Comments on: Learning to Write XXVII http://johnbakersblog.co.uk/learning-to-write-xxvii/ Reflections of a working writer and reader Fri, 19 Mar 2010 16:37:51 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: trevor johnson http://johnbakersblog.co.uk/learning-to-write-xxvii/comment-page-1/#comment-70194 trevor johnson Sat, 28 Apr 2007 08:56:18 +0000 http://johnbakersblog.co.uk/learning-to-write-xxvii/#comment-70194 Paul, if you are interested in defining man by his possessions and the things man owns beginning to instead own him as a theme, you should check out Chuck Palahniuk. Fight Club is the best example, but it's a recurring theme in a lot of his work. Paul, if you are interested in defining man by his possessions and the things man owns beginning to instead own him as a theme, you should check out Chuck Palahniuk. Fight Club is the best example, but it’s a recurring theme in a lot of his work.

]]> By: blue girl http://johnbakersblog.co.uk/learning-to-write-xxvii/comment-page-1/#comment-65715 blue girl Mon, 23 Apr 2007 23:30:27 +0000 http://johnbakersblog.co.uk/learning-to-write-xxvii/#comment-65715 Great piece of advice. I love when you write these sort of things and I hope this will stick with me. Thanks. <strong>jb says</strong>: Hi Blue girl. It's good to hear it hit the spot. Great piece of advice. I love when you write these sort of things and I hope this will stick with me.

Thanks.

jb says: Hi Blue girl. It’s good to hear it hit the spot.

]]> By: Paul http://johnbakersblog.co.uk/learning-to-write-xxvii/comment-page-1/#comment-65150 Paul Mon, 23 Apr 2007 12:52:11 +0000 http://johnbakersblog.co.uk/learning-to-write-xxvii/#comment-65150 Do we define ourselves by what we own, or does what we own, become who we are? - as with how we earn our living? or the religion/or not, we may practice? <strong>jb says</strong>: Hi Paul. In real life we define ourselves and others in a variety of ways. One of them may well be in terms of possessions, or in terms of faith or lack of faith. In the quest for personal identity we draw on profession, gender, ethnicity, genetic inheritance, family, clan, nation, etc. etc. Humans tend to look to something they regard as permanent (or more permanent than they feel themselves to be) with which to define their identity. "I'm Basque," or "I'm Catalan," etc. aligning themselves with the culture of the area but also the land itself, the rock formations, the land-scape. But in fiction we simplify or amplify certain aspects of identity, just as we simplify or amplify certain aspects of dialogue. So we may very well define a materialistic person in terms of their possessions, as they, perhaps, would do themselves. And we may identify or define a pious man, or someone with a simplistic outlook on life in terms of their faith or their adherence to an absolute political stance. But you were looking, I think, to tease out a chicken or egg situation. I don't know which comes first, I only know that they can't exist independently of each other. Can I separate what I own from the me who owns it? Only occasionally. Do we define ourselves by what we own, or does what we own, become who we are? – as with how we earn our living? or the religion/or not, we may practice?

jb says: Hi Paul. In real life we define ourselves and others in a variety of ways. One of them may well be in terms of possessions, or in terms of faith or lack of faith. In the quest for personal identity we draw on profession, gender, ethnicity, genetic inheritance, family, clan, nation, etc. etc. Humans tend to look to something they regard as permanent (or more permanent than they feel themselves to be) with which to define their identity. “I’m Basque,” or “I’m Catalan,” etc. aligning themselves with the culture of the area but also the land itself, the rock formations, the land-scape.
But in fiction we simplify or amplify certain aspects of identity, just as we simplify or amplify certain aspects of dialogue. So we may very well define a materialistic person in terms of their possessions, as they, perhaps, would do themselves. And we may identify or define a pious man, or someone with a simplistic outlook on life in terms of their faith or their adherence to an absolute political stance.
But you were looking, I think, to tease out a chicken or egg situation. I don’t know which comes first, I only know that they can’t exist independently of each other. Can I separate what I own from the me who owns it? Only occasionally.

]]> By: Susan Abraham http://johnbakersblog.co.uk/learning-to-write-xxvii/comment-page-1/#comment-64902 Susan Abraham Mon, 23 Apr 2007 06:38:59 +0000 http://johnbakersblog.co.uk/learning-to-write-xxvii/#comment-64902 Again, a case of 'show' & not 'tell' but in a more dramatic, effective way. <strong>jb says</strong>: You can't tell it too many times, Susan. Again, a case of ’show’ & not ‘tell’ but in a more dramatic, effective way.

jb says: You can’t tell it too many times, Susan.

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