Author:
Blog About:
Taxonomy upgrade extras:
 |
The Family Girl Blogs
(aka "The New Working Girl Blogs") 
Blog #27: Of Shakespeare and Private Messages To see all of Bobbie's Family Girl Blogs, click on this link:http://bigclosetr.us/topshelf/book/28818/family-girl-blogs |
I got a pleasant private message early this morning, which I read before my usual early Saturday morning jog (sometimes bicycle ride), from someone named Kate, and she wanted to talk about some of the stuff I wrote.
Seems that she spotted an error in one of my stories, specifically, Danny Part 6.
There was a quote there which I used, which went, "I love thee, I love but thee, with a love that shall not die till the sun grows cold and the stars are old."
A beautiful quote, but, in the story, I said that it was from Shakespeare. Kate had pointed out that it was actually from a poem by Bayard Taylor called "Bedouin Song."
I did some research and it was true. It was by Taylor and not Shakespeare. Taylor was an American poet who lived in the eighteen hundreds., and wrote his poem two hundred years after Shakespeare.
But I also found out that my mistake wasn't unique (thank goodness) and that a lot of others made the same mistake. Which bucked me up a bit. Another quote that is regularly attributed mistakenly to Shakespeare were the lines, "How do I love thee? Let me count the ways" et cetera. This was actually from sonnet number 43 from a 44-sonnet piece from 1850, called "Sonnets from the Portuguese" by Elizabeth Barrett Browning.
I truly appreciated Kate's considerateness (or is it "consideration") for correcting me privately, but I could not help but think of others who do the same thing - correct the writers, but as public comments instead.
In my last story, I felt sorely picked on when every other public comment seemed to be a correction. There was one particular comment that I thought was particularly brutal. It was a fairly long comment - twelve paragraphs long, and each paragraph was about how the commenter did not quite agree... or how it was odd that... or how she can't believe that...
Still others' posts were more, ummm, quantifiable, and talked about specific errors about the technology I used in the story. At least those were easier to field.
The one thing I learned here was that readers feel a direct connection to the stories they like, and as such feel very proprietary about them, and feel that they have the right to make demands of the writer, to correct, possibly to improve, the story they so like. That's okay by me. But I just don't understand why they have to do so publicly. I wish that they would do so in a private way, instead of in public.
Anyway, I guess I am considering discontinuing my latest story now. Or maybe I just need time for my wounded pride to recover. I don't know yet.
Those who haven't written much do not really know how much of themselves writers put into their work, nor do they know how difficult it is to write stories, and therefore how badly negative commennts or corrections can hurt, even though they couch them in polite words (At least that is one thing I am glad about here in BCTS - that Erin will not allow obviously negative or rude posts and comments.)
So, my apologies to The Bard, and a big thank you to Considerate Kate. I will quote Shakespeare again: "I can no other answer make, but, thanks, and thanks."
An this time, I'm sure this is really Shakespeare.
 |
|
Note:
|
Lots of graphics in Bobbi's posts use publicly-accessible pics from the net: No ownership is claimed nor IP infringements intended
|
click here for the prev. Family Girl post
click here for the next Family Girl post
click here for the Family Girl MainPage
Comments
All good stuff Bobbie-C:)
But can we have Danny-7 and more please! It's one of my favorite stories.
*Huge Hugs*
Bailey.
Bailey Summers
Workin on it :)
it's coming. I'm having a hard time getting back into Danny's head, plus the fact that a lot is happening in rl (a big change is happening to Moe's and my life - let you guys know about it later), but I'm working on it.  I really am.
I don't know. Â I guess I'm not the same person who began the story anymore. Â "Danny" is a story that has such personal connections and meaning for me. Â I started writing it as a therapeutic thing to get me through my depression from a suicide attempt, splitting with my ex, coping with the change and the loneliness I felt from disconnecting with the family, coping with a minimum-wage job I did not know how to do (I took the cashier-waitress job just to get by), and getting used to a solitary existence.
In fact, parts one to four of the story were written in bits and pieces from the period of 2005 to 2008. Â I wrote when the spirit moved me, when I was feeling particularly low. Â I eventually collected the bits and pieces, cleaned them up and made a coherent narrative, and Danny the Story was born.
That girl that wrote that is gone now, more-or-less.  I did my best and have since reconnected with people and family, I now have a job I know to do, I am financially better off, I am now comfortable in my new girl-life, and I now have my MoeMoe.  And the feelings and emotions I had that made it possible for me to write "Danny" are not there anymore.  But I will do my best.  I have lots of it already written, and I am doing my darndest to write more, time permitting.
I can only ask that you be patient with me.
Bobbie's stories -Â
http://bigclosetr.us/topshelf/book/14775/roberta-j-cabot
Bobbie's blogs -
http://bigclosetr.us/topshelf/blog/bobbie-c
Gratitude!
And as it says, in consideration of said tale and the authoress thereof,
"I thank ye; and be blest for your good comfort!"
Love, Andrea Lena
Shakespeare and friendship
"To set a gloss on faint deeds, hollow welcomes,
Recanting goodness, sorry ere 'tis shown;
But where there is true friendship, there needs none."
  - (Timon of Athens 1.2.20), Timon
Bobbie's stories -Â
http://bigclosetr.us/topshelf/book/14775/roberta-j-cabot
Bobbie's blogs -
http://bigclosetr.us/topshelf/blog/bobbie-c
Please take heart Bobbi.
I can understand that how a written criticism is worded can make a great difference in how it is taken by the author who receives it. It is easy to overlook that the written word and the spoken word can often be perceived quite differently. The same phrase which, when spoken, can clearly be seen to be 'Tongue-in-Cheek' often comes over as a major attack on the recipient when written down in the cold, impersonal, environment of an electronic message. I often see things which don't sit right with me in stories I read from the internet yet, I rarely make a comment on them to the author concerned. It is all too easy to make such Nit-Picks sound like an attack on someone who has made the effort to write something for the entertainment of others.
Conversely, I seldom comment favourably about stories either, something I am trying to do something about, when really I should, even if only to say, 'I liked that Story, Please write some more'. So please Bobbi, don't let a few people, who may not realise just how hurtful their comments are to you, stop you from writing your stories. There is probably a far larger 'Silent' majority out there who enjoy them, as I do, without being critical and who do not make the effort to comment upon them. And, yes, I second the first comment in this thread, Please... Can we have more of Danny's exploits, they are so enjoyable to read. (I'd add 'Big Sad Puppy Dog Eyes' but I'm not that good at those!)
John.
Gwyneth
The photo in the upper left corner is not Gwyneth Palrow from "Shakespeare in Love" is it? Hugs and love, Cindy
Nope
No, it's not Gwyneth. :)
Bobbie's stories -Â
http://bigclosetr.us/topshelf/book/14775/roberta-j-cabot
Bobbie's blogs -
http://bigclosetr.us/topshelf/blog/bobbie-c
public comments
I appreciate comments on my stories, even negative ones. Minor issues of grammar and other nit-picks should be made privately, as should issues like the quote and its source. But any praise should be made publicly.
The Family Girl #27: Of Shakespeare and Private Messages
Me myself, I have enjoyed your stories and the pics that you use.
May Your Light Forever Shine
In the immortal words of 30,000 Bastards...
Select the play icon ▶ followed by "Play direct from 30KB (3:00)"
I have the song (the whole album, actually) from their first album, 30,000 Leagues Under the Scene. It makes a nice meditative mantra when feeling put upon for any reason whatsoever.
-
Cheers,
Puddin'
A tender heart is an asset to an editor: it helps us be ruthless in a tactful way.
--- The Chicago Manual of Style
Quote Shakespeare by all means ...
... but make sure it's the right one. Francois Hollande, the French socialist presidential contender, apparently used the quote "They failed because they did not begin with a dream" and, correctly, attributed it to Shakespeare. Unfortunately it was written by Nicholas Shakespeare, the novelist and not by the bard of Stratford-on-Avon. It was reported in this morning's Observer I read over breakfast and it seemed to fit with your own understandable error.
I do occasionally contact writers about typos and errors of fact in stories but by PM and in the spirit of co-operation. Even then, I only ever comment on stories I like and therefore care about. So don't be discouraged, perhaps your critic loved your story so much she wanted you to make it perfect, at least, in her eyes.
Robi
I couldn't agree more
With your comment on how hard it is to write a story. Some times the words just flow and others it's like extracting teeth to put anything down. I love the I've never written anything, but you should extend the, not your, but the story, like I have all these ideas running around in my head playing nice with real life problems. Writing is a way of pushing those problems to the side now and then. Let the complainer sit and write a novel, or even a short story for that matter to see how easy it is not to make a mistake now and then. The time you take to write your story and very interesting blogs is a service to the community, Thank you Bobbie, Arecee
Public Criticism
I know I have commented about this before but I must say it again. I really enjoy your stories. I am completely without any creative ability of my own, but I love reading. I think you have talent as a writer. Your stories are well written in my opinion. I guess some people take some pleasure in hurting other peoples feelings in a public forum. Don't a few individuals stop you from doing something you enjoy. I personally hope you continue to share your stories with us. I have been hoping you will continue with Danny's story, but I can understand if need time to find the inspiration to do so. I do hope you will continue with Sheppard's Moon as well. I know that I am guilty of rarely commenting on stories I like. I guess I'm lazy that way. It's easier to hit the kudo's button than it is to comment. Sorry about being long winded but I think it would be a real bummer if you stopped contributing to BCTS. You sound like a sweet and sensitive person and I hope you won't let the meanies get you down. Hang in there.
Mark