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

[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....)