Comments for deCOMPOSE http://mikeduran.com Faith. Culture. Composition. Thu, 09 Sep 2010 03:52:08 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 Comment on How NOT To Answer an Atheist by Seen and Not Heard – Act 2 « Myriad Shades of Gray http://mikeduran.com/?p=9327&cpage=1#comment-71698 Seen and Not Heard – Act 2 « Myriad Shades of Gray Thu, 09 Sep 2010 03:52:08 +0000 http://mikeduran.com/?p=9327#comment-71698 [...] It doesn’t matter if it’s a mosque at Ground Zero (which isn’t by the way), a movie based on a book by an atheist, or the mathematical musings of a world-renowned physicist, Christians have this really bad habit of  responding not with love and good deeds, but hate, death threats, and right-wing repartee.[1] [...] [...] It doesn’t matter if it’s a mosque at Ground Zero (which isn’t by the way), a movie based on a book by an atheist, or the mathematical musings of a world-renowned physicist, Christians have this really bad habit of  responding not with love and good deeds, but hate, death threats, and right-wing repartee.[1] [...]

]]> Comment on Why Christians Should Be Skeptical of Glenn Beck by Nikole Hahn http://mikeduran.com/?p=9354&cpage=1#comment-71697 Nikole Hahn Wed, 08 Sep 2010 23:09:29 +0000 http://mikeduran.com/?p=9354#comment-71697 For the record, I like Beck. I agree with him 100%. On the rally...I liked the rally and am glad it happened. However, you are right. My husband and I had that same conversation. We need to pray that people close to him are talking to him about the God of the Bible. While it was good for country, it was not good for those who do not read the Bible and who do or do not go to church. They might think and believe that Mormonism and Christianity are the same, and they are not. Hopefully, he's one of those mormon newbies who will figure that out. It's the ones who grew up in it that are really indoctrinated. The newbies usually don't know much about the religion they are in and are easily pursuaded back to Christ. Hopefully, that's the case with Beck. For the record, I like Beck. I agree with him 100%.

On the rally…I liked the rally and am glad it happened.

However, you are right. My husband and I had that same conversation. We need to pray that people close to him are talking to him about the God of the Bible. While it was good for country, it was not good for those who do not read the Bible and who do or do not go to church. They might think and believe that Mormonism and Christianity are the same, and they are not.

Hopefully, he’s one of those mormon newbies who will figure that out. It’s the ones who grew up in it that are really indoctrinated. The newbies usually don’t know much about the religion they are in and are easily pursuaded back to Christ.

Hopefully, that’s the case with Beck.

]]> Comment on Good Writing is NOT Subjective by David James http://mikeduran.com/?p=9154&cpage=1#comment-71696 David James Wed, 08 Sep 2010 22:53:54 +0000 http://mikeduran.com/?p=9154#comment-71696 Not to speak for Mike, but perhaps that's why he mentioned Strunk & White? Perhaps he was showing a furthering of his point? Again, not to speak for Mike. Just a thought. ;) Not to speak for Mike, but perhaps that’s why he mentioned Strunk & White? Perhaps he was showing a furthering of his point? Again, not to speak for Mike. Just a thought. ;)

]]> Comment on Good Writing is NOT Subjective by Justin http://mikeduran.com/?p=9154&cpage=1#comment-71695 Justin Wed, 08 Sep 2010 17:08:13 +0000 http://mikeduran.com/?p=9154#comment-71695 yes and no, it is based on the audience, but it isn't. i'm going to be postmodern about this. i think we should be striving to be better, but i can't really say my idea of "good writing" is the only right one...(read I would say literary books are better writing than say Dekker books, but that's MY opinion, and not a fact)...but there is such a thing as letting the audience decide, if we're changing lives and we're doing God's work, our perfectionism need not get in the way. plus I think you've grossly misunderstood abstract art. there is bad don't get me wrong, but take something like Pollock's art and there is great meaning in it. yes and no, it is based on the audience, but it isn’t. i’m going to be postmodern about this. i think we should be striving to be better, but i can’t really say my idea of “good writing” is the only right one…(read I would say literary books are better writing than say Dekker books, but that’s MY opinion, and not a fact)…but there is such a thing as letting the audience decide, if we’re changing lives and we’re doing God’s work, our perfectionism need not get in the way.

plus I think you’ve grossly misunderstood abstract art. there is bad don’t get me wrong, but take something like Pollock’s art and there is great meaning in it.

]]> Comment on Good Writing is NOT Subjective by Nicole http://mikeduran.com/?p=9154&cpage=1#comment-71693 Nicole Wed, 08 Sep 2010 14:54:00 +0000 http://mikeduran.com/?p=9154#comment-71693 No merit in Hemingway's writing. The stories are interesting except for a couple, but the writing itself, his technique and style? No. Not to be elevated to the level of great writing that is common for Hemingway fans. No merit in Hemingway’s writing. The stories are interesting except for a couple, but the writing itself, his technique and style? No. Not to be elevated to the level of great writing that is common for Hemingway fans.

]]> Comment on Good Writing is NOT Subjective by Tim George http://mikeduran.com/?p=9154&cpage=1#comment-71692 Tim George Wed, 08 Sep 2010 04:06:55 +0000 http://mikeduran.com/?p=9154#comment-71692 Athol Dickson once made this observation to me about the rules and writing. To bend or even break the rules with consistent success one must first know the rules. It's one thing to read a piece of fiction and be able to see the writer is using, even bending, the rules for a desired effect. Its quite another to sense the writer has no idea what the rules even are. Athol Dickson once made this observation to me about the rules and writing. To bend or even break the rules with consistent success one must first know the rules. It’s one thing to read a piece of fiction and be able to see the writer is using, even bending, the rules for a desired effect. Its quite another to sense the writer has no idea what the rules even are.

]]> Comment on iPod Playlist by Jessica Thomas http://mikeduran.com/?p=9346&cpage=1#comment-71691 Jessica Thomas Wed, 08 Sep 2010 00:46:26 +0000 http://mikeduran.com/?p=9346#comment-71691 Broken Bells, Black Keys, Snow Patrol, Arcade Fire...can't argue with those. :) Broken Bells, Black Keys, Snow Patrol, Arcade Fire…can’t argue with those. :)

]]> Comment on Good Writing is NOT Subjective by Jessica Thomas http://mikeduran.com/?p=9154&cpage=1#comment-71690 Jessica Thomas Wed, 08 Sep 2010 00:43:48 +0000 http://mikeduran.com/?p=9154#comment-71690 Of course the constructs of language come in to play, but I'd argue, even with abstract art, it's not an anything goes type of thing. I can't put a dot on an 8 1/2 x 11 sheet of paper and call it art. I mean, I suppose I can, but no one's going to buy that either. Also (you may have already said this above) good grammar doesn't necessarily mean good writing. Sentences can perfectly constructed yet be dry and boring as heck. All the other things you mention publisher expects (create interest, unfold plots, describe settings, build worlds, craft characters, summon emotion) are definitely subjective and pertain to the art of writing. Of course the constructs of language come in to play, but I’d argue, even with abstract art, it’s not an anything goes type of thing. I can’t put a dot on an 8 1/2 x 11 sheet of paper and call it art. I mean, I suppose I can, but no one’s going to buy that either. Also (you may have already said this above) good grammar doesn’t necessarily mean good writing. Sentences can perfectly constructed yet be dry and boring as heck. All the other things you mention publisher expects (create interest, unfold plots, describe settings, build worlds, craft characters, summon emotion) are definitely subjective and pertain to the art of writing.

]]> Comment on Good Writing is NOT Subjective by Mike Duran http://mikeduran.com/?p=9154&cpage=1#comment-71689 Mike Duran Tue, 07 Sep 2010 23:37:30 +0000 http://mikeduran.com/?p=9154#comment-71689 Nicole, I do think we need to make some distinctions in this discussion, differentiate between technique and story, etc. While I agree that getting published is not an "instantaneous sign" of good writing, it is a sign that some industry standard or expectation has been met. Most likely, some of that has to do with actual writing. But in saying that agents still apply "subjectivity" to their decisions, we should not take this to mean a disregard for basic elements of good storytelling. And you see "no merit Hemingway." None? I just finished something by Henry James. One word: Tedious. Does this mean I found "no merit" in Henry James? Absolutely not. So, as I said, I think we do need to make distinctions. thanks for your comments! Nicole, I do think we need to make some distinctions in this discussion, differentiate between technique and story, etc. While I agree that getting published is not an “instantaneous sign” of good writing, it is a sign that some industry standard or expectation has been met. Most likely, some of that has to do with actual writing. But in saying that agents still apply “subjectivity” to their decisions, we should not take this to mean a disregard for basic elements of good storytelling.

And you see “no merit Hemingway.” None? I just finished something by Henry James. One word: Tedious. Does this mean I found “no merit” in Henry James? Absolutely not. So, as I said, I think we do need to make distinctions. thanks for your comments!

]]> Comment on Good Writing is NOT Subjective by Mike Duran http://mikeduran.com/?p=9154&cpage=1#comment-71688 Mike Duran Tue, 07 Sep 2010 23:12:26 +0000 http://mikeduran.com/?p=9154#comment-71688 Jessica, I don't think we can parallel art with writing in this regard. With the advent of abstract art, pretty much anything goes. Language suffers under tighter constraints. If you don't believe me, here's a quote from my new book entitled "Abstract Writing." "Wjhdf luyrk. jvn ksdnajf nle-5784nfgv? khtvrlkjvn dvk.erjgb. fkiuvlrl v943jm ;dnv. wu676wolOd,lbpv-5i" Question: Would you like to pre-order a copy? Jessica, I don’t think we can parallel art with writing in this regard. With the advent of abstract art, pretty much anything goes. Language suffers under tighter constraints. If you don’t believe me, here’s a quote from my new book entitled “Abstract Writing.”

“Wjhdf luyrk. jvn ksdnajf nle-5784nfgv? khtvrlkjvn dvk.erjgb. fkiuvlrl v943jm ;dnv. wu676wolOd,lbpv-5i”

Question: Would you like to pre-order a copy?

]]> Comment on Good Writing is NOT Subjective by Guy Stewart http://mikeduran.com/?p=9154&cpage=1#comment-71687 Guy Stewart Tue, 07 Sep 2010 23:08:10 +0000 http://mikeduran.com/?p=9154#comment-71687 I almost think I could argue...except that I can't. Something about what you wrote resonated deeply in me as RIGHT. A sense of total "rightness" overwhelmed me the instant I read this: "Most publishers DO NOT think good writing is subjective. Just look at their Submission Guidelines." If you want to write for yourself, then writing is what it is. If you want to write for publication, it is totally and completely subjective every time I send out the exact same manuscript. My job is to find the right subjective viewpoint to match my writing... I almost think I could argue…except that I can’t. Something about what you wrote resonated deeply in me as RIGHT. A sense of total “rightness” overwhelmed me the instant I read this: “Most publishers DO NOT think good writing is subjective. Just look at their Submission Guidelines.”

If you want to write for yourself, then writing is what it is. If you want to write for publication, it is totally and completely subjective every time I send out the exact same manuscript.

My job is to find the right subjective viewpoint to match my writing…

]]> Comment on Interview with “Hipster Christianity” Author Brett McCracken by Daniel W http://mikeduran.com/?p=8375&cpage=2#comment-71686 Daniel W Tue, 07 Sep 2010 20:15:23 +0000 http://mikeduran.com/?p=8375#comment-71686 interesting interview... I am interested to read the book in its entirety. These interviews and the first free chapter online are at the very least intriguing. shameless plug. check out our "hipster Christianity" view of the establishment. http://vimeo.com/8537137 interesting interview…

I am interested to read the book in its entirety. These interviews and the first free chapter online are at the very least intriguing.

shameless plug.
check out our “hipster Christianity” view of the establishment.
http://vimeo.com/8537137

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