Mostly they say stuff like, "See you around. Maybe."

[halfshellvenus]

Got some feedback on the Anonymous Writing Meme, and it's so hard not to be discouraged by the negative. One person finds my porn "clinical," which is the kiss of death, and has comments worth considering but seems to dislike my writing enough that I wonder if there's a mismatch in stylistic "goals," so to speak. A few others complain about the

Comments

[resounding_echo]

I don't recall hunting for fur instead of food in that book. Or, at least, don't they hunt for their livelihood? That is, they use the fur? I'm of the opinion that these texts that have content you disapprove of could be seen as an opportunity for discussion, rather than something to be withheld. There are good reasons for you to disapprove of hunting, but alternately there is also a strong argument as to why people hunted in those areas at that specific time. I'm certain the teacher could give Christopher an alternate assignment if you'd rather he not read the text. But in my fifth grade class, I'm fairly certain we read chapters of that book aloud in class

[halfshellvenus]

The main character wants to hunt racoons to sell their pelts.

It's not so much the right/wrong thing, it's the vivid descriptions of the hunting and the eventual awful thing that happens to a human in the book that are so disturbing.

I'm reading "Birdwing" to Christopher at bedtime right now, and some of the descriptions of passing animal destruction are what he considers "TMI"-- and that's after I paraphrase them! They're germaine to the story, and the main character is himself part bird, but they're still... icky.

You definitely remember correctly about the sadness thing, though that's more Lauren than Christopher. Once she gets inside deep sadness, it's hard for her to get out (I share that problem).

That book destroyed me when I first read it, but not in a bad way.Because of what happened to the secondary human character who was killed, the book made me feel... dirty. Mentally dirty, as if something ugly was in my head that I couldn't ever get out again. Which is a totally different kind of situation than you experience from

[resounding_echo]

...is it horrible that I don't remember what happens to the human character? I just remember the dogs dying. :(

I almost bought Birdwing at a used bookstore the other day--should I have?

I dunno. I don't have children (obviously) and only know about kids through my nieces and kid brother (who is nearly fifteen now), but I always thought it more harmful than helpful to withhold disturbing material. But this just could be my personal relation. I much preferred to be exposed to things at a young age (maybe even a too young age) than feel sheltered from them. In a weird way I think it would have been more difficult to be exposed to these things after I felt ready for them. But of course I'm a freak who can handle a lot of things and thinks it necessary to be explicitly exposed to the harsher aspects of life and human nature and matured probably too early. And I know, if nothing else than from my second-grade-teacher-friend, that not all children are this way and we must keep all their abilities in mind.

Did you ever see Wendy and

[halfshellvenus]

...is it horrible that I don't remember what happens to the human character? I just remember the dogs dying. :(
Nobody seems to remember the human except me! Axe to the stomach and bleeding to death all over the ground-- accidental, but just as sickening and gory. :(

That's the part that really disturbed me. The rest was bad enough, but that part was too much.

Birdwing LOOKED interesting, but I have no firm opinion yet. The main character is painfully immature, and has a level of petulance to rival Luke Skywalker in the first Star Wars movie. So far, he hasn't smartened up much. :0

[badboy_fangirl]

Hey Karen. I've been hesitant to do that writing meme just for the reasons you share here. I do think so much is subjective, so it's hard for me to understand if the concrit is well deserved or not (and I tend to really like my own writing, hello narcissist

[halfshellvenus]

Does that make sense?
Actually, yes- I can understand your not wanting to be persuaded toward a POV that would upset or 'disturb' you. That totally makes sense to me.

One complaint (from the person who thought the porn was "clinical") was the tendency toward being "flowery" at times (imagine those in the same story, which almost seems like a contradiction). While I definitely don't want to veer off into the "purple prose" territory, if this person thinks (for instance) that Hemmingway is the be-all/end-all of writing, then we have fundamentally different goals. I cannot stand his writing style, and I am equally sure that he would detest mine. Neither side is more valid than the other, they are simply different opinions.

If you love chocolate, for instance, no degree of "fabulousness" in vanilla is likely to ever impress you.

Anyway, stupid and insipid and too long was exactly the problem. Yes-- I know my parents sat through some pain with our concerts when I was little, however... no-one EVER needs to hear a group performance of "

[dragontatt]

In the book, I remember more about the dogs than the hunting...or am I confusing it with another book? He gets 2 dogs and in the end at least one dies protecting him from something, right? I'd be more worried my daughter would have a breakdown over the death of the dog than any of the hunting.

[halfshellvenus]

No, that's the right book. He wants raccoon pelts so he can buy a dog, if I remember correctly.

He loves those dogs, and one of them dies protecting him from the human villain (who gets an axe in the stomach and dies too).

It's all coming back, and I'm getting nauseated just remembering. :(

[tyrical]

There is a a difference between concrit and style. You may not like a person's style but critically the work is well done. I'm far from an expert but I find you work well written and the p0rn far from clinical.
Then again I'm basing it on the emotional build up from the fic up til that point. As for how others read it I can't speak for. Although style is sooooo subjective. I'm just glad I'm suggestive to yours. :) Hugs...

Note: I've heard good things about Glee it's online on FOX.com so I'm gonna check it out. I thought I'd suggest it.

[halfshellvenus]

That's always the problem-- concrit vs. style. It's hard to tell whether the comment is meaningful in a larger sense (and people are afraid to tell me, or have moved on already!) or whether it's an issue of style

[jolietjones]

Hey Karen, I just wanted to say that I tried to leave some feedback on that writing meme thing and it seemed to pop up somewhere quite random. I don't know what I did. Anyway, the gist of it was that (in response to the drabble mentions) I am generally not a drabble fan, but I always always read yours as yours are like long fics condensed down in essence - in other words you say a huge amount with only a few words. I feel sure this is something I've said to you before. I do like your drabbles.

Also, you are a musician?

Hope you and yours are well.

[halfshellvenus]

I think I saw your comment, and that it DID come in the right area (or one similar to yours!) You'll know if you see a reply from me in your Inbox. Presumably-- either LJ is not mailing MY comments or my service provider is eating them. I can never tell whether that's a general LJ problem or not!

I'm glad you enjoy the drabbles. They're not for everyone, and I never used to enjoy them myself until I encountered people who wrote them well. That made all the difference in the world, seeing examples where the result is a "micro-fic" rather than seeming like a "partial-fic."

I played the violin for years-- majored in music in college for my undergrad degree, and played in a couple of orchestras the three years I lived in Peoria. Plus, I was a classical-music radio announcer for 10 years, so you get lots of exposure there!

As a result, your tolerance for things like "Wee Sing!" and Christmas carols gets very, very low... :0

[jolietjones]

I just google-mapped Peoria and Joliet was there on the same page. huh.

Anywho, I've always had huge amounts of respect for people who can play the violin. I mean, you simply can't play the thing half decently unless you are truly musical, otherwise it sounds like a love sick cat. I'm musical but I never had a crack at the violin. And you were a radio presenter? Sounds interesting.

If I had my time again, I would either be in an orchestra or a rock band - preferably both,lol.

[halfshellvenus]

Haha! They ARE in the same region of Illinois. I didn't think much about it while I was living in Peoria, because that was back before Prison Break took over my life. ;)

otherwise it sounds like a love sick cat.
It really does. One of the worst things about it is that it takes 1-2 years before you can stand to hear yourself play. Or at least that was true for me-- I'm very pitch-sensitive. Just last night, I was wondering how one little girl was managing to play some of her recorder notes flat compared to the others. it's a fixed-note instrument!

I can profess love for BOTH the rock band and orchestra concept. I love playing "Guitar Hero," but I also loved being in the orchestra. Playing first-violin is fantastic!