Comments on: How To…Survive a Brutal Writing Workshop

By: simplyscott

simplyscott — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 18:13:02 +0000

hahahaha what a fun class!! i hope they have it on the internet so i can get in on that action!!!

By: SWB

SWB — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 00:09:54 +0000

http://www.theonion.com/content/node/49846

By: Kristen Brownell

Kristen Brownell — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 15:54:08 +0000

Yeah, I've heard that, too. I'm over the whole law school thing, I think. It costs a lot of money, I wouldn't get to write anything creative, and I'd spend all my time reading case studies and such. I've also heard that a lot of people who go to law school end up hating their lives once they get their J.D. and start practicing. The golden handcuff syndrome, you know?

By: Kristen Brownell

Kristen Brownell — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 15:51:40 +0000

You know, I've always wondered why women seem to crave chocolate more than men. It must be a hormonal thing.

(On a side note, I bought a bag of Kit-Kats for the Halloween kids, but will probably sneak a few for myself!)

By: Gary

Gary — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 14:14:46 +0000

I love #8, but I hear it's even worse in law school.

By: Simone

Simone — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 04:43:00 +0000

This was entertaining to read. I'm at the office, no workshop to go to, but hey who's stopping me from going to the vending machine to "taste the chocolatey goodness of a Kit_Kat bar?"

Chocolate makes EVERYTHING seem much better. *insert cheesy, dreamy grin*

****
" Chocolate causes certain endocrine glands to secrete hormones that affect your feelings and behavior by making you happy. Therefore, it counteracts depression, in turn reducing the stress of depression. Your stress-free life helps you maintain a youthful disposition, both physically and mentally. So, eat lots of chocolate! "
~ Elaine Sherman, Book of Divine Indulgences

****

By: Unijacker

Unijacker — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 00:10:24 +0000

Maybe if you ever called me back… :P

By: wallyhorse

wallyhorse — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 09:35:05 +0000

Quite interesting:

I guess long-term this will help you as a writer. Being challenged definitely helps, and it's obvious you like that even though it can seem like hell at times given the end result likely helps you in the end.

By: Kristen Brownell

Kristen Brownell — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 04:40:33 +0000

You should try sleeping with him on my behalf to prove what a good friend you are!

By: Kristen Brownell

Kristen Brownell — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 04:35:39 +0000

I should mention that everything on this list is an observation and not necessarily an incident that's happened to me personally. I'm actually really enjoying the current workshop I'm in, and I like that my instructor is tough. These are the types of teachers who really test your limits and force you to improve as a writer and as a person. These are the types of teachers you remember for the rest of your life and dedicate a book to.

And: I think stories can certainly be well written (take Charles D'Ambrosio or Benjamin Percy's work, for example. Brilliant material), but I also think there's room for improvement in every piece of writing. That's the beauty of the craft. It's similar to a photograph in that it's a representation of a moment or a sequence of moments captured in time. No photograph is ever perfect (not even a photograph in Vogue), nor should be. Perfection isn't interesting. The same is true with writing. I think I mentioned in my last post that I believe imperfection is one of the most intriguing aspects of life.