Good morning to you all. It's Thursday and journey day.
Once you know you've got the drive to make a serious go at being an artist, of any kind, then you've got to thicken your skin.
What do I mean by that?
You've got to handle rejection letters and e-mails, poor critiques about your work and general lack of enthusiasm from some of your peers with style. I know, some of you will say, "Why do I have to be gracious when hearing criticism about my work? Why can't I just rant and rave about being misunderstood?"
Because acting like a two-year-old child having a temper tantrum never inspired respect or confidence from anyone. Besides, in this case taking the high road is all good.
Sometimes you will submit great ideas that simply don't fit into an editorial lineup or an upcoming season at a dance theatre or art gallery. Your ideas may be great, but just don't work at that time. Keep your ideas and reuse them!
Sometimes you will get poor reviews. So what?
Remember what they say about critics--they are the people who can't make it as an artist so they critique others instead. Of course that's not true of all reviewers and not everyone is going to like your work. Did you really think they would? Time to get real.
Just because someone else doesn't like your work doesn't mean your work is of any less value. It simply means that one person didn't get it or like it or whatever. Again I say, so what?
Once you send out your work you must stand back from it and keep a certain distance. Throw your heart and soul into doing it, whether that involves writing or dancing or painting, but once it's done, let it go.
Emotional distance is good once a work is done. Send it out into the world and move on to your next project. If you keep moving forward then what people say about something you did, even yesterday, won't get to you as much anymore! Forward motion is the key.
And above all don't take anything personally ever.
Even if it is personal and you know it, don't fall into that trap.
Ignore the review, if asked say the reviewer didn't seem to get where you were going, and move on!
Remember what Wayne Gretzky said, "You miss 100 percent of the shots you never take," so just do it.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
The Mechanics
Good Morning! It's Wednesday once again and the day I talk about the mechanics of writing.
Today I thought I'd talk about active and passive voice.
Active voice is a way of using verbs in an' active' way. It is more engaging to the reader and uses less words than passive voice. For example, "The Gazette released a new report on writers' needs today."
The passive voice, on the other hand, would sound like this, "A new report on writers' needs has been released today by The Gazette."
Both are grammatically correct. In the active voice, the verb and subject of the sentence are closer together thus the action in the sentence happens more quickly for the reader.
In passive voice, the verb and subject are usually further apart and it takes the reader longer to find out what information the sentence conveys.
Active voice is the right tone to use when you want to engage your reader quickly.
It is used more now than ever before and complements the current trend of using simple language wherever and whenever possible. Because active voice shortens sentences and creates action quickly it is an ideal technique to use when documents need to be brief, easily understood and to the point.
So when should we use passive voice?
Passive voice can be useful when linking two sentences. For example, the political climate changes in response to the economic situation of the country. This economic situation can be influenced by foreign investors as well.
The second sentence has been written in the passive voice to help the reader follow the argument quickly and easily. This is a solid technique, especially when you are trying to convey complicated ideas and arguments clearly and precisely. (You will see the passive voice throughout legal documents. No wonder they're usually so long and meandering!)
I have also noticed that we often speak in the passive voice, for example, "He would have gone home earlier if he had known his headache was going to turn into a migraine."
I think that this is likely why a lot of people naturally write in the passive voice. As an editor, I often have to recast sentences to the active voice. I think for a lot of people it just feels more natural to write like they speak. That's likely how the words play out in their head, like dialogue.
The active and passive voice both have their uses and used correctly each is equally valuable.
The rule of thumb is to tailour your document for the intended audience and use as much active voice as you can.
Today I thought I'd talk about active and passive voice.
Active voice is a way of using verbs in an' active' way. It is more engaging to the reader and uses less words than passive voice. For example, "The Gazette released a new report on writers' needs today."
The passive voice, on the other hand, would sound like this, "A new report on writers' needs has been released today by The Gazette."
Both are grammatically correct. In the active voice, the verb and subject of the sentence are closer together thus the action in the sentence happens more quickly for the reader.
In passive voice, the verb and subject are usually further apart and it takes the reader longer to find out what information the sentence conveys.
Active voice is the right tone to use when you want to engage your reader quickly.
It is used more now than ever before and complements the current trend of using simple language wherever and whenever possible. Because active voice shortens sentences and creates action quickly it is an ideal technique to use when documents need to be brief, easily understood and to the point.
So when should we use passive voice?
Passive voice can be useful when linking two sentences. For example, the political climate changes in response to the economic situation of the country. This economic situation can be influenced by foreign investors as well.
The second sentence has been written in the passive voice to help the reader follow the argument quickly and easily. This is a solid technique, especially when you are trying to convey complicated ideas and arguments clearly and precisely. (You will see the passive voice throughout legal documents. No wonder they're usually so long and meandering!)
I have also noticed that we often speak in the passive voice, for example, "He would have gone home earlier if he had known his headache was going to turn into a migraine."
I think that this is likely why a lot of people naturally write in the passive voice. As an editor, I often have to recast sentences to the active voice. I think for a lot of people it just feels more natural to write like they speak. That's likely how the words play out in their head, like dialogue.
The active and passive voice both have their uses and used correctly each is equally valuable.
The rule of thumb is to tailour your document for the intended audience and use as much active voice as you can.
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
A Seminar Day
Hi one and all.
I was at an editors' seminar today.
I will be back tomorrow with my weekly 'The Mechanics' blog.
I was at an editors' seminar today.
I will be back tomorrow with my weekly 'The Mechanics' blog.
Monday, January 28, 2008
The Voice
Good Monday morning one and all!
Last Monday I talked about the writer's voice. How unconsciously writers put their own style into their work, whether it be articles, poetry, fiction or any other type of writing project.
As writers gain more experience writing, for others and for themselves, this voice or style becomes more distinct. The voice also becomes more solid with confidence.
It isn't easy submitting work over and over that is critiqued and altered and commented on again and again. Editors have a habit of commenting on everything that should be fixed and very rarely do they mention the great points in any work. I am not being critical. I am also an editor and it is the purpose of the job to highlight the errors and problems.
Being critiqued repeatedly, however, helps a writer distance themselves from their work and also helps them learn to argue for the finer points that really matter, thus gaining confidence and their voice.
It is important to never assume that an editor knows more about your work than you do.
There is a fine line between accepting the suggestions and changes an editor introduces in your work and blindly following what they say. Even if you are a new writer, you have the right to ask questions and request explanations for changes.
Editors are capable of misunderstanding your meaning and making mistakes too!
As you become more experienced as a writer less changes are necessary anyway. It is easier to 'get it right' the first time.
Betty Jane Wylie, in her book 'The Write Track,' comments on this and says to not go over your work again and again like you did as a new writer. That it's normal for your speed to increase and for assignments to get easier. She encourages writers not to lose confidence when things flow more smoothly, but to realize that this is a normal part of the creative process. With greater experience comes greater speed. (Hey, there's gotta be perks of being a mature writer, right?)
The writer's voice is what attracts us to certain writers and not others.
The voice can make us feel at home or impress us or bore us or shock us. That's all part of entering into a book or an article or a movie.
I encourage all writers to explore their voice. Writers don't have to fit in, the most important thing about being a writer is staying true to who you are and letting the world experience your work.
It takes time to break into the writer's market, but it's well worth it.
Good luck to all you writers out there and enjoy your voice, it's yours and you should treat it with the respect and care it deserves.
Last Monday I talked about the writer's voice. How unconsciously writers put their own style into their work, whether it be articles, poetry, fiction or any other type of writing project.
As writers gain more experience writing, for others and for themselves, this voice or style becomes more distinct. The voice also becomes more solid with confidence.
It isn't easy submitting work over and over that is critiqued and altered and commented on again and again. Editors have a habit of commenting on everything that should be fixed and very rarely do they mention the great points in any work. I am not being critical. I am also an editor and it is the purpose of the job to highlight the errors and problems.
Being critiqued repeatedly, however, helps a writer distance themselves from their work and also helps them learn to argue for the finer points that really matter, thus gaining confidence and their voice.
It is important to never assume that an editor knows more about your work than you do.
There is a fine line between accepting the suggestions and changes an editor introduces in your work and blindly following what they say. Even if you are a new writer, you have the right to ask questions and request explanations for changes.
Editors are capable of misunderstanding your meaning and making mistakes too!
As you become more experienced as a writer less changes are necessary anyway. It is easier to 'get it right' the first time.
Betty Jane Wylie, in her book 'The Write Track,' comments on this and says to not go over your work again and again like you did as a new writer. That it's normal for your speed to increase and for assignments to get easier. She encourages writers not to lose confidence when things flow more smoothly, but to realize that this is a normal part of the creative process. With greater experience comes greater speed. (Hey, there's gotta be perks of being a mature writer, right?)
The writer's voice is what attracts us to certain writers and not others.
The voice can make us feel at home or impress us or bore us or shock us. That's all part of entering into a book or an article or a movie.
I encourage all writers to explore their voice. Writers don't have to fit in, the most important thing about being a writer is staying true to who you are and letting the world experience your work.
It takes time to break into the writer's market, but it's well worth it.
Good luck to all you writers out there and enjoy your voice, it's yours and you should treat it with the respect and care it deserves.
Friday, January 25, 2008
Open Forum
It's Friday and it's hard to believe a whole week has gone by already.
Today I'm in the mood to talk about family.
Family members are people you can't choose. It's as if they arrive on your doorstep with a full suitcase and you feel obliged to let them in.
What's in that suitcase anyway? Well, genes and blood and history.
Families are complicated. There's a lot of unspoken issues under the surface of any family and it's an interesting study in human nature to watch it all play out.
I live with two family members and I share 50 percent of my genes with each of them.
We are very interconnected not just in our daily routines, but also under the skin. I can see myself in both of them and there's something very familiar about them that I don't believe just comes with time together.
Recently, one of them came back from a trip and suddenly my world feels right once again. It was as if, when they were gone, that I wasn't quite complete somehow.
The house is once again filled with all the energy and souls it's supposed to be and I feel whole.
I wish you a great weekend and see you on Monday.
Today I'm in the mood to talk about family.
Family members are people you can't choose. It's as if they arrive on your doorstep with a full suitcase and you feel obliged to let them in.
What's in that suitcase anyway? Well, genes and blood and history.
Families are complicated. There's a lot of unspoken issues under the surface of any family and it's an interesting study in human nature to watch it all play out.
I live with two family members and I share 50 percent of my genes with each of them.
We are very interconnected not just in our daily routines, but also under the skin. I can see myself in both of them and there's something very familiar about them that I don't believe just comes with time together.
Recently, one of them came back from a trip and suddenly my world feels right once again. It was as if, when they were gone, that I wasn't quite complete somehow.
The house is once again filled with all the energy and souls it's supposed to be and I feel whole.
I wish you a great weekend and see you on Monday.
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