Comments on: Learning to Write at Hay http://johnbakersblog.co.uk/learning-to-write-at-hay/ Reflections of a working writer and reader Sat, 19 May 2012 08:23:25 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Jessica http://johnbakersblog.co.uk/learning-to-write-at-hay/comment-page-1/#comment-90889 Jessica Mon, 04 Jun 2007 06:14:32 +0000 http://johnbakersblog.co.uk/learning-to-write-at-hay/#comment-90889 This post made me chuckle...thanks for being frank. I see a lot of smoke and mirrors too, in regards to writing in general, and writers trying to sell that they can teach how to write. Of course there are the basics, but there's something un-teachable too. a few things actually. like heart, and determination and an eye, to name a few. maybe writers can give suggestions about that though, to be fair. The funny thing is, when i've been around writers trying to teach, they almost always SAY something to admit this. most of the audience probably doesn't realize how serious they are, but they usually say something that gives away that they know it. anyway, thank you for your blog, since you give good, concrete answers, and exercises (which I copy and then do) ...for free :) <strong>jb says</strong>: You are so right, Jessica. <em>No one</em> can teach someone else how to write. 99% of successful writing is contained in the balance of genius and determination, and there is no way of teaching that. Of the remaining 1%, talent takes up a tiny fraction; and the rest, something less than 1%, is craft and technique, and an experienced writer may be able to pass these skills on to a novice or aspiring writer. This post made me chuckle…thanks for being frank. I see a lot of smoke and mirrors too, in regards to writing in general, and writers trying to sell that they can teach how to write. Of course there are the basics, but there’s something un-teachable too. a few things actually. like heart, and determination and an eye, to name a few. maybe writers can give suggestions about that though, to be fair. The funny thing is, when i’ve been around writers trying to teach, they almost always SAY something to admit this. most of the audience probably doesn’t realize how serious they are, but they usually say something that gives away that they know it. anyway, thank you for your blog, since you give good, concrete answers, and exercises (which I copy and then do) …for free :)

jb says: You are so right, Jessica. No one can teach someone else how to write. 99% of successful writing is contained in the balance of genius and determination, and there is no way of teaching that. Of the remaining 1%, talent takes up a tiny fraction; and the rest, something less than 1%, is craft and technique, and an experienced writer may be able to pass these skills on to a novice or aspiring writer.

]]> By: Andrew http://johnbakersblog.co.uk/learning-to-write-at-hay/comment-page-1/#comment-90378 Andrew Sat, 02 Jun 2007 16:20:24 +0000 http://johnbakersblog.co.uk/learning-to-write-at-hay/#comment-90378 So how many pages should one write for a novel? <strong>jb says</strong>: I'd suggest one to start with . . . So how many pages should one write for a novel?

jb says: I’d suggest one to start with . . .

]]> By: May http://johnbakersblog.co.uk/learning-to-write-at-hay/comment-page-1/#comment-90373 May Sat, 02 Jun 2007 15:53:13 +0000 http://johnbakersblog.co.uk/learning-to-write-at-hay/#comment-90373 I am glad that I belong to a different field. To feel within oneself to be an artist and not to be able to be recognized as such must be quite frustrating. <strong>jb says</strong>: But this isn't confined to the artistic field, May. It's about identity, what we feel ourselves to be and what others regard us as. To what extent are we recognised for what we really are and to what extent are we vilified for an assumption by others that has nothing to do with us. I am glad that I belong to a different field. To feel within oneself to be an artist and not to be able to be recognized as such must be quite frustrating.

jb says: But this isn’t confined to the artistic field, May. It’s about identity, what we feel ourselves to be and what others regard us as. To what extent are we recognised for what we really are and to what extent are we vilified for an assumption by others that has nothing to do with us.

]]> By: May http://johnbakersblog.co.uk/learning-to-write-at-hay/comment-page-1/#comment-90362 May Sat, 02 Jun 2007 15:03:57 +0000 http://johnbakersblog.co.uk/learning-to-write-at-hay/#comment-90362 In the academic world I've often heard something similar to what you say, that is that talented researchers are rarely good at teaching and viceversa. Of course researching is considered superior to teaching... I suppose I cannot be the third out of four readers to comment on the interesting description of the writing seminar you attended. But it was interesting to know how these courses are set up. <strong>jb says:</strong> <em>Everywhere I go, I’m asked if I think the universities stifle writers. My opinion is that they don’t stifle enough of them. There’s many a best seller that could have been prevented by a good teacher.</em> Flannery O’Connor In the academic world I’ve often heard something similar to what you say, that is that talented researchers are rarely good at teaching and viceversa. Of course researching is considered superior to teaching…

I suppose I cannot be the third out of four readers to comment on the interesting description of the writing seminar you attended. But it was interesting to know how these courses are set up.

jb says: Everywhere I go, I’m asked if I think the universities stifle writers. My opinion is that they don’t stifle enough of them. There’s many a best seller that could have been prevented by a good teacher. Flannery O’Connor

]]> By: anne http://johnbakersblog.co.uk/learning-to-write-at-hay/comment-page-1/#comment-90324 anne Sat, 02 Jun 2007 13:53:31 +0000 http://johnbakersblog.co.uk/learning-to-write-at-hay/#comment-90324 Definitely interesting reading for us. But why on earth would you take a class on writing, John?? Have you read your own work? You should be teaching, whether in person or online. <strong>jb says</strong>: Hi Anne. I was there to blog, to wander around and see what people were up to and tell you about it. I do teach from time to time and I also pass on little bits and pieces <a href="http://johnbakersblog.co.uk/?s=learning+to+write" rel="nofollow">here </a>when the spirit moves me. Definitely interesting reading for us. But why on earth would you take a class on writing, John?? Have you read your own work? You should be teaching, whether in person or online.

jb says: Hi Anne. I was there to blog, to wander around and see what people were up to and tell you about it. I do teach from time to time and I also pass on little bits and pieces here when the spirit moves me.

]]> By: Reading the Signs http://johnbakersblog.co.uk/learning-to-write-at-hay/comment-page-1/#comment-90291 Reading the Signs Sat, 02 Jun 2007 11:50:51 +0000 http://johnbakersblog.co.uk/learning-to-write-at-hay/#comment-90291 Can I just say - thank you for doing this (and writing up about it) so the rest of us don't have to. I echo Pluto in saying that it's interesting to read about, though obviously a bummer for you that it wasn't up to scratch. Why am I not surprised by this, though? It continues to astonish me how little thought is given to creative process. <strong>jb says</strong>: I also was not surprised by this. Disappointed, yes, especially for those who paid the cash. But it is what one has come to expect. Can I just say – thank you for doing this (and writing up about it) so the rest of us don’t have to. I echo Pluto in saying that it’s interesting to read about, though obviously a bummer for you that it wasn’t up to scratch. Why am I not surprised by this, though? It continues to astonish me how little thought is given to creative process.

jb says: I also was not surprised by this. Disappointed, yes, especially for those who paid the cash. But it is what one has come to expect.

]]> By: Lee http://johnbakersblog.co.uk/learning-to-write-at-hay/comment-page-1/#comment-90258 Lee Sat, 02 Jun 2007 10:34:01 +0000 http://johnbakersblog.co.uk/learning-to-write-at-hay/#comment-90258 Something I learned long ago about violin masters: there are those who can play, those who can teach, and the very rarest of all, those who can both play and teach. <strong>jb says</strong>: It's a good lesson to learn, Lee. They should teach it in school. Something I learned long ago about violin masters: there are those who can play, those who can teach, and the very rarest of all, those who can both play and teach.

jb says: It’s a good lesson to learn, Lee. They should teach it in school.

]]> By: pluto http://johnbakersblog.co.uk/learning-to-write-at-hay/comment-page-1/#comment-90229 pluto Sat, 02 Jun 2007 07:29:29 +0000 http://johnbakersblog.co.uk/learning-to-write-at-hay/#comment-90229 Mmmm. Disappointing for you lot, but really interesting to read about here. <strong>jb says</strong>: Them's the breaks, Pluto. Mmmm. Disappointing for you lot, but really interesting to read about here.

jb says: Them’s the breaks, Pluto.

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