The Writing Class: Questions

[The Shadow One]

Okay, rather than debate with Henry and Stranger, let me ask this:

Are these essays (or stories, if you think that's a better term) of any use to anyone?

I mean, I spent some significant time this week putting a few of these together so that I could post them this weekend. It was time I took away from work, my own writing, etc., so that I could post these here and make up for some lost time.

But if everyone here already knows this stuff, or if it's the general consensus that there is no value in my doing this, then I do have better uses for my time. I don't want to force myself or my opinions on anyone.

Let me just say this: I agree that reading (and writing) are essential to improving your own writing. If that's what you wanted to hear, then I've said it and this was easy.

I do not agree that passive reading without studying the form, style and technique of others (great authors or even mediocre authors) is an effective way of improving your writing. I can't learn to do brain surgery (or paint, or sculpt or participate in any art form) by merely standing in a room watching someone else do it. I sure as **** wouldn't want to be wheeled into an emergency room to have someone start cutting on me whose sole experience in the world of medicine involved reading his med school textbooks.