Comments on: What You Think You See

By: JES

JES — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 11:22:55 +0000

Aside from the questions of seeing the author’s life in the work, and vice-versa, I couldn’t help seeing a second layer in this story. Which is, roughly: If someone were to mistake your work for someone else’s (or vice-versa, I guess), would you correct them? Like, sure, after committing N thousand words to the page, no one writes quite like anyone else. But for someone sort of squinting at your writing from a distance, would it bother you or please you if they said — maybe even openly — Oh, I know you. You’re the one who wrote X. That’s okay. It’s cool, you know.

Would you correct them, even if X was a writer you admired? If so, would you correct them out of modesty (“Oh, my story is so inferior to what X would have done with it”)? Would you just let it go (“Think what you want”)?

By: mapelba

mapelba — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 03:04:09 +0000

If I learn too much about a writer before I read his or her work–yeah, it can color my opinion. It can even stop me from picking up a book at all. I worry about this with my blog. I mean, I’d like to be open to all readers, but I might say something to turn a potential reader off. Well, that’s life. Not everyone is going to like me or the work. Still, I want to have a chance.

okay. Now I’m rambling. Thanks for your bit in this conversation.

By: DarcsFalcon

DarcsFalcon — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 22:34:24 +0000

Interesting question – for me it’s sometimes the other way around – when author’s say some things it is more likely to influence my opinion of their work, much like actors.

But the work influencing my view of the writer? Hmmm. I think sometimes it does, if I have to go with a knee-jerk response. Only because I believe that there are times the author’s views come through their work.

By: mapelba

mapelba — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 21:39:48 +0000

Yeah, I get uncomfortable when a writer (actor/singer/artist etc) voices certain opinions or ideas that I find…well, I can like someone I disagree with, but then again there are certain views that would change my appreciation for their work.

But I’m thinking more of what people assume about a writer just from the fiction if they have nothing else to go on. I worry about this–pointlessly.

By: mapelba

mapelba — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 21:19:43 +0000

If a writer’s life overwhelms the work, that is not good. I think though it depends on what they write. It may be easier to draw conclusions about people who write in certain genres than those who just write straight fiction. But I could be wrong.

By: mapelba

mapelba — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 21:17:18 +0000

I could never decide if I was a magnet for people who say weird things or if I was imagining things. Good for you having a boundary. I’ve got a lot trouble with that.

By: DarcKnyt

DarcKnyt — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 17:39:57 +0000

I have to confess, the way I think of a writer may or may not be influenced by what they write; for Stephen King, I just knew I loved his writing. I got much bigger insights about him when I read Danse Macabre and On Writing, and those things did nothing to detract from my opinion of him.

What hurts them more — or any celebrity, I suppose — is when they give too much information. About them, their beliefs, opinions, whatever. But again, depends on who it is.

I have no idea if what I write paints a picture of me to the readers. I’d never even considered that. You do a lot of that to me — make me think about things I’d never thought of before. How dare you make me think?!?

By: Sherri

Sherri — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 17:36:51 +0000

Sometimes it makes it more interesting to know an author’s story and personality and intimate details, but I think in general it does take away from it.

The stories rarely make me see the author in a certain way, now that I think about it.

By: Sarah

Sarah — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 16:27:54 +0000

people say the darndest things to you! You could do a whole memoir on stuff people have said to you, no kidding

I never think about the author, actually. And I don’t worry too much about what people will think of me based on what I write. I’ve got a clear boundary there. I dont know why, since I struggled with boundaries in personal relationships for much of my life, but maybe learning how to stop doing that, helps me now as a writer.