Re: Re: Looking for feedback on a blog post about ACT

[Guest guest]

I keep being alerted that I have unread messages, but I can't find them. Now I realise what's happening! xSubject: Re: Re: Looking for feedback on a blog post about ACTTo: "ACT for the Public" <ACT_for_the_Public >Date: Wednesday, 20 July, 2011, 11:22

This post from me was written about a week ago, and I was so glad when it didn't show up since I regretted sending it. However, here it is in all its glory - thanks Yahoo! Bummer. I am going to disable my send key. Better yet, enable my sense of restraint. Theresa has come to her own understanding about her struggle and has apologized - and she didn't need my input. I was feeling good about that.

Helena

To: "ACT for the Public" <ACT_for_the_Public >Sent: Thursday, July 14, 2011 12:47:24 PMSubject: Re: Re: Looking for feedback on a blog post about ACT

Knowing even as I write this that I should keep my mouth shut, and at the risk of displeasing you (which seems to be easy to do), I heard patience, understanding, not making you wrong, and offers of assistance in Randy's response to you.

FWIW

Helena

To: "ACT for the Public" <ACT_for_the_Public >Sent: Thursday, July 14, 2011 12:31:13 PMSubject: Re: Looking for feedback on a blog post about ACT

I can hear the impatience in your note here and I'm afraid I might be guilty of giving feedback not unlike that which you're saying NO to with respect to the writing itself. Truly thought it was abundantly clear observations were my own. Thanks for the suggestions here. I'd point out you seem very happy to give specific suggestion and not so equally eager to receive. But maybe that's just what I'm getting with this medium of writing, which is limited and distorted. Randy, this is not about right/wrong. At least I didn't mean it to be. As always, we go back to what is working for us, as human beings, as writers. That said, it would certainly sadden me if one of the valuable takeaways from decades of literature re: what helps writers includes fusing with a rule that compels me to precipitously edit out or otherwise silence potentially valuable feedback in early, rough draft stages before even giving them half a chance. The sort of

adamant NO that insists x, y, z is not helpful-- now or ever -- is antithesis of all my instincts as a creative writer and as a human being valuing opening up to what life is teaching me in the present moment, willing to be surprised again and again. For instance, the larger issue of what Bill broached in his response seemed not only "valid", but very important with respect to how I represent and define ACT to others..certainly there are ways that are more accurate and full than others. Goes to broader discussion as to how I see as my responsibility and role as writer when disseminating information. But maybe this too has absolutely no place or interest for you. And if that is also true, I'm sorry to have so fully indulged my own experience here.Good luck with your writing, Randy! best,terry> > > > >> > > > > > Hi Terry!> > > > > > > > > > > From what you're saying to Bill and Helena, sounds like you don't> > > > > > want feed-back on the content and rather speak to gut responses> > > > > > and to writing style, to form?> > > > > > > > > > Feedback on content is good too. > > > > > > > > > > Also, when I say "gut reaction" what I mean is, it's generally more> > > > > useful for

a writer to get raw feedback about what the reader's> > > > > experience was, anchored to specific text, than to get either> > > > > non-specific comments or else advice on "how to fix it." > > > > > > > > > > In other words, a general comment such as "I liked it" or "I> > > > > didn't like it" is less useful than a comment such as "I understood> > > > > the first paragraph, but at I really got thrown by the second> > > > > paragraph." Likewise a comment such as "Too many technical terms, > > > > > you should use a less technical vocabulary" is less useful than > > > > > a comment such as "I didn't get the term 'literality' where you > > > > > use it in paragraph X, and I found that this made me impatient> > > > > as I kept reading, because I

wanted to know but didn't."> > > > > > > > > > > Also, can you speak more specifically about your intentions here?> > > > > > Such as your target audience? People who no nothing about> > > > > > Contextual Behavioral Science Approach to Change or people who> > > > > > know a little bit or people who know a lot? Specific populations> > > > > > with respect to age, issue area, level of education, settings and> > > > > > so forth?> > > > > > > > > > I'm aiming at an audience of folks who enjoy reading, who are > > > > > interested in how they & other people tick, and who know anywhere > > > > > from nothing at all about ACT to a fair amount about ACT. The main> > > > > distinction is, they are more likely to be

laypeople than experts.> > > > > > > > > > Good questions - thanks!> > > > > > > > > > R.> > > > >> > > >> > >> >>