Comments on: I broke down and went to a meeting http://hometoheather.com/2008/05/i-broke-down-and-went-to-a-meeting/ a mom blog : writing, living and parenting in Calgary Alberta Thu, 09 Sep 2010 16:55:04 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: col @ gigablonde :: things to do in ny when you're [alive] http://hometoheather.com/2008/05/i-broke-down-and-went-to-a-meeting/comment-page-1/#comment-266 col @ gigablonde :: things to do in ny when you're [alive] Mon, 02 Jun 2008 14:58:00 +0000 http://mercantilespark.com/?p=430#comment-266 YES!!! Just last night I wrote a friend about how I'm not planning on attending a certain meeting anymore. For a while I couldn't put my finger on it but you described it *perfectly*!!! Used car salesman vibe and drinking the kool-aid ... YES!!! <br/><br/>Why does it feel so good that SOMEBODY understands! The group I'm referering to is not a writing group but it's the exact thing you describe. <br/><br/>The second I joined I began being barraged by the group leader with e-mails about how we should all come to her ($85) workshops. <br/><br/>I noticed in the meeting a repeated reference to what she does in her workshops and I just felt ikky! I couldn't quite figure out what it was. I kept questioning myself, "Of course people are welcome to share that they run a workshop ... what was I so bugged out about? Everyone needs a little plug here and there, right?" ... but ICK!!! <br/><br/>I'm so curious to know because this is something I've been trying to figure out since then ... What do you feel is the difference between the ikky-yukky-poo-poo feeling we were having and a normal/acceptable/harmless plug of one's own work? <br/><br/>THANK YOU for addressing this and making me feel "joined"! YES!!! Just last night I wrote a friend about how I’m not planning on attending a certain meeting anymore. For a while I couldn’t put my finger on it but you described it *perfectly*!!! Used car salesman vibe and drinking the kool-aid … YES!!!

Why does it feel so good that SOMEBODY understands! The group I’m referering to is not a writing group but it’s the exact thing you describe.

The second I joined I began being barraged by the group leader with e-mails about how we should all come to her ($85) workshops.

I noticed in the meeting a repeated reference to what she does in her workshops and I just felt ikky! I couldn’t quite figure out what it was. I kept questioning myself, “Of course people are welcome to share that they run a workshop … what was I so bugged out about? Everyone needs a little plug here and there, right?” … but ICK!!!

I’m so curious to know because this is something I’ve been trying to figure out since then … What do you feel is the difference between the ikky-yukky-poo-poo feeling we were having and a normal/acceptable/harmless plug of one’s own work?

THANK YOU for addressing this and making me feel “joined”!

]]> By: Steve Malley http://hometoheather.com/2008/05/i-broke-down-and-went-to-a-meeting/comment-page-1/#comment-265 Steve Malley Thu, 22 May 2008 21:36:00 +0000 http://mercantilespark.com/?p=430#comment-265 I meet local writers/authors for coffee or lunch, but we talk aobut just about anything BUT writing. <br/><br/>To be honest, about inspiration I'm not sure I have a choice. <br/><br/>My challenge is trying to get as much out as a piddling twenty-four hours allow... I meet local writers/authors for coffee or lunch, but we talk aobut just about anything BUT writing.

To be honest, about inspiration I’m not sure I have a choice.

My challenge is trying to get as much out as a piddling twenty-four hours allow…

]]> By: blackcrag http://hometoheather.com/2008/05/i-broke-down-and-went-to-a-meeting/comment-page-1/#comment-264 blackcrag Wed, 21 May 2008 20:47:00 +0000 http://mercantilespark.com/?p=430#comment-264 Outside of a couple writing courses I signed up for, I'm not one for groups--though I did start my own once, when living in Victoria and looking for a little inspiriation or feeedback.<br/><br/>There were only ever two or three of us. We we sat and talked about our everyday lives as much as the writing. It was fun, but didn't last. We started in the fall, lasted through the winter but interest drifted away over the spring and summer. Outside of a couple writing courses I signed up for, I’m not one for groups–though I did start my own once, when living in Victoria and looking for a little inspiriation or feeedback.

There were only ever two or three of us. We we sat and talked about our everyday lives as much as the writing. It was fun, but didn’t last. We started in the fall, lasted through the winter but interest drifted away over the spring and summer.

]]> By: H.E.Eigler http://hometoheather.com/2008/05/i-broke-down-and-went-to-a-meeting/comment-page-1/#comment-263 H.E.Eigler Wed, 21 May 2008 06:10:00 +0000 http://mercantilespark.com/?p=430#comment-263 Ivan - I love how you can refer to yourself as a bitch and keep a straight face :)<br/><br/>Danielle - hope you find your inspiration!<br/><br/>Charles - I'm glad you have a good group. Don't worry about me, I can smell a sales pitch from a mile away :)<br/><br/>Luckygirl - thanks for the link...I'm off to check it out! Ivan – I love how you can refer to yourself as a bitch and keep a straight face :)

Danielle – hope you find your inspiration!

Charles – I’m glad you have a good group. Don’t worry about me, I can smell a sales pitch from a mile away :)

Luckygirl – thanks for the link…I’m off to check it out!

]]> By: Lucky Girl http://hometoheather.com/2008/05/i-broke-down-and-went-to-a-meeting/comment-page-1/#comment-262 Lucky Girl Wed, 21 May 2008 04:10:00 +0000 http://mercantilespark.com/?p=430#comment-262 Writing groups can be a huge boost, but you have to find the one that fits you. If you want to pursue writing for kids and/or teens, you might want to find a local SCBWI group (www.scbwi.org)--that is the most generous and helpful bunch I've ever hung out with! Writing groups can be a huge boost, but you have to find the one that fits you. If you want to pursue writing for kids and/or teens, you might want to find a local SCBWI group (www.scbwi.org)–that is the most generous and helpful bunch I’ve ever hung out with!

]]> By: Charles Gramlich http://hometoheather.com/2008/05/i-broke-down-and-went-to-a-meeting/comment-page-1/#comment-261 Charles Gramlich Tue, 20 May 2008 17:13:00 +0000 http://mercantilespark.com/?p=430#comment-261 I'm in a group but this one you're talking about sounds more like someone trying to sell you something. Be careful. I really enjoy my group and it definitely helps keep me energized. I’m in a group but this one you’re talking about sounds more like someone trying to sell you something. Be careful. I really enjoy my group and it definitely helps keep me energized.

]]> By: Danielle http://hometoheather.com/2008/05/i-broke-down-and-went-to-a-meeting/comment-page-1/#comment-260 Danielle Tue, 20 May 2008 10:22:00 +0000 http://mercantilespark.com/?p=430#comment-260 Atr leats the guest speaker was interesting. You are probably right about he group leader. Stay away from the funny purple drink! The only time I have really read my writing for anyone was when I attened a writing seminar for teaching two summers ago- The National Writing Project. It was motivating but stressful. I did belong to a book club but we haven't met in months. It seems I need some inspiration. Atr leats the guest speaker was interesting. You are probably right about he group leader. Stay away from the funny purple drink! The only time I have really read my writing for anyone was when I attened a writing seminar for teaching two summers ago- The National Writing Project. It was motivating but stressful. I did belong to a book club but we haven’t met in months. It seems I need some inspiration.

]]> By: ivan@creativewriting.ca http://hometoheather.com/2008/05/i-broke-down-and-went-to-a-meeting/comment-page-1/#comment-259 ivan@creativewriting.ca Tue, 20 May 2008 08:42:00 +0000 http://mercantilespark.com/?p=430#comment-259 Some groups can be a downer.<br/><br/>After years of teaching writing, I joined an ex-officio group of writers out of lmy immediate circle, just for fun.<br/><br/>It had been my turn to read something just after a Russian lady had read a beautiful passage in English about Russian Easter. It was wonderful, but I know where she had gotten the segment.<br/><br/>I read my own stuff, and it suddenly seemed to be be some kind of insult to her.<br/>"I don't know how to say this,"she had snorted. <br/>"But what with your past accomplishments, this chapter is really awkward...boring, actually. <br/><br/>Well, I knew she had stolen outright the Easter account from a Maxim Gorky novel.<br/><br/>I was more plucky in those days.<br/><br/>"Im sorry you though my chapter dull," I had said.<br/><br/>"Yours is brilliant, but, unfortunately, I know where you got it from. It is Maxim Gorky, c. l923.<br/><br/>Her sneer vanished.<br/><br/>I had to drive the bolt home.<br/><br/>"And there's something Gorky said at the end:"<br/><br/><br/>"Be good, be kind, be humane, and charitable; love your fellows; console the afflicted; pardon those who have done you wrong." <br/><br/>...I didn't have to add that last part, but I had just taken a Russian course and had to put on the <em>sobaka</em> a little bit.<br/><br/>I think we were in a bitch fight. :) Some groups can be a downer.

After years of teaching writing, I joined an ex-officio group of writers out of lmy immediate circle, just for fun.

It had been my turn to read something just after a Russian lady had read a beautiful passage in English about Russian Easter. It was wonderful, but I know where she had gotten the segment.

I read my own stuff, and it suddenly seemed to be be some kind of insult to her.
“I don’t know how to say this,”she had snorted.
“But what with your past accomplishments, this chapter is really awkward…boring, actually.

Well, I knew she had stolen outright the Easter account from a Maxim Gorky novel.

I was more plucky in those days.

“Im sorry you though my chapter dull,” I had said.

“Yours is brilliant, but, unfortunately, I know where you got it from. It is Maxim Gorky, c. l923.

Her sneer vanished.

I had to drive the bolt home.

“And there’s something Gorky said at the end:”

“Be good, be kind, be humane, and charitable; love your fellows; console the afflicted; pardon those who have done you wrong.”

…I didn’t have to add that last part, but I had just taken a Russian course and had to put on the sobaka a little bit.

I think we were in a bitch fight. :)

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