tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1178848256551614320.post5706196466243289681..comments2023-10-24T05:53:13.006-05:00Comments on Something She Wrote: Trained or Self-Taught?Janna Leadbetterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06339705935553160673noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1178848256551614320.post-58135381246541029402008-12-13T16:41:00.000-06:002008-12-13T16:41:00.000-06:00Colby - Sometimes "streetsmarts are the best kind!...Colby - Sometimes "streetsmarts are the best kind!" :)<BR/><BR/>Spy - What a great thing to have done for yourself! And it sounds like you enjoyed it, too, instead of thinking it boring research.<BR/><BR/>Dominique - Thanks for stopping by my blog! Sounds like you've got a lot under your belt, and I'm intrigued by your pursuit of travel writing. How exciting!<BR/><BR/>Laura - Welcome! And I thinkJanna Leadbetterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06339705935553160673noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1178848256551614320.post-32326825216434129852008-12-13T09:34:00.000-06:002008-12-13T09:34:00.000-06:00I haven't taken a class in writing since I was in ...I haven't taken a class in writing since I was in college, way back when. But as an English teacher, I can say that you cannot teach someone to be a "writer." You may be able to train a person, you may be able to offer insight and useful critiques, but being an artist of any kind is innate. A course might help you polish your craft, but if you can't create, then you have merely written words. TheAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1178848256551614320.post-48743812793535189752008-12-12T08:33:00.000-06:002008-12-12T08:33:00.000-06:00My degrees are in Political Science and Communicat...My degrees are in Political Science and Communications (the latter had more of an emphasis on theory, PR and advertising). I always joke that I "went to school" on the local Chamber of Commerce--our industrial business was a member, and I was the company rep--I volunteered to do their newsletter and used "clips" from that publication to get my first part-time freelance job at a local newspaper.<Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1178848256551614320.post-81178313695773588412008-12-12T07:05:00.000-06:002008-12-12T07:05:00.000-06:00Music really helped me feel pacing and rhythm a TO...Music really helped me feel pacing and rhythm a TON. But other than that, I went to Borders every day, and methodically read each and every writing book and applied what I learned to my writing for the day.<BR/><BR/>I've read most all the writing books now, so I haven't done it for years. But it's helped me.Spy Scribblerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14299551957327543491noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1178848256551614320.post-78124842248678275602008-12-11T22:22:00.000-06:002008-12-11T22:22:00.000-06:00Hm, well, I definitely didn't major in writing. I...Hm, well, I definitely didn't major in writing. It's been something I have some natural flair for but have learned other things from "streetsmarts" lolcolbymarshallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14056535503422186623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1178848256551614320.post-67493579164366267142008-12-11T20:38:00.000-06:002008-12-11T20:38:00.000-06:00Ang - It sounds like it's all worked for you!No, n...Ang - It sounds like it's all worked for you!<BR/><BR/>No, no, Jenna. When you put it in perspective like that, I agree with you! Well said. I can't stack up to those who put their life on the line all for the sake of duty (among others).<BR/><BR/>Janet - Wow! I'm impressed. :)Janna Leadbetterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06339705935553160673noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1178848256551614320.post-66492666727433483942008-12-11T18:18:00.000-06:002008-12-11T18:18:00.000-06:00My degree was in English, French, and German. Thi...My degree was in English, French, and German. This followed four years of taking French and German at high school under very competent teachers, so I definitely have a very developed sense of grammar and sentence structure. You can't translate a sentence if you don't know exactly what every word is doing there and how it relates to the others.<BR/><BR/>I haven't taken much in the way of writingJanethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04600030574995481267noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1178848256551614320.post-66263410242629811532008-12-11T18:17:00.000-06:002008-12-11T18:17:00.000-06:00Determination sure. But guts? Does it really requi...Determination sure. But guts? Does it really require a lot of guts to sit behind a computer and type out a story? Sure submitting and possibly facing a rejection might be a little scary but I think the title "gutsy" should be reserved from someone who dares to climb Mount Everest or signs up for the Army during wartime--and I could never put myself in the same category as people like that.<BR/><Jennahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04299674277332549914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1178848256551614320.post-39784266875350822112008-12-11T13:54:00.000-06:002008-12-11T13:54:00.000-06:00Well, I have to say (being a student with Long Rid...Well, I have to say (being a student with Long Ridge Writer's Group) both are important. The additional education has helped me with writing techniques such as "wordiness", "showing and not telling", and "help researching the market". But I have to add a person must enjoy the craft, have an ear for details, and a great imagination. I still read everything I can get my hands on to help me out Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1178848256551614320.post-61547963306450579652008-12-11T12:38:00.000-06:002008-12-11T12:38:00.000-06:00I nominated you for an award. Come on over to my ...I nominated you for an award. Come on over to my blogspot and check it out.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1178848256551614320.post-50862698660196710582008-12-11T11:20:00.000-06:002008-12-11T11:20:00.000-06:00Melissa - I think that's an important clarificatio...Melissa - I think that's an important clarification you've made, about the MFA and its focus. Maybe the "requirements" are a bit different between literary and genre. And I'm genre, as you are.<BR/><BR/>Donna - Thanks so much for stopping by! I'm glad to see your thoughts. And you might be right about a genetic sort of predisposition. How cool your granddaughter writes!Janna Leadbetterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06339705935553160673noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1178848256551614320.post-48238000185999147962008-12-11T11:15:00.000-06:002008-12-11T11:15:00.000-06:00I believe that writing is a God given gift, but th...I believe that writing is a God given gift, but that you need to learn the skills and techniques to develop that gift. I have a BS in Psychology degree, been reading and writing since I was six. I also think there's a writing gene as my mother was a writer, I am and my eleven year old granddaughter has written two books!Donna M. Kohlstromhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04268172745025677265noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1178848256551614320.post-47015451414665847592008-12-11T10:37:00.000-06:002008-12-11T10:37:00.000-06:00I earned my BA and MA in history, so that's probab...I earned my BA and MA in history, so that's probably a major reason why I write historicals. :-)<BR/><BR/>But to be honest, I've only taken one creative writing class in my life - and that was in undergrad school. The rest of my writing experience has been self-taught. I have been reading magazines on writing, books on writing, attending conferences, and reading, reading, reading! since I was in Melissa Amateishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16086267508858187716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1178848256551614320.post-26257007308947256842008-12-11T09:34:00.000-06:002008-12-11T09:34:00.000-06:00Jenna - Absolutely! The same amount of guts and de...Jenna - Absolutely! The same amount of guts and determination are required, don't you think?<BR/><BR/>Jewel - Journalism, cool! And Nike had it right: Just Do It.Janna Leadbetterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06339705935553160673noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1178848256551614320.post-63015457863544524222008-12-11T09:25:00.000-06:002008-12-11T09:25:00.000-06:00I got a degree in English planning to go into Tech...I got a degree in English planning to go into Technical Writing, but wrote for the student paper throughout college. Still write articles to this day, but don't do any technical writing (which I decided wasn't for me).<BR/><BR/>My first love has always been journalism. And now, fiction writing is a close second.<BR/><BR/>I'm glad to have my degree but I have learned most by just WRITING.Jewel Allenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09614039445924074306noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1178848256551614320.post-81765958230573244712008-12-11T09:17:00.000-06:002008-12-11T09:17:00.000-06:00I have a degree in Journalism and though I never b...I have a degree in Journalism and though I never became a journalist I did become a technical writer later in my career. I learned more on the job than I did in college but I do think those college courses really taught me how to learn and analyze information.<BR/><BR/>I do think writers can be self-taught with great success but I think that requires taking the craft as serious as a writer Jennahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04299674277332549914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1178848256551614320.post-16569049680960722682008-12-11T08:46:00.000-06:002008-12-11T08:46:00.000-06:00Fringegirl - Great for you! I think I like the ide...Fringegirl - Great for you! I think I like the <I>idea</I> of school. I don't know, maybe it'd be different now that I'm an adult. But I'd be so skeered to go back!<BR/><BR/>Melanie - *gasp!* I'll check it out. Thanks!Janna Leadbetterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06339705935553160673noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1178848256551614320.post-79460573598043605812008-12-11T08:41:00.000-06:002008-12-11T08:41:00.000-06:00I gave you an award on my blog. :)I gave you an award on my blog. :)Melanie Hooyengahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08781235493983907234noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1178848256551614320.post-76155856181170007392008-12-11T08:34:00.000-06:002008-12-11T08:34:00.000-06:00I have my undergrad degree in English, but trust m...I have my undergrad degree in English, but trust me, I forgot everything I ever learned. The one grammar rule I do remember has been cast aside like an overchewed piece of gum. I think I need to go back to school...again. I could be one of those lifelong students. I actually like school.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1178848256551614320.post-6622146040849777172008-12-11T08:32:00.000-06:002008-12-11T08:32:00.000-06:00Joanne - That's a great link! Thanks for sharing i...Joanne - That's a great link! Thanks for sharing it with us.<BR/><BR/>Terri - I think you've touched an important part of it; understanding how people work. If we can put ourselves in others' shoes, or imagine their lives, what good are we to write about them? And thanks. I try to use my talent the best I can (and hang on to humility at the same time).<BR/><BR/>Cel - Well, shoot! You think a goodJanna Leadbetterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06339705935553160673noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1178848256551614320.post-43177146306066227892008-12-11T08:28:00.000-06:002008-12-11T08:28:00.000-06:00I've actually been thinking of getting my MFA rece...I've actually been thinking of getting my MFA recently. There are so many good programs in my area and I like workshops and delving into literature. <BR/><BR/>Anyway, my degree is in English (I minored in creative writing.) For me it's been valuable, but it's by no means the only way to become a writer.WendyCinNYChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15548500219172368038noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1178848256551614320.post-42472287994189425202008-12-11T08:10:00.000-06:002008-12-11T08:10:00.000-06:00I was always in advanced English courses as a kid ...I was always in advanced English courses as a kid and almost majored in English in college. I chose Mass Communications instead (so I wouldn't have to be an English teacher) and started off with a focus on journalism. Once I realized I hated interviewing people, I switched to graphic design, but I still took several creative writing classes. <BR/><BR/>So while I don't have the degree, I have had Melanie Hooyengahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08781235493983907234noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1178848256551614320.post-33519875963873077262008-12-11T07:54:00.000-06:002008-12-11T07:54:00.000-06:00I'm a combo plate. Have a Journalism degree (from ...I'm a combo plate. Have a Journalism degree (from the early 80s), but a lot of my learning is through observation, reading, continuing ed, and just the "knack." Interesting question, Janna. <BR/><BR/>I'll let ya know about the tree contest winner asap!Angie Ledbetterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16407006980893727627noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1178848256551614320.post-77804918919649339562008-12-11T07:35:00.000-06:002008-12-11T07:35:00.000-06:00My degree is in Missions, with a minor in history....My degree is in Missions, with a minor in history. The history minor is very helpful when it comes to understanding different time periods and what life was like back then. It gave me a better scope for world history. I am currently taking the apprentice level course through Christian Writers Guild to help me build my skills in the craft of writing. I don't know if it is neccessary to have a Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06633193351352023097noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1178848256551614320.post-14928161228859102462008-12-11T07:14:00.000-06:002008-12-11T07:14:00.000-06:00I've got my degree in Information Systems. It help...I've got my degree in Information Systems. It helps with keeping data and records organized I guess. But in high school and college most of my electives went to creative writing courses. I would venture to say that they've helped me with my writing but I don't think they're required by no means to be a good writer. I personally think that if you've got a good head on your shoulders, decent skillsAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com