Workshop got me down

[beckyminor]

Well, Jeff, my experience with your teaching did start out with you ordering me out of the classroom... (My fault)

Seriously, though...I think Jeff's teaching was a good marriage of humor, fast-paced information and realism. And he didn't need to degenrate into an abusive loony to do all of that.

But I totally agree that people who put on angry displays are doing it for some completely unrelated emotional reason, most likely. And while honest criticism is the only thing that makes us grow (I, for one, love a critique full of surgically precise corrections), the critique should be full of just that...corrections, not attacks or snide remarks.

And long ago, I learned form a leadership trainer an inmortant concept. If you want to teach, you need to sandwich correction between praise. Otherwise, you'll find yourself with zero students. Or if they're trapped and can't escape for some reason, you'll have a revolt on your hands.

So anyway, enough of my soapboxing on critique. We're all different...just because I prefer my "critters" to leave their kid gloves at home, not all artists can take that kind of treament. A real teacher builds, rather than tearing down.

[veryblessedmom]

Her critique did help. Some things I did not agree with. I'm pro-description of the characters and setting. She's only for describing "who the person is" not what they look like. That was one of the things she noted, "She hoped I could do better than that after her workshop." I accepted many of her changes but those I declined.

I did learn and I do want correction for my writing. I've been doing this one year now and the first half of it knew nothing about the craft, the rules or that there were rules.

I'm a mom and there are moms you learn from and love to be around and then there are the Know-it-all moms who seem to brag. This lady was like that. She loved saying, "But I'm a published author."

[beckyminor]

Kudos to you, VBM, for being able to take what works for your writing and chuck the rest. It's that "be teachable, then stop being teachable" thing Jeff mentions. I'm glad that you seem to have been able to sort the wheat from the chaff of your workshop experience.

[Andy]

Yeah, I've been there too, VBM. Different circumstances, but similar effect.

One of my professors once called it the "jerk approach" where there's a lot of yelling and degrading remarks. I've often wondered if it's possible to be a mature, practicing Christian and employ this kind of teaching style. It seems to neglect the "peace, patience, kindness" that we're supposed to exhibit. In my experience, it doesn't seem like it's the christian teachers who do this.

You might say it depends on the situation, like if you're in a locker room of adrenaline pumped football players, you can expect to be harsh and nasty as a coach. This is perhaps the stereotype, but then you get guys like Tony Dungy or Lovie Smith (christian guys btw) who are demanding coaches but still do it in a godly fashion. So I don't think it's essential to be a jerk.

Perhaps the jerk approach is necessary in work where you face extreme situations, like a soldier for example. I imagine part of the purpose of basic training (the harsh schedule, the verbal abuse, etc) is to desensitize to the brutality and shock of the battlefield. Maybe my military friends can help me out here? CS? I haven't heard of a friendly drill sarge...could there be one and still have the same effect?

Surgeons are notorious for being foul mouthed sons of worlocks, especially in the OR, and especially when they're training resident docs. I had a hard time when first thrown into that situation. The question I asked was, "how do I keep a soft, teachable heart when your superior is being a total jerk?" I could have quit, but I worked so hard to get there. I watched many of my colleagues turn into what we hated. They didn't do it on purpose. I think they just got tired of fighting. What made the difference for me? I believed God called me to this profession and given me a passion and opportunity to do it. So I loved what I was doing, and loved the patients under my care. And doing something out of love proved much stronger than doing it out of guilt or to prove someone wrong.

I think the same applies for our writing. God gives us a word to share with others and it's a calling. We'll struggle with it. We get better at the craft. But in the end, if we're writing because we love God and want to share his stories- this speaks louder than any critic.

[Christian Soldier]

Hey Andy,

In answer to your question, Sergeants often add stress to an environment to simulate the stress of combat. I understand that doctors do much the same thing, adding stress to an otherwise non-stressful situation to help a resident deal with emergencies when they come.

If you don't freeze up with a Drill Sergeant screaming less than two incches from your face, then you probably won't freeze in combat. You might not remember what, exactly, you did, but you won't freeze.

[courageforever]

She loved saying, "But I'm

[/i] a published author." [/quote]

What the...what? Sceaming, sub-par critiquing and now ego to boot?

I really think she had more than Dr. Pepper in that glass...

...or maybe she should've had more than Dr. Pepper in that glass...

[Jeff Gerke]

Great support, you guys. Way to go!

Veryblessedmom, I am pro-description, as you may have gathered. If it ain't on the page, it ain't on the stage. If you don't describe it, the reader won't picture it.

But I'm aware there are other schools of thought out there.

Becky is right to refer you to Tips 85-86 (especially 86) about how to deal with conflicting advice from "fiction experts."

Hang in there!

Jeff