge from arrogant intellectuals, like plentiful crops from fertile soil. Literature is be hard work. This is a cut-throat competitive industry. Pursuing your potential as an artist should be a never-ending struggle. You should never reach your potential. Never be happy with your work, or yourself as an artist. Always – I repeat, always – be your greatest critic.
Have faith that one day you might be able to produce something of worth.
That is all the confidence you need.
I fear that catering to the sensitivities of Words contributors by offering evenly balanced positive/ negative criticisms, may be a disservice to some contributors. It is impossible to determine which category a writer falls into. That is, whether or not they are hobbyists, first-time writers, or aspiring professionals. That is the purpose of the workshop thread. It is an environment for writers to learn and develop. Contributors can specify, how they want their workshop to be approached and what level of honesty they’d like. This only applies to your first workshop. We don’t want to upset people so much, that they’re frightened away from the written word. It takes a while to develop thick skin. If you can’t take the truth without having a mental breakdown by your second workshop, then you’re going to struggle in the real world.
Publishers and editors also avoid delivering bad news. Although they won’t hesitate to tell the truth, when attempting to unearth the potential of genuinely talented contributors , they will say nothing to the contributors they deem talentless. The only place you’ll find the sort of feedback you need to improve your skills, is in dedicated writer’s groups.
Previously, the workshop threads were prose-oriented. (If you’re interested, they can still be found by clicking the Archive link on the Words sub-forum menu page.) It occurred to me recently, that there’s a large amount of verse on Words. Far more, than any other style/form of writing. So, the initial series of Workshop Threads will be focused on poetry and lyrics.
I’d like to get a discussion going, about the upcoming workshops. Any questions or suggestions, would be much appreciated. Also, I want to determine how much interest there is in the idea.
I look forward to your responses.
Thanks,
Typically, in Words, we discourage potentially upsetting feedback. Sometimes, if you have nothing positive to say, it’s best to say nothing. A lot of the contributions we receive here are not so much serious attempts at writing. This is a sub-forum of a substance-abuse harm-reduction website. Consequently, people tend to post things that are very personal in nature. Words is, in part, a place people can come and express themselves creatively, without fear of judgement or ridicule.
Having said that, there are genuinely talented poets and lyricists that frequent this website. I have encountered an enormous amount of genuine untapped talent, during my time as a moderator, and I’d like to help some users to realize and – hopefully – begin to approach their true potential.
Previously the workshop threads revolved around lengthy pieces of writing, including essays and creative non-fiction. They were relatively successful, given the limited traffic this little sub-forum of ours produces. We encountered a couple of minor conflicts. Some of the contributors weren’t ready for the level of feedback they requested. It can be quite overwhelming – and embarrassing – having a group of people rip apart your work in order to expose the flaws. I have attended editing groups in the past, face-to-face, in which particularly brutal sessions have culminated in tears and tantrums.
I don’t want to upset anyone, but sometimes tears are unavoidable. It’s cruel to lie to people about the quality of their work, anyway, if they have a desire to become published. “Honesty is hardly ever heard,” according to the Billy Joel song. “But it’s mostly what I need from you.” Similarly, honest feedback is what you should be seeking out if you want to write. Re-affirming your talent, on the other hand, sedates the motivation you need to improve the quality of your writing. Writers are often depressed, because they are driven by self-loathing.
It is important to hate yourself. The worse you regard your writing to be, on the literature spectrum, the better it can become. At the beginning of his career, when he was struggling to get funding for Star Wars, George Lucas was a young man with everything to prove. After decades of praise and adoration – twenty-plus years of being worshipped – he returned, a God-like celebrity, beyond self-criticism. The driving force of his genius, destroyed by his obsessive fan-base, destroyed by success. In order to avoid this, creative types should always be ready to “Kill their Darlings.”
It is difficult to be conscious of your true self, even in retrospect. Our egos protect us, emotionally, but they also interfere with self-perception. We cannot see ourselves, physically, without a reflective surface or a camera. Similarly, it is very difficult to be self-aware without entertaining another perspective or two. To have someone by your side forever ready to be your mirror, that It is invaluable. Feedback – truly honest, no-holds-barred, feedback – should out-value gold.
Writing, in a professional capacity, is not an expressway towards self-confidence. It’s actually quite the opposite. Great words don’t emerge from arrogant intellectuals, like plentiful crops from fertile soil. Literature is be hard work. This is a cut-throat competitive industry. Pursuing your potential as an artist should be a never-ending struggle. You should never reach your potential. Never be happy with your work, or yourself as an artist. Always – I repeat, always – be your greatest critic.
Have faith that one day you might be able to produce something of worth.
That is all the confidence you need.
I fear that catering to the sensitivities of Words contributors by offering evenly balanced positive/ negative criticisms, may be a disservice to some contributors. It is impossible to determine which category a writer falls into. That is, whether or not they are hobbyists, first-time writers, or aspiring professionals. That is the purpose of the workshop thread. It is an environment for writers to learn and develop. Contributors can specify, how they want their workshop to be approached and what level of honesty they’d like. This only applies to your first workshop. We don’t want to upset people so much, that they’re frightened away from the written word. It takes a while to develop thick skin. If you can’t take the truth without having a mental breakdown by your second workshop, then you’re going to struggle in the real world.
Publishers and editors also avoid delivering bad news. Although they won’t hesitate to tell the truth, when attempting to unearth the potential of genuinely talented contributors , they will say nothing to the contributors they deem talentless. The only place you’ll find the sort of feedback you need to improve your skills, is in dedicated writer’s groups.
Previously, the workshop threads were prose-oriented. (If you’re interested, they can still be found by clicking the Archive link on the Words sub-forum menu page.) It occurred to me recently, that there’s a large amount of verse on Words. Far more, than any other style/form of writing. So, the initial series of Workshop Threads will be focused on poetry and lyrics.
I’d like to get a discussion going, about the upcoming workshops. Any questions or suggestions, would be much appreciated. Also, I want to determine how much interest there is in the idea.
I look forward to your responses.
Thanks,
4EA
