It doesn’t matter if you consider yourself a professional or amateur when it comes to writing, but I bet I’m not the only one who cares for some privacy when writing. It’s always harder for me to focus when someone else is paying attention to what I’m doing.
In 9th grade I devoted some of my study hall time to work on a book idea. I’d sit at one table writing feverishly when I noticed that a boy at the next table was staring. After that, I felt very self conscious and cut the writing time short because I hated being watched because I was doing something besides talk to other people or sleep.
On the bus I tried writing, but the person in the seat behind me leaned over the seat and began reading aloud what I was writing. He’d only gotten as far as three words when I slammed the book shut and stopped trying to write on the bus.
Recently I was at a party I felt a little awkward in and I brought a notebook to write in to occupy the very long night ahead. Suddenly all the adults (I’m technically an adult too but let’s ignore that for now) started talking about me writing. Someone let slip that I brought a notebook with me. Well suddenly this other guest who assumed I was writing a screenplay starting narrating the party as if I would copy that down. It was like my personal space was invaded. I kept telling her, “No, I’m writing a blog entry for a contest,” but she wasn’t paying attention.
Seeing a person writing or typing like mad, you may want to ask what’s being written. Please don’t though. Chances are your question will either seem to invasive, you’ll interrupt the flow of the writing, or you’ll make the writer feel subconscious…or all three.
Your comments and ratings are very much appreciated!
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I know that feeling. I write all of the time and it drives me insane to have someone looming over me while I'm doing it. I don't mind sharing it when I'm finished or if I need advise, but until I ask or give you my consent, I prefer that you just stay away. It's not so much that it makes me self conscious, it's more that it breaks my concentration and I lose focus. I hate hate hate that. And I hate sharing something that isn't finished because it's liable to change many times before it's done. I've had people read something that wasn't finished and then get mad that it had changed and they couldn't read the rest of that story because it was no longer the same and they wanted to know what happened. It's a process people.
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Free books need new home.
~Fallon~
"If I fall asleep with a pen in my hand, don't remove it - I might be writing in my dreams."- Pace
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Thanks for being the first comment! You really understand how annoying those nosy people can be.
I mean, I can be a hypocrite sometimes. I like to write certain stories and get feedback, but at least let me offer it for you to read first.
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Mind Control is Easier Than You Think
I feel the same way sometimes.
Guilty as charged...I am a hypocrite. I can not stand it when I am writing or readin and someone comes in and starts readin over my shoulder or talking. I do not mind sharing after I am done put till then....Go Away, I am not listening!
Pn the other hand I have no problem with bothering my hubby this way. He was writing answers to questions or something for his econ class and I came up to the compuer, read his question and started telling him what to write because I knew the answer.
I am evil in my own book but sometimes it is so hard to but out when we have so little time together.
~T
All truths are easy to understand once discovered; The point is to discover them ~Galileo
This used to happen to me quite a bit. Just tell them "when I am famous you can read it." It is an invasion of privacy and I find it sooo annoying. I have had some people question what I wrote. I was like stop watching me write then you idiot!!
http://www.progressiveu.org/032913-lupus-uncureable-wait-what
Love comments? I do too!
Ha, "When I'm famous you can read it". That's priceless. I think I'm going to have to use that one now!
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Mind Control is Easier Than You Think
My friends have learned very quickly to do no more than ask "Can I read it when you're finished?" and leave it at that until I'm done. I HATE when people watch me writing. (Not just writing, either, but I'll stick with the topic at hand.) I tend to go somewhere secluded to write, just so I don't have to deal with nosy people invading the privacy of my imaginative adventures or my poetic venting...
Yes, I do vent poetically. And with big words, too. ^-^
And that's comin' at ya' from yer local redneck hippie.
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The Story of Myself
When you said "not just writing, either" that reminded me of a time in middle school when I brought a sketch book to school. When I felt someone watching me draw, I'd just stop and tell them I don't like people to stare--they can see it later. This may be off topic (and it's a topic I started, sheesh) but one of those times someone else took away that sketch pad and started making "corrections" adding shadows where they didn't belong because I'd already put shadows. Now that was a terrible invasion of personal space and privacy.
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This is a signature, an automated thingy that pops up when I comment, not a demand to see my blog!
Mind Control is Easier Than You Think
Someone actually did that?!
O.o
Goodness, I'm glad I've never had that happen to me. I HATE when people alter my drawings, no matter how bad they are...
Hehe, i hate being watched while I draw, too. I like to watch others draw, though...but I make sure I get permission from them first, hehe. When I made that comment, though, I was referring to cleaning... for some reason, I cannot clean when anyone's around to witness it. And as such, in a family of five, I never really do much cleaning...much to the irritation of my mom.
And that's comin' at ya' from yer local redneck hippie.
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The Story of Myself
Someone actually did it, but it was middle school. I suppose I'll let it slide...
So you do understand! If someone has altered your art too, you understand that frustration! Art is art, and if I want it look look bad then leave it alone, people! It's different if it's an art teacher, but if it's a know-it-all student, I can't accept that.
People watching you clean? Yeah, I could understand that. I mean it's just a step away from someone telling you "You missed a spot!"
~ *~
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Mind Control is Easier Than You Think
And it depends on the art teacher...
I had one trying to tell me that I needed more shadow on the only drawing of a dragon I've managed to pull off, even though I TOLD him over and over that the light in the scene was coming from all around...
He would have done it himself had I let him get his paws on my sketchbook...he tried to alter something on more than one occasion...and he was my ceramics and sculptures teacher...not a drawing teacher... ARGH!
And with the cleaning, it doesn't matter if they're watching or not. I can't even clean if someone else is in the room... My college roomie is going to find herself kicked into the hall quite a few times, methinks... hehe..
And that's comin' at ya' from yer local redneck hippie.
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The Story of Myself
This is the time when you pick up one of those sharp sticks used for sculpting clay and say, "Step away from the drawing, before I sculpt a more appealing face on you!".
If I'd typed, "so nobody get's hurt", it woulda been cliche.
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Mind Control is Easier Than You Think
rofl
If only I'd been brave enough to do that! I did give him a near tongue-lashing for writing on an unfinished drawing...in ink...
I wanted so badly to chuck a brick at his head for that...
And that's comin' at ya' from yer local redneck hippie.
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The Story of Myself
Oh yes. I have some people at work do that when I am trying to write the next upcoming blog. I will have a good idea and all of a sudden, here comes some prying eyes trying to peep at the screen and then the question comes slurring out of their lips ;"What are you doing?" Basically refering to I WANT TO BE NOSY AS HELL AND HAVE NOTHING BETTER TO DO. Hey that gave me another idea for my next blog. Thanks.
Nice. I'm glad I'm helping the creative process here. You go write that blog! (If you haven't already, that is)
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This is a signature, an automated thingy that pops up when I comment, not a demand to see my blog!
Mind Control is Easier Than You Think