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[Father Luke]

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Trent: Hey, you want to just go ahead and start this

G.K: All right
G.K: In a minute?

Trent: Before my nerves get the best of me ^^
Trent: Yea sure whenever ya want.

G.K: Ok, I just had to lose a game real quick.
G.K: So, I see your name is Trent. I think that's a really cool name. It's nice to know you Trent.

Trent: Meh I dont like my name but its cool that you think its cool, nice to know ya too Glenda.

G.K: Haha, now that we have all the name calling out of the way, how about a chat?

Trent: Sure... I think that’s the whole point of this ping pong thing but I’m not sure ^^

G.K: I see you like to write mostly poetry, and I went to your photos too. You do have a nice face, even in a rearview mirror.
G.K: Ah, I don't think anyone is really sure exactly how it works, but since it is supposed to be an interview format, I sent you those eight questions and I just printed a copy here. You can ask me anything except how much I weigh.

Trent: Haha, ok. well I read those questions but they felt like home work so i decided id just try to wing it, hope ya don’t mind.
Trent: Ill go pull them up and answer for ya so we can make this nice and easy.

G.K: Ok, but do you mind if I ask a form of the questions. I feel you on the homework. I just got my Bachelors degree about two years ago, or has it been one. One I think. I'm not sure I even know my own name half the time.

Trent: Yea trading questions is prolly the best way to go bout this.

G.K: They are loaded questions you know. Put the buckshot in myself.
G.K: You want to ask first or answer first?

Trent: Answer first.  So I can ask off your question.. I’m much better at that ^^

G.K: Ah, see its not homework at all, you can even look off my paper for your own stuff. Pass this test easy, we will. Says master Yoda.

Trent: Haha I did that with homework anyway

G.K: Ok, the first question was: If we go by the rule of being as honest as possible in our answers, do you feel that what we say here will be of value to other writers now and in the future?

Trent: Well… that would be nice wouldn’t it.  Knowing me there will be some small bits of wisdom in this conversation filled with lots of random stupidity. But we do have you, so that ups our chances a bit of being of value. That’s the best non answer I can give you. ^^
Trent: as for a real answer... no not really the internet is filled with so much stuff this will be lost along side it but it doesn’t mean we cant make the best of it.

G.K: Cop out. He he, If your depending on me for a lot of wisdom and knowledge, disappointment is in the air. But, I do hope that we can help at least one person feel more comfortable anyway.
G.K: It only takes one doesn't it

Trent: Yes only one, but how can we make that one person feel more comfortable ^^

G.K: By letting them see how we stumble through and still get it done. LOL
G.K: No, I think what I wanted to discuss tonight with you is a topic that hits everyone on the forum.

Trent: Which is?

G.K: Critiquing and how variables of age, gender culture, and so forth affect the outcome of critiques for people on the forum.
G.K: Loaded with buckshot, I warned you.
G.K: Are you ready?

Trent: Yea gonna take a sec to type the response ^^

G.K: Ok, that's fine.

Trent: No idea what happened there
Trent: Somehow closed the whole thing down

G.K: looks like you got disconnected for a sec. I waited.

Trent: ok gotta retype lol

G.K: Ok, I'll wait more, dumm, humm, dee, dummm,

Trent: I think age isn’t so much the issue with critiquing as experience is, with writing its a constantly developing skill so the longer you have been writing the more you know. of course i totally could be wrong there. as for gender, and culture... i think the variance in the kinds of people critiquing helps you get a better idea of which ways you can go to improve and for who
Trent: what do you think about the same question?

G.K: Well, I think you're mostly right about experience. Writing is about what we experience and how we process it and communicate it isn't it? So whatever our age, gender and culture, we are going to color what we write with that.
G.K: When I took writing courses in college, there were two words that always applied: sender and receiver.
G.K: I think that the most important question is do you feel that critique and sharing between writers has a lot of value, if so what?

Trent: Yes I think it has a great deal of value. Without it I probably wouldn’t be writing right now and certainly not progressing with my skills as a writer. so I think it gets people writing more than they might if they were just writing for themselves and close friends and improving their skills

G.K: That’s probably a feeling shared by nearly every writer on the forum. I sometimes learn more from critiquing others on how to improve my own that I do from just blindly writing and never looking at what anyone has to say about what I write. And I love getting critiques.
G.K: Did that make any sense? It looks a little weird now that I typed it. I forgot my punctuation again.

Trent: I seem to forget mine... all the time ^^
Trent: but yes that made sense

G.K: Ok, good.
G.K: I guess your getting used to the way I write.
G.K: Well, you somewhat answered the age question, but can you think of any times when you felt you identified more with writers from your own age group.
G.K: ?

Trent: well actually I have never felt like I identified with anyone my own age group.. But if I do with anyone it would be the writers. I’m an odd case when it comes to that though, I think.
Trent: can i think of a time specifically? no. sorry for the non answers.. im a master of them ^^

G.K: You’re not the first person to say that. I know when I was younger, there were times that I felt my own age group didn't understand me. I think we all tend to gravitate to people with similar thought processes and interests.
G.K: My daughter and sis just came in to raid my back porch. They just left. I have a revolving door almost. LOL

Trent: I think the whole writing game for a lot of people is needing to communicate to people what is going on in their head. so that like you said they can find people with similar thoughts processes and interests

G.K: So, do you think your family is as goofy as mine. No that's not the question. So you don't think age has much of anything to do with reception, but more ideas and experience. I'd have to agree for the most part, except that there are differences in what each generation experiences. Sometimes, what an old lady like me would write about is outdated to some of your generation. Style is always changing, and keeping up with that is a tough one for me.
G.K: How about culture. For instance someone from the U.K. reads your poetry, which does happen. Do you ever find that what you write is a way to help them learn about your culture and visa versa?

Trent: I do not see it from what i write but with others, yea most certainly. a few times I’ve written about the south and i felt as though I was letting people into the feelings the south can bring but i tend to slap those lofty thoughts down pretty quick

G.K: Why lofty. I'm sure that we all have things about our own cultures that we feel are sharable. Don't you think you’re able to put some kind of image in their mind of your way of life?

Trent: well I think I’m able to, but I don’t think I have ever done it in the correct way. In fact I think you have made me want to write a poem focusing on just this.

G.K: Well good for me. I hope you do, you come from a beautiful state. I know one example I can think of is J.R.'s "The Cairn". There was something about that piece that just drew me right there into those coastal areas, even when I had to look up some of the words to see what they meant.
G.K: Have you ever felt from a critique that someone was just not getting what you were communicating? The old language barrier thing?

Trent: of course... I think we all have. of course sometimes you get the guy that over thinks your metaphor and makes it better than it was in your mind. I always just smile and nod when that happens ^^

G.K: Oh, lord, I have run into those a lot of times. I tend to write some controversial pieces sometimes. Sometimes I use a bit too much metaphor. That's when someone can really tear my work up and make me rewrite, and edit and rewrite. But, it's all worth it in the end.
G.K: Do you have a favorite piece that you have written?

Trent: I tend to say my most recent is my favorite (which is "a lifetime for a night" currently) just to make things easy but I don’t tend to pick favorites because when I see them they are all so imperfect to me.
Trent: do you have a favorite of your work?

G.K: Our own worse critics. I love your work.
G.K: I think, wow, if I had to pick a very favorite, it would probably be an older one called "Afternoon by the Lake". At least that one comes to mind today. It's a very restful piece for me to meditate on. I get to go back to the lake.
G.K: So, are you a city person or country?

Trent: I have always lived in the middle... but I tend to enjoy myself more in the country than I do in the city.

G.K: I'm so country I stink of cows and pigs.
G.K: Flip side, is there anything in particular you'd like to discuss or ask me about?

Trent: Well one thing I’m always curious to hear from writers is what in particular got you started writing... if anything

G.K: Sorry same daughter just called.

Trent: No problem

G.K: Well, I used to hate to read when I was little, but I memorized a lot of scripture for church. I always loved the sound of verse, and we used King James. But, anyway; I finally got to where I was a voracious reader, and in sixth grade we were supposed to write a poem. The poem I wrote caught the teacher's eye and she called my mom saying they had finally found my talent. Believe me that was hard back then. I was so damn shy and stuff. Anyway, I just started writing stuff and people kept telling me I had a way with words. Since then, I just write. I love it. And I love to read and learn and study. I even love research. Weird huh. From a dumb bell to a compulsive college course taker.
G.K: What about you?

Trent: Well for me I had always liked poetry in school and would read the poems in the English books until I memorized them, then in my 11th year I was failing English so bad that I quit taking tests, I had more pressing issues on my mind at the time, so when I sat it class I called myself writing songs. one time I wrote one of these songs on the back of a test and the teacher took it up and read it and was just completely in awe that I would even consider writing i think and told me she liked it and all that as any good teacher does, all about the encouragement, but it was enough to make me actually enjoy writing so I just kept writing from then on. It helped me deal with all the stuff going through my head at the time so I just stuck with it.

G.K: Boy, I hear you there. Writing helps keep the demons quiet doesn't it?

Trent: Yea, pretty much the best way i know

G.K: Well, do you feel we've killed this subject, for tonight anyway? I don't know how much we got, but I sure have enjoyed it.

Trent: Yea I’m pretty sure we got a lot. i lost the window half way through so can you compile it for jen?

G.K: Yeah, I've been saving it, so I'll just send the file, or copy it to PM on the LM.
Trent, I really have felt comfortable talking to you. The generation gap closes pretty quickly with a common interest. I'm so amazed at just how mature some of the younger ones are on here. Have a good night.

Trent: I’ts been nice talking to you as well… All muh nerves went away in no time, I thank ya for that ^^
Trent: Hope ya have a good night too

G.K: thanks.