Wednesday, 29 August 2012

The Artist Unleashed: WHY WRITING IS LIKE PRACTICING MEDICINE, by Lydia Kang

The Artist Unleashed posts have moved to a new domain. Please click HERE to read the rest of this post and for the opportunity to comment. Just search for the title of the post in the search bar on the new site.

34 comments:

  1. Enlightening as always Lydia. Just wondering whether you are a creative prescription writer?

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  2. But ... I WANT to live alone in a shack in the woods and write ... okay, fine. The kids probably wouldn't appreciate that choice. Great post, Lydia!

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  3. Ah, when two of the best come together, it's like whiskey and beer ... or something. Anyway, you guys are great! Love this feature. And I would love a cabin in the woods myself!

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  4. Great seeing you here, Lydia. And you're so cool...getting wisdom from Ratatoille. And guys...I'll have a casita in the jungle soon if anyone's interested.

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  5. Writing isn't a piece of meat - funny!
    And quoting Ratatouille isn't cheating.

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  6. Such great analogy Lydia. I loved the comparisons. Thanks for another great post.

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  7. Great post, Lydia. I'm glad you mentioned the part about learning. I know an author who thinks because he is published through a small press, he doesn't need to learn anymore. Nice try! Most careers require us to keep learning.

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  8. Great comparison! Love the quote, Lydia.

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  9. Very apt comparisons. I am going to share withis with some folks I know who are writers~

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  10. Good collection of points - thank you!

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  11. Loved this Lydia! How 'bout the wine and coffee drinking curmudgeon in a shack in the woods? Kind of sounds like my ideal writing lab. :0)

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  12. I love #3, and especially #5. Great comparisons, Lydia, and a fun way to think of the practice of writing.

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  13. This is wonderful. Lydia is such a role model!

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  14. All very true - esp. the crit partner. My writing has vastly improved since I got mine :)

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  15. Wonderful post, Lydia. Completely agree with it.

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  16. Thanks for the comparison. It was really helpful, especially #1.

    And crit partners are amazing!

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  17. What great insights. My Dad's a doctor and can probably relate to all of these.

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  18. I need a crit partner stat! I think I will approach her tonight with cookies in hand.

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  19. There's more in common between doctoring and writing than I thought!

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  20. I like your list! I'd never thought of there being much connection between writers and doctors.

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  21. Hooray for Dr. Lydia! Two of my favorite people in one place. It's like a Reese's peanut butter cup! :D

    This is all such great advice. Good points about the perspective and the fresh eyes and the taking a break. Best to both of you. Can't wait to read CONTROL! :o) <3

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  22. Thank you guys for stopping by! :D

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  23. Great advice, Lydia, especially the one about taking time off.

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  24. Love the comparison, so true! Thanks, Lydia, for sharing. Jessica, thanks for hosting! :)

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  25. Really good stuff, Lydia. I especially love the part about living. Although our characters and stories can take over sometimes, it's our real lives that matter the most.

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  26. Great post, Lydia! I love your stuff, as always. I usually think of writing as therapy, which is... a TYPE of medicine, sort of kind of, right?

    And any girl that quotes Pixar is gonna earn brownie points from me ;)

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  27. Great post, Lydia! Super analogy. :)

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  28. I never would have thought medicine is like writing. Great guest post.

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  29. I loved this list. Number 5 is something I need to remember, something I strive to remember. I feel often so out of balance.

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  30. I like your take on that chef line, Lydia. It took me a while before I could see a novel as a whole. It's a long journey. I'm six years and counting. I may not have a published novel until I've done the time equivalent of a brain surgeon.

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  31. Oh I love this interview and the analogy. I agree about writing day and night. It doesn't allow for creativity, exposure to new ideas and life that provides the stimuli for your writing.

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  32. EXCELLENT post. SO true! :)

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  33. Lydia~ you're genius wherever you go!

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“I'm using my art to comment on what I see. You don't have to agree with it.” ~John Mellencamp

“Allowing an unimportant mistake to pass without comment is a wonderful social grace” ~Judith S. Marin

“I don't ever try to make a serious social comment.” ~Paul McCartney

“I'd make a comment at a meeting and nobody would even acknowledge me. Then some man would say the same thing and they'd all nod.” ~Charlotte Bunch

“Probably what my comment meant was that I don't care about the circumstances if I can tell the truth.” ~Sally Kirkland

“We're not going to pay attention to the silliness and the petty comments. And quite frankly, women have joined me in this effort, and so it's not about appearances. It's about effectiveness.” ~Katherine Harris