Blessings~~ Sharon

People usually know when they aren’t doing their very best, and usually hate to have that pointed out. Swain points out myriad ways to do it better, in an authoritarian way. I can see where that rankles. The response to conviction is either humility or anger.

I’m so glad I persevered through it. Swain’s tools are making the creative side easier, and uncovering my potential rather than obscuring my personal expression.

Hari’s book was a wake-up call to me on many levels: humanitarian; count-my-blessings; and as a writer - because it was proof that writing doesn’t have to be lengthy, sophisticated or complex to resonate across cultural and geographical boundaries to influence readers.

I’m loving the comments on books about writing - you all are inspiring to take up pen (er - keyboard) again.

I think the love/hate has to do with a couple of factors. Certainly having someone point out your weaknesses and tell you not to do them is hard, especially when since his examples are so shallow. I keep finding myself wishing he’d include a couple examples of a slightly deeper mold just so I can see clearly how to adapt what he’s saying to a more subtle lit fict level.

Also, when you’re looking at fiction from an intellectual or literary fiction standpoint, it can rankle to have someone say “Story about ideas is boring,” and “People read for excitement, not intellectual stimulation.” I agree with Swain, to a certain extent, though I’m positive I wouldn’t have agreed when I was studying English Lit and creative writing in college, and was wholeheartedly embarrassed by my addiction to pulp fantasy. Still, every time he makes a blanket statement like that, I find myself thinking of all the exceptions (one of my friends, for instance, who likes to unwind by reading some Kant or Plato or Hegel).

As I read Swain, I keep thinking about Milan Kundera. Kundera seems to break all Swain’s guidelines, and is absolutely, stunningly amazing to read, gently probing his characters into revealing the qualities of humanity that he wants to explore. I want to go back through The Unbearable Lightness of Being and see to what extent Kundera uses MRUs, scenes and sequels, and Swain’s story structure, because I’m sure they’re there, just subtly.

When I finish Swain, hopefully sometime this week, I’m planning on reading a book on rock climbing theory, since my ankle is in recovery from some strained ligaments and I can’t climb.

Also, I’m glued to several political blogs blathering over the Demo primary. What an exciting narrative. You can’t make this stuff up.

On reading books similar to what I’m writing–I honestly can’t help it. The only books I like are the ones that have similar qualities to the one I’m writing. What I find harder, actually, is watching shows and movies that are too close to what I’m writing. Or watching anything, period, and then sitting down to write. The characters superimpose themselves over my characters and it takes me awhile to weed them out.

I’d have to say I’m not a Swain fan. Pure and simply, I can’t edit into MRUs and keep my writerly sanity. (I tried)