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Monday, October 14, 2013

Around Town

Move over Write Club, there's a new competition in town. If you live in Peru, that is. They've made writing into a spectator sport, modeling it after wrestling, and now the masked writers compete in front of an audience. The winner? Well, they receive a publishing contract.  Would you compete for that prize? And would you wear the mask?


This article about overcoming obstacles and turning your whine into gold is quite inspirational.


Over here we have a crazy, old school, um...author...teacher...looking for words that aren't derogatory...who won't teach books written by women. It's not that he has anything against women in general, they just don't write well enough.  Apparently, women have never written anything worth teaching others about, nor have Canadians, or Chinese.  I've heard he's an amazing writer but I don't think I'll give him a chance.  What about you?


Please don't shoot the messenger.  I am not supporting the ideas in this last article, just giving people a change to see what is out there.  Now, having said that, if you wish to continue, here is one man's opinion on the self publishing bandwagon. An opinion that says self-pubbed authors can't really consider themselves published, or authors.  



29 comments:

  1. I really loved the first one!

    The second one was...interesting. I suppose he can teach whatever he wants, but still...just one short story from Virginia Woolf? I read one of her novels my freshman year of college. I think third year students could probably handle it just fine.

    Sounds to me like he's not giving female writers or any of his students enough credit. What a shame.

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  2. I would -so- don a lucha mask and get up there to write my heart out....I bet it'd be a lot of fun, if nothing else :) "Lucha libro"....lol.

    Great articles, thanks for sharing :)

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  3. Interesting stuff. It's always good to know what ideas are marching around out there.

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  4. Awesome links, and interesting article to be sure. Self publishing is still a viable option. It's all about what your goals are. :)

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  5. Good links. I'm off to check them out.

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  6. I think the Luchadores would work as a reality TV show on MTV...since that is all that MTV shows any more.
    *GLARES MENACINGLY AT TV BEHIND HIS LUCHADOR MASK*

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  7. Wow, writing as a spectator sport. I'd think it'd be rather dull. They'd watch us look for ways to procrastinate, drink coffee, and type. :)

    Well, I'm not interested in reading anything by anyone with such a closed mind.

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    1. Yes, that "apparently, women have never written anything worth teaching others about, nor have Canadians, or Chinese" put me right off reading anything he wrote!

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    2. Oh, and I can procrastinate with the best of 'em, but make my beverage tea!

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  8. Well everyone has to have an opinion, eh? A friend of mine was telling me the other day how her father didn't read anything unless it was written by a man. I scratched my head, shrugged and replied, "Well, he's missing out, isn't he?"

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  9. Wow, that's quite a variety. Think I'll check out the inspirational one first.

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  10. Spectator writing-- maybe for those who type at lightening speed or have incredible handwriting? That's interesting!

    As for the "teacher"-- bah. Sounds like an ignorant.

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  11. I love the writing as a spectator sport idea. I'd love to watch, but probably wouldn't compete :) And seriously, why do teachers (if he can call himself such) like that exist? Isn't there some kind of screening along the way? Yeesh.

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  12. That teacher sounds like an egotistic boob. (Man-boob, of course.)

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  13. Hahahaha. I have to laugh or I'll cry. How sad. But they'll probably thrive on the publicity. Ugh. And as for the last one? He's just a little behind the times. That was the general consensus several years ago, but things have changed rapidly. My own views have too. Like anything else if you do it right, then it's fine.

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  14. I don't know that I could write on command like that, much less wearing a mask! :)

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  15. Never! If someone doesn't show respect based on gender, I wouldn't give him a chance either! Thanks for all links...I'm reading them.

    Nas

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  16. I heard about the teacher on the news. Boy, either he's really really dumb or... he's really really dumb. LOL

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  17. Sometimes I feel that when people publicly declare they don't like something, what they're really announcing is that they don't understand it.

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  18. Yeah, I think I'll pass on his books too, considering I'm a female AND Canadian. Which means he won't be buying my book either.

    Well, judging from what some self published authors are making, I'd be thrilled to join them no matter what they're called (which is technically still author, regardless of what he thinks).

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  19. I wonder if my NaNoWriMo group would appreciate wearing masks while participating in word wars at write ins? Hmmm.

    As for the professor who refuses to teach things that he doesn't 100% just love, I find that rather sad. He seems extremely set in a narrow view of what good writing is and is unwilling to waver. I think keeping your mind open to different writing styles and genres, while not necessarily liking them, is a wonderful way to expand your own mind.

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  20. Replies
    1. Maybe the professor is racist, sexist, and homophobic. Maybe women should not take his class, and anyone who is not heterosexual, should stay away.
      I am a student at U of T right now and I would not want to take his course or read his book.
      But, he's getting the fame he desires. Maybe he'll write another book about all the attention he's getting.

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    2. This is the comment I wrote about self-publishing.
      "Dr.Jim Taylor made some valid points, but they are overshadowed by the poor argument about "publishing and self-publishing." Publishing by any means is still publishing. An author is an author. And some self-published books go through the same rigors as those published by big or small publishing houses. Is this called envy of the self-published author?"

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  21. I think I'd need the mask if I were to compete in that Peruvian contest ;)

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  22. Oh, I hadn't realised that guy who was against non-white male authors is a teacher! But where does he draw the line? How come female characters are okay? What would he do if he had a daughter? Has he read enough of a sample of other authors to make a judgement call?
    Argh.

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