Writing Quote

[hobgoblinn]

And the internetz blackout at Casa Hobgoblinn continues. So I spent last night beginning the painful process of assimilating the comments on last year's nano novel. You know, I was cringing on rereading the original, before I even looked at the comments. But I have said in this space many times that I value truth, however painful, over kindness. That's the only way I'm going to get better. And dear gillo has been telling me some most valuable truths. For which I again thank her.

I attended the Open House the other night at Wee Hob's school. In addition to finding out he really does have the Coolest Teachers Ever, I saw this quote over his Writing classroom door:

When something can be read without effort, great effort has gone into its writing. ~Enrique Jardiel Pancela

Yeah. That's the goal.

And now, the optional essay portion of this post: What's the most valuable feedback you've ever received?

Comments

[a2zmom.livejournal.com]

the best FB I get is from my wondrous main beta tkp. She doesn't let me coast, she's not afraid to say that's not I think the characters would act, she tells me when something needs to be punched up. She's the bestest.

[hobgoblinn.livejournal.com]

I was so glad to see a similar entry in your journal on how you write-- I love it when people talk about what works for them, and how they tackle things. Especially when I'm feeling like I'm the only one in the world struggling to get readable prose cranked out. Thanks!

[gileswench.livejournal.com]

That's a tough question to answer, really. I've gotten a lot of good, helpful suggestions over the years from feedback as well as from good betas. In the end, though, I have to say it was the very first piece of feedback I got from my infamous Twisted Sister, Fabrisse. Not only did she point out - gently and diplomatically, but quite clearly - that I was making Giles sound like a greeting card run amok, her note led to one of the finest friendships I've ever known. I've learned a lot from her about life, the universe, and everything as well as about writing.

It's not one thing she's ever told me, but the sum total I've learned over the course of seven years that's so valuable.

In the longrun, I firmly believe that every thoughtful comment that goes deeper than 'yay, that was awesome' or 'boo, that stank' teaches us something. I've been lucky enough to get some wonderfully useful pieces of feedback over the years. Even some of the ones where I read them and my first thought was 'are you high???' have given me a reason to distance myself from my writing long enough to consider whether or not they really had a point. Once or twice, even the really drug-induced sounding feedback has had something to teach me.

[hobgoblinn.livejournal.com]

I was so glad to see your comment here on this, Wenchie! I can't imagine your Giles ever sounding like a greeting card run amuck though. I just finished rereading your "A Mile in His Moccassins" that was recced this week and-- wow. I loved again the humor, and the voices-- especially the way you nailed the voices And the sound of them coming from the opposite bodies-- I could sometimes Hear Buffy saying her characteristic things in Giles' voice and vice versa. (and yes, okay, your other content was-- hot. can't say more-- wee hob may someday get on here and read this....)

[lady-clover.livejournal.com]

What a teriffic quote!

I bet that Saturday can't come fast enough. I hope they fix everything for you. Do you still think it was something that your downstairs neighbors did that messed it up?

We had downstairs neighbors once who re-routed our electricity after theirs got shut off. We didn't realize it until we got the bill and it was double the normal usage. The banging and pounding on the ductwork should have clued us off that they were up to no good.

Grrr. Downstairs neighbors. Grrr.

As for the best feedback I've ever gotten from a beta, that would have to be you. You are honest and you don't worry about hurting my feelings if something isn't working. I value that.

[hobgoblinn.livejournal.com]

Actually, in my case, the wires run from upstairs down through the three levels, so these are my Upstairs neighbors. But yeah. Grrrr. The guy came and fixed things again-- he said it looks like someone has a key to the cable connection box who shouldn't have one. Grrr.

And aww, Thanks for the sweet remark. I can't tell you-- but I think you can see for yourself-- how much your feedback on "Two Dads" improved the middle of that story. I'll give you another shot at me soon, if you like-- the end of the longer main story is almost in sight now. Working title is "Lost Boys" but I'd really like something better. Shout if something comes to you, now or when I shoot the rest of the story your way, maybe in about a week.