tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post7725888057640733371..comments2024-03-22T12:11:58.453-06:00Comments on Michael Offutt: My late Insecure Writer's Support Group post in which I ask you why we writeMichael Offutt, Phantom Readerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10557969104886174930noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-21473192027698924982015-02-06T16:23:45.444-07:002015-02-06T16:23:45.444-07:00It is hard to believe that you could have ever bee...It is hard to believe that you could have ever been invisible in your community. If you were, then writing must be some kind of magic, as so many people know you now.<br />Why do I write ? I write when I see an issue. Also I write to help improve things in this world and help make it better,MunirGhiasuddinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05232362559666320301noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-82587333967288319782015-02-06T16:01:30.154-07:002015-02-06T16:01:30.154-07:00There was this one college class I took where I ha...There was this one college class I took where I had to participate in group conversations as part of the grade. It was so hard. I felt like I was interrupting the whole time. Really had to push myself. It was torture, but I managed to pass. I'm mostly a listener. But if someone won't let me get a word in edge wise...I tend to avoid those people. Cindyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07922596724107742478noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-57416835906013787612015-02-06T14:29:36.876-07:002015-02-06T14:29:36.876-07:00I like what Alex had to say in his comment, and if...I like what Alex had to say in his comment, and if you combine his experience with yours and mine a pattern emerges. I'm older than you, and people even older than me often complain about the dying art of conversation; I've certainly noticed the changes over the years. I adore great conversations, but they're increasingly hard to come by. And yes, not only do I meet too many people who talk ad nauseum about themselves, they boast and self-promote shamelessly. Whatever happened to having a self-deprecating sense of humor?Helenahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14967821142796562697noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-26586033730729679952015-02-06T11:20:46.551-07:002015-02-06T11:20:46.551-07:00How interesting. I seem to keep finding people who...How interesting. I seem to keep finding people who insist I talk, and I find I have nothing to say. Wanna trade?Liz A.https://www.blogger.com/profile/16531953467834426316noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-39984084464402728732015-02-06T09:52:37.666-07:002015-02-06T09:52:37.666-07:00I had a difficult childhood. Like you I was ignore...I had a difficult childhood. Like you I was ignored and marginalized, so I became a jester and entertainer to draw attention to myself. This merged into an interest to create art and later writing, but the desire to entertain has never left me.stephen Hayeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17659054447637207734noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-88155770632464613502015-02-06T09:29:29.051-07:002015-02-06T09:29:29.051-07:00Great song selection, Andrew. Thanks for sharing.Great song selection, Andrew. Thanks for sharing.Michael Offutt, Phantom Readerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10557969104886174930noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-47042432292762758762015-02-06T09:28:58.170-07:002015-02-06T09:28:58.170-07:00I wish you would elaborate on this thought.I wish you would elaborate on this thought.Michael Offutt, Phantom Readerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10557969104886174930noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-71809328315436836222015-02-06T08:37:05.127-07:002015-02-06T08:37:05.127-07:00A song for you:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aj...A song for you:<br />https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajVoeX4eqIQ<br /><br />Mostly, I write because I want to and because I'm good at it.Andrew Leonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13964775673414653644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-38318000532066363162015-02-06T08:30:04.287-07:002015-02-06T08:30:04.287-07:00I've been thinking a lot recently about a stud...I've been thinking a lot recently about a study that showed that writing about a traumatic experience helped people process it and move on. So I think that some of the reason we write is to explain our own stories to ourselves -- either to preserve memories or just to weave a narrative structure in which to understand them.<br /><br />When you write for the public, you may be doing a different kind of writing. When you write for other people to read it, that may be different. But if you do any kind of personal journaling, that may be a kind of personal memoir in which to understand your own life.<br /><br />Just some thoughts...Callie Leuckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09535505792102190920noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-31943826482084294122015-02-06T08:20:48.564-07:002015-02-06T08:20:48.564-07:00You may be on to something there. A lot of writers...You may be on to something there. A lot of writers are introverts and probably make better observers/listeners than they do talkers. Not all, of course. Some are the life of the party and are comfortable doing it. But the rest of us likely do better expressing ourselves in writing. I can say exactly what I want without interruption. Oh, and revise it if I say something really stupid. :P Luanne G. Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15762881276976395955noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-27508614719576531072015-02-06T08:19:38.457-07:002015-02-06T08:19:38.457-07:00All writers are needy and narcissistic.All writers are needy and narcissistic.PT Dillowayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09394481476862013009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-82600505689743192682015-02-06T07:54:50.460-07:002015-02-06T07:54:50.460-07:00I was taught that silence is golden, and every wor...I was taught that silence is golden, and every word I needed or wanted to utter as a child was denied. Now I write what ever the hell I want. Those words pour out and I put them down, and read or not - I will no longer be silenced!<br />I am so tongue tied in a confrontation that I prefer to write my argument on paper, and I do. Sadly though, most of my truth is written anonymously. For while I can write what I feel, I still can't deal with the repercussions of others hateful words. Damaged but dealing - writing gives me a voice and it's why I'm still here.<br />Great post! Keep writing!Yolanda Renéehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09085436784133103221noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-72137214324700487312015-02-06T07:11:28.266-07:002015-02-06T07:11:28.266-07:00Good post, Michael, telling it like it is in the w...Good post, Michael, telling it like it is in the way you do. I came back to writing for different reasons that you, but just as ignoble. I started writing articles to make money. Of course, my stories are about wanting to be heard. I guess, at the root of things, we all have the same desires.J.L. Campbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05666634455836834179noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-58817043165815916352015-02-06T06:25:54.449-07:002015-02-06T06:25:54.449-07:00I can relate to your feeling of living in the shad...I can relate to your feeling of living in the shadows. I've felt invisible most of my life until I started writing and put myself out there more. I've never been much of a talker and I suck at small talk, etc, so writing is an amazing outlet for me. Julie Flandershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05003737491313673214noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-54389796700317135472015-02-06T05:15:33.568-07:002015-02-06T05:15:33.568-07:00No worries it's late!
Write to be all you fail...No worries it's late!<br />Write to be all you failed to be. I know what you mean, but it sounds sad that way.<br />And it's not just you. People in general just like to talk about themselves and when you give them an opportunity to do so, will ramble on. They don't ask questions or take an interest in the person they're talking to. I even took a week once and tested that theory - every conversation, I only asked questions and didn't volunteer anything about myself unless asked. During that week, do you know how many people asked about me? None. Not one single person. Rather sad, isn't it?<br />You are not invisible here. I am listening. (Or, like Ted said, reading...)Alex J. Cavanaughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09770065693345181702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-6840495241059138652015-02-06T02:09:12.751-07:002015-02-06T02:09:12.751-07:00I'm listening! (or reading rather...)I'm listening! (or reading rather...)Ted Crosshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09022309459554237650noreply@blogger.com