Comments on: The Big Question – Exposing Myself

By: Jen

Jen — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 16:12:59 +0000

How do you know I don’t blog anonymously? I’m getting ready for a big road trip right now, but wanted to let you know I read the comment. I’ll think more about it during the trip and get back to you. Thanks for reading and for seeking educational opportunities in creative spaces!
Jen

By: Glenn Groulx

Glenn Groulx — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 06:43:03 +0000

Hello Jen,

I have been following your blog for a few months. I am intrigued by the use of your blog for creative, spontaneous writing.

I have been identifying numerous edublog types for my master’s studies in edtech at Athabasca University. I have exploring edublogging in quite a bit of depth.

I think you are exposing yourself quite a bit as a writer when you blog creatively out in the open. Not many of my adult learners would have the courage to do so. They have many stories to tell, but feel blocked by self-doubt.

You are an inspiration. I have a question for you: what would happen if you started to blog anonymously instead, and posting to your creative blog when you feel comfortable to do so? Would it change how you blog? Would you be a bit less careful how you present your ideas?

I am interested in the potential for edublogging for creative expression? Particularly for helping adult literacy learners find and strengthen their own voices. Are there anonymous creative blogs aspiring writers can join, and practice the writing craft?

By: Jen

Jen — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 15:52:08 +0000

Chris, I’m guessing your knowledge on this is something I would like to tap into. I really was hoping to get some of that lit-crit stuff. Hopefully I can make it up to opened to talk! You know I go wrong in a lot of my communication, or at least, I don’t deliver the message as intended. I would love to talk about this with you some time!

By: Chris L

Chris L — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 15:48:48 +0000

Well, I could go into a lot of lit-crit gobbledygook involving the post-colonial and alterity an vocality but while it can be great fun for killing time and, back in the day, was even useful for hooking up, it comes to nothing when it’s time to put pen to paper (fingers to keyboard, chisel to tablet).

Write what’s true. Not literally, as you know, but essentially. The rest doesn’t really matter much. The -isms come not from the story you tell but from where you tell the story… as long as you are honest, I don’t think you can go (far) wrong.

Just my opinion!

By: Jen

Jen — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 13:13:03 +0000

Dan, thanks for the reply and recommendation. How can I learn more about avoiding the isms in writing or approach? You mention the novel avoids it, but I’m not sure I know how to identify it and avoid it. I wonder if there’s an equally good example of obvious isms in approach and writing.

By: danpowell

danpowell — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 07:32:30 +0000

It terms of writing, the best stuff tells us about the world we are living. Unfortunately the world we live in is flawed and racism, sexism and all the other isms still exist, in spite of how progressive some societies might think they are. Having racist or sexist characters populate a piece of writing, does not mean that writing is racist or sexist. In fact it can be quite the opposite.

For a great example of this I would recommend you read ‘The White Family’ by Maggie Gee. The novel features some very racist characters but is at no time racist in its approach. It challenges in its honest portrayal of the issue. In terms of creating complex, challenging characters, this was the best book I read last year. It is a great example of how to deal with difficult issues without sugar coating them or reducing them to a simple right or wrong.

By: Jen

Jen — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 03:46:23 +0000

Jackie, thank you for the feedback. I love the idea of getting angry at characters!

By: Jackie Ballarini

Jackie Ballarini — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 03:20:39 +0000

Flawed characters are real characters. Personally I don’t want to read some sanitized version of reality. Some of the books I’ve enjoyed the most have been those with characters at whom I’ve gotten very angry.

I’d rather be angry at a book than feel nothing.

By: Jen

Jen — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 03:06:06 +0000

Thanks, DJ. I’ve not read it. Sounds like a valuable resource. I appreciate the reference!

By: DJ Young

DJ Young — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 03:04:25 +0000

Agree totally w/the first comment – our characters are not always pretty or nice and human beings are never any one thing. A great book for writers is On Writing by Stephen King – he’s dealt with all the above and has some of the best insights about it (if you’ve have already read).