Comments on: Interview with Lorin Oberweger, Part 1

By: Writer Unboxed » Blog Archive » Interview with Lorin Oberweger, Part 2

Writer Unboxed » Blog Archive » Interview with Lorin Oberweger, Part 2 — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 10:02:01 +0000

[...] you missed part one of my interview with independent book editor Lorin Oberweger, click HERE, then come back. Lorin not only has nearly two decades of experience in the publishing industry, [...]

By: Lorin O.

Lorin O. — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 18:32:08 +0000

Thanks for all the positive comments, all. Folks are going to think I’m hanging out twenties to former participants. :) (Sorry, only fives this year.)

Lorna — I would love to come to Surrey and have wanted to do so for years. Unfortunately, it always seems to fall over a time when I have other commitments. Will keep my fingers crossed for 2010!

June — You’re so right about that. Again, I think it’s natural for any writer to come into a workshop setting with a lot of fantasies running at full bore and a lot of expectations about the feedback they’ll receive. But being able to still all of those voices and really absorb truly makes all the difference. And at each workshop I see people who are able to do just that and whose novels grow by LEAPS within just a few days. Makes an already phenomenal job even greater!

By: June

June — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 19:53:56 +0000

An affirming and informative post. I was thinking along the lines of this issue today when I posted on my blog. It’s so important for a writer to be open and honest with themselves about their ability/skill level and be open to objective feedback.

By: Lorna Suzuki

Lorna Suzuki — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 18:08:20 +0000

An excellent posting Lorin! A must read for any writer considering investing their time, energy & money into attending a conference.
I’ve been fortunate enough to attend the Surrey International Writers Conference where Donald Maass is a regular presenter and he certainly knows the business from many angles. Perhaps one day I’ll see you there too!
Looking forward to reading your next post.

By: Claudine Rogers

Claudine Rogers — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 07:02:36 +0000

What an insightful, articulate interview!
I’ve attended two BONI’s and have been so thrilled with the honest feedback and generous encouragement I’ve received. Lorin, Don and the rest of the team are so good at what they do, that I find myself constantly thinking, “I can’t believe I get to talk to all these brilliant minds a once.”
Lorin brings up a really good point about actually applying what you hear during the one-on-one-critiques. I suppose it’s akin to what a doctor feels when the patient doesn’t take the medication/advice offered. Which makes me think: since I’m fortunate enough to avail myself of Lorin’s guidance/mentoring services right now, maybe I should really listen up myself and (ahem) pare down my many POV’s.
Looking forward to the next article!
Claudine

By: Sammi Soutar

Sammi Soutar — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 02:16:25 +0000

I’ve been listening to Lorin’s sage, editorial advice for years. She’s never steered me wrong.

By: Donna Lodge

Donna Lodge — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 21:57:08 +0000

Excellent analysis of the macro and micro, with details only an experienced editor and insider would know. Excellent interview. Part II?

By: Jo Cooper

Jo Cooper — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 21:50:25 +0000

Loved the interview. Lorin’s style of teaching knocked my socks off. Quietly authoritative and kick ass at the same time! There’s something about a person who is authoritative because they actually know what they know. Her years of experience with BONI and Free Expressions make it easy to shut up and listen (and for a talker that is saying a lot!). The level of trust among the staff is encouraging, which transfers to students.
I look forward to part two of the interview.

By: Bernie Bourdeau

Bernie Bourdeau — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 21:09:44 +0000

I have attended a BONI intensive and a Tension workshop. Lorin’s advice about checking your ego at the door is right on target. But if you do, you will learn so much. And if you apply what you learned, you’ll start hearing your critique partners saying “wow, this is so much better.” And the best part of that is that you will know why it’s better. I see the Free Expression workshops like a visit to an old fashioned hardware store for writers. Even if you’re not sure of the source of the problem, you’ll leave with a better understanding of the problem and the right tools to fix it. From there, it’s up to you.

By: Janet Brook

Janet Brook — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 18:39:46 +0000

I first learned about BONI from a fellow student during a Writers Online Workshop. (Yes, networking is important) I attended my first weeklong intensive where I met my online friend in person for the first time and wound up sharing a flat with her. We’ve been best buds ever since.

For me, it was like learning how to swim by diving into the deep end of the pool. I learned more about the craft and magic of writing in one week than I had in years of struggling along on my own with grit, determination and a shelf full of How To books. I also learned that writing does not have to be a solitary occupation. The friendships I have made from attending two BONI’s and one of Don Maass’s four day tension workshops have sustained me, galvanized me, and when needed, provided the right amount of butt-kicking to keep me moving forward. We’re family!

By: Nancy Laughlin

Nancy Laughlin — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 17:56:09 +0000

I’ve attended a lot of conferences and one to two day workshops in the past and got to a point where I kept hearing much the same advice over and over. I continued reading books, but again, they all seemed to say the same thing.

But I knew, my writing was missing something. I knew there had to be another level of skill, learning, out there that I was missing. When I found the BONI intensives, I found out what that was.

Conferences and short workshops are great, but they don’t have time to drill into the meat of most matters. They only have time to cover surface issues. Intensives like BONI provide so much more!

By: Kimberly Frost

Kimberly Frost — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 17:42:03 +0000

What a terrific interview! Wonderful insights for aspiring writers. Well done.
Kimberly Frost´s last blog ..BARELY BEWITCHED – National Bestseller!

By: Irene

Irene — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 17:41:37 +0000

great advice on how to listen and respond to criticism.