Today I want to discuss dialectics. No, not dianetics, ha ha. I first heard about dialectics when I learned skills from Marsha Linehan's "Dialectical Behavior Therapy" to use as a psychologist, but I think dialectics also apply to writing.
A dialectic is a union of opposites.
You have a dialectic when you have two opposing statements that are both true, joined by an AND (not a BUT!)
For example, here's my dialectic for writing this blog post right before bedtime:
I want to go to bed (waah) AND I want to connect with my readers by writing a great post.
Both are true. In therapy we use dialectics to acknowledge both sides of the coin -- to see the whole picture. Dialectics help increase empathy and decrease defensiveness.
* Alcohol helps you relax and alcohol gives you scary beer goggles.
* You love your mother and you are positively furious at your mother.
* You hate feeling dependent and you're scared about him leaving.
Here are some dialectics I've noticed about writing:
* Writing is art AND writing is work.
* I feel less pressure to sell books because of my day job AND I get little writing done because of my day job.
* I want to please my readers AND I can't please all readers.
* I write for myself AND I beam when a reader enjoys my novel.
* Writing is solitary AND writing is a way to connect to people.
* My cat Izzie is a good writing companion AND my cat Izzie has horrible fishy breath!
What dialectics have you noticed in YOUR life?
Bounce with us, authors and readers! Check out the Omnific BLOG for deets.
A dialectic is a union of opposites.
You have a dialectic when you have two opposing statements that are both true, joined by an AND (not a BUT!)
For example, here's my dialectic for writing this blog post right before bedtime:
I want to go to bed (waah) AND I want to connect with my readers by writing a great post.
Both are true. In therapy we use dialectics to acknowledge both sides of the coin -- to see the whole picture. Dialectics help increase empathy and decrease defensiveness.
* Alcohol helps you relax and alcohol gives you scary beer goggles.
* You love your mother and you are positively furious at your mother.
* You hate feeling dependent and you're scared about him leaving.
Here are some dialectics I've noticed about writing:
* Writing is art AND writing is work.
* I feel less pressure to sell books because of my day job AND I get little writing done because of my day job.
* I want to please my readers AND I can't please all readers.
* I write for myself AND I beam when a reader enjoys my novel.
* Writing is solitary AND writing is a way to connect to people.
* My cat Izzie is a good writing companion AND my cat Izzie has horrible fishy breath!
What dialectics have you noticed in YOUR life?
Bounce with us, authors and readers! Check out the Omnific BLOG for deets.
Comments
Hey, thanks for joining Tumble 4 Ya! Can't wait to see who everyone picks. Is going to be fun. :D
Looking forward to tumbling 4 ya!
That's one, right?