"You don’t have to punch out your professor or anyone else who disparages your work, but it’s wise to listen to all criticism with your shields up as if you were in Star Trek." - Lev Raphael
It's great to be in a mostly like-minded community.
My prize-winning story in my last year, judged by the editor of STORY Magazine who had published James Baldwin and other great writers, was art, or artful compared to my previous work in the program. So I sold it for a lot of money, but my workshop professor thought it was "shit"--and after I won, "shit with a prize." :-)
It seems like a lot of teachers get so caught up in the technicalities of what makes something good that they forget how much is subjective. Writing rules serve you until they don't, everyone has different tastes, the message in the medium... Too much focus on technical skill forgets all of these things. It's especially important to remember in this new AI age—AI can get everything technically right, but it will still be missing true creativity.
Michael, thank you for sharing such deep musing and insight. Indeed, one must learn the techniques, but they should more than anything find their unique voice and vision.
That disheartens me greatly. I had great English and creative writing teachers who were instructive and empathetic. I think that kind of approach inspires the writer to do better. At least that was the case for me!
You're a great educator to writers. It's especially important for young ones who aren't confident yet or those who return after a long hiatus to feel propelled to continue.
Thanks! I was fortunate to 1) have a mother who encouraged my writing from second grade on and 2) have an amazing teaching *and* writing mentor in college since I wanted then to pursue both careers. My approach is modeled on my mentor and I often ask myself "What would Dr. Lauer say?" We are, btw, still in touch years later.
Random tutor at Creative Writing Class: Snakes on a Plane is the same as Aliens. Instead of Aliens you have snakes, and instead of a spaceship you have a plane.
My take-away from creative writing MFA programs? You do you.
Mine was excellent because we read so much literature I never would have read on my own, like tons of modern British writers: iris Murdoch, Muriel Spark, Alan Sillitoe, Doris Lessin--and then Conrad, Baudelaire, Verlaine, Wallace Stevens. Plus it was like a giant, literate writers group where people were passionate about writing and reading AND we had great guest authors.
That sounds fantastic. Your professor reminds me of Robert Olen Butler's "entertainment garbage" that wins prizes and sells, because real art doesn't (From Where You Dream).
It's great when you can make lasting connections through these programs, the one thing that is truly invaluable.
As an educator (though in science, not literature) I find it so baffling and crazy that someone could act so. I know that in the world of acting there are similar issues, though sometimes I have heard there that the actions are meant to shape and mould the actor and make them more robust, which I disagree with.
Anyway, this was an insightful read, Lev, thank you (and thanks Nadia for sharing this). I'm glad you stuck to your instincts and submitted that work that helped launch your career.
Thanks, and thanks, Nadia, again, for inviting me. Nathan, I am stubborn and I knew the workshop was wrong, ditto the professor who dismissed it in the workshop. It carved out brand new territory for me as a writer, but none of them could see that or value it for itself.
Thank you so much for reading and your thoughtful comment, Nathan. I appreciate you both for being such sensible and sensitive educators shaping students positively. We need more of that!
I haven’t taken writing workshops but even in my writing group, I’m learning to take constructive criticism as well as learning to trust my own instincts.
Thank you so much for reading, Priya! I agree. Feedback is something we take into consideration, but we still shape our stories in the end. Not everything applies.
In theory those who live and work within the creative and literary world are considered more empathetic and aware than the general population. This is very far from being the case in so many cases. Toxic behaviour is rife among such people as elsewhere.
General principle - if someone gives a critique that starts "You could make this better by doing X Y or Z" you might want to listen. Or not. But if they begin by saying "You'll never get it right because..." then run for the hills. If you've paid a course fee, get your money back.
I think teaching is much harder than people realize and many people in the arts haven't really studied *how* to teach--and I don't mean taking Education courses or degrees. I spent senior year of college informally working with two professors, observing them in class, discussing how they graded papers, and much more.
Toxic behaviors are indeed anywhere. I agree with the critique approach. It’s how I’ve been approaching criticism in editing as well as judging, and people are far more receptive to that kind of style and want to do better.
It's great to be in a mostly like-minded community.
My prize-winning story in my last year, judged by the editor of STORY Magazine who had published James Baldwin and other great writers, was art, or artful compared to my previous work in the program. So I sold it for a lot of money, but my workshop professor thought it was "shit"--and after I won, "shit with a prize." :-)
It seems like a lot of teachers get so caught up in the technicalities of what makes something good that they forget how much is subjective. Writing rules serve you until they don't, everyone has different tastes, the message in the medium... Too much focus on technical skill forgets all of these things. It's especially important to remember in this new AI age—AI can get everything technically right, but it will still be missing true creativity.
Michael, thank you for sharing such deep musing and insight. Indeed, one must learn the techniques, but they should more than anything find their unique voice and vision.
I agree, though in some case it's less about finding a voice and more about finding one's unique subject or subjects.
That's on point!
It's appalling to even imagine educators behaving in such a way. That it's common is even more depressing.
I agree 100%.
That disheartens me greatly. I had great English and creative writing teachers who were instructive and empathetic. I think that kind of approach inspires the writer to do better. At least that was the case for me!
That's always been my approach as a teacher and subsequently an editor, coach, mentor. It's easy to find fault, much harder to inspire.
You're a great educator to writers. It's especially important for young ones who aren't confident yet or those who return after a long hiatus to feel propelled to continue.
Thanks! I was fortunate to 1) have a mother who encouraged my writing from second grade on and 2) have an amazing teaching *and* writing mentor in college since I wanted then to pursue both careers. My approach is modeled on my mentor and I often ask myself "What would Dr. Lauer say?" We are, btw, still in touch years later.
That is so touching!
Random tutor at Creative Writing Class: Snakes on a Plane is the same as Aliens. Instead of Aliens you have snakes, and instead of a spaceship you have a plane.
My take-away from creative writing MFA programs? You do you.
Mine was excellent because we read so much literature I never would have read on my own, like tons of modern British writers: iris Murdoch, Muriel Spark, Alan Sillitoe, Doris Lessin--and then Conrad, Baudelaire, Verlaine, Wallace Stevens. Plus it was like a giant, literate writers group where people were passionate about writing and reading AND we had great guest authors.
That sounds fantastic. Your professor reminds me of Robert Olen Butler's "entertainment garbage" that wins prizes and sells, because real art doesn't (From Where You Dream).
It's great when you can make lasting connections through these programs, the one thing that is truly invaluable.
That is just plain awful and hilarious, but also a waste of money. Sadly not all programs work out.
Still, an experience you can learn from. Expensive, though, yes.
As an educator (though in science, not literature) I find it so baffling and crazy that someone could act so. I know that in the world of acting there are similar issues, though sometimes I have heard there that the actions are meant to shape and mould the actor and make them more robust, which I disagree with.
Anyway, this was an insightful read, Lev, thank you (and thanks Nadia for sharing this). I'm glad you stuck to your instincts and submitted that work that helped launch your career.
Thanks, and thanks, Nadia, again, for inviting me. Nathan, I am stubborn and I knew the workshop was wrong, ditto the professor who dismissed it in the workshop. It carved out brand new territory for me as a writer, but none of them could see that or value it for itself.
You do well to be so stubborn. :)
Thanks again for sharing, I really enjoyed reading.
:-)
Thank you so much for reading and your thoughtful comment, Nathan. I appreciate you both for being such sensible and sensitive educators shaping students positively. We need more of that!
I haven’t taken writing workshops but even in my writing group, I’m learning to take constructive criticism as well as learning to trust my own instincts.
Two important parts of being a writer!
Thank you so much for reading, Priya! I agree. Feedback is something we take into consideration, but we still shape our stories in the end. Not everything applies.
In theory those who live and work within the creative and literary world are considered more empathetic and aware than the general population. This is very far from being the case in so many cases. Toxic behaviour is rife among such people as elsewhere.
General principle - if someone gives a critique that starts "You could make this better by doing X Y or Z" you might want to listen. Or not. But if they begin by saying "You'll never get it right because..." then run for the hills. If you've paid a course fee, get your money back.
I think teaching is much harder than people realize and many people in the arts haven't really studied *how* to teach--and I don't mean taking Education courses or degrees. I spent senior year of college informally working with two professors, observing them in class, discussing how they graded papers, and much more.
That is so true. And I imagine it’s an ongoing process of balancing critique with kindness.
I have met published authors who teach and say, "I need to be rough because life is rough and the students should know that." :-(
Yikes. Even if that is so, that’s not a great approach XD.
Toxic behaviors are indeed anywhere. I agree with the critique approach. It’s how I’ve been approaching criticism in editing as well as judging, and people are far more receptive to that kind of style and want to do better.
It's easy to insult, harder to inspire.
For sure!
It takes skill and empathy.
100%