I totally would have done this to my daughters if I had thought of it.
It is also a bit of a metaphor for clarity in our writing. If the reader misunderstands it whose fault is it? The reader? The writer? Or simply blame the editor, that nameless person who labors in the shadows. Even better, blame the literary agent!!!
Thanks for the link: Trissina Kear (my daughter)
What Were They Reading?
That was AWESOME! And that’s a great dad! Sounds like something my husband would have done with our four kids. 🙂
Love it! It certainly makes the point! 🙂
I did something like that once while teaching middle grade kids.. They tried giving me instructions on how to tie my shoe. I sat on top of my desk, took off my shoe and did everything they said. We got a lot of laughs and it made a point. Thanks for this fun video.
This would make a great advertisement for an editor. LOL The reason we need critiquers, editors, and to reread everything we write. LOL
So funny! That guy must be a great father.
Great video! I learned this lesson after returning from a writers’ conference. The conference produced a book of pieces submitted by each writer who attended. We edited our pieces in critique groups through the week and submitted our final drafts on the last day. A team of conference staff made final edits and had the book produced. I submitted a piece that was particularly personal and dear to me about a traumatic time of fear and wrestling with God. When I received my book in the mail, I was mortified that the editors had made a change that put words in my mouth and resulted in a miscommunication of my message. I was devastated. They missed the point. I was ashamed that the piece was in all those books circulating out there. And then, I realized that if I had written more clearly, the editors would have understood my experience and message, and they wouldn’t have made an edit that communicated something so different. I still felt awful that the wrong words were out there in print, but I knew it was my fault.
I love this! Reminds me of trying to write a policy or a grant that won’t be misinterpreted. As for the question, blame the writer, the editor, or the agent, but it is never the reader’s fault.
I say blame the writer, the editor, *and* the agent. ?
This is great!!! Good family interaction, good nutrition, good instructions about being specific!
Wow I think you covered it… and you get to eat the evidence!!! Terrific!!!
so funny! The kids’ reactions show lots of frustration, but they keep trying!
This is hysterical! Need to try this with the grandkids!
I do believe this describes my writing and speaking life perfectly.