Comments on: Maunderings on expertise and writing http://www.sfnovelists.com/2007/09/03/maunderings-on-expertise-and-writing/ A mutual support group for SF/F Novelists Tue, 06 Jan 2009 07:44:14 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.1 By: Karen Wester Newton http://www.sfnovelists.com/2007/09/03/maunderings-on-expertise-and-writing/#comment-314 Karen Wester Newton Wed, 05 Sep 2007 19:55:13 +0000 http://www.sfnovelists.com/2007/09/03/maunderings-on-expertise-and-writing/#comment-314 I think it's true that you can be too much of an expert--so immersed in the subject that you lose touch with the non-experts. Years ago I worked at the National Agricultural Library. One erudite botanist, renowned for the breadth of his knowledge of his subject, was famous for an elevator conversation. A non-scientist asked him, "Is it true a tomato is really a fruit, not a vegetable?" The guy gave him the proverbial look of withering scorn and said, "A tomato is a ripened ovary. Everyone knows that." Some times too much information is bad. It sure put me off fruit altogether. I think it’s true that you can be too much of an expert–so immersed in the subject that you lose touch with the non-experts.

Years ago I worked at the National Agricultural Library. One erudite botanist, renowned for the breadth of his knowledge of his subject, was famous for an elevator conversation. A non-scientist asked him, “Is it true a tomato is really a fruit, not a vegetable?”

The guy gave him the proverbial look of withering scorn and said, “A tomato is a ripened ovary. Everyone knows that.”

Some times too much information is bad. It sure put me off fruit altogether.

]]> By: retterson http://www.sfnovelists.com/2007/09/03/maunderings-on-expertise-and-writing/#comment-304 retterson Tue, 04 Sep 2007 21:13:33 +0000 http://www.sfnovelists.com/2007/09/03/maunderings-on-expertise-and-writing/#comment-304 All of us would appear endlessly knowledgeable and erudite if we had a passel of interns to scour the Internet at moment's notice to pull up that Just So quote we need -- yanno, like they do in the movies. Until there are brain implants, the only expert experts will the folks who are fronts for a cadre of writers, researchers and interns. You're not a fraud. All of us would appear endlessly knowledgeable and erudite if we had a passel of interns to scour the Internet at moment’s notice to pull up that Just So quote we need — yanno, like they do in the movies.

Until there are brain implants, the only expert experts will the folks who are fronts for a cadre of writers, researchers and interns.

You’re not a fraud.

]]> By: mbrother http://www.sfnovelists.com/2007/09/03/maunderings-on-expertise-and-writing/#comment-303 mbrother Tue, 04 Sep 2007 17:21:28 +0000 http://www.sfnovelists.com/2007/09/03/maunderings-on-expertise-and-writing/#comment-303 Asimov apparently forgot most of what he wrote about in short order. I guess the lesson is, if you're that sort of person who can't retain it all longterm, write it down FAST! And also realize that a lot of the memory things are keyed to interest level. Those people who know lots about lots, actually just know everything about what they're paying attention to, and the sea of knowledge is too vast for anyone to know a large fraction of it. When it comes to astronomy, I know it inside out, and remember the gist of essentially everything I read on the subject. I also remember quite a lot of what I read about writing. And I keep up with pop culture and several other areas. I probably sound like one of those know-it-alls, but its all an illusion maintained as long as we don't stray into an area of my mental map labeled "Here be Dragons." Actually, that's not true. I'm down on dragons. It's the area labeled "Here be automotive repair" where I will break down. Plenty of PhDs out there who think they're faking it when they're the real deal. Pretty much they're all experts in their fields, but acutely aware of what they don't know more than what they do know. Asimov apparently forgot most of what he wrote about in short order. I guess the lesson is, if you’re that sort of person who can’t retain it all longterm, write it down FAST!

And also realize that a lot of the memory things are keyed to interest level. Those people who know lots about lots, actually just know everything about what they’re paying attention to, and the sea of knowledge is too vast for anyone to know a large fraction of it. When it comes to astronomy, I know it inside out, and remember the gist of essentially everything I read on the subject. I also remember quite a lot of what I read about writing. And I keep up with pop culture and several other areas. I probably sound like one of those know-it-alls, but its all an illusion maintained as long as we don’t stray into an area of my mental map labeled “Here be Dragons.”

Actually, that’s not true. I’m down on dragons. It’s the area labeled “Here be automotive repair” where I will break down. Plenty of PhDs out there who think they’re faking it when they’re the real deal. Pretty much they’re all experts in their fields, but acutely aware of what they don’t know more than what they do know.

]]> By: Cameron Lowe http://www.sfnovelists.com/2007/09/03/maunderings-on-expertise-and-writing/#comment-302 Cameron Lowe Tue, 04 Sep 2007 17:03:09 +0000 http://www.sfnovelists.com/2007/09/03/maunderings-on-expertise-and-writing/#comment-302 I have had friends and teachers specialize in one particular area, and while I admire and greatly respect their enthusiasm for the one subject, I can't do it. I am as eclectic in knowledge as I am in my love for books, movies, and games. I can't just read one period or one genre endlessly - I've gotta have a sampling of everything and anything. I'm getting better at research. I have a horrible memory for specifics, and so I am learning to keep constant notes. Sometimes, the topics that used to bore me to tears (science and geography, for example) are now my biggest side-interests because of my writing. I think that's half the joy of the work - while some of the research is droll, there's quite a bit that can be nearly as entertaining as doing the actual writing. I have had friends and teachers specialize in one particular area, and while I admire and greatly respect their enthusiasm for the one subject, I can’t do it. I am as eclectic in knowledge as I am in my love for books, movies, and games. I can’t just read one period or one genre endlessly - I’ve gotta have a sampling of everything and anything.

I’m getting better at research. I have a horrible memory for specifics, and so I am learning to keep constant notes. Sometimes, the topics that used to bore me to tears (science and geography, for example) are now my biggest side-interests because of my writing. I think that’s half the joy of the work - while some of the research is droll, there’s quite a bit that can be nearly as entertaining as doing the actual writing.

]]> By: Psychedelic Pariah http://www.sfnovelists.com/2007/09/03/maunderings-on-expertise-and-writing/#comment-300 Psychedelic Pariah Tue, 04 Sep 2007 13:10:06 +0000 http://www.sfnovelists.com/2007/09/03/maunderings-on-expertise-and-writing/#comment-300 Thank you, thank you, thank you for writing this. Based on this little tidbit of you that you've shared, we're kindred spirits. I can't tell you how many times I've lamented this fact of myself, about which you've written so eloquently. I feel so good this morning, knowing that I'm not the complete fraud I've believed myself to be. I guess I prefer to think of myself as a temporary expert. And it feels great to discover that I'm not the only one out there. Thank you, thank you, thank you for writing this.

Based on this little tidbit of you that you’ve shared, we’re kindred spirits. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve lamented this fact of myself, about which you’ve written so eloquently.

I feel so good this morning, knowing that I’m not the complete fraud I’ve believed myself to be. I guess I prefer to think of myself as a temporary expert. And it feels great to discover that I’m not the only one out there.

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