Comments on: Question of the Week: Telling Mom http://litpark.com/2006/11/13/question-of-the-week-telling-mom/ where writers come to play Fri, 25 Jul 2008 14:12:17 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2 By: litpark » Weekly Wrap: Our Mothers http://litpark.com/2006/11/13/question-of-the-week-telling-mom/#comment-1223 litpark » Weekly Wrap: Our Mothers Fri, 17 Nov 2006 06:13:42 +0000 http://litpark.com/2006/11/13/question-of-the-week-telling-mom/#comment-1223 [...] Your answers to the question of the week are so heartstopping-beautiful, I hope you’ll go back to Monday’s Question of the Week and read every last one. Thank you to all of you who played or who considered playing. And thank you to Eric Spitznagel for giving me the idea for the question. [...] […] Your answers to the question of the week are so heartstopping-beautiful, I hope you’ll go back to Monday’s Question of the Week and read every last one. Thank you to all of you who played or who considered playing. And thank you to Eric Spitznagel for giving me the idea for the question. […]

]]> By: Susan Henderson http://litpark.com/2006/11/13/question-of-the-week-telling-mom/#comment-1221 Susan Henderson Thu, 16 Nov 2006 21:38:08 +0000 http://litpark.com/2006/11/13/question-of-the-week-telling-mom/#comment-1221 Noria - Thanks so much for gathering everyone together. Now my blog won't have an opening till the new year so take your time and have fun with it. Grant - How come I haven't read your third book? Shelley - What a wonderfully artistic household you grew up in. And how great that your mother loved the sex scenes in your book! Shelley, Jordan - What does it mean when Mercury goes direct? Kevin - The Hitchcock shower scene is a great example. I'm glad for both kinds of writers - those who know how to use subtlety and those who can take you somewhere fierce without blinking. Josh - Hee. If anyone missed the surprise interview with Josh's mom, just click on the Kilmer-Purcell link to the right. Lauren - : ) Noria - Thanks so much for gathering everyone together. Now my blog won’t have an opening till the new year so take your time and have fun with it.

Grant - How come I haven’t read your third book?

Shelley - What a wonderfully artistic household you grew up in. And how great that your mother loved the sex scenes in your book!

Shelley, Jordan - What does it mean when Mercury goes direct?

Kevin - The Hitchcock shower scene is a great example. I’m glad for both kinds of writers - those who know how to use subtlety and those who can take you somewhere fierce without blinking.

Josh - Hee. If anyone missed the surprise interview with Josh’s mom, just click on the Kilmer-Purcell link to the right.

Lauren - : )

]]> By: LaurenBaratz-Logsted http://litpark.com/2006/11/13/question-of-the-week-telling-mom/#comment-1219 LaurenBaratz-Logsted Thu, 16 Nov 2006 18:27:59 +0000 http://litpark.com/2006/11/13/question-of-the-week-telling-mom/#comment-1219 "Lauren - I love your mom." I'll bet she'd love you too! “Lauren - I love your mom.” I’ll bet she’d love you too!

]]> By: josh kilmer-purcell http://litpark.com/2006/11/13/question-of-the-week-telling-mom/#comment-1217 josh kilmer-purcell Thu, 16 Nov 2006 15:45:33 +0000 http://litpark.com/2006/11/13/question-of-the-week-telling-mom/#comment-1217 my mother had no idea until some nosey blogger came along and... my mother had no idea until some nosey blogger came along and…

]]> By: Kevin Noel Olson http://litpark.com/2006/11/13/question-of-the-week-telling-mom/#comment-1207 Kevin Noel Olson Wed, 15 Nov 2006 21:03:52 +0000 http://litpark.com/2006/11/13/question-of-the-week-telling-mom/#comment-1207 Most of the material I've had published is relatively tame. Not very much concentration on the less honored subjects like sex and gruesome violence. Not that I'm frightened of that, but I believe Lovecraft when he suggests what is suggested is much more psychologically impactive than what is graphically displayed. The presumption here is that the reader probably has a vivid imagination, and as a writer it is often preferable to allow them to use it. Like the shower scene in Psycho that shows nothing but suggests brutality. Hitchcock couldn't have bought the effect and footprint it leaves on the mind of the viewer with a twenty-million dollar special effects budget. The writer's job is to cause the reader to experience the environment and the emotions. No amount of great writing can achieve that better than the reader's own mind does. Most of the material I’ve had published is relatively tame. Not very much concentration on the less honored subjects like sex and gruesome violence. Not that I’m frightened of that, but I believe Lovecraft when he suggests what is suggested is much more psychologically impactive than what is graphically displayed.
The presumption here is that the reader probably has a vivid imagination, and as a writer it is often preferable to allow them to use it. Like the shower scene in Psycho that shows nothing but suggests brutality. Hitchcock couldn’t have bought the effect and footprint it leaves on the mind of the viewer with a twenty-million dollar special effects budget. The writer’s job is to cause the reader to experience the environment and the emotions. No amount of great writing can achieve that better than the reader’s own mind does.

]]> By: Shelley Marlow http://litpark.com/2006/11/13/question-of-the-week-telling-mom/#comment-1201 Shelley Marlow Wed, 15 Nov 2006 17:13:23 +0000 http://litpark.com/2006/11/13/question-of-the-week-telling-mom/#comment-1201 Oh and Mercury goes direct this Friday. Oh and Mercury goes direct this Friday.

]]> By: Shelley Marlow http://litpark.com/2006/11/13/question-of-the-week-telling-mom/#comment-1200 Shelley Marlow Wed, 15 Nov 2006 16:55:58 +0000 http://litpark.com/2006/11/13/question-of-the-week-telling-mom/#comment-1200 My mom is a constant reader. When I was growing up, I'd sit in the living room and read my mother's collection of books. The living room was where they entertained, with a round glass table with driftwood candle holders in the center that my favorite uncle Dave built,and some of my father's sculptures, and some of my mother's paintings. I still have her complete Shakespeare book and James Joyce's Ulysses. I remember also reading her copies of Poe, and Boccaccio's The Decameron. She tells me she loves my writing. She's read excerpts that have been published from my first book, Lesbians of Arabia. She said she loved the sex scenes because it gave her new ideas! My mom is a constant reader. When I was growing up, I’d sit in the living room and read my mother’s collection of books. The living room was where they entertained, with a round glass table with driftwood candle holders in the center that my favorite uncle Dave built,and some of my father’s sculptures, and some of my mother’s paintings. I still have her complete Shakespeare book and James Joyce’s Ulysses. I remember also reading her copies of Poe, and Boccaccio’s The Decameron.
She tells me she loves my writing. She’s read excerpts that have been published from my first book, Lesbians of Arabia. She said she loved the sex scenes because it gave her new ideas!

]]> By: Grant Bailie http://litpark.com/2006/11/13/question-of-the-week-telling-mom/#comment-1194 Grant Bailie Wed, 15 Nov 2006 14:56:08 +0000 http://litpark.com/2006/11/13/question-of-the-week-telling-mom/#comment-1194 My mom died before I ever published anything, but she was proud of me wanting to be a writer, I think, and I am sure was quite instrumental in getting me that typewriter I wanted for my 13th birthday. My first book is partly about her, in fact. As is my second. As is my third. My mom died before I ever published anything, but she was proud of me wanting to be a writer, I think, and I am sure was quite instrumental in getting me that typewriter I wanted for my 13th birthday.

My first book is partly about her, in fact. As is my second. As is my third.

]]> By: Noria http://litpark.com/2006/11/13/question-of-the-week-telling-mom/#comment-1186 Noria Wed, 15 Nov 2006 02:36:59 +0000 http://litpark.com/2006/11/13/question-of-the-week-telling-mom/#comment-1186 Sue - That's a great idea. I just sent an email out to everyone who talked about the death of a parent, except for Annaliese, whose contact info I don't have. Annaliese - if you're reading this - would you like to take part in that discussion? Sue - That’s a great idea. I just sent an email out to everyone who talked about the death of a parent, except for Annaliese, whose contact info I don’t have. Annaliese - if you’re reading this - would you like to take part in that discussion?

]]> By: Susan Henderson http://litpark.com/2006/11/13/question-of-the-week-telling-mom/#comment-1182 Susan Henderson Wed, 15 Nov 2006 00:55:50 +0000 http://litpark.com/2006/11/13/question-of-the-week-telling-mom/#comment-1182 Darby - It's great to have you here. I wonder how many of us have mothers with the insight and talent and desire to write but, for whatever reason, that option was never opened to them? Mark - Ha! Classic Bastable! Robin - I didn't know that about your mom. And it makes me so mad to think anyone would be mean to you. Although, I agree, it's your mix of funny and vulnerable and compassionate that makes you the coolest. Anneliese - Aw. These are heartbreaking stories. Betsy - Unreal how many of you lost your mothers. I bet she's proud of you so you can be doubly verklempt. Jim - Have you written about the pencil factory? I would like to read that story. Lauren - I love your mom. mikel k - It's a wonder you have the compassion and insight that you do. You're like those trees that grow up through sidewalks, even though no one's tended to them. Julie - How wonderful that you and your grandma could share that artistic bond that maybe your mother doesn't get. Jordan - Wow, if committing to 2 years of therapy with you isn't love, I don't know what is. I admire you so much for allowing the scream of rage to grow into something deep and mature. Both the rage and what follows it are important. Amy - This moved me so much, I'm just going to re-post it: "I worry that if she criticized my work, it would paralyze me, and I wouldn’t be able to write anymore. Her opinion just means too much to me." Gail - You have so many talented cousins, but you're my favorite! <a HREF= "http://www.zoekaufman.com/" rel="nofollow" rel="nofollow">Here's the Zoe Kaufman link</a> and here's one of the paintings: <IMG SRC="http://www.geocities.com/susanmhpublishersmarketplace/2006/zoekauffman.jpg"> J - Some of the nicest people write the most disturbing work. They're just not afraid to turn away. Amy - Isn't it devastating when people try to reign in the content or emotions of what you're compelled to write? The worst thing that can ever happen to a writer is to get that kind of voice in their head that makes them afraid to go all the way with their idea. You're the second person that mentioned being afraid of your mother seeing a hidden side of you. I'll talk about that on another day because it strikes a chord with me. Pearce - I get chills when I hear of people who have been beaten down and somehow they still have those instincts to find good and loving people. I'm glad you have a new family looking after you. Carolyn - Aw, this made me cry, thinking of your mom telling all the hospital staff about your book as she's dying. She raised a good one. Your new book interests me very much. I'll be happy to look at the ms when it's ready. Aimee - I know that feeling of not feeling like your writing has worth until it's on the front table at B&N. I hear you about fearing the people you love would be upset by the feelings you expose. But if writers only wrote like Debbie Boone, we wouldn't want to read or write anymore. Ric - Yeah, it's really humbling to hear about the kinds of hell I didn't have to experience growing up, and good for you for remembering to be fortunate. Here, I'll run your website address again in case people want to click and see: <a HREF= "http://www.publishersmarketplace.com/members/RicMarion/" rel="nofollow" rel="nofollow">http://www.publishersmarketplace.com/members/RicMarion/</a> robert - You have to come back and tell us about the book club dinner at the Olive Garden! Sarah - They say never write as if your mother's looking over your shoulder or - how does it go? - you're like a surgeon who's afraid to cut? Hmm, I think have that quote wrong but I know you understand what it's saying. Lance - Here's to those adopted family members again! Okay, go write, you, because I want you to hit your deadline. Noria - I wonder if those of you whose parents died at a young age would like to have some sort of discussion between you that I can post on LitPark. If anyone's interested in doing that, find the others in this thread and see what interests you. MOM - This is the sweetest thing. Thank you. xox Sarah - Isn't she awesome? Daryl - Maybe there's a story to mine with those memories in the library? Ellen - Me, too. And how great to have the kinds of parents who'd find brilliance in your shopping list. Do you remember that long talk we had on the train from Penn Station that one day? I still remember the stories you told about all this. Juliet - Notebooks thrown into the fire?! God, it's like burning someone's soul. I'm sorry. Let us know when you post that story on your site. Aurelio - "My artist." That's the most beautiful story. Have you ever thought to make an animated short about it? Susanna - Isn't it hard when you're surrounded by folks who aren't really readers? Or not the kind who'd naturally be your audience? Because there's that barrier there. Patry - That's awesome. Anyone who's sent me mail - I am at least 100 behind still. I'm sorry. I haven't had the time and will but it may be a while. Darby - It’s great to have you here. I wonder how many of us have mothers with the insight and talent and desire to write but, for whatever reason, that option was never opened to them?

Mark - Ha! Classic Bastable!

Robin - I didn’t know that about your mom. And it makes me so mad to think anyone would be mean to you. Although, I agree, it’s your mix of funny and vulnerable and compassionate that makes you the coolest.

Anneliese - Aw. These are heartbreaking stories.

Betsy - Unreal how many of you lost your mothers. I bet she’s proud of you so you can be doubly verklempt.

Jim - Have you written about the pencil factory? I would like to read that story.

Lauren - I love your mom.

mikel k - It’s a wonder you have the compassion and insight that you do. You’re like those trees that grow up through sidewalks, even though no one’s tended to them.

Julie - How wonderful that you and your grandma could share that artistic bond that maybe your mother doesn’t get.

Jordan - Wow, if committing to 2 years of therapy with you isn’t love, I don’t know what is. I admire you so much for allowing the scream of rage to grow into something deep and mature. Both the rage and what follows it are important.

Amy - This moved me so much, I’m just going to re-post it: “I worry that if she criticized my work, it would paralyze me, and I wouldn’t be able to write anymore. Her opinion just means too much to me.”

Gail - You have so many talented cousins, but you’re my favorite!

Here’s the Zoe Kaufman link and here’s one of the paintings:

J - Some of the nicest people write the most disturbing work. They’re just not afraid to turn away.

Amy - Isn’t it devastating when people try to reign in the content or emotions of what you’re compelled to write? The worst thing that can ever happen to a writer is to get that kind of voice in their head that makes them afraid to go all the way with their idea.

You’re the second person that mentioned being afraid of your mother seeing a hidden side of you. I’ll talk about that on another day because it strikes a chord with me.

Pearce - I get chills when I hear of people who have been beaten down and somehow they still have those instincts to find good and loving people. I’m glad you have a new family looking after you.

Carolyn - Aw, this made me cry, thinking of your mom telling all the hospital staff about your book as she’s dying. She raised a good one. Your new book interests me very much. I’ll be happy to look at the ms when it’s ready.

Aimee - I know that feeling of not feeling like your writing has worth until it’s on the front table at B&N.

I hear you about fearing the people you love would be upset by the feelings you expose. But if writers only wrote like Debbie Boone, we wouldn’t want to read or write anymore.

Ric - Yeah, it’s really humbling to hear about the kinds of hell I didn’t have to experience growing up, and good for you for remembering to be fortunate.

Here, I’ll run your website address again in case people want to click and see:

http://www.publishersmarketplace.com/members/RicMarion/

robert - You have to come back and tell us about the book club dinner at the Olive Garden!

Sarah - They say never write as if your mother’s looking over your shoulder or - how does it go? - you’re like a surgeon who’s afraid to cut? Hmm, I think have that quote wrong but I know you understand what it’s saying.

Lance - Here’s to those adopted family members again! Okay, go write, you, because I want you to hit your deadline.

Noria - I wonder if those of you whose parents died at a young age would like to have some sort of discussion between you that I can post on LitPark. If anyone’s interested in doing that, find the others in this thread and see what interests you.

MOM - This is the sweetest thing. Thank you. xox

Sarah - Isn’t she awesome?

Daryl - Maybe there’s a story to mine with those memories in the library?

Ellen - Me, too. And how great to have the kinds of parents who’d find brilliance in your shopping list. Do you remember that long talk we had on the train from Penn Station that one day? I still remember the stories you told about all this.

Juliet - Notebooks thrown into the fire?! God, it’s like burning someone’s soul. I’m sorry. Let us know when you post that story on your site.

Aurelio - “My artist.” That’s the most beautiful story. Have you ever thought to make an animated short about it?

Susanna - Isn’t it hard when you’re surrounded by folks who aren’t really readers? Or not the kind who’d naturally be your audience? Because there’s that barrier there.

Patry - That’s awesome.

Anyone who’s sent me mail - I am at least 100 behind still. I’m sorry. I haven’t had the time and will but it may be a while.

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