Aug 30, 2011

New Project

by Terri Wagner

Doing is not nearly as important as getting along. That's a fact I have to accept in our "new world order." I've just finished "The Terrorist Next Door," and I have to say getting along is THE buzzword. (Warning: It's a clean, thoughtful, well-researched book that will scare the pants off of you, seriously.)

What does this have to do with a new writing project? As most of you know I long ago gave up the idea of writing fiction. I love to read it, but I can't write it. And once I accepted that fact, my writing projects took a back seat to RL. (No job yet, please keep up the prayers and thank you for them.)

But I resurrected an old idea from years ago when it first began to occur to me that I have a problem getting along with people. I'm very task oriented. Tell me what to do when you need it and then get out of my way. I like people. It's not that. I'm that quintessential "nice" person who'll stop to help you. Even go out of my way to do so. BUT I don't communicate well.

For example, an old guy friend recently recontacted me. He too is a frustrated writer who gave me the where-I've-been story via storybook form. I told him what I thought. He isn't speaking to me right now. And I really don't get why.

So I think I should explore how to communicate better in the work field. I'll work on that personal communication thing later.

So who says we all have to write fiction, right?

4 comments:

  1. Terri,
    It is a worthwhile goal. You sure don't have trouble communicating with your writing. Don't be too hard on yourself. I am sure you are an excellent addition to anyone's workforce. Still, it never hurts any of us to work on the joy of communicating with others. I am usually glad when I acknowledge the other person and share some common humanity.

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  2. I have been told by many that I'm a very outgoing and friendly person. I usually communicate well with others, but I still find myself in many a situation where I flubbed things up so badly that I wanted a "do-over." We're all a work-in-progress.

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  3. Just when I think I have stopped making social faux pause I open mouth and insert foot. That said, sometimes frankness is better than smoothing things over.Just my opinion.

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  4. I just gave a talk on Sunday and in it I said, "I'm good at caring for people, I'm just not good at talking to them." I think communication is one of the trickiest things we have to figure out.

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