Criticism is my small way of preventing future bad stories, because I know some of you out there are aspiring writers. Slowly but surely, we can fix some of this crap, one writer at a time. At the very least, we can let off some steam in the meantime.I'm beginning to think its meaning may not have been as clear as I intended.
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Let's play the reading comprehension game.
Could you guys do me a favor and comment paraphrasing this paragraph (from this post)?
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By engaging in critical discourse we can 1: work to improve our own writing, 2: help others who read the discourse but do not get involved improve their own future work and/or enjoyment of the work of others and 3: vent on a subject that annoys us before we're forced to solve things with the Shovel of Karmic Retribution...
ReplyDeleteI believe it says:"Teacher? May I mumble dark-faced to the banana patch?"
ReplyDeleteWith apologies to Steve Martin when he used to be funny.
Well, I just want to point out that you do say "Criticism is my small way of preventing future bad stories" (emphasis mine). That is, you're not saying you - and you alone - are going to change the whole writing world. Only that you are doing your little bit to (hopefully) help things along.
ReplyDeleteOtherwise, see lurkerwithout's comment.
Shorter version, perhaps:
ReplyDelete"I'm telling you what the problems are now, so you won't turn out like these chuckleheads. Also, it makes me feel better."
I was going to post my paraphrase, but tom bondurant's is more coherent than what I was going to post. So, what he said.
ReplyDeleteWithout reading the other responses:
ReplyDeletePointing out creative missteps may prevent the same things from happening with future creators. In time writing can be generally improved in this way. Or at least we'll feel better for having tried.
...What do I win?
I like Tom's.
ReplyDeleteIn a nutshell:
ReplyDelete"I am the most important person in the WOOOORLD! None can stand against me! I will change the lives of MILLIONS!"
My take:
ReplyDeleteSome of you kids write stuff. I want to point out when other writers do stupid shit so you don't make the same damn mistakes out of ignorance.
"If I point out the things that I consider bad storytelling, and aspiring writers read and agree with my opinions, I will have done my part to prevent this bad storytelling from being in those writers' books (once they actually have books). If they don't agree with me, at least I'll have gotten this out of my system and I won't get an ulcer."
ReplyDeleteIf someone doesn't say something then nothing'll get done. I say something as loud as I can in hopes the next generation avoids becoming cliche-ridden, sex situation abusing asswipes. Maybe we can't change the current but the future is ours.
ReplyDeleteGiving my opinion is my way of helping avoid future missteps, especially among the nacent writers out there. Presently, in small ways, we can avoid future writers repeating these same inane mistakes. If nothing else, it helps by allowing us a place to rant.
ReplyDelete"Blarg! Bring me the blood of innocent young boys!"
ReplyDelete...
What? That's how I read everything!
:-P
I criticize in the hope that what I say will reach those of you who will publish in the future: it's my way to stop bad stories before they happen. Together, over time, we can improve some of the worst writing, writer by writer. And we can vent.
ReplyDeleteThough frankly, Ragnell, I thought what you said was plenty clear.
"Let us all whinge on our blogs so we can at least convince ourselves we've made the world a better place, which of course we haven't".
ReplyDelete