Comments on: Getting Real: A Little Self-Evaluation http://writerunboxed.com/2007/05/17/getting-real-a-little-self-evaluation-2/ about the craft and business of fiction Sat, 11 Feb 2012 19:56:27 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Juliet http://writerunboxed.com/2007/05/17/getting-real-a-little-self-evaluation-2/#comment-10491 Juliet Fri, 18 May 2007 01:43:57 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2007/05/17/getting-real-a-little-self-evaluation-2/#comment-10491 Thanks for these great comments, people. Brad, I will happily do a follow-up post (next month) and answer some of the questions. Therese, you are absolutely right. Q&A first would have worked very well with this group. For some reason I forgot to shut up and LISTEN. I used to be a good teacher, well able to fan the creative spark in the classroom. I have a couple of talks / workshops for adults coming up so I will try a more relaxed approach and report back on whether it worked. I'm always hard on myself, it must be those Calvinist Scottish ancestors. Thanks for these great comments, people.

Brad, I will happily do a follow-up post (next month) and answer some of the questions.

Therese, you are absolutely right. Q&A first would have worked very well with this group. For some reason I forgot to shut up and LISTEN. I used to be a good teacher, well able to fan the creative spark in the classroom. I have a couple of talks / workshops for adults coming up so I will try a more relaxed approach and report back on whether it worked. I’m always hard on myself, it must be those Calvinist Scottish ancestors.

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]]> By: Thea http://writerunboxed.com/2007/05/17/getting-real-a-little-self-evaluation-2/#comment-10484 Thea Thu, 17 May 2007 22:21:10 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2007/05/17/getting-real-a-little-self-evaluation-2/#comment-10484 well, i think you could tailor a wonderful writing experience by just answering the children's questions. Teri, your ideas are great. I believe when it comes to teaching children you have to spend a lot of time listening to what they are really saying and allow them to brainstorm to encourage creativity. but i'm thinking your class wasn't as unsuccessful as you think it was, especially if you took the time to answer those great questions. well, i think you could tailor a wonderful writing experience by just answering the children’s questions. Teri, your ideas are great. I believe when it comes to teaching children you have to spend a lot of time listening to what they are really saying and allow them to brainstorm to encourage creativity. but i’m thinking your class wasn’t as unsuccessful as you think it was, especially if you took the time to answer those great questions.

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]]> By: Brad http://writerunboxed.com/2007/05/17/getting-real-a-little-self-evaluation-2/#comment-10463 Brad Thu, 17 May 2007 15:33:58 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2007/05/17/getting-real-a-little-self-evaluation-2/#comment-10463 You're right Kathleen, those ARE great questions. Juliet, any chance of a follow up post in which you'd share your answers? You’re right Kathleen, those ARE great questions. Juliet, any chance of a follow up post in which you’d share your answers?

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]]> By: Therese Walsh http://writerunboxed.com/2007/05/17/getting-real-a-little-self-evaluation-2/#comment-10458 Therese Walsh Thu, 17 May 2007 14:17:50 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2007/05/17/getting-real-a-little-self-evaluation-2/#comment-10458 I think you had a pretty tough challenge with that age range alone, Juliet. I've had the good fortune to work with the kids at our local school quite a bit (pre-K through 6th grade). We might just read together or talk about different aspects of story structure, or we might draft a tale--or several! In my experience, it's been a good ice-breaker for the kids to have a Q&A session before doing an activity of some kind, but the creation time is often the most rewarding part for all of us. (One group of kids recently wrote a "fairy tale" called "Dogs and Juice" that's very funny.) Just my two cents! I think you had a pretty tough challenge with that age range alone, Juliet. I’ve had the good fortune to work with the kids at our local school quite a bit (pre-K through 6th grade). We might just read together or talk about different aspects of story structure, or we might draft a tale–or several!
In my experience, it’s been a good ice-breaker for the kids to have a Q&A session before doing an activity of some kind, but the creation time is often the most rewarding part for all of us. (One group of kids recently wrote a “fairy tale” called “Dogs and Juice” that’s very funny.)

Just my two cents!

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]]> By: Kathleen Bolton http://writerunboxed.com/2007/05/17/getting-real-a-little-self-evaluation-2/#comment-10457 Kathleen Bolton Thu, 17 May 2007 14:16:35 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2007/05/17/getting-real-a-little-self-evaluation-2/#comment-10457 Gosh, these are great questions, Juliet (esp. the loving them/despising them question) I'm going to have to use a few in my own q&a's! Don't be too hard on yourself, either. You gave these kids the opportunity to interact with a REAL WRITER, and who knows who you touched. You could have inspired a future Great Novelist. Giving time is the hardest thing in the world, yet you did it. They'll always remember it. Gosh, these are great questions, Juliet (esp. the loving them/despising them question) I’m going to have to use a few in my own q&a’s!

Don’t be too hard on yourself, either. You gave these kids the opportunity to interact with a REAL WRITER, and who knows who you touched. You could have inspired a future Great Novelist. Giving time is the hardest thing in the world, yet you did it. They’ll always remember it.

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