Ben Newton
asked
Lois McMaster Bujold:
I just saw your post about your daughter's artist-in-residency. That's wonderful. As the father of a 5yo myself, do you have any advice about encouraging creativity?
Lois McMaster Bujold
I am so not an expert on child-raising. I feel my own survived despite not because of me, though it wasn't for lack of trying. Two off-the-cuff thoughts are: appropriately applauding creative efforts/attending when they are shown off, and giving the kid the space to concentrate.
And, of course, reading to them is always good, although on this site that hardly seems needful to mention.
Also, generational drift being what it is, as they get older their notions of creative media and yours may not intersect as much as you'd fondly pictured. I'm reminded of my mother, who used to criticize my sitting around reading F&SF books in my teens when she thought I should be Doing Something -- preferably chores, obviously, but I suspect also creative activities to which she herself related, such as painting or fabric arts. The reading and fantasizing were just too invisible.
Good luck!
Ta, L.
I am so not an expert on child-raising. I feel my own survived despite not because of me, though it wasn't for lack of trying. Two off-the-cuff thoughts are: appropriately applauding creative efforts/attending when they are shown off, and giving the kid the space to concentrate.
And, of course, reading to them is always good, although on this site that hardly seems needful to mention.
Also, generational drift being what it is, as they get older their notions of creative media and yours may not intersect as much as you'd fondly pictured. I'm reminded of my mother, who used to criticize my sitting around reading F&SF books in my teens when she thought I should be Doing Something -- preferably chores, obviously, but I suspect also creative activities to which she herself related, such as painting or fabric arts. The reading and fantasizing were just too invisible.
Good luck!
Ta, L.
More Answered Questions
Pam Mclaughlin
asked
Lois McMaster Bujold:
I was rereading the Penric books, and started wondering how the World of the 5 Gods would look in a modern or futuristic setting. Have you considering taking the series out of their medieval/Renaissance setting? Would Des be kicking around in the head of a space navy officer? (i'm rather enchanted by that idea, by the way)
Gard Evyr
asked
Lois McMaster Bujold:
Lois, I noticed in reading Chalion/Paladins that out of all modern fantasy 'greats', your writing in the medieval 'idiom' is the most authentic in terms of colloquialism / style of language / manner of speaking, syntax, turns of phrase. Many authors write very 'modern' medieval prose. How/where do you learn this authentic manner of accurate syntax/dialogue/prose? Reading a lot of historical fiction, or? Thanks!
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