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[3pipeproblem]

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I think the idea of using "constructive" criticism as a weapon is just disgusting. Grammar is a really great way to feel better about yourself. I admit this. It's really fun to mock people for ending their sentences with prepositions, or employing the word "aggravate" inappropriately. Usually no one gets hurt when it comes to grammar, though, because errors are easily fixed and knowledge of grammar doesn't really reflect anything besides...knowledge of grammar.

Constructive criticism should be a much more thoughtful process, wherein the critiquer genuinely wants to help the other person improve their writing. This is almost impossible to do in a group setting, in my opinion, unless the group is extremely mature. I've never in my life encountered an extremely mature group. Group dynamics and the dynamics involved in critcism/being a good reader or writer are not all that compatible. Someone will be singled out. Remember that scene in Wonder Boys where James is reading his story and his peers are "critiquing" it? It's pretty damn hard to work past that stage, even when you're not in a group setting. And it's pretty damn easy to, under the pretense of critique, take potshots at people. Easy and cheap.

And my car broke down yesterday and I ended up at a church.

That is all.

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Comments

[jjtaylor.livejournal.com]

This is exactly why I hate writing workshops. No one in the group ever truly gets beyond, "Me! Me! Me!"

Also, I consider your post oddly/aptly timed, because I just got my first critical feedback on Skyehawke - someone correcting my syntax. Which is fine, but an odd thing to give me feedback about. Because it's not like I'm slaving over a new draft and that re-arranged syntax is going to be a breakthrough. I mean, thanks for taking the time to comment, and all, but are you really trying to help me make my story better or do you just want to show me that you can pick up my mistakes?

Sorry, too, about your car.

[3pipeproblem.livejournal.com]

I know I'm guilty of it as well. It's very difficult to form a non-competitive group focused on the needs of others. Hell, it's pretty much impossible.

Exactly. If it's a glaring grammatical error, sure, I'd like to know about it, but I figure that unless it's coupled with some sort of substantive critique, any grammatical nitpicking is the product of someone with too much time on their hands. And I say this as someone who does it all the time, but I usually don't subject the author to my thoughts :D

Hahaha, thank you. No one ever put oil in it, so I figured it was only a matter of time.

[catch22girl]

Actually, my favorite part of Wonder Boys is when the girl is reading the professor's book and is like..."you didn't make any choices..." the genealogy of the horses kills me. But, I know what you mean. Mostly, I've been in classes where people just...CAN NOT WRITE but no one will ever tell them that, so they try to help them mostly but it just doesn't go anywhere. although, my friend and I are mean when it comes to other people's writing...and not in terms of grammar but in terms of plot, characterization, use of the language, logic, etc. I'll never forget reading "her ironic blue eyes" -- which...brings up so many questions.

[3pipeproblem.livejournal.com]

Oh, I've been in many a class (all of them, possibly) like that. I think a lot of it has to do with wanting to improve your writing, as opposed to wanting to get a good grade on your paper. Everyone's required to take a writing course at Penn, so of course we have all these Wharton kids who could care less just doing what they have to in order to pass (while taking all these intense business classes, to give them due credit).

...questions as to why people can't master the art of using a dictionary.