Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Be Quiet

I think my entire writer's group tonight would have loved to say those two words to me at several points during the evening. Perhaps they might have even wanted to yell, "Shut up!" You see, I'm a nervous talker. So, since my piece was being critiqued tonight, I just couldn't keep my mouth shut. Not only was I extremely nervous, but I also felt the need to explain every thing they commented on. I wanted to tell myself to shut up by the end of the night. In fact, I think I did. Sigh. It's not my fault. I like to talk. :) I'll try harder next time ... maybe.

12 comments:

  1. Do you know you have this super cool phantom quote on you blog... it's only there at the very beginning, but as you scroll down it dissapears! I'm impressed!

    LOL! I'm a talker too! Hehehe! Can't you tell by my extra words blog comments! LOL! I actually have to go in a erase before I push send so I don't scare people! LOL!

    And no worries. It's tough when your book's being critiqued. I KNOW! Sheez! And chances are no one even thought you talked much at all... and if they did, at least you were aware of it. the worst is the newvous talkers who have no idea they're doing it. Anyway, i do the same thing. Every time my book is being critiqued, I take a deep breath and tell myself, "Just listen and take it. They mean well and it's only gonna improve your story." Yeah, never happens... I always talk my way through them too! LOL!

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  2. I love to talk too...no surprise there! In our crit group, though, you're not allowed to defend/explain/talk about your work when it's being critiqued. The theory is you won't be there to talk to a reader. :)

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  3. How did the critique go? I've never done that before in person. I'm very curious.

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  4. Boy oh boy, I wish I hadn't missed this meeting! I'm a nervous talker too, but at least you make sense AND you're funny.

    Seriously though, I've never felt you talked too much in our group. Also, I found very little to question in this chapter, so I can't imagine what you needed to "explain."

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  5. I thought your critique went very well, and truly you didn't talk too much. The others who were getting thier work reviewed said a lot too. I thought everything went great!

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  6. Aw, how fun. I love writer's groups. I was in a writer's circle in high school. Just five girls, but we had SO much fun. I miss those days.

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  7. You chapter was fabulous and you did not talk too much, nervously, but not too much.

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  8. I don't think you talked too much at all.
    And you're funny.
    Like Candice said: we all yammer a lot when our work is discussed.

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  9. Jenni, super cool phantom quote?? I'm lost (but I often am). No, I didn't know I had that, so no need to be impressed. I wish you wouldn't erase anything before you hit send, I'd love to hear ALL your yammerings. :)

    Joanne, actually despite all my talking, it went very well. They were very kind to me.

    Angie, long time no talk. I need to drop by your blog. Technically, we're not supposed to talk either, but we all end up breaking those rules, me in particular. But apparently I'm too charming for anyone to tell me to shut up. lol (more likely, I'm just too loud)

    Nat, it was fun, but it's always harder to hear it in person. The worst is when someone will start to read from your work, like quoting you. For some reason that really embarrasses me. I usually take a deep breath or quickly say, yeah, I know which part you're talking about, no need to read it. :)

    Linda, what are you talking about? You never talk. You are like as quiet as a mouse. And the few times you do, you make perfect sense.

    Candi, you're supposed to keep me in check. I sit next to you so that you will whack me when I get out of hand. :)

    Renee, writer's groups are fun. I always have a lot of fun (probably because I never shut up). I can't wait to have our own writer's group next week. :)

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  10. Dan, thanks. I don't think you'll be able to say anything mean to me anymore though, since I remind you of your daughter. lol

    Paul thinks I'm funny? Wow. It's true, we talk more when our works are being discussed.

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  11. I think I would have done the exact same thing. And you can never talk to much - you happy, happy person, you!

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