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Post by veryblessedmom on Aug 30, 2009 13:26:36 GMT -5
Being critiqued is never fun. I learned a lot at my workshop but walked away feeling down. The instructor says she's not the type to compliment, just point out what's wrong. I'm glad to know what I need to work on, but she was a bit harsh. She had a short screaming fit during one point of the workshop. She had to take a time-out and drink a soda and calm down before she could go on. One lady who is over our local group chapter left planning to give up writing. I know I'm strong on story and short on style when it comes to writing. I'm working on the craft but am pretty sure I will never be the kind of writer other writers love. I'm fine with that as long as I obey the Lord and write the stories He puts on my heart and do my best. I'll keep working and learning and trying. What else can I do?
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Post by metalikhan on Aug 30, 2009 14:12:13 GMT -5
VBM, I'm so sorry the workshop was such a horrible experience for you. Whether you're new at writing or not, the purpose of a critique is to show you what you're doing right as well as areas that need correction or more work. If the instructor can't do that, she is not a teacher regardless of how many facts she can present. It sounds to me like she just had a captive audience she felt free to act out in front of and to belittle. Very unprofessional.
What else can you do? Ignore the wench. If you came away with something you can use, then it was by God's grace. Trust Him for the stories He gives you -- His calling is infinitely more important. The craftsmanship grows over time as you nurture and practice it. Be patient; and (borrowing dj's words) be encouraged.
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Post by veryblessedmom on Aug 30, 2009 14:31:40 GMT -5
Thanks. I did learn. She gave out examples of how to write a proposal and told us she almost gave up writing. She stopped writing one year and focused all her energy on getting published and did. She's had to do extensive rewrites to suit others so we all have to jump through the hoops if we want to be published.
She also said she teaches based on what she likes, just like everyone else does, so don't apply if if you don't agree. She was up front that she was not into fantasy/sci-fi.
I try to see the "better ways to say it," but I'm not a writer by nature. (Jeff will hate this statement) I'm a story teller. The writing I have to work at, but the characters and plot just come to me. I don't have to work on those, I have to work on writing them down.
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Post by courageforever on Aug 30, 2009 16:28:15 GMT -5
Screaming fit?? What the heck? What in the world could've been asked or said for that to happen? You say you're not a writer by nature...well, I think that lady isn't a teacher by nature. Clearly. No reason for that behavior, IMHO. To address your issues, veryblessed, I'd say just keep at it. At some point you'll find a style that suits your story. Then it is like lightning. The technical details of writing can be learned through practice. It is the inspiration that can't be taught. You either have it, or you don't. Sounds to me like you're plenty inspired, though. Man, that behavior still boggles me. I was at a conference once where a guy asked if by "one page double-spaced" the speaker meant two spaces between lines, or between words and the speaker never cracked a smile or put him down or anything. (Meanwhile, I was having a hard time biting my lip. Guess I'm not a teacher by nature either. )
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Post by Christian Soldier on Aug 30, 2009 16:37:08 GMT -5
I think I'll forward some Biblical advice: wipe the very dust off your feet and move on.
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Post by veryblessedmom on Aug 30, 2009 16:47:44 GMT -5
No one had asked anything when she flew off. She was covering punctuation and tags. She kept getting louder until it built to a crescendo and she told us to ask each other questions while she calmed down and had something to drink.
She says she home schools 4 of her kids. Maybe she was having a flashback on a mommy moment?
In all fairness, I did leave knowing more than I did when I arrived. I just wish her comments on my work had been nicer than, "I HOPE you can do better than this after this workshop."
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Post by tonylavoie on Aug 30, 2009 17:47:40 GMT -5
VBMom, it definitely sounds like me like it was "her" and not any of you. Clearly your teacher was having a moment that had little or nothing to do with what was going on in her class. If I was paying money (as in, say, taking the course for college credit), I'd have some words to say to the school's administrators about her behavior.
Jesus says we must forgive our transgressors, But like CS says, if she's just going to be that way, shake the dust of her off your pen and find another critique group (or leader, at least).
A true teacher would not cut down, but would build up.
-Tony
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Post by Teskas on Aug 30, 2009 18:12:11 GMT -5
VBM, that sounds like a horrible experience. Anyone who feels she needs to yell at paying adults has psychological issues that have nothing to do either with the quality of student work or the four children at home. It is abusive and insulting. Madam has anger issues and should see a counselor.
Also, I question any organization which hires a person who behaves like that. They should have vetted her long before they put her in charge of a class. You might want to reconsider ever doing business with such a "writing institute". It doesn't seem to run its business very well.
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Post by courageforever on Aug 30, 2009 18:25:01 GMT -5
What was she drinking?
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Post by veryblessedmom on Aug 30, 2009 18:32:16 GMT -5
She was hosting her own workshop at a resort because she wanted to teach what she wanted her way.
She was good. Please don't get me wrong. I did learn, she was just a little harsh. I didn't like the sassy comment about "I hope you do better than this after this workshop."
The screaming, I think she was ill about having to read bad writing.
She drank Dr. Pepper when she got overly excited about improper use of tags, punctuation and characters names.
She critiqued in a style that felt like a put-down rather than correction.
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Post by tonylavoie on Aug 31, 2009 7:12:09 GMT -5
The screaming, I think she was ill about having to read bad writing. Because, as a teacher, she certainly could never have been expected to have to deal with that! What were you students thinking, subjecting her to less-than-professional work?
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Post by morganlbusse on Aug 31, 2009 10:09:00 GMT -5
Wow veryblessedmom, I'm so sorry to hear about your workshop ;( I agree with the others above, she doesn't sound like a good teacher... I was part of a critique group at a conference and the way my instructor presented our WIP's was that they were our babies... they're not ugly, just that some are a little more mature than others ;P And throughout our critique time he was very nice, supportive, and very helpful! On the last day, he greatly encouraged us to keep writing, even though the market may not be ready for our work (it was a christian conference and the majority of us were fantasy/sci-fi writiers). In my opinion, that's what a good teacher does: picks you up, dusts you off, shows you were you can improve, then points you down the path with a quick hug before you start again
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Post by veryblessedmom on Aug 31, 2009 13:34:17 GMT -5
Now that I've vented, it's time to move on and keep on writing and learning and trying to improve. If I ever get close to published I'm going to encounter worse than sassy people who might even be gate keepers. This writer's journey is teaching me more than just about the craft.
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Post by beckyminor on Aug 31, 2009 19:12:23 GMT -5
Now that I've vented, it's time to move on and keep on writing and learning and trying to improve. If I ever get close to published I'm going to encounter worse than sassy people who might even be gate keepers. This writer's journey is teaching me more than just about the craft. Thats' probably quite true, vbm, but let's hope the folks you deal with on your writing journey manage to show a smidge more professionalism. Unfortunately, there are just those types who seem to thrive on drama. No matter where you go, those folks exist. So I think to have your attitude...accept and try not to let it trip you up...is a good way to go.
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Post by Jeff Gerke on Sept 1, 2009 7:24:31 GMT -5
She had a screaming fit? Yikes. This sounds like someone with some personal issues to work through.
Becky and others of you who have seen me teach, do you think my style would be helped if I went through a screaming fit? You never know.
IMO, "teachers" who leave their students feeling depressed and hopeless should maybe not be teaching. Isn't the whole point of teaching to equip and encourage, to fit the person for a journey and then send her out with a compass and a packed lunch?
VBM, I'm so glad to see that others here have arisen to encourage you. Listen to them more than your memory of that teacher. Forget about everything else but writing for that (accepting) audience of One.
Jeff
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