honey and sting

Friend of mine took me to her monthly meeting of a more or less metaphysical group last year, where the members take turns giving each other seminars on topics of interest. I said I could give one on poetry writing, and a few weeks ago, they took me up on it.

I sent in my blurb, which includes a description of poetry writing as a two-fold process involving both accessing of material (from observation, trance, introspection, dreamland, etc) and using "a disciplined attention and critical awareness" to shape and craft it into something that is clear to others.

When the contact posted it to the mailing list, she'd deleted the word "critical" and put "playfully" instead, then let me know in an email that "someone had been concerned about the word 'critical.'" She had also helpfully added "this will be fun!" to the workshop description.

Mind, the word "playfully" in that phrase now makes that sentence non-grammatical, making it look as if I, the ostensible teacher of writing, wrote "disciplined attention and playfully awareness."

I wrote back, pointing out how that is exactly why critical awareness is needed (ha ha), also making the point that being "critical" doesn't have to be mean-spirited or judgmental (which of course we've all experienced). Rather we can reclaim critique for its usefulness while still retaining kindness towards self and others about it.

Would have been nice if we'd had the conversation BEFORE she sent the notice out, but we did have a good exchange after, and it will provide a pretty good teaching example when the time comes.

Now I've got "Don't fear the critic" in my head (with visions of MacLeod swinging a sword). HL fans of yore will know what I mean.