tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16175404.post9148182259438500813..comments2023-01-08T13:48:58.890-08:00Comments on The Sound of Butterflies: Writers' groups and anxiety dreams.Rachael Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07690377694600952816noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16175404.post-57960619195141971312008-05-31T19:11:00.000-07:002008-05-31T19:11:00.000-07:00You're right about them not being for the faint-he...You're right about them not being for the faint-hearted. For them to really be valuable, that is. Our group are frequently apologising to eachother - unnecessarily I might add - in case we've offended. But as far as I know nobody has taken offence. We're a sensible bunch and we're also good at giving the positive with the negative, which is also very important. We owe it to each other to give the work an intelligent read as well as looking for its flaws.Rachael Kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07690377694600952816noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16175404.post-31353102288014548912008-05-31T18:43:00.000-07:002008-05-31T18:43:00.000-07:00Hi Rachael - I have done the solo method ( on one'...Hi Rachael - I have done the solo method ( on one's own, not low on fizz slamming it down fast) and more recently the Writers Group method - I am with you, if you can find some similar mind set, then the work only gets better - though not for the faint hearted. <BR/><BR/>The group I am in has dwindled until it almost spluttered out, as some members were not really on the same road, and others wanted only encouragement at word count, or correct punctuation, but as we have gone on, the remaining members have become the best of ears.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16175404.post-19798754728310953962008-05-27T03:48:00.000-07:002008-05-27T03:48:00.000-07:00Frida - I still like the SFD - just not from start...Frida - I still like the SFD - just not from start to finish on something that will be 100,000+ words.<BR/><BR/>Glad to see your blog is up and running again!Rachael Kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07690377694600952816noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16175404.post-8116817038835841312008-05-27T03:45:00.000-07:002008-05-27T03:45:00.000-07:00Seras, if you look at the top right hand corner of...Seras, if you look at the top right hand corner of the home page you will see a picture of some buildings and 'Virtual Studio'. You can get more information, take a tour and join. It is free to join. The site IS primarily a film site, but once you join you'll find writing areas for short stories, novellas, poetry and flash fiction as well as screen writing. The short story section is easily as busy as the screenplay section.<BR/><BR/>I hope that clarifies things.Rachael Kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07690377694600952816noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16175404.post-54740052555217519692008-05-27T01:04:00.001-07:002008-05-27T01:04:00.001-07:00Hi, sorry to be a pain but are you sure that www.z...Hi, sorry to be a pain but are you sure that www.zoetrope.com is the right URL? Because it seems to lead to a page about filmmaking, with no reference to online critique groups. :(Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16175404.post-85960179782211376512008-05-27T01:04:00.000-07:002008-05-27T01:04:00.000-07:00I'm still a fan of the shitty first draft - but th...I'm still a fan of the shitty first draft - but then I spend my days writing non-fiction reports for Parliament or the UN general assembly (neither of which are known for literary criticism) so I should probably keep my opinions to myself on a blog about fabulous fiction.<BR/><BR/>Lots of good stuff in this post but I can't stop giggling at the image of you with only an A4 sheet to protect your modesty so I'll leave it at that.Mariannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12207654558892777493noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16175404.post-800955598985446282008-05-26T16:51:00.000-07:002008-05-26T16:51:00.000-07:00It's a bit tricky isn't it? I know I am wary of le...It's a bit tricky isn't it? I know I am wary of letting 'newbies' in, just because of shyness more than anything probably, but also because I'm so happy with the dynamic of what we've got I'm scared of changing it. I guess the thing to do would be to find others who don't yet have a group, or someone who'd a bit of tramp and doesn't mind having a writers group on the side.Rachael Kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07690377694600952816noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16175404.post-25591562900523253722008-05-26T14:58:00.000-07:002008-05-26T14:58:00.000-07:00I've never had the pleasure (or pain) of a writing...I've never had the pleasure (or pain) of a writing group. I know many writers who do, and benefit greatly from the support and critiquing. There are a number of well established ones down here, but being a newbie to town and the writing scene in general, I'm not part of them. What's the writing group etiquite? Do you approach someone, or do you wait to be invited? Do groups tend to be so comforable and trusting with each other, they wouldn't welcome new members who may alter the balance?<BR/><BR/>I ask these questions, but also realise I do not know how comfortable I'd be in opening myself up for the critiquing - feelings of inadequacy and all. I'd probably start having dreams about being up on a stage, starkers except for a piece of blank A4 paper, feeling I had nothing to say...Vanda Symonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09956034768397598056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16175404.post-71709310726897476922008-05-26T03:27:00.000-07:002008-05-26T03:27:00.000-07:00Ha ha, yes quite possibly, Mary. I was going to in...Ha ha, yes quite possibly, Mary. I was going to invite analysis of the dream - seems I didn't have to!<BR/><BR/>It could have been all the talk about good vs not so good chairing at the AWF that sparked it: that and the fact that I may be doing some things at the Christchurch festival. But I don't think I'm anxious about that...<BR/><BR/>The paper was blank. Which is unsurprising considering I didn't have naything to say.<BR/><BR/>Any other ideas anyone?Rachael Kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07690377694600952816noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16175404.post-77048718224760411862008-05-26T02:49:00.000-07:002008-05-26T02:49:00.000-07:00Re. the Simon Montefiore dream interview: what was...Re. the Simon Montefiore dream interview: what was written on the A4 piece of paper, Rachael? Did you call him Sebag as all his mates in Auckland seemed to? Was this in fact a JM Coetzee anxiety dream (ie. a premonition that you would be stripped bare in the interview process and made to reveal details of your next novel)?Mary McCallumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07482261103185786111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16175404.post-88108869070738706312008-05-25T21:56:00.000-07:002008-05-25T21:56:00.000-07:00I can't imagine writing without the support of oth...I can't imagine writing without the support of other writers. I have been going to the same group for seven years and it is the place I test pretty much everything - from the initial idea to completed scripts. It is where I learned how to give and receive feedback. It is also where I learned that I can't fool an audience - if there is a hole in the story someone will find it!<BR/>A good writing group is a beautiful and rare thing - I have had the occasional fling with a new group and it is never as stimulating, or to be quite frank, fun! We have, over the years become like whanau.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com