http://www.filmtraveler.com/2007/08/27/i-had-to-leave-america-to-write-part-1/ Hollywood Ending or Bust Thu, 09 Sep 2010 06:39:46 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.3 http://www.filmtraveler.com/2007/08/27/i-had-to-leave-america-to-write-part-1/#comment-27 Denise Thu, 06 Sep 2007 00:32:39 +0000 http://www.filmtraveler.com/2007/08/27/i-had-to-leave-america-to-write-part-1/#comment-27 Matt, I am thoroughly enjoying your blog and this entire site ~ especially the banter between you and our friend Fantasy Scribbler. Thank you for sharing your journey with us! :) http://www.filmtraveler.com/2007/08/27/i-had-to-leave-america-to-write-part-1/#comment-21 Traveling Matt Wed, 29 Aug 2007 18:39:37 +0000 http://www.filmtraveler.com/2007/08/27/i-had-to-leave-america-to-write-part-1/#comment-21 #4: Good point; allow me to explain. In future posts, I'm sure I'll clarify my philosophy about criticism. In the meantime, rest assured, I end up discarding most of what I hear from most people, and only fully address those opinions whose truth my own inner critic (however reluctantly) recognizes. Did it ever occur to you that I acknowledge your opinion more often than many others because I've found your judgment superior? Your opinion matters because I've decided it does, not because I'm insecure about my work. As a matter of fact, it is because of my rather narcissistic confidence in myself (a common trait among artists which must be contradicted by a deliberate effort at humility in order to produce a pleasant personality and continuing good work) that I am amenable to criticism. In my opinion, people who are less confident are less open to the opinions of others--they are too sensitive and are injured by complaint, and so they put up barriers. I have great faith in both my writing and my judgment, so I feel free to entertain your opinions, and the opinions of others, without feeling threatened. Because I have no doubt of any kind that my opinion matters most, I am able to welcome yours. As for points 1-3: this is <em>my</em> little blog, buddy, so I can paraphrase what my friends say to make a point. You can do it on <a href="http://www.luthielssong.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">your blog</a> whenever you like, and I can do it on mine. :) I wasn't quoting you about me failing, just saying what it meant to me. The road to success is paved with failure. Knowing that, I try to recognize where I am failing and fix it. That was my opinion, not yours, my good man; don't get mad when I condense long conversations into a single sentence and don't satisfy everyone involved; this is just a blog, so it's gonna happen a lot. my little blog, buddy, so I can paraphrase what my friends say to make a point. You can do it on your blog whenever you like, and I can do it on mine. :) I wasn't quoting you about me failing, just saying what it meant to me. The road to success is paved with failure. Knowing that, I try to recognize where I am failing and fix it. That was my opinion, not yours, my good man; don't get mad when I condense long conversations into a single sentence and don't satisfy everyone involved; this is just a blog, so it's gonna happen a lot.]]> http://www.filmtraveler.com/2007/08/27/i-had-to-leave-america-to-write-part-1/#comment-20 Fantasyscribbler Wed, 29 Aug 2007 15:24:36 +0000 http://www.filmtraveler.com/2007/08/27/i-had-to-leave-america-to-write-part-1/#comment-20 Unforgiving? My goodness! 1. I've only read a few scenes of your screenplay so my comments may well have been taken out of context. But I never said I disliked all of your characters. Only one and in one scene (not the piece you posted here). 2. I'd assumed it was your intent that the reader dislike this particular character. 3. I NEVER said you were failing. 4. When in doubt, get a second opinion. What do other readers have to say about your characters? It's entirely possible that my opinion doesn't matter one hill of beans. Finally, you're the writer. It's your piece of work. Shouldn't your opinion matter most?