Comments on: The Ages of Writing http://www.sfnovelists.com/2007/11/05/the-ages-of-writing/ A mutual support group for SF/F Novelists Fri, 25 Jul 2008 01:46:58 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.1 By: Kelly McCullough http://www.sfnovelists.com/2007/11/05/the-ages-of-writing/#comment-937 Kelly McCullough Tue, 06 Nov 2007 15:56:04 +0000 http://www.sfnovelists.com/2007/11/05/the-ages-of-writing/#comment-937 Alma, nice stuff, both here and at your home blog. I do want to note that some of us are apparently born without writing innocence. From the first word I put on the page I was aiming for the goal of publication and career. That may be a side effect of coming to writing via theater, where I did indeed have something of that age of innocence--performing in school plays and the like for the sheer love of it long before a theater career ever would have occurred to me--though I was aiming for a life lived on the stage when I took a sudden side turn and started writing. Simon, I try to remind myself that humor is profoundly subjective. There are things that are things that many others find very funny that don't tickle my sense of humor at all, and inevitably, some of the humor I write isn't going to hit others in the funny. The funny thing (pun intended) is that sometimes I can even see why other will laugh at a joke that simply doesn't work for me. Alma, nice stuff, both here and at your home blog. I do want to note that some of us are apparently born without writing innocence. From the first word I put on the page I was aiming for the goal of publication and career. That may be a side effect of coming to writing via theater, where I did indeed have something of that age of innocence–performing in school plays and the like for the sheer love of it long before a theater career ever would have occurred to me–though I was aiming for a life lived on the stage when I took a sudden side turn and started writing.

Simon, I try to remind myself that humor is profoundly subjective. There are things that are things that many others find very funny that don’t tickle my sense of humor at all, and inevitably, some of the humor I write isn’t going to hit others in the funny. The funny thing (pun intended) is that sometimes I can even see why other will laugh at a joke that simply doesn’t work for me.

]]> By: Simon Haynes http://www.sfnovelists.com/2007/11/05/the-ages-of-writing/#comment-935 Simon Haynes Mon, 05 Nov 2007 23:51:02 +0000 http://www.sfnovelists.com/2007/11/05/the-ages-of-writing/#comment-935 Speaking of judging our own stuff - it's even worse with humour. Once I've read, edited and re-read my own gags twenty times, how can I possibly judge whether they're funny or not? I have to trust my instincts, but I've read many other supposedly funny books without cracking a smile. What if my instincts are off? What if I'm the only person laughing at my own jokes? Nevertheless, I keep coming back for more. I have to tell myself there are others out there who found those same funny books unfunny, and yet found mine amusing. Speaking of judging our own stuff - it’s even worse with humour. Once I’ve read, edited and re-read my own gags twenty times, how can I possibly judge whether they’re funny or not?

I have to trust my instincts, but I’ve read many other supposedly funny books without cracking a smile. What if my instincts are off? What if I’m the only person laughing at my own jokes?

Nevertheless, I keep coming back for more. I have to tell myself there are others out there who found those same funny books unfunny, and yet found mine amusing.

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