tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9054081895459294120.post6293176532194676136..comments2024-01-06T02:15:31.671-06:00Comments on Marcia Hoehne: Compassion and the WriterMarciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10006966091789130047noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9054081895459294120.post-7490687479908326442011-05-16T15:35:59.854-05:002011-05-16T15:35:59.854-05:00I LOVED the Happy Hollisters. I totally wanted to ...I LOVED the Happy Hollisters. I totally wanted to be in their family.Ruth Donnellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12305109099610123918noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9054081895459294120.post-66796821803971661192011-05-16T14:15:36.941-05:002011-05-16T14:15:36.941-05:00Ruth -- One series I never hear mentioned anymore ...Ruth -- One series I never hear mentioned anymore is the Happy Hollisters. Sure, it was a little sappy, and could never get published today, but I ate up mysteries and enjoyed going on all those trips to places like Quebec and Alaska with the Hollisters.Marciahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10006966091789130047noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9054081895459294120.post-53150064786427626652011-05-15T18:48:06.689-05:002011-05-15T18:48:06.689-05:00What an awesome and insightful post, Marcia. And y...What an awesome and insightful post, Marcia. And your childhood reading list is the same as mine. :)Ruth Donnellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12305109099610123918noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9054081895459294120.post-2907279693689554492011-05-14T12:15:02.667-05:002011-05-14T12:15:02.667-05:00Hmmm. When blogger was down, my response to Susan ...Hmmm. When blogger was down, my response to Susan and Kim must have got eaten. It WAS posted, I'm sure.<br /><br />Susan -- I think one thing that attracts novelists is the chance to live other lives. Without compassion, it's pretty hard to walk in those other shoes.<br /><br />Kim -- I adored Mrs. PW. Though I think some of the humor went over kids' heads. It was really for all ages. A couple of years ago, I ran into more Mrs. PW books edited and co-authored by B McD's daughter, who found unfinished mss. at her mother's death. But for me they just didn't equal the originals in humor or interest.Marciahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10006966091789130047noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9054081895459294120.post-52983223085397748972011-05-12T13:57:21.900-05:002011-05-12T13:57:21.900-05:00Susan -- It does, doesn't it? Sure helps in ch...Susan -- It does, doesn't it? Sure helps in character creation, for one thing.<br /><br />Kim -- I loved her, too. Not all kids did; much of the humor was on an adult level. A couple of years ago I discovered more Mrs. PW books by the author's daughter. I guess they were unfinished mss. left upon her mother's death. IMO, they just didn't match the originals.Marciahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10006966091789130047noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9054081895459294120.post-65931759800643827682011-05-10T15:04:20.128-05:002011-05-10T15:04:20.128-05:00Oh I loved Piggle-Wiggle - still love the name :)Oh I loved Piggle-Wiggle - still love the name :)Kimbra Kaschhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16955657301998255029noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9054081895459294120.post-48522425128050090732011-05-09T19:20:44.826-05:002011-05-09T19:20:44.826-05:00Interesting post! I hadn't thought of that bef...Interesting post! I hadn't thought of that before, but it makes perfect sense.Susan Fieldshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02433408456603462774noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9054081895459294120.post-62526735999700494042011-05-09T13:58:39.460-05:002011-05-09T13:58:39.460-05:00Jeff -- I can see how writing it in Word would pre...Jeff -- I can see how writing it in Word would prevent the "I forgot to copy" problem. Yes, editors so often agree that while other aspects of a story can be fixed, voice is pretty much either there or it's not.<br /><br />Lee -- Yes, connection with your own feelings is important too, and not as easy as one might think.Marciahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10006966091789130047noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9054081895459294120.post-81635733966924839822011-05-09T12:27:24.514-05:002011-05-09T12:27:24.514-05:00Ah, this post speaks to my heart, Marcia. Writers ...Ah, this post speaks to my heart, Marcia. Writers must be connected with their feelings and have empathy with others as well, then bring all of that into their books.cleemckenziehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15456109243453726483noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9054081895459294120.post-5397939578004933342011-05-06T22:55:11.541-05:002011-05-06T22:55:11.541-05:00I always write my comments in Microsoft word, so t...I always write my comments in Microsoft word, so that won’t happen. I just copy and past when I am done typing my comment. <br /><br />As to your post I love the info. I started writing almost 3 years ago, before that the most I had ever written was a 2 page letter to a friend… and maybe a 1 page letter in high school. I would say the most important thing I have learned would be voice, and how to make it ring true in my work. Grammar and syntax can be sharpened, and the technical aspects of writing can be added upon. But voice is who we are, and how our mind uses words while composing. <br /><br />Everyone’s voice is different because no two people think alike, talk alike, act alike… so our voice—in essence—is our very being on a page. Changing that is nearly impossible, the best we can do is learn how to take that and make it seamless.Jeff Kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00667419764890599092noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9054081895459294120.post-52053571635871026402011-05-06T08:48:14.251-05:002011-05-06T08:48:14.251-05:00Oh, Mary, hi! :) Your posts didn't appear unti...Oh, Mary, hi! :) Your posts didn't appear until my reply to Vijaya did. If I put my own flaws in characters, I think it can actively expand my compassion. I've realized that I tend to be impatient with people who have the same flaws I do, or fear I do. Huh, I guess there's more than one reason to write what you know. :)Marciahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10006966091789130047noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9054081895459294120.post-47562194637049897762011-05-06T08:44:18.019-05:002011-05-06T08:44:18.019-05:00Vijaya -- Thanks for giving it a second try. :) Th...Vijaya -- Thanks for giving it a second try. :) These days, I try to remember to copy my comment before posting, so I can just paste it if it disappears. Wow -- wouldn't it be wonderful to light a spark for someone like AJ Cronin did for you. I remember a doctor named Richard something who wrote captivating nonfiction about his experiences/patients years ago. Just beautiful.Marciahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10006966091789130047noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9054081895459294120.post-7168749462210447942011-05-06T08:41:46.699-05:002011-05-06T08:41:46.699-05:00(When I wrote 'less than perfect people' j...(When I wrote 'less than perfect people' just now, I meant people who are critically flawed. We're all imperfect, of course.)Mary Witzlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06458299046574564155noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9054081895459294120.post-84919305994180728082011-05-06T08:40:00.642-05:002011-05-06T08:40:00.642-05:00Yes. Whenever I'm reading and enjoying a book ...Yes. Whenever I'm reading and enjoying a book and find an observation that is snide, mean, or cruel, it ruins the experience for me and makes me less likely to read anything else by that author. Compassion is hugely underrated, and it makes all the difference in writing. <br /><br />I make it a practice to include at least a few of my own characteristics in the characters of the less-than-perfect people I write about. That way I'll be more inclined to treat them with respect.Mary Witzlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06458299046574564155noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9054081895459294120.post-42651705131826250422011-05-05T23:29:23.627-05:002011-05-05T23:29:23.627-05:00Blogger just ate my response. Argh. Let me try aga...Blogger just ate my response. Argh. Let me try again.<br /><br />A. J. Cronin's first novel, Hatter's Castle, made me realize how much he understood the human condition. He was a doctor and he'd seen a lot ... maybe this is why I've enjoyed so many doctor-turned-writers. His memoir, Adventures in Two Worlds, is what planted the seed in my 12-year-old head of medicine and writing.Vijayahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07876606729146077830noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9054081895459294120.post-8168681921035113842011-05-05T07:52:02.736-05:002011-05-05T07:52:02.736-05:00Andrea -- Yes, I think it can work both ways. That...Andrea -- Yes, I think it can work both ways. That not only does compassion grow your writing, but writing can grow your compassion.<br /><br />Laura -- Me too, but my love for a book without it is much more momentary. When the characters start breaking my heart, or making all kinds of lightbulbs go off for me, that book becomes one of my permanent favorites.Marciahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10006966091789130047noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9054081895459294120.post-47591928805374195502011-05-05T07:05:56.951-05:002011-05-05T07:05:56.951-05:00I can still love a book with out it, but it's ...I can still love a book with out it, but it's much more apt to stay with me if the characters are powerful and fully realized.Laura Paulinghttp://www.laurapauling.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9054081895459294120.post-20269636501713551842011-05-05T06:58:50.176-05:002011-05-05T06:58:50.176-05:00Thanks for the thought-provoking post. It also mak...Thanks for the thought-provoking post. It also makes me wonder if being a writer has changed the way I think and feel about others, whether learning to take other perspectives in writing helps in developing more compassion in everyday life.Andrea Mackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15250681746122381149noreply@blogger.com