Comments on: Writing Quips and Tips From John Irving

By: Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen

Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 16:59:38 +0000

Thanks George and Crystal for responding to my “assignment” to pull a writing tip from John Irving’s last quip! I appreciate your thoughts — it’s a difficult quotation and I didn’t want to tackle it alone

He could also be talking about the reader’s take on the writer’s experience. That is, the reader could translate my words differently than I intended, or translate my experiences differently than I expressed…which often happens in writing, I think. As readers, we may infer things that the writer never intended.

I wonder what John Irving would say about his writing quip….
.-= Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen´s last blog post ..51 Over-Used Adverbs, Nouns, and Clichés in Writing =-.

By: Crystal R. Martin

Crystal R. Martin — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 06:16:38 +0000

I believe John Irving is speaking about creativity. Two people may start out with the same experience, but the beauty of the translation is how they make it their own.

I am a real writer. At first I found this a difficult statement, because when I would joyfully announce that I was a writer, the first question I would receive was always – “What have you published?” When I would say nothing yet, I would receive the look of doubt that screamed, “Yeah right”. I’ve since found it’s all about what I believe that matters.

By: George Angus

George Angus — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 16:38:10 +0000

Hi Laurie,

The word “translation” here in my mind means putting your thoughts through the filter that is your writing voice.

Wonderful quips, Laurie.

George
.-= George Angus´s last blog post ..Kindle Thoughts – A Writer’s Perspective =-.