tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855802737317865685.post6628559877315539293..comments2024-02-24T15:58:56.712-08:00Comments on The Good Typist: Rug Triumph, Crowd Panic, Competence PornKristen McHenryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03467256747399406710noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855802737317865685.post-68354832007187779982015-10-11T20:44:37.364-07:002015-10-11T20:44:37.364-07:00Shut up, Frank, and learn to take a compliment. Yo...Shut up, Frank, and learn to take a compliment. You're a good writer! Please stop torturing yourself. Of course, I'm one to talk. I still struggle with giving myself credit for any level of competence whatsoever, no matter the evidence.<br /><br />Hi, Anne! It's nice to see you here! How are you? In answer to your question, I don't like calling out businesses publicly, but I'll just say the name of the business rhymes with "Ginseng GoGo". I do not know what happened to that place. It makes me really sad.Kristen McHenryhttp://thegoodtypist.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855802737317865685.post-74602770389070196942015-10-11T20:02:57.476-07:002015-10-11T20:02:57.476-07:00Tenzing Momo?Tenzing Momo?Anne Harringtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13626290576265625710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-855802737317865685.post-81585094820658841182015-10-11T15:06:48.852-07:002015-10-11T15:06:48.852-07:00This reminds of the film Kate & Leopold. In it...This reminds of the film <em>Kate & Leopold</em>. In it, Kate is some kind of focus group tester. When I saw the original cut of the film, there was a scene early on where Kate's assistant complains about the work that they do. Kate responds with some anger, listing all the ways that they make products better. She ends with, "We make bad movies shorter!" Well, <em>Kate & Leopold</em> was a good deal shorter by the time it made to the theaters.<br /><br />I've been thinking about competence this morning. My editor responded to something I had sent to her with what I thought was far too much glee. I had "nailed it" and it was so much better than the crap we had been sent and so on. But I don't feel like that. The work feels very much like doing a job. I could be giving change at a gas station. And it made me wonder if competence is a trap. I guess it's not if you know you can count on it being there. But given it is <em>my</em> "competence," I'm sure it is just dumb luck. I sort of know it isn't -- but you know writers: if we weren't nervous wrecks, we would do something important (or at least better paying).<br />Frank Moraeshttp://franklycurious.comnoreply@blogger.com