In Part I, we explored the often devastating effect of violating marriage vows, but we also saw that such an outcome is built into the structure of marriage. So we moved on to the higher question of what commitment is best in a hypothetical world in which marriage has not yet been invented. This is the same as loving but avoiding the Marriage commitment. Okay, so now I meet the girl of my dreams, the attraction is mutual, and I have to decide how I will love her. Regardless of how she is feeling and how she views our relationship, is there an advantage if I personally commit to loving her for...
In my novel, Coinage of Commitment, this is a kind of trick question that Nancy asks Wayne in her chapter six exploration of his capacity and maturity for the love she is seeking. It has generated a few questions back to me about whether Wayne's affirmative answer represents the author's position. I've been ducking the question because I didn't feel that my position was well enough developed to hold up to tough follow-up questions. It is a complex issue, one most people take for granted or rely on cultural conditioning to answer, plus it can be dealt with at...
I suppose every writer faces the dilemma of criticism. Sure, some suggestions are instantly convincing or exactly what you thought you'd hear. But others create a quandary, like a double-edged sword. Should you accept the criticism, make changes in your work or your style, or stick with your own judgment, the one you started with? Either way, you could be wrong, and it may take years before you know the answer. In some cases, there may be highlights in an author's ambition level, or sense of destination, that make the decision particularly challenging.
Cypress, TX
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