Lessons in humility, and models made of shit! - Writers Forum

Pete_C · 05-09-2008, 12:56 PM

Having read a few threads by an anonymous individual (I'm not naming him or her), I was sorely tempted to post a response telling them to learn some humility. What stopped me was past experience. I have previously told someone to understand humility before contemplating writing poetry, and they took it to mean that I expected humility towards me. They asked why I thought I deserved humility from a new writer, and then some other sad cases jumped the gun to pursue their own agendas, and the point was missed. Rather than give firearms to monkeys (a phrase those understanding colonial history will identify with), I decided to post something in here.

It is my opinion that any writer worth their salt needs to learn humility; humility towards the world! Poets are worse, because they think they're above even scribblers of prose. All too often when told their writing isn't up to scratch, the young poets (or new and not so young poets) end up decrying the reader's wisdom, stating that they just don't understand, and questioning the reader's intelligence. For me, that's arrogance gone way too far. learn humility, and understand that the reader is right!

That woman on the train reading Mills and Boon? She wouldn't understand, would she? For fuck's sake, she's reading romantic pulp. Well, the only person I know who reads that shit is a woman who likes it because ... well, she spends all day working on a cure for AIDS. As a highly intelligent researcher, she likes the mindless pulp novels because they are an escape. Still, she's obviously too thick to understand poetry, eh?

As writers, we crave recognition for something we have thought up. We believe that our thoughts are better than those of anyone else, and so we seek some form of recompense. Whether that be a kind word, a knowing smile or money, we expect something back. What we don't want and often don't accept is being told that our thoughts and how we present them just don't cut the mustard.

We don't build anything, or create anything that others cannot replicate. It's just our thoughts. It's like a street of beggars making model animals out of their own shit. Anyone could do it, but few bother. Then, when someone looks at the little horse fashioned out of shit and says: "It looks more like a cow", we scream about how stupid they are, how they don't understand, how we wouldn't accept their money if they were the last person on ...

Some of us make good models from our shit, others make not so good ones. However, we are crafting our shit, something that costs us nothing. We then expect others to suck it all up, to praise it, to buy it, to put it on a fucking pedestal. What's more, they will if it's good enough.

Good, bad, indifferent; think on this. Learn some fucking humility, because you are not irreplaceable.

alanmt · 05-09-2008, 01:31 PM

One of the best compliments I have had is being described as "modest without being self-effacing".

Of course, I am not sure how accurate it is, as I have a healthy sense of self-worth.

I do hear from industry professionals that many writers, even very successful ones, balk at the idea that their baby/brainchild/wonderous creation could benefit from editing. I always find editing suggestions to be helpful, humbling, and make my work better.

But that's because I rock.

rcallaci · 05-09-2008, 02:47 PM

We as writers are readers as well- to not respect readers- is to not respect ourselves. To be open to critisism, learn from it and accept it gracefully -be it bad or good- is what I believe to be a humble and mature writer-

my warmest
bob

Baron · 05-09-2008, 02:57 PM

Should they avoid hypocrisy as well, Pete? lol

lin · 05-09-2008, 03:18 PM

Regarding those models made of shit. What kind of glue to you use to put them together?

Mermaid on the breakwater · 05-09-2008, 04:24 PM

Fooookin' 'ell. Irony is the funniest of the lot.

Is crafting shit a bit like pottery? More interestingly, what were you on when you wrote this?

Shawn · 05-09-2008, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pete_C

Good, bad, indifferent; think on this. Learn some fucking humility, because you are not irreplaceable.

Too right.

Though I do wonder, sometimes, if there is some shit sculpture that we are not seeing, but should.

Baron · 05-09-2008, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shawn

Too right.

Though I do wonder, sometimes, if there is some shit sculpture that we are not seeing, but should.

*lips sealed*

a sense of humour has to be useful as well.

Pete_C · 05-09-2008, 05:21 PM

A sense of humour for some, a sense of smell for others; for all, a sense of ... well, it goes without saying.

Baron · 05-09-2008, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pete_C

A sense of humour for some, a sense of smell for others; for all, a sense of ... well, it goes without saying.

Pete, if you don't start writing comedy scripts then you'll really miss your true vocation.

Ilasir Maroa · 05-09-2008, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lin

Regarding those models made of shit. What kind of glue to you use to put them together?

Trade secret lin. (spit)

Pete, I agree with you up to a point. A lot of people do this, and it took me awhile to learn how not to. So you're right, but give people a few more chances. They need them.

Mermaid on the breakwater · 05-09-2008, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baron

Pete, if you don't start writing comedy scripts then you'll really miss your true vocation.

Rob, I thought this was one.

Pete_C · 05-09-2008, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mermaid on the breakwater

Rob, I thought this was one.

If you have nothing to add, then add nothing, eh?

Mermaid on the breakwater · 05-09-2008, 06:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pete_C

If you have nothing to add, then add nothing, eh?

Don't say that, Pete, you'll rule yourself out of posting altogether.

Pete_C · 05-09-2008, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mermaid on the breakwater

Don't say that, Pete, you'll rule yourself out of posting altogether.

No, you're right. Ahead you go then.