Comments on: Who Influences You? http://giveagirlapen.com/inspiration/who-influences-you She'll write a book to go with it... Sun, 13 May 2012 21:55:35 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Scott http://giveagirlapen.com/inspiration/who-influences-you/comment-page-1#comment-1104 Scott Tue, 08 Sep 2009 20:09:07 +0000 http://giveagirlapen.com/?p=1719#comment-1104 As you know by now . . . I write for me first, my audience and the rest of the Universe second. It's what works for me. I guess I'm pretty lucky because, other than a stray comment from my BFF like 'ya know, this would make a good story' when we're out for margaritas, people really haven't covered me up with suggestions. On the other hand, I have been known to grab inspiration from emails between my BFF and I. Every now and then he'll write a simple sentence that gets my creative juices flowing. I've also learned, not to take every suggestion from my crit group to heart. I've learned to step away from the project as a writer, and view it as a reader. Sometimes, I make the changes. Sometimes, I ignore them. Other times, I just tweak some things here, there, and everywhere. I think learning to write for me first was the hardest lesson of all. I also think that once a writer makes that decision, their writing goes to a different level. Great post. As you know by now . . . I write for me first, my audience and the rest of the Universe second. It’s what works for me.

I guess I’m pretty lucky because, other than a stray comment from my BFF like ‘ya know, this would make a good story’ when we’re out for margaritas, people really haven’t covered me up with suggestions.

On the other hand, I have been known to grab inspiration from emails between my BFF and I. Every now and then he’ll write a simple sentence that gets my creative juices flowing.

I’ve also learned, not to take every suggestion from my crit group to heart. I’ve learned to step away from the project as a writer, and view it as a reader. Sometimes, I make the changes. Sometimes, I ignore them. Other times, I just tweak some things here, there, and everywhere.

I think learning to write for me first was the hardest lesson of all. I also think that once a writer makes that decision, their writing goes to a different level.

Great post.

]]> By: Eden Tyler http://giveagirlapen.com/inspiration/who-influences-you/comment-page-1#comment-1100 Eden Tyler Tue, 08 Sep 2009 04:53:22 +0000 http://giveagirlapen.com/?p=1719#comment-1100 Oh, and Ginger -- that advice your received is perfect. Love it!! I'm definitely going to remember that one... Oh, and Ginger — that advice your received is perfect. Love it!! I’m definitely going to remember that one…

]]> By: Eden Tyler http://giveagirlapen.com/inspiration/who-influences-you/comment-page-1#comment-1099 Eden Tyler Tue, 08 Sep 2009 04:52:26 +0000 http://giveagirlapen.com/?p=1719#comment-1099 I agree wholeheartedly that you should never write to please anyone else. Write for yourself! Of course, everyday things are going to enter your writing, but if someone else tells you what to write, simply respond with, 'well why don't You write that and I'll write this?' We all have our own style and ideas and that's what makes this great!! Awesome post, Marybeth =D I agree wholeheartedly that you should never write to please anyone else. Write for yourself!
Of course, everyday things are going to enter your writing, but if someone else tells you what to write, simply respond with, ‘well why don’t You write that and I’ll write this?’
We all have our own style and ideas and that’s what makes this great!!
Awesome post, Marybeth =D

]]> By: Ginger B. Collins http://giveagirlapen.com/inspiration/who-influences-you/comment-page-1#comment-1097 Ginger B. Collins Mon, 07 Sep 2009 20:37:35 +0000 http://giveagirlapen.com/?p=1719#comment-1097 Because writing was always part of my career, there was often someone there to judge/influence/critique my work. As a freelancer I learned to pick up clues from the client and generate copy that reflected their personal style and taste. When I started writing creative fiction and non-fiction, I received a key piece of advice from a fellow writer. She told me if I was pleased with the work, it was "perfect." But, what was perfect for me would sound different when read through someone else's filter of past experience and personal taste. Remembering her words I could better understand comments received in critique groups and identify the difference between a suggestion and a desire to rewrite my words in someone elses style. Because writing was always part of my career, there was often someone there to judge/influence/critique my work. As a freelancer I learned to pick up clues from the client and generate copy that reflected their personal style and taste.

When I started writing creative fiction and non-fiction, I received a key piece of advice from a fellow writer. She told me if I was pleased with the work, it was “perfect.” But, what was perfect for me would sound different when read through someone else’s filter of past experience and personal taste.
Remembering her words I could better understand comments received in critique groups and identify the difference between a suggestion and a desire to rewrite my words in someone elses style.

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