Comments on: Attacking by Retreating http://www.sfnovelists.com/2010/02/01/attacking-by-retreating/ A mutual support group for SF/F Novelists Thu, 09 Feb 2012 21:39:12 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Elias McClellan http://www.sfnovelists.com/2010/02/01/attacking-by-retreating/#comment-8005 Elias McClellan Thu, 04 Feb 2010 17:48:58 +0000 http://www.sfnovelists.com/2010/02/01/attacking-by-retreating/#comment-8005 @4, I'll have you know I resemble that remark! But as fatherhood approaches, I'm trying harder not to lean on that crutch. As for the group. We three are the exceptions to an otherwise very productive/instructive bunch. I tone out those two and they do the same with me. Plus, I'm learning to behave myself rather than act a total 12 year old, resorting to scuffles to articulate my point. @4, I’ll have you know I resemble that remark! But as fatherhood approaches, I’m trying harder not to lean on that crutch. As for the group. We three are the exceptions to an otherwise very productive/instructive bunch. I tone out those two and they do the same with me. Plus, I’m learning to behave myself rather than act a total 12 year old, resorting to scuffles to articulate my point.

]]> By: Mindy Klasky http://www.sfnovelists.com/2010/02/01/attacking-by-retreating/#comment-7997 Mindy Klasky Wed, 03 Feb 2010 12:33:36 +0000 http://www.sfnovelists.com/2010/02/01/attacking-by-retreating/#comment-7997 Hmmm... I'd have a hard time getting through a two-hour writers group meeting with racists and misogynists and other people with whom I disagree so strongly - much less an entire weekend or week of writers retreat! While I'm sure that -ists *can* provide good critiques of writing, I'd find it difficult to accept their perspectives and listen to the core of what they have to say. (as for the maturity of the male in the species - I smiled when I read your words. I know some men who are mature, but a lot who aren't. And some who use the "impossibility" argument as an excuse!) Hmmm… I’d have a hard time getting through a two-hour writers group meeting with racists and misogynists and other people with whom I disagree so strongly – much less an entire weekend or week of writers retreat! While I’m sure that -ists *can* provide good critiques of writing, I’d find it difficult to accept their perspectives and listen to the core of what they have to say.

(as for the maturity of the male in the species – I smiled when I read your words. I know some men who are mature, but a lot who aren’t. And some who use the “impossibility” argument as an excuse!)

]]> By: Elias McClellan http://www.sfnovelists.com/2010/02/01/attacking-by-retreating/#comment-7992 Elias McClellan Tue, 02 Feb 2010 14:33:20 +0000 http://www.sfnovelists.com/2010/02/01/attacking-by-retreating/#comment-7992 Who you would want on that type of excursion is more important than the local, activities, and food. The writer's group I'm in now is highly disparate bunch. One is a little, white-haired, grandmother and highschool teacher. She's writing historical fiction and pitching how benign slavery was. Another is a misogynistic-racist I've already put in check twice; only been in the group since December. I (being the quick-temptered, socially challenged one in the bunch) am sure I wouldn't be on anyone's short list for a retreat or the long list either. Maybe its different when working with people you admire. But when I consider the writers I admire, I don't know that I'd want to hang out with them. Or, for that matter, they'd want to hang with me. I consider writing a solitary pursuit and I have to consciously turn it off when I'm around the ray of sunshine (sanity, love, life) that is my Mrs. Maybe its different for women since, by and large you do mature quicker than men, but thats assuming that we ever mature at all. Personally, I think the mature man is a myth constructed by women to force us to aspire beyound our natural state of silliness. Who you would want on that type of excursion is more important than the local, activities, and food. The writer’s group I’m in now is highly disparate bunch. One is a little, white-haired, grandmother and highschool teacher. She’s writing historical fiction and pitching how benign slavery was. Another is a misogynistic-racist I’ve already put in check twice; only been in the group since December. I (being the quick-temptered, socially challenged one in the bunch) am sure I wouldn’t be on anyone’s short list for a retreat or the long list either.

Maybe its different when working with people you admire. But when I consider the writers I admire, I don’t know that I’d want to hang out with them. Or, for that matter, they’d want to hang with me. I consider writing a solitary pursuit and I have to consciously turn it off when I’m around the ray of sunshine (sanity, love, life) that is my Mrs.

Maybe its different for women since, by and large you do mature quicker than men, but thats assuming that we ever mature at all. Personally, I think the mature man is a myth constructed by women to force us to aspire beyound our natural state of silliness.

]]> By: Mindy Klasky http://www.sfnovelists.com/2010/02/01/attacking-by-retreating/#comment-7991 Mindy Klasky Tue, 02 Feb 2010 13:47:08 +0000 http://www.sfnovelists.com/2010/02/01/attacking-by-retreating/#comment-7991 See, that's another whole line of reasoning... Who would we invite on our dream writers' retreat?!? See, that’s another whole line of reasoning… Who would we invite on our dream writers’ retreat?!?

]]> By: Deborah Blake http://www.sfnovelists.com/2010/02/01/attacking-by-retreating/#comment-7990 Deborah Blake Mon, 01 Feb 2010 20:24:50 +0000 http://www.sfnovelists.com/2010/02/01/attacking-by-retreating/#comment-7990 When you arrange this dream retreat (I vote for by the water!) you'd better include me in!!!! I've never been on a writer's retreat, but with the right (write) people, it would be wonderful. When you arrange this dream retreat (I vote for by the water!) you’d better include me in!!!!

I’ve never been on a writer’s retreat, but with the right (write) people, it would be wonderful.

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