tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83528601653366510.post4657409514579582169..comments2024-01-03T04:03:15.300-05:00Comments on S.P. Bowers: Do you like me?S.P. Bowershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09746614009206426805noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83528601653366510.post-6164550030775453322014-02-13T14:35:50.095-05:002014-02-13T14:35:50.095-05:00Glad you enjoyed it. And just in case you were wo...Glad you enjoyed it. And just in case you were worried I can tell from your blog that you like people. S.P. Bowershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09746614009206426805noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83528601653366510.post-30933208025564903712014-02-13T14:34:43.125-05:002014-02-13T14:34:43.125-05:00It's true, even abstract books deal with human...It's true, even abstract books deal with human emotions and problems.S.P. Bowershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09746614009206426805noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83528601653366510.post-31791377055919702192014-02-13T14:33:35.731-05:002014-02-13T14:33:35.731-05:00Exactly! And I think writers do need alone time t...Exactly! And I think writers do need alone time to process everything they've picked up.<br />S.P. Bowershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09746614009206426805noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83528601653366510.post-28553844850108679522014-02-13T14:28:38.575-05:002014-02-13T14:28:38.575-05:00I maybe should have rephrased. It wasn't so mu...I maybe should have rephrased. It wasn't so much they thought I would be a bad writer, more that my reserve and shyness would keep me from reaching my full potential. <br /><br />And thanks for the ego boost!S.P. Bowershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09746614009206426805noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83528601653366510.post-67491156671242847272014-02-12T23:34:50.443-05:002014-02-12T23:34:50.443-05:00I agree - you have to like people, be fascinated b...I agree - you have to like people, be fascinated by people in fact. You want to really know what make them tick, and when they do stuff you can't comprehend, you have to be willing to try to figure out what could have led them to such actions. But I also agree - many writers prefer to watch from the back than from center stage! THanks for this great article, it really got me thinking. Can I mention it on my blog? Margo Berendsenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03476308235642890474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83528601653366510.post-58235523507138125942014-02-12T15:28:59.251-05:002014-02-12T15:28:59.251-05:00Wow! I had a very similar conversation with my tee...Wow! I had a very similar conversation with my teens in the car this morning. I do like people! I hope that comes across in my writing. Who knew that liking folks could make your book more enjoyable? Great timing! Thank you!Scribbles From Jennhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01035720671975725049noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83528601653366510.post-54362251778222653292014-02-12T14:45:55.876-05:002014-02-12T14:45:55.876-05:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.SEO Star Software Househttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18109178659780442992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83528601653366510.post-64131230092912703382014-02-12T13:31:25.256-05:002014-02-12T13:31:25.256-05:00'The person who read that quote to me did so b...'The person who read that quote to me did so because they worried I would never be a great writer.'<br /><br />Mmm. Sounds to me like they don't know you very well. Suzehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07908805179119217608noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83528601653366510.post-66474861803447670452014-02-11T21:31:21.445-05:002014-02-11T21:31:21.445-05:00I'm kind of shocked someone sent that to you a...I'm kind of shocked someone sent that to you and claimed you'll never be a great writer. That's terrible.<br /><br />But the rest of the post I agree with. Why write about the very thing you don't like. Of course one could make the argument that if that's true, and you don't like people, then you can write picture books about teddy bears and animals. Oh wait! Even those deal with humans. Just transformed into cute and cuddly. Stinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11415189347501942340noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83528601653366510.post-74116057090192833112014-02-11T17:14:13.293-05:002014-02-11T17:14:13.293-05:00I think reclusiveness is a personality trait of ma...I think reclusiveness is a personality trait of many writers. I tend to be reclusive, especially when I have a lot of writing projects due. However, I would never say I don't like people. I think perhaps a combination of social interaction and alone time benefits writers--but, honestly, people fascinate me. That's the key to creating characters that come off the page--observing people and getting to the root of what makes them do the things they do.Stephanie Farishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10461865229341760836noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83528601653366510.post-67636229412745101382014-02-11T16:08:45.369-05:002014-02-11T16:08:45.369-05:00hmmm I'd need to find some way to prove that &...hmmm I'd need to find some way to prove that "reading a few paragraphs..." assertion, but I do find it intriguing. But being a liker of people is irrelevant to good storytelling. Knowing what makes them tick is what I think is essential. Just don't make me get on stage and I'll like you a whole lot more! :)Jeff Hargetthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14198367021884647821noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83528601653366510.post-42205951669133771162014-02-11T15:05:15.988-05:002014-02-11T15:05:15.988-05:00That's really interesting. I don't see why...That's really interesting. I don't see why a writer can't be an observer of people - that doesn't mean we don't like people, we just don't necessarily want to interact with *everyone*. On the other hand, there's no telling how far we'll go to experience something our characters are experiencing - I just read a book where the male MC goes into an arranged marriage just so he can write a book about the experience! Of course, he ends up falling for the girl anyway :-)Deniz Bevanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17134553551048836979noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83528601653366510.post-67376418308102411262014-02-11T14:08:25.440-05:002014-02-11T14:08:25.440-05:00I love people! And watching them negotiate this cr...I love people! And watching them negotiate this crazy world is so much fun. That's the key behind a good story, don't you think?Zan Mariehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13403563510118660546noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83528601653366510.post-64899030173291197992014-02-11T06:49:43.884-05:002014-02-11T06:49:43.884-05:00We all have people we don't get along with. Be...We all have people we don't get along with. Being able to put yourself in their shoes shows great compassion, and a great like and trust of humankind in general. Otherwise why would you even try?<br /><br />S.P. Bowershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09746614009206426805noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83528601653366510.post-49058956958125355342014-02-11T06:48:22.215-05:002014-02-11T06:48:22.215-05:00Yes, it is. :)Yes, it is. :)S.P. Bowershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09746614009206426805noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83528601653366510.post-61171667421559601582014-02-11T06:44:55.480-05:002014-02-11T06:44:55.480-05:00I don't think they're are too many out the...I don't think they're are too many out there that write to prove their own superiority. At least not that get published and read widely. S.P. Bowershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09746614009206426805noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83528601653366510.post-14984601892057738182014-02-11T06:43:59.243-05:002014-02-11T06:43:59.243-05:00Both I think. A writer does need to be fascinated...Both I think. A writer does need to be fascinated by people, otherwise they'll never know the ins and outs to make anything more than cardboard characters. But a writer must like mankind as a whole, must be able to see people in general in some sort of positive light, otherwise teh work will be too cynical and uncomfortable. S.P. Bowershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09746614009206426805noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83528601653366510.post-89084581543734319792014-02-11T06:42:17.033-05:002014-02-11T06:42:17.033-05:00We all know people that are difficult to get alon...We all know people that are difficult to get along with. I speaking more of mankind as a mass. S.P. Bowershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09746614009206426805noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83528601653366510.post-74034107147553818302014-02-11T06:40:45.970-05:002014-02-11T06:40:45.970-05:00I love Anne Tyler! And that's one of the main...I love Anne Tyler! And that's one of the main reasons why. She is fascinated by people and she shares that fascination and exploration with the reader. S.P. Bowershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09746614009206426805noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83528601653366510.post-41182306011924971432014-02-11T01:03:55.546-05:002014-02-11T01:03:55.546-05:00I find it difficult to like someone if they're...I find it difficult to like someone if they're a jerk. But that said, I can try to put myself in another person's shoes, even if I don't like them, just so I can better understand why they are the way they are. So while I don't think authors need to necessarily like everyone, I think having a little empathy sometimes can help.Cynthiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00912167351889969855noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83528601653366510.post-58557972828724551112014-02-10T21:54:41.919-05:002014-02-10T21:54:41.919-05:00Lol. Watching and observing people is a great way ...Lol. Watching and observing people is a great way to gain more knowledge. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10304701332216772385noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83528601653366510.post-80778834917451872972014-02-10T20:44:49.267-05:002014-02-10T20:44:49.267-05:00I'm pretty sure I like people. :-) But I'd...I'm pretty sure I like people. :-) But I'd be a little freaked out to have him read my first few paragraphs though...Barbara Watsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06547166495514562286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83528601653366510.post-66926263383299672312014-02-10T16:07:35.973-05:002014-02-10T16:07:35.973-05:00I think yoiu can be in the background and still li...I think yoiu can be in the background and still like people. And no, I've never read anything and thought the author didn't like people.Natalie Aguirrehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03756087804171246660noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83528601653366510.post-31237887307403024372014-02-10T15:04:34.002-05:002014-02-10T15:04:34.002-05:00Interesting. I don't think I've ever had t...Interesting. I don't think I've ever had that reaction to a piece of writing. Does make sense though, I suppose.Ruth Schiffmannhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02625363295823548969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83528601653366510.post-18969739023347755812014-02-10T14:40:28.675-05:002014-02-10T14:40:28.675-05:00It is liking people, or is it more a matter of fin...It is liking people, or is it more a matter of finding them interesting?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00700737187405826842noreply@blogger.com