Comments on: Writers Must Be Constructive

By: Eric

Eric — Mon, 14 Aug 2006 15:32:59 +0000

Yeah, when I was younger I used to waste a lot of time and energy on negativity. And then I slowly began to realize that if I used even a small portion of that negative energy towards something productive, I’d get more done and feel better about everything at the same time.

By: Jack Slyde

Jack Slyde — Mon, 14 Aug 2006 08:30:57 +0000

Good post Eric.

This is something I try to be very aware of, it’s often very easy to be negative about things, and I think that’s partly to do with the type of world we live, but as you say, it’s much more rewarding (essential even – as writers and otherwise) to be positive and constructive.

By: Greg

Greg — Fri, 11 Aug 2006 01:01:47 +0000

In my humble opinion it’s all about controlling emotions. Emotional highs, and lows can be counter productive to getting any project done. Negativity and an unrealistic positive attitude can both be equally damaging.

Watch most successfull people and you will seldom see changes in their mood and overall demaenor.

Controlling emotion is a learned skill. Do not get too upset or too excited, keep an even keel and a level head (Save the drama for the closet at home). Have you ever seen or heard Bill Gates,Donald Trump or The President all worked up?

Think of the recent comment President Bush made about the middle east getting their sh@# togeter. That one slight emotional high allowed a comment to slip out. It was not a major change in emotion, but since the president is such a high profile figure, the press was all over it. Point is, those who can control their emotions can then channel that energy into productivity.

I am not a pro by any means, but from my own experience if I feel I am getting too worked up in a negative, or over zealous positive manor, I stop, take a short break, think the issue through, and proceed.

Observing others I have also noticed a few “Hot Heads” that occasionally are successfull. They tend to have an “emotional flare up”. Once the brief flare up is over that energy is focused like a lazer beam and bent on destroying their opponent or competitior. Some get so emotional they loose, but those who get the anger under control and focus on the problem at hand know when to back off a bit, and when to tighten the wing nuts.

Negativity and Unrealistic Positve attitudes are part of an emotional state of mind that is within our individual control. When you learn to harness your emotions (I imagine everyone does this a bit differnt) you can then channel that pent up emotional energy into writing or any other proffession or hobby.

Next time you feel yourself getting worked up over an issue see if you can controll and channel your emotions….it’s harder than you think.

By: Jack Monahan

Jack Monahan — Thu, 10 Aug 2006 21:41:06 +0000

To play the armchair psychologist for a second here, the kind of criticism you’re talking about is more often than not the result of deep-seated insecurities. If they can’t build themselves up to a level equal or above certain peers, then they’d just as rather pull everyone down to theirs. Virtually all creatively-minded people have encountered it at one point or another, often from both sides sadly. Admiration is only a few steps away from loathing, eh?

So yes, two wrongs do not make a right. The appropriate response to negativity is to continue being constructive.