tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8753047208077056954.post4720038418766804386..comments2023-11-09T07:09:33.891-08:00Comments on Utah Children's Writers: Expression vs. ExperienceSarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10166492055392141231noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8753047208077056954.post-23162747589122086492011-09-08T21:14:56.966-07:002011-09-08T21:14:56.966-07:00My hope is that if I write something that entertai...My hope is that if I write something that entertains me, it will entertain others as well. If I have any higher goal, I guess it's to help turn boys on to reading in that mg/tween/ya age group when boys don't like reading, by giving them something they enjoy. But I really don't think about that while I'm writing. I just want to have fun with a new story.Scotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07450784902644202694noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8753047208077056954.post-59905619106288695442011-09-01T08:09:54.655-07:002011-09-01T08:09:54.655-07:00Writing is clearly about expression. Voice, that e...Writing is clearly about expression. Voice, that elusive magic, is intimately tied to who you are.<br /><br />Given those inescapable facts, the dichotomous question I asked in the title is really about your primary purpose in writing: what is it you think you'll accomplish with your literary undertaking? <br /><br />The eye-opener for me was that if it's all about you, you'll have a hard time finding and keeping an audience. If it's about your readers and something they might enjoy, then it's a very different (and far more enjoyable) ball game.Deren Hansenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11260147750947135832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8753047208077056954.post-67744716801254353682011-08-31T14:14:06.820-07:002011-08-31T14:14:06.820-07:00Agreed. There are only so many stories, but they b...Agreed. There are only so many stories, but they become more interesting because of the writer's personality and the issues that he or she adds to the story. <br /><br />I started writing a lot back in Jr. High because I had trouble finding books I liked during the transition from kid books to more grown up stories, so I made up my own stories. I think I still write because I like to entertain myself with the stories. But my writing group can tell you that certain themes show up in just about everything I write. We talked about this recently. <br /><br />Expressing those ideas has never been my (conscious, at least) reason for writing, but they are, I hope, an asset to my stories.Scotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07450784902644202694noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8753047208077056954.post-22129459982433200792011-08-31T10:41:21.341-07:002011-08-31T10:41:21.341-07:00I agree the story needs to be compelling or it won...I agree the story needs to be compelling or it won't be read, but how many of us can set ourselves aside and just write a compelling story. There's got to be a little of us, our thoughts, our desires, our opinions, etc., in every story we write.<br /><br />I started writing with a goal in mind - to express my opinions and morals. I soon found, however, that as Daren has expressed, if I expect to be read, the story must come first and be compelling. But I still can't see how I cannot express my opinions and morals as I write. It's what I am and what makes my writing mine and not someone else's.Paul W. West, Authorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09220698627730601499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8753047208077056954.post-21119801465000803662011-08-31T10:20:16.363-07:002011-08-31T10:20:16.363-07:00As a reader, I also believe it all comes down to a...As a reader, I also believe it all comes down to a good story. How many times have we read a book where the execution is lacking or the writing is lousy, but because the story is so compelling, we read on and love it anyway? It happens all the time. A good story that is also well-written, now that is a gem indeed!Julie Daineshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08350205936357263571noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8753047208077056954.post-83900086028941003342011-08-31T07:32:08.461-07:002011-08-31T07:32:08.461-07:00Sometimes, I think, we read and write for the same...Sometimes, I think, we read and write for the same reason: for the entertainment of a good story, whether it comes from a page or our own head. There are plenty of other reasons, as you mentioned, but sometimes it just comes down to that. Writing is an awful lot of work to get to a story, but if it doesn't entertain me, it won't entertain you.Scotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07450784902644202694noreply@blogger.com