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Blackcat, I could not begin to answer as I don't think in those terms.
If I thought I was the most qualified I would leave immeditately. If you knew me you would know otherwise. I am here to learn and be entertained and to interact with people who share my interests.
Even if I did think in that way, it would be impossible to make such a comparison. I did cover in my post that writing careers have more than one entry point and that it is impossible to compare different forms of writing.
Yes in the context of your post about serious writing I explained why I think as I do.
I think in the context of post in the "on writing" category it is appropriate to express something from a writer's point of view.
I can't say more beyond the views set out in the post and the previous comments (not the baby one).
Thank you for the discussion yesterday. It may surprise you but it helped me to think through something I am working on my teaching assignment.
Resumes. Are you kidding? I think the beauty of this place is that we don't present that kind of thing and that we pick up more from the language and tone of other writers. Unfortunately there are some who never quite see eye to eye. You and me are like that. Every now and again we try to cross the bridge but it never quite works. If there was a table and two drinks between us and not a screen we could overcome it I believe.
In the meantime I am not sure what to do about it.
posted by
Azur
on January 1, 2006 at 9:22 PM
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May
We all like to think that we can conquer frontiers that we've never crossed.
-smartdog
posted by
smartdog_670
on January 1, 2006 at 8:57 PM
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MayB... I've seen you express it quite often, but that is your perogative.
Let me ask you this... is there anyone on Blogit that you feel is equal or more qualified than yourself? And how would you know, being that most do not display their resumes?
posted by
-blackcat
on January 1, 2006 at 8:24 PM
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Blackcat30, re advice on children. I have seen friends driven mad
by their own mother's nagging and advice about the new baby. One friend ordered her mother out.
I was completely the opposite and could not get enough advice from my mother or even my mother-in-law. I think it depends on how it's done. My mother was very good in not pressing her knowledge. Indeed it was us pressing her to give advice.
posted by
Azur
on January 1, 2006 at 8:18 PM
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MayBe
At least you are much more expert than me so that I can learn from you. Wish you the best.
posted by
StillStayEileenD
on January 1, 2006 at 8:17 PM
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Blackcat, I don't take it as a slight either. As I said in my post it's
normal that people don't seek advice or are not interested in hearing about someone's experiences. For the most part old war stories are boring.
I think, however, that it is only natural for someone who has spent their career doing something to feel more qualified than others. That is because they are. A lawyer or a mechanic would feel and is more qualified to speak about the law or cars respectively than someone not in those fields.
As I said in my post, I occasionally feel this with regard to writing but I rarely express it. Of course no one has all the answers but I think that very few claim to. Anyone who works as a writer must concentrate on keeping abreast of things themselves.
Learning never stops and I agree completely that you can learn from anyone. We all know something that others don't. I learned a lot from my students and a few weeks ago I even learnt something from my hairdresser when she alerted me to an important angle that I had overlooked in a story. Luckily I had asked her because I remembered that she had some exposure to the sector I was writing about.
I think that we ignore experience at our peril. I am probably old fashioned but I still defer to, and pay great credence to people with more or different experiences or qualifications than me. So much knowledge is lost because it is not passed on. Experienced people can offer you shortcuts to skills and techniques that even a very intelligent person might make much longer to work out.
Like you, I have no need to assert my qualifications or experience - indeed I am the first to say where these are lacking - but I mention them sometimes to set a context for my remarks. I think most people would do so when referring to something which relates to their professional life and opinions.
posted by
Azur
on January 1, 2006 at 8:14 PM
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Pat_B
I think there is something in that. I don't mind hearing any advice but sometimes I am surprised when people make it sound easy.
posted by
Azur
on January 1, 2006 at 8:05 PM
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Avante-garde
Perhaps if life was at a different stage you would take the plunge. On the other hand you can write part-time. Many people have part-time writing careers
posted by
Azur
on January 1, 2006 at 8:02 PM
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Renigade3
Me too. The more I learn, the less I know
posted by
Azur
on January 1, 2006 at 8:01 PM
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malcolm
It is good to set these small challenges to improve our craft. Blogit is good for that because you can test it on an audience
posted by
Azur
on January 1, 2006 at 8:00 PM
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Original Influence
It all adds up to a lot of hard work
posted by
Azur
on January 1, 2006 at 7:59 PM
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Ca88andra, I enjoy painting and I must confess
that sometimes I go to a show and look at the work and think I could do better. What kind of hypocrite am I?
posted by
Azur
on January 1, 2006 at 7:58 PM
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Hemlocker, I wouldn't say everyone although I know what you mean
I have some friends who are highly-paid lawyers who say that they do appreciate the work it takes. They are even more astounded when I tell them about the money....
There was also someone who hired me recently to write a brochure because she finds it difficult to write.
posted by
Azur
on January 1, 2006 at 7:57 PM
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Everyone
who dooesn't do it as a profession or an obsession seems to think that writing is easy. Everybody has a book inside. They just haven't had time to write it yet. Talk about getting no respect! Have a great New Year.
posted by
Hemlocker
on January 1, 2006 at 5:13 PM
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btw.. on the motherhood example...
I've heard from many that there's nothing worse than being a new mother and having the older "experienced" mom (usually the mother-in-law) try to tell you exactly how you should be doing everything.
posted by
-blackcat
on January 1, 2006 at 5:10 PM
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It seems that it's just like anything else in life. Some may excel at
it with less effort, while others may struggle all along the way. No one will ever have all the answers although there will always be a few that feel more qualified than the rest.
Personally, it never bothers me if someone doesn't ask for my advice in certain areas. I may be a so-called expert, but that doesn't mean that someone with less experience isn't intelligent enough to figure it out on their own. Maybe they'll actually see things with a new perspective that will inspire me as well. Maybe they'll in fact leapfrog ahead. Who knows? But I'm never afraid to learn from others, even those who on the surface may seem less qualified. I don't take it as a slight to myself, nor do I feel the need to assert my qualifications. I see it more as an inspiration to watch them grow and succeed. Good for them.
posted by
-blackcat
on January 1, 2006 at 5:07 PM
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It's kind of like people without children
who say things like, "if I had kids I'd never let them act like that." But try it. That's a whole 'nother story. :)pat
posted by
Pat_B
on January 1, 2006 at 4:43 PM
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MayB
I would love to write for a career, but at this point I realize that other things are taking precedence. I write here just to stay honed.
posted by
avant-garde
on January 1, 2006 at 1:04 PM
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I think the craft is highly underestimated in its difficulty and the talent
it requires. And, the more I actually practice, the less I feel qualified to represent it. Good post.
posted by
Renigade
on January 1, 2006 at 8:12 AM
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I agree
with your point about reading, reading and reading again. I also find the practice of expressing in short numbers of words and time a really enjoyable and educating exercise in itself.
posted by
malcolm
on January 1, 2006 at 7:55 AM
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You are so accurate when you say that people don't know until they try it
for themselves. The topic, the requirements, the knowledge, the skills.....all add to the experience a little something. Happy New Year!
posted by
Original_Influence
on January 1, 2006 at 7:54 AM
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Its the same with artists isn't it? Everyone thinks they could paint if they wanted to. Or act, or sing, or whatever...
posted by
Ca88andra
on January 1, 2006 at 3:07 AM
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