The Fine Art of Encouragement

[scribblerworks]

I've been thinking a lot lately about the Fine Art of Encouragement. I'm sure everyone "knows" that encouragement is important in the life of any creative person, no matter the craft they practice. And we all do certainly remember to say things like "I really loved your last book!" or "That autumn night painting of yours is so beautiful!" or "I'm

Comments

[dewline]

You do make the point: a detailed critique can work better than simple praise/complaint. Depending on how it's delivered, too, it's the kind of thing that can grate on a person by either its presence or absence.

[scribblerworks]

Oh, yes, delivery does count.

One of the things that occured to me after I'd posted this was how my parents would react when I'd come out to them with a newly finished piece of artwork. I'm not sure why they responded this way, but they often gave me a very mild, almost flat "That's nice." I could never tell whether they really liked the artwork or not. Maybe they didn't want to give me a swelled head. But the reality on my end of it was a sense of isolation, because I often couldn't tell if the work touched them at all. I was a senior in college before I actually heard them enthusiastically praising my artwork to someone else (my Latin professor at a party for the Latin club I hosted) -- but they'd started when I was out of the room. It was a bit of a shock. Why couldn't they have done that years before, in my hearing?

It's made me more attentive when trying to give others feedback.

[dewline]

I'm not sure that I should dare speculate on parental motives for anything they do. Not at this point in my life, anyway.

[anonymous]

Great piece. So in the spirit of it. You have the great knack of cutting to the heart of things and explaining how they work in a way that is entirely easy to understand and accessible.

You are also very generous with your encouragements. Something I am thankful for because if you were to list me under those examples you gave it would be something like "Well, at least he isn't illiterate."

[scribblerworks]

Silly bear! For you, I'd say "He has a love for spinning a fun adventure -- and if he can pull your leg along the way, he'll do it. He's in love with sly humor."

(Because even if you post anonymously, I can recognize you. :D )

[ext_865164]

I didn't mean to post anonymously. :)

And thanks. I like that description. And I can say I at least have a recognizable 'voice' in text. Heh.