Comments on: On Amateurs

By: Johnie

Johnie — Sun, 17 Apr 2016 17:48:18 +0000

Yours is a clever way of thninikg about it.

By: Pamela Hart

Pamela Hart — Thu, 31 Dec 2015 09:41:21 +0000

Sheryl, you’re so right. Particularly with kids. To tell a story for the sheer fun of it is all they need; it’s hard to convince them that editing is fun, but the satisfaction can be great.
Are you sure you’re doing them a favour by addicting them to storytelling, though? You know how it takes over your life!

By: Sheryl Gwyther

Sheryl Gwyther — Thu, 31 Dec 2015 01:23:00 +0000

Pamela, love this post! And it’s so true about the process of writing being viewed only for the value of its end product … ‘that unless someone else, some stranger, puts money down for something, it’s worthless. That being without a price tag equals valueless, instead of priceless.’ So true!!
When I teach kids to write stories, I want them to get the message that it’s also for the joy of a great tale for their own enjoyment and not just for others. And that all their seemingly endless editing and writing is not necessarily about getting their work published in whatever form (the idea of an end product seems to be becoming more important to schools and parents) but for the joy of working with words and becoming another human engaging in the ancient craft of storytelling.
My aim is to turn them into storytelling addicts as well.

By: Debra Tidball

Debra Tidball — Wed, 30 Dec 2015 07:17:32 +0000

Well said, Pamella – a great reflection.

By: Pamela Hart

Pamela Hart — Tue, 01 Dec 2015 22:17:20 +0000

Next year for sure, Colleen!

By: Colleen Goth

Colleen Goth — Tue, 01 Dec 2015 20:16:23 +0000

I really enjoyed this . I have written stories for many years without seeking publication because I didn’t have the time in a busy ‘ other ‘ career to give them the revisions required to bring them to a standard ready for commercial publication . I enjoyed entertaining friends and colleagues. I am entering the next stage now of seeking publication and starting to understand how determined one must be to see projects through . This article was both inspiring and reassuring .