DesDownunder's Blog

I've already voted Des, but I hope some of the others go there to do so.

Read them all, loved them. Damn hard choice, though finally I voted yesterday.Camy

Good. Thanks Camy and Trab. It is great you voted. Glad you like the stories. I had less difficulty in voting. I don't mind who wins. I am happy to see so many involved in the idea. It encourages reader and author interaction.

I don't mind who wins. ... It encourages reader and author interaction.

I'm not 100% convinced that there should be any interaction between author and reader, other than just reading what's been written. In a way it is like an election poll, and there is no need for that, surely. Authors shouldn't change the way they write, based on their popularity or non-popularity. A poll of this nature, while fun to see, must be viewed strictly as fun, and not sway the authors involved. I've 'spoken' with some writers who felt hounded out of writing because of pressure from readers who wanted the author to write in a different way, and to have different story-lines. This is completely unacceptible, and would be tantamount to making Picasso or Van Gogh change their paintings as they put brush to canvas, and not what was wanted by one patron, but the whims of everyone who wandered by. Ludicruous.I'm not condemning the poll, but just cautioning that it's a 'fun thing', very much like 'horror-scopes'.

Trab I agree with you 100%When I said interaction, I meant that the readers could feel they have a connection with the author in the fun sense you mention.I should have been more clear. I was also trying to convey that interaction between authors and readers may inspire more people to try their hand at writing or whatever creative pursuit appeals to them to try. The generosity of authors in discussing their works has certainly been of help and encouragement to me in trying my hand at writing.It might be nice to win an award or a trophy for one's work, but if creating a work to win something is the reason for doing it then I think we might be inviting mediocrity to influence the results. I love to get feedback from readers and so far have not received any suggestions that I find intrudes on my creativity. Great artists have been ridiculed in their own time, causing much despair. Tchaikovsky comes to mind as well as Bruckner. Both were extremely harsh critics of their own works. Bruckner even went as far as ripping up some of his completed works.Any artist needs someone to show appreciation of their work. I hate to think how much good work has been abandoned by artists who were wrongly told their works were no good. I also despair at praise being given to poor work. This is a really difficult area. The worst thing you can do is tell someone with talent they should get an ordinary job so that they have "something to fall back on." This can remove the impetus to create.The next worst thing you can do is tell someone without talent not to get a job to fall back on.The trick is to see the difference. Damn difficult if not impossible. I also believe that teams are for sports and then only some of them.The artist must not be coerced into feeling obligated to abide by demands beyond his own internal aspirationsIt is fine to influence an artist in the form of inspiration to create, but the act of creation must remain the artist's domain alone.Otherwise we end up with the old adage of "A camel is a horse designed by a committee." An artist may of course invite the assistance of others as happens in film-making, but even then the director retains his sovereignty over his work. (Well at least until the financiers tell him to change it, but that is another story.)Creativity is a complex process. It has its own dynamic for growth in each person, often continually changing direction. Different artists do require different motivations. It is not always easy to define those differences or motivations. I agree the poll is a fun thing so long as it does not become the main objective of the author's reason for writing. I really wanted to see more voters so people would feel involved in the whole story idea as a fun thing to do. If completing a story becomes the next big competition idea of the television networks I will run screaming from it.

What? You're not looking forward to "The Next Best Writer In The World" TV show? It's supposed to have the most beautiful and/or handsome wannabee authors from around the USA, using their supplied iMac laptops (prominently displayed), each week featuring the time constrained writing of a new ending to an old favourite, reported to be, for the first few episodes: War and Peace, Gone With The Wind, and Romeo and Juliet. The endings must be understandable to 14 year olds, and use 'modern' language, not exceed 500 words, and be completely unique or innovative.

AAAAargh!

I like reader interaction. I don't mind when they offer valid commentary: "Why did George bugger Dick's backside when he was still secretly pining for Libby? I just don't buy it." I don't even mind suggestions "It would be so cool to see George murder Dick" and I love when readers offer suggestions, "You ignorant prick -- how could you leave the comma out after the conjuntion in the 49th paragraph on page 40" I also like when readers point out continuity gaffes, ask for clarification "can you explain WHY the character would do that" I learn from all of this. If readers have questions or concerns it means I may not have done my job properly -- or it may mean I have a surprise coming later. But when readers tell me I should write differently "I hate the way you write in present tense" that sort of puts me off. However, all-in-all I prefer reader email to no email.

Yes I know too what you mean WBMS,Lee Falk, the creator of the Phantom comic book character, admitted he loved getting letters from readers who had picked out a mistake, a continuity error or other such inconsistency. Not the least of these is the fact that the Phantom has been going since 1936 and if the character was, say, then in his twenties he would be now nearly 100 years old and yet still manages to fight evil all around the world. Must be that jungle living, or perhaps Lee Falk has been having us on and the Phantom really is The Ghost who Walks. I am pleased to see that 12 people have now voted for the stories because that tells me that 12 people have read my little effort. I like to know that is happening.If another twelve were to read them then maybe the voting would be different. Either way, for me the voting is more for the readers than for the authors.

I am pleased to see that 12 people have now voted for the stories because that tells me that 12 people have read my little effort. I like to know that is happening. If another twelve were to read them then maybe the voting would be different. Either way, for me the voting is more for the readers than for the authors.

Yes but all it tells you is that 12 people were motivated to vote. I suspect more people actually READ them.

One can only hope that more people read them than vote.

I am pleased to see that 12 people have now voted for the stories because that tells me that 12 people have read my little effort. I like to know that is happening. If another twelve were to read them then maybe the voting would be different. Either way, for me the voting is more for the readers than for the authors.

Yes but all it tells you is that 12 people were motivated to vote. I suspect more people actually READ them.

And that brings us back to why I wanted to encourage them to vote.I'm sure more people read than the twelve.