Comments on: Writing lessons — why do you want a pro to read your work? http://www.patricesarath.com/gordath-wood/writing-lessons-why-do-you-want-a-pro-to-read-your-work/ Writing lessons and the writing life Tue, 31 Jan 2012 05:44:43 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Dave Freer http://www.patricesarath.com/gordath-wood/writing-lessons-why-do-you-want-a-pro-to-read-your-work/comment-page-1/#comment-9436 Dave Freer Fri, 25 Sep 2009 14:50:05 +0000 http://www.patricesarath.com/gordath-wood/writing-lessons-why-do-you-want-a-pro-to-read-your-work/#comment-9436 LoL - the belly-dancer was perfectly innocent of the channels our minds would flow to. Just a very very long, rambling and incoherent diatribe based on her assumptions of transferred excellence (odd in the context, but quite widespread really, especially among my fellow scientists, that being good in one field automatically translates into being good in another unrelated one.). This woman was a great belly-dancer (or so she said) and therefore how dare I think her prose less-than-scintillating. And what would _I_ know anyway? The latter part is true though. I am a mediocre to lousy judge of what does well/ gets bought. A couple of my mentees DO write far better than I do, IMO and have just met blank walls so far It's a tough field. LoL – the belly-dancer was perfectly innocent of the channels our minds would flow to. Just a very very long, rambling and incoherent diatribe based on her assumptions of transferred excellence (odd in the context, but quite widespread really, especially among my fellow scientists, that being good in one field automatically translates into being good in another unrelated one.). This woman was a great belly-dancer (or so she said) and therefore how dare I think her prose less-than-scintillating. And what would _I_ know anyway? The latter part is true though. I am a mediocre to lousy judge of what does well/ gets bought. A couple of my mentees DO write far better than I do, IMO and have just met blank walls so far It’s a tough field.

]]> By: Patrice Sarath http://www.patricesarath.com/gordath-wood/writing-lessons-why-do-you-want-a-pro-to-read-your-work/comment-page-1/#comment-9433 Patrice Sarath Fri, 25 Sep 2009 14:10:45 +0000 http://www.patricesarath.com/gordath-wood/writing-lessons-why-do-you-want-a-pro-to-read-your-work/#comment-9433 I would print out and frame those emails. They are the best. When I think of the years I have put in and I'm still putting in to learn the craft and to improve, it really irks me that people think all they have to do is shove their work -- or even better, their half-baked ideas -- in front of a pro to make it. I have a good imagination but I think the belly dancer email is best left alone. I would print out and frame those emails. They are the best. When I think of the years I have put in and I’m still putting in to learn the craft and to improve, it really irks me that people think all they have to do is shove their work — or even better, their half-baked ideas — in front of a pro to make it.

I have a good imagination but I think the belly dancer email is best left alone.

]]> By: Dave Freer http://www.patricesarath.com/gordath-wood/writing-lessons-why-do-you-want-a-pro-to-read-your-work/comment-page-1/#comment-9431 Dave Freer Fri, 25 Sep 2009 10:07:49 +0000 http://www.patricesarath.com/gordath-wood/writing-lessons-why-do-you-want-a-pro-to-read-your-work/#comment-9431 :-)Over the years I have had several hundred people ask me to read their work. 98% wanted me to say 'wonderful' and pat the on the back and send them to my agent/editor/straight to collect the awards and 2 million dollars. The other two percent wanted to learn. So now I ask before I invest time. I still do invest a lot of time on the 2%. My best yet has come from a bloke who wrote to me and started his letter with "I've never read any of your books because I don't like that kind of thing. But I need you to help me get published." closely followed by the guy who said "I am much better than you are. Give my manuscript to your publisher!" (yes, both genuine. I have treasured those e-mails). And the belly dancer. I leave that e-mail to your imagination. :-) Over the years I have had several hundred people ask me to read their work. 98% wanted me to say ‘wonderful’ and pat the on the back and send them to my agent/editor/straight to collect the awards and 2 million dollars. The other two percent wanted to learn. So now I ask before I invest time. I still do invest a lot of time on the 2%. My best yet has come from a bloke who wrote to me and started his letter with “I’ve never read any of your books because I don’t like that kind of thing. But I need you to help me get published.” closely followed by the guy who said “I am much better than you are. Give my manuscript to your publisher!” (yes, both genuine. I have treasured those e-mails). And the belly dancer. I leave that e-mail to your imagination.

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