Was not expecting a MtG cameo. I like the way stranger-on-a-plane described his teaching style. In the long term, the teachers I've appreciated the most are those who left me with applicable skills, even if it required more (and harder) work during the class/seminar/torture castle stay. It left me feeling like there was a purpose to the struggle beyond "pass this class", and I can continue to use and sharpen the skills on my own.
“You need to ask yourself what kinds of characters you like to read and then build a system that makes sense to you for creating them.”
I believe (perhaps incorrectly, but I suspect not) that I can FEEL when a character has been created using a questionnaire or its ilk. There’s something about their voice, and their quirks, that feel gimmicky, or self conscious maybe.
Also, character questionnaires = worldbuilding bibles in the same way that horse girls = car guys, no notes
Always so interesting to read about teaching methods. Thank you. Speaking of Richard Feynmann, did you know that he never wrote a book? This is an excellent video about him: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TwKpj2ISQAc
1. His Six Easy Pieces book distills the Feynman lectures to the essentials. He’s not dumbing physics down but you will feel smarter after reading because he is a gifted explainer.
2. Interested in Feynman as a literary character? He appears in Neal Stephenson’s recent novel Polostan, a great read if you appreciate weirdly eclectic stories. (Obviously you appreciate weirdly eclectic storytelling because you’re here reading the comments on this particular Substack.)
Wow. Related to the quote you shared (but also the overall topic?), my secondary school maths/music teacher was a Salzburger but the very opposite of cretinous. He was an excellent teacher, kind & passionate about classical music. Perhaps he got away from the lower Alps early...
Just got back from a reunion of 6 of those original tortured students in another Scottish estate house. Less crying, but lots of writing.
Was not expecting a MtG cameo. I like the way stranger-on-a-plane described his teaching style. In the long term, the teachers I've appreciated the most are those who left me with applicable skills, even if it required more (and harder) work during the class/seminar/torture castle stay. It left me feeling like there was a purpose to the struggle beyond "pass this class", and I can continue to use and sharpen the skills on my own.
Currently a 30 minute drive from the torture castle. Fewer tears on this writing adventure.
!!!
This stuck out to me:
“You need to ask yourself what kinds of characters you like to read and then build a system that makes sense to you for creating them.”
I believe (perhaps incorrectly, but I suspect not) that I can FEEL when a character has been created using a questionnaire or its ilk. There’s something about their voice, and their quirks, that feel gimmicky, or self conscious maybe.
Also, character questionnaires = worldbuilding bibles in the same way that horse girls = car guys, no notes
Always so interesting to read about teaching methods. Thank you. Speaking of Richard Feynmann, did you know that he never wrote a book? This is an excellent video about him: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TwKpj2ISQAc
A couple of random Feynman footnotes:
1. His Six Easy Pieces book distills the Feynman lectures to the essentials. He’s not dumbing physics down but you will feel smarter after reading because he is a gifted explainer.
2. Interested in Feynman as a literary character? He appears in Neal Stephenson’s recent novel Polostan, a great read if you appreciate weirdly eclectic stories. (Obviously you appreciate weirdly eclectic storytelling because you’re here reading the comments on this particular Substack.)
Wow. Related to the quote you shared (but also the overall topic?), my secondary school maths/music teacher was a Salzburger but the very opposite of cretinous. He was an excellent teacher, kind & passionate about classical music. Perhaps he got away from the lower Alps early...