Comments on What's Wrong With Serious Writers?

Go to The Impossibility Of KnowingAdd a commentGo to What's Wrong With Serious Writers?

Ca88andra, it is good because he misses nothing

posted by Azur on January 3, 2006 at 2:58 AM | link to this | reply

Word.smith
that's what mine says about clothes

posted by Azur on January 3, 2006 at 2:52 AM | link to this | reply

I'm sure the interview piece will work out well. It must be wonderful to have a partner like that!

posted by Ca88andra on January 2, 2006 at 1:56 PM | link to this | reply

Not much, you lucky thing you!
Having a partner like that is invaluable for a writer. My husband thinks everything I write is 'fine'.

posted by word.smith on January 2, 2006 at 12:24 PM | link to this | reply

Sounds great to me

The one thing I miss in not having a partner is someone to read my work!

Good luck,

Jo

posted by brisbane_artist on January 2, 2006 at 12:18 PM | link to this | reply

I love conflict...I just need to figure out where to put it in my story...
I have a great story, but no damned confict!  It's driving me nuts!

posted by Renigade on January 2, 2006 at 10:10 AM | link to this | reply

Conflict

If a person writes to resolve internal conflicts they tend to either go too far one way (sadistic) or ther other (quietly utopian); if detachment is developed one can use conflict as another element of the story to make it interesting and lively. "Conflict" means "risk", and these folks are uncomfortable with it for any number of understandable reasons.

Conflict in general...I think in some of our "good old days" there were ample resources for personal comfort (including time alone) and people were comfortable with conflicts mainly to just keep thier elbow room and living. As space and resources dry up,  conflict tends to be more "aim for the jugular" and what prevents annihilation is the dynamic balance between mutually antagonistic forces, not civility or simple decency. So conflict is either too damn risky, or license to kick people's arses.

 

posted by majroj on January 2, 2006 at 10:08 AM | link to this | reply

May B...
I am ok during the day...my nights are quite painful...I am seeing my doctor on Thursday...

posted by Marshallengraved on January 2, 2006 at 9:37 AM | link to this | reply

I went on a residential playwriting course
once, where the emphasis was on conflict. I have to say I've built a lot of my fictional situations on this fault line since.

posted by malcolm on January 2, 2006 at 8:55 AM | link to this | reply

I agree.
There is a fog steeped with the fantasy that two or more people should/would/can agree on everything.  That this agreement must be the foundation of peace.  This is bunk, I'm afraid.  Peace comes from mutual respect for all our differences, each others right to hold them, while even allowing one another the freedom to practice the differences we hold.

posted by cordwainer on January 2, 2006 at 7:12 AM | link to this | reply

Very topical.
I'm teaching grade 9 English, and I'm teaching the students about identifying conflict.

posted by Trevor_Cunnington on January 2, 2006 at 6:57 AM | link to this | reply