tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-387052581086893410.post3326433382603873583..comments2023-09-28T10:59:26.381+01:00Comments on Living, writing and other stuff: Writers are not nice peopleBill Kirtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07675643113010061969noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-387052581086893410.post-62544451402404284032011-01-22T22:41:25.667+00:002011-01-22T22:41:25.667+00:00I agree with Nevets. I think we're more creat...I agree with Nevets. I think we're more creative and imaginative than sneaky. People with guilty consciences (or a lack of both) tend to put a nasty spin on it. I'm sure it's just a lack of confidence...LINDA FAULKNERhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08059741905691302335noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-387052581086893410.post-62240150973421088052011-01-22T12:43:15.297+00:002011-01-22T12:43:15.297+00:00Anneke, you've probably doubled the potential ...Anneke, you've probably doubled the potential comments traffic by introducing dogs and cats.<br /><br />As for the photo, since it was taken near where I live, I did think of taking it down to the house, knocking on her door and ... well, it's obviously out of the question. When you go to give her the book, take a lawyer with you.Bill Kirtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07675643113010061969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-387052581086893410.post-65937104467863579012011-01-21T16:24:29.499+00:002011-01-21T16:24:29.499+00:00The famous and, well known as a very friendly pers...The famous and, well known as a very friendly person, Dutch writer Jan Wolkers once said that nice writers are cat owners. The ones with a dog had a less nice personality. Interestingly, W.F. Hermans, excellent writer, difficult personality and often unfriendly, was a cat lover.<br />Anyway, this has nothing to do with your post. I'm just using this to cover the fact that I do feel somewhat guilty that I used a photo of innocent people, who don't know that I took the picture, who were just having a morning chat, for the story challenge. http://www.rammenas.nl/?page_id=96 People from all over the world are 'using' them now. I've been wondering what will happen if I ring the woman's doorbell one day, with a book in my hand, her photo on the cover. 'Hello, you don't know me, but....'Annekehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06321038108914191304noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-387052581086893410.post-30334469081966095962011-01-20T17:44:45.395+00:002011-01-20T17:44:45.395+00:00On the contrary, Rosemary. As far as I'm conce...On the contrary, Rosemary. As far as I'm concerned, we do supply most of our own material, either through regurgitating personal experiences or articulating dreams.<br /><br />Disturbingly, that reminds me that, when Her Indoors read Material Evidence, she picked on a passage where Carston is looking idly through his car windscreen at schoolgirls crossing in front of him and said to me 'Oh, so you fancy schoolgirls then'.Bill Kirtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07675643113010061969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-387052581086893410.post-60046319819944229652011-01-20T16:43:45.412+00:002011-01-20T16:43:45.412+00:00Interesting post, Bill, as always. I think as writ...Interesting post, Bill, as always. I think as writers we often exploit ourselves more than others. Surely, every piece of fiction we write contains something of our own past experiences, thoughts and attitudes. And everything else is absorbed from people we've known, met, read about or watched on TV/film. A melting pot of characters from which we forge our own.<br /><br />Or I've just written a load of rubbish!Rosemary Gemmellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09311840205603508422noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-387052581086893410.post-37916060524248978432011-01-20T16:00:01.700+00:002011-01-20T16:00:01.700+00:00Yes, C.N. that's what I was saying in the post...Yes, C.N. that's what I was saying in the posting I did about the impossibility (for me at least) of using 'real' people. At least when people say the sort of things you mention, it proves that your characters are realistic.Bill Kirtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07675643113010061969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-387052581086893410.post-8402971372964576822011-01-20T14:15:34.619+00:002011-01-20T14:15:34.619+00:00I would suggest that most writers are less sneaky ...I would suggest that most writers are less sneaky that people often think. Since we work with pits and pieces, most of our work is in vague composites and erstwhile universals. And, yet, for some reason people always insist on asking, "Who was that character based on?" Or sometimes even accusing, "Hey, I know you wrote that about me, jerk!"C. N. Nevetshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00375714948653196993noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-387052581086893410.post-85643398907008933122011-01-20T09:50:30.525+00:002011-01-20T09:50:30.525+00:00Typical, you seek to spread enlightenment, fulfilm...Typical, you seek to spread enlightenment, fulfilment, peace through Spiritual communion, and along comes a carpenter with his diabolical alternative and you're buggered.Bill Kirtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07675643113010061969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-387052581086893410.post-5936903246336328632011-01-19T21:56:29.617+00:002011-01-19T21:56:29.617+00:00Pert is also good. I like "pert". As for...Pert is also good. I like "pert". As for the hut, Bill the ruthless Michael is telling you to go and take a flying f.....Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13316263425112020638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-387052581086893410.post-83743976188510454522011-01-19T16:18:14.644+00:002011-01-19T16:18:14.644+00:00'Perky' is good. I like 'perky'. &...'Perky' is good. I like 'perky'. 'Ruthless' will follow - as soon as Michael gets that bloody hut ready.Bill Kirtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07675643113010061969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-387052581086893410.post-64096716740676727142011-01-19T15:25:46.985+00:002011-01-19T15:25:46.985+00:00As the perpetually perky member of this coven, I t...As the perpetually perky member of this coven, I think I need a bit of the Marquis if I'm going to pull off 'ruthless'. Sneaky? I can do.Marcellahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05152334280190469669noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-387052581086893410.post-90401349502870105052011-01-19T10:38:36.988+00:002011-01-19T10:38:36.988+00:00Fiona, I think the ruthlessness, etc. belongs with...Fiona, I think the ruthlessness, etc. belongs with the marketing and promotional aspects of the job certainly. I suppose they also manifest themselves when a writer sets out deliberately to shock or titillate as an end in itself - although that's quite a complex process and I should examine it more closely before pontificating about it.<br /><br />Michael, the jury's quite often out on the Divine Marquis. Some say his extremes were simply vivid expressions of a genuine philosophy, but he certainly wasn't very nice to his servants. And a question, if you and I (for example) are an exception to the rule, what's the rule?Bill Kirtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07675643113010061969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-387052581086893410.post-70040322590696912942011-01-19T10:11:48.442+00:002011-01-19T10:11:48.442+00:00I don't know enough about De Sade beyond the l...I don't know enough about De Sade beyond the lurid headlines, but I'm sure he had some redeeming qualities. No?<br /><br />Or. He might well be the exception that proves the rule (and no I have never understood that phrase either)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13316263425112020638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-387052581086893410.post-89247937137899508132011-01-19T09:44:30.362+00:002011-01-19T09:44:30.362+00:00Interesting post, Bill. I've long maintained ...Interesting post, Bill. I've long maintained that writers need to be ruthless, self-centred and perhaps even selfish to get ahead... now it looks as though I should add 'sneaky' to the list. :PFiona Glasshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03906545058188198820noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-387052581086893410.post-53756983936328305062011-01-19T09:30:17.945+00:002011-01-19T09:30:17.945+00:00I think the interesting thing might be to find the...I think the interesting thing might be to find the 'niceness' in a writer such as the Marquis de Sade. I'm sure it's there but it would need some slick critical thinking to pinpoint it. And few would argue that he was actually a nice person.Bill Kirtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07675643113010061969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-387052581086893410.post-58205750564163676922011-01-19T02:42:45.145+00:002011-01-19T02:42:45.145+00:00I like the analogy of scalpels and pens. With our ...I like the analogy of scalpels and pens. With our "pens," we dissect human emotions, frailties, and strengths. Most of us put them all back together again at the end of the day so that the good guy wins. Others of us don't always create a happily-ever-after but, if we treat our "patients" with respect, we've done a good thing.<br /><br />We're nice, and we made our readers think and feel. Which is what it's all about, eh?LINDA FAULKNERhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08059741905691302335noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-387052581086893410.post-49336327678631404382011-01-18T20:02:37.459+00:002011-01-18T20:02:37.459+00:00I am totally cut out for this, then! Only need to ...I am totally cut out for this, then! Only need to actually write something to start with. LOLscaryazerihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08209595384194222929noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-387052581086893410.post-53032535091270792612011-01-18T18:37:54.658+00:002011-01-18T18:37:54.658+00:00And I would add that most writers are readers and ...And I would add that most writers are readers and readers are the nicest people on the planet!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13316263425112020638noreply@blogger.com