Comments on: Fail = win http://www.kmwalsh.com/blog/2009/07/04/fail-win/ I read. I write. I organize the crap out of stuff. Tue, 18 Jan 2011 14:25:38 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Kellie http://www.kmwalsh.com/blog/2009/07/04/fail-win/comment-page-1/#comment-142 Kellie Wed, 29 Jul 2009 12:49:28 +0000 http://www.kmwalsh.com/?p=983#comment-142 Indeed. Thanks, llady. Indeed. Thanks, llady.

]]> By: llady http://www.kmwalsh.com/blog/2009/07/04/fail-win/comment-page-1/#comment-141 llady Wed, 29 Jul 2009 04:37:31 +0000 http://www.kmwalsh.com/?p=983#comment-141 A couple of days ago, I heard something on the radio that reminded me of this item and subsequent comments. I was listening to an archived interview of Frank McCourt, the Irish-American writer who passed away last week. The interviewer commented on how prolific Mr. McCourt had become after starting his professional writing career relatively late in life. In reply, he said, "Well, you know, the more you write, the more you write." A couple of days ago, I heard something on the radio that reminded me of this item and subsequent comments. I was listening to an archived interview of Frank McCourt, the Irish-American writer who passed away last week. The interviewer commented on how prolific Mr. McCourt had become after starting his professional writing career relatively late in life. In reply, he said, “Well, you know, the more you write, the more you write.”

]]> By: Kellie http://www.kmwalsh.com/blog/2009/07/04/fail-win/comment-page-1/#comment-129 Kellie Thu, 09 Jul 2009 23:02:03 +0000 http://www.kmwalsh.com/?p=983#comment-129 You're just determined for me to fail in multiple languages, huh, llady? I've certainly used other methods of distraction to try and get new perspective, whether it be working on a different writing project or reading or taking a walk or tooling around on a rock star's forum. *cough* But I've never thought about translating in that way. Determining how an author's message can change just by the way a single word is defined or interpreted has always fascinated me (close-reading is what I always loved best in poetry and lit classes); adding how a word is translated to that list makes complete sense. Thanks, llady. You're a smart llady. Earlier today I reread the piece that I submitted; it's still not great, but with a couple of rewrites, it could be good. With the deadline past, the point is moot, of course, but it's nice to see evidence that I was getting somewhere, even if I never actually got to where I was going. You’re just determined for me to fail in multiple languages, huh, llady?

I’ve certainly used other methods of distraction to try and get new perspective, whether it be working on a different writing project or reading or taking a walk or tooling around on a rock star’s forum. *cough* But I’ve never thought about translating in that way. Determining how an author’s message can change just by the way a single word is defined or interpreted has always fascinated me (close-reading is what I always loved best in poetry and lit classes); adding how a word is translated to that list makes complete sense. Thanks, llady. You’re a smart llady.

Earlier today I reread the piece that I submitted; it’s still not great, but with a couple of rewrites, it could be good. With the deadline past, the point is moot, of course, but it’s nice to see evidence that I was getting somewhere, even if I never actually got to where I was going.

]]> By: llady http://www.kmwalsh.com/blog/2009/07/04/fail-win/comment-page-1/#comment-128 llady Thu, 09 Jul 2009 15:32:00 +0000 http://www.kmwalsh.com/?p=983#comment-128 I don't suppose you've ever tried your hand at translating. I completely understand the writer's frustration of working so hard on a piece and it ends up not being what was meant at all. Put your own thoughts into words in your own language is hard enough, but translation adds a whole new wrinkle to this. When translating one is writing in an attempt to capture the meaning and the tone of another author. Plus, due to the ambiguity of language, it's sometimes hard to figure out what the original writer was trying to say exactly. When you're having trouble with your writing, you might think about doing a little translating. After a bout of that, writing in your mother tongue doesn't seem half as challenging. I know you're quite competent in French. You should really consider this idea. I don’t suppose you’ve ever tried your hand at translating. I completely understand the writer’s frustration of working so hard on a piece and it ends up not being what was meant at all. Put your own thoughts into words in your own language is hard enough, but translation adds a whole new wrinkle to this. When translating one is writing in an attempt to capture the meaning and the tone of another author. Plus, due to the ambiguity of language, it’s sometimes hard to figure out what the original writer was trying to say exactly.
When you’re having trouble with your writing, you might think about doing a little translating. After a bout of that, writing in your mother tongue doesn’t seem half as challenging. I know you’re quite competent in French. You should really consider this idea.

]]> By: Kellie http://www.kmwalsh.com/blog/2009/07/04/fail-win/comment-page-1/#comment-124 Kellie Tue, 07 Jul 2009 16:02:25 +0000 http://www.kmwalsh.com/?p=983#comment-124 Hi, George and Miragi. Thanks for the comments. I was not only happy but in many ways relieved to come across that quote. Browning's "a man's reach should exceed his grasp” is gorgeous and inspirational, but it's nice to hear someone make the idea plain, practical, and immediate. George said, <i>Of course I’d rather not “fail”, but every rejection letter is actually a plus because it means that I’m writing and getting stuff out there.</i> Exactly. I knew I would finish this piece somehow (no matter how badly), but I often doubted that I would actually submit it. It felt embarrassing to, and I very nearly didn't. But hey, not every piece will be brilliant, and even if it gets rejected, at least I tried. That's one attempt more than I had the day before. Miragi said, <i>Personally, when I “ship” something, I sit with the knot in my stomach about it not being good enough, and take with me the knowledge that I can bump up the level of quality and make improvements with each future piece or work!</i> Yes. I do try to remind myself of that cumulative effect. I can't pretend that I always succeed, but I do try, even if I sometimes have to fake it. I only wish the process would move along faster! Hi, George and Miragi. Thanks for the comments.

I was not only happy but in many ways relieved to come across that quote. Browning’s “a man’s reach should exceed his grasp” is gorgeous and inspirational, but it’s nice to hear someone make the idea plain, practical, and immediate.

George said,
Of course I’d rather not “fail”, but every rejection letter is actually a plus because it means that I’m writing and getting stuff out there.

Exactly. I knew I would finish this piece somehow (no matter how badly), but I often doubted that I would actually submit it. It felt embarrassing to, and I very nearly didn’t. But hey, not every piece will be brilliant, and even if it gets rejected, at least I tried. That’s one attempt more than I had the day before.

Miragi said,
Personally, when I “ship” something, I sit with the knot in my stomach about it not being good enough, and take with me the knowledge that I can bump up the level of quality and make improvements with each future piece or work!

Yes. I do try to remind myself of that cumulative effect. I can’t pretend that I always succeed, but I do try, even if I sometimes have to fake it. I only wish the process would move along faster!

]]> By: Miragi http://www.kmwalsh.com/blog/2009/07/04/fail-win/comment-page-1/#comment-123 Miragi Tue, 07 Jul 2009 15:28:44 +0000 http://www.kmwalsh.com/?p=983#comment-123 ""You “feel” what you ought to be able to do long before you can actually do it. "" How absolutely true! Personally, when I "ship" something, I sit with the knot in my stomach about it not being good enough, and take with me the knowledge that I can bump up the level of quality and make improvements with each future piece or work! Thanks for the insight and motivation! “”You “feel” what you ought to be able to do long before you can actually do it. “” How absolutely true! Personally, when I “ship” something, I sit with the knot in my stomach about it not being good enough, and take with me the knowledge that I can bump up the level of quality and make improvements with each future piece or work! Thanks for the insight and motivation!

]]> By: Twitted by tumblemoose http://www.kmwalsh.com/blog/2009/07/04/fail-win/comment-page-1/#comment-122 Twitted by tumblemoose Tue, 07 Jul 2009 15:19:15 +0000 http://www.kmwalsh.com/?p=983#comment-122 [...] This post was Twitted by tumblemoose [...] [...] This post was Twitted by tumblemoose [...]

]]> By: Tumblemoose http://www.kmwalsh.com/blog/2009/07/04/fail-win/comment-page-1/#comment-121 Tumblemoose Tue, 07 Jul 2009 15:13:37 +0000 http://www.kmwalsh.com/?p=983#comment-121 Hi Kellie, I was intrigued by the post title and thought I'd drop by. That is such a great quote you've got there. Of course I'd rather not "fail", but every rejection letter is actually a plus because it means that I'm writing and getting stuff out there. Cheers! George Hi Kellie,

I was intrigued by the post title and thought I’d drop by. That is such a great quote you’ve got there. Of course I’d rather not “fail”, but every rejection letter is actually a plus because it means that I’m writing and getting stuff out there.

Cheers!

George

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