Comments on: Waiting for Galatea http://johnbakersblog.co.uk/waiting-for-galatea/ 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: Kathleen http://johnbakersblog.co.uk/waiting-for-galatea/comment-page-1/#comment-105043 Kathleen Sun, 20 Jan 2008 01:24:21 +0000 http://johnbakersblog.co.uk/waiting-for-galatea/#comment-105043 It's a gem as is. <strong>jb:</strong> (blushing pink) It’s a gem as is.

jb: (blushing pink)

]]> By: Jim Murdoch http://johnbakersblog.co.uk/waiting-for-galatea/comment-page-1/#comment-104346 Jim Murdoch Wed, 16 Jan 2008 18:16:52 +0000 http://johnbakersblog.co.uk/waiting-for-galatea/#comment-104346 Enjoyed this piece especially the metaphor and the way you built on it. I want to say it reads, the metaphor that is, like something McIlvanney would have written but since I'm reading 'Weekend' at the moment it's like I've got this flavour in my mouth that brings out the McIlvanney in everything. My first reaction to the piece as a whole is that it needs more. On second reading I realise that that's just me wanting more. An important distinction. The hard thing in a piece as brief as this is to know just how much you can get away with not saying. It's a hard call but I think it works. <strong>jb says</strong>: All of these are questions for me, Jim. It's nice to experiment with short forms, though. I'm more attuned to the long haul where there is space to develop things slowly. I'm only now realising how important word-choice is in short pieces. Enjoyed this piece especially the metaphor and the way you built on it. I want to say it reads, the metaphor that is, like something McIlvanney would have written but since I’m reading ‘Weekend’ at the moment it’s like I’ve got this flavour in my mouth that brings out the McIlvanney in everything.

My first reaction to the piece as a whole is that it needs more. On second reading I realise that that’s just me wanting more. An important distinction. The hard thing in a piece as brief as this is to know just how much you can get away with not saying. It’s a hard call but I think it works.

jb says: All of these are questions for me, Jim. It’s nice to experiment with short forms, though. I’m more attuned to the long haul where there is space to develop things slowly. I’m only now realising how important word-choice is in short pieces.

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