tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post116758981138767001..comments2023-10-11T09:22:33.136-04:00Comments on Paperback Writer: Friday 20Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger57125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-1169791913501573372007-01-26T01:11:00.000-05:002007-01-26T01:11:00.000-05:00I came down with tonsilitis... so only now can I c...I came down with tonsilitis... so only now can I come back and read your reply. You happened to address all my concerns, and a few others I hadn't thought about. Thank you!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-1169398961853604662007-01-21T12:02:00.000-05:002007-01-21T12:02:00.000-05:00Awww ... if you were continually blushing, I bet t...Awww ... if you were continually blushing, I bet they just thought the lights were hot, or maybe they thought you had rosacea. :)Spy Scribblerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14299551957327543491noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-1169363011074807932007-01-21T02:03:00.000-05:002007-01-21T02:03:00.000-05:00Ah, my respect for you grows each time I come here...Ah, my respect for you grows each time I come here. I would have loved to have seen your workshop! You notice it all the time with teachers and professors--if you're not passionate about what you do, it doesn't come through in your teaching.<BR/><BR/>I usually tried out for the male parts in high school plays because they got to have more fun with swords. ^_~<BR/><BR/>And I really think RWA need to get their act together and accept that times are a changin' and that versatility is a very good thing. =)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-1169354065775981522007-01-20T23:34:00.000-05:002007-01-20T23:34:00.000-05:00PBW,Thanks for the link to the cards! Question...a...PBW,<BR/><BR/>Thanks for the link to the cards! Question...are the descriptions of the cards on the back? Or does a booklet come with the cards?<BR/><BR/>I'm doing the First Draft thing Jordan mentioned. I too will be in the corner...LOL! But at least (for the most part *g*) it keeps me off the net and writing MORE. :)Patrice Michellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12061901112336162568noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-1169312377757325532007-01-20T11:59:00.000-05:002007-01-20T11:59:00.000-05:00My apologies. I didn’t realize in broaching the su...My apologies. I didn’t realize in broaching the subject of reviews that I was inadvertently opening Pandora’s Box.jill terryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14811303555984256109noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-1169298739697963662007-01-20T08:12:00.000-05:002007-01-20T08:12:00.000-05:00Jordan wrote: Will blog about it at the end.Thank ...Jordan wrote: <I>Will blog about it at the end.</I><BR/><BR/>Thank you, ma'am.<BR/><BR/>The Atari Kid wrote: <I>Any word yet on when Book 8 will be out?</I> <BR/><BR/>I haven't signed a contract yet, but if all goes well I should have some news soon.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-1169281052101921592007-01-20T03:17:00.000-05:002007-01-20T03:17:00.000-05:00Back on October 26th 2006, you annouced you were f...Back on October 26th 2006, you annouced you were finalinzing the next 2 Stardoc novels for your editiors review. Any word yet on when Book 8 will be out?The Atari Kidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06760297860614446376noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-1169275167273256532007-01-20T01:39:00.000-05:002007-01-20T01:39:00.000-05:00Will blog about it at the end. :) Right now I'm tr...Will blog about it at the end. :) Right now I'm tracking my progress in a nifty journal. *g*Jordan Summershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00437563784716604402noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-1169271413599457952007-01-20T00:36:00.000-05:002007-01-20T00:36:00.000-05:00Furious wrote: I followed your advice and spent th...Furious wrote: <I>I followed your advice and spent the last few months re-writing my novel for the fifth time (instead of hiring someone to do it.) It was the best advice. I had not realized how much I had to offer to my own novel (!) or how the process of editing is teaching me more about writing than many classes I’ve taken. Silly, huh?</I><BR/><BR/>Not at all. I've been in the exact same boat, experienced the same doubts and fears. That you overcame all that and trusted yourself to give it a go took a lot of courage. You should be really proud of yourself.<BR/><BR/><I>I'm a month away from completion, and then... then I don't know yet. I hope to find an agent, get published. But no public speaking for me. I too blush. Terribly.</I><BR/><BR/>Having the fairest skin of all isn't all it's cracked up to be. Good luck with the agent search; I'll keep my fingers crossed for you.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-1169271065830939432007-01-20T00:31:00.000-05:002007-01-20T00:31:00.000-05:00Jason wrote: do you have any recommendations about...Jason wrote: <I>do you have any recommendations about how to improve self discipline? I know I should write, but I find myself more often than not doing something else, whatever I happen to think of. "Oh I should apply for this job." "Oh, this room is a mess, I need to clean it." "Oh, I need to put my clothes in the laundry." Any advice, or am I just that lazy?</I><BR/><BR/>We all struggle with writing time management issues, along with self-inlficted guilt trips because we often perceive writing as fun and/or not as "important" as other tasks and responsibilities. Family members sometimes don't help by interrupting or not respecting writing time or the writing space.<BR/><BR/>The best way I've found to cope with the problem is to set up a firm writing time each day, during which you are to write and only write, not do anything else. If you don't feel like writing during this time, or think you should do something else, make yourself sit at your computer and stare at it. After about ten minutes I start writing just because I can't stand staring at the computer and doing nothing. <BR/><BR/>Also, make sure your family and loved ones are okay with your designated writing time, and then ask them to help you get your work done by not intruding on your space, distracting you or doing anything else to disrupt you while you're working.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-1169270527579906482007-01-20T00:22:00.000-05:002007-01-20T00:22:00.000-05:00(I deleted the previous comment because of an ugly...(I deleted the previous comment because of an ugly typo.)<BR/><BR/>Gabriele wrote: <I>How do I prevent that cute little novelette plotbunny from growing more heads than the Hydra, breed a farm of subblots and develop into yet another big, epic, sprawling novel?</I><BR/><BR/>Write an outline for the novelette that limits its ability to breed (this is when I think planning a sequence of events comes in very handy.) It's the best way I've found to put an idea on a short story leash. And if it does turn out to be the stuff of a novel, you can always expand the story later.<BR/><BR/><I>The way it happened with my Saxon Ricmar who, the moment I started outlining, went out of the 25-30K marge faster than I could look and has now a place in my Future Project files instead of your ebook challenge.</I><BR/><BR/>Understood. If it does start to get away from you, try focusing on the novelette as an standalone-worthy excerpt from the future work. Think of the project like a very good teaser for your reader, and that may relieve some of the internal pressure to expand on the idea.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-1169270308941905982007-01-20T00:18:00.000-05:002007-01-20T00:18:00.000-05:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-1169269272537400462007-01-20T00:01:00.000-05:002007-01-20T00:01:00.000-05:00Charlene wrote: Oo, swords and guns! I'm SO there....Charlene wrote: <I>Oo, swords and guns! I'm SO there.</I><BR/><BR/>Which is why we never mess with Charlene. ;)<BR/><BR/>Cora wrote: <I>I'm actually relieved to hear about the jeans and bunny slippers. I don't even OWN a suit.</I><BR/><BR/>Sister! Lol. I wrote about all the fun of buying my very first writer suit back on the old blog <A HREF="http://starlines.blogspot.com/2001_12_09_starlines_archive.html#7845743" REL="nofollow">here.</A>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-1169268919140224202007-01-19T23:55:00.000-05:002007-01-19T23:55:00.000-05:00Genghiscon wrote: Have you ever attended conventio...Genghiscon wrote: <I>Have you ever attended convention as a guest author?</I><BR/><BR/>You mean as a guest speaker? Not for the publishing industry. I've attended plenty of writer cons as an author, given workshops, signed books, that sort of thing.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-1169268708105609752007-01-19T23:51:00.000-05:002007-01-19T23:51:00.000-05:00Darlene wrote: When you began using voice recognit...Darlene wrote: <I>When you began using voice recogniton software did you have any problems getting used to talking your work instead of typing it?</I><BR/><BR/>The first couple days were fun, as they are with any new toy, but then I had to work, and I went through typing withdrawal. Thirty-odd years of using keys to write is hard to get over cold turkey.<BR/><BR/><I>So far I like Dragon, but the process of writing with it feels weird.</I><BR/><BR/>I think it's because the connections are different. With typing your brain tells your hands what to do; with VRS you have to use your voice as the keyboard.<BR/><BR/>When I'm using the Dragon, I try to shift into kid-storytelling mode. You know how you are when you're reading a bedtime story out loud? The only difference is that you're making up the story as you go along. :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-1169268258307422862007-01-19T23:44:00.000-05:002007-01-19T23:44:00.000-05:00Jess wrote: I *think* I see what you mean about th...Jess wrote: <I>I *think* I see what you mean about the theme. It's like, the GPS tracking of plutonium functions as the central premise, but then buried within the stories is some deeper meaning, like the NSA is a crock?</I><BR/><BR/>You've got it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-1169268039238378062007-01-19T23:40:00.000-05:002007-01-19T23:40:00.000-05:00Mark wrote: I would think that carrying guns and s...Mark wrote: <I>I would think that carrying guns and swords might help increase your authority no matter what color your hair.</I><BR/><BR/>Not at the airport, lol.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-1169267882006505152007-01-19T23:38:00.000-05:002007-01-19T23:38:00.000-05:00Joely Sue wrote: I would love this, too! The first...Joely Sue wrote: <I>I would love this, too! The first time you linked to the Archetype Storytelling Cards, I tried it out and got a neat twist I hadn't thought of yet for my wip.</I><BR/><BR/>The cards are really beautiful, and have given me more ideas than I can count. I use them constantly, too. Gabriel Seran and Nick Jefferson from <I>Night Lost</I> evolved from imagery and ideas I got from the cards.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-1169267678081769852007-01-19T23:34:00.000-05:002007-01-19T23:34:00.000-05:00May wrote: Not thinking that anybody would actuall...May wrote: <I>Not thinking that anybody would actually be interested, I asked people whether they'd like to write a novella with me next month--first to final draft.</I><BR/><BR/>Hey, we're interested here. Neat idea, too. :) <BR/><BR/><I>Except that there are people interested, including Cece/Celia/Amie Stuart, and I'm afraid of Amie.</I><BR/><BR/>We've all been afraid of Amie at one time or another. When we're not drooling over her cover art.<BR/><BR/><I>Also, I've never written a novella or anything else that got even remotely to The End.</I><BR/><BR/>Yet. YET!<BR/><BR/><I>What am I to do? *panicks*</I><BR/><BR/>Write it anyway. You can do this; it's the right time or you wouldn't be challenging yourself like this. Trust yourself, lady.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-1169266051025164972007-01-19T23:07:00.001-05:002007-01-19T23:07:00.001-05:00I followed your advice and spent the last few mont...I followed your advice and spent the last few months re-writing my novel for the fifth time (instead of hiring someone to do it.) It was the best advice. I had not realized how much I had to offer to my own novel (!) or how the process of editing is teaching me more about writing than many classes I’ve taken. Silly, huh?<BR/>I'm a month away from completion, and then... then I don't know yet. I hope to find an agent, get published. But no public speaking for me. I too blush. Terribly. Congratulations for not letting it stop you in life<BR/>Thank you for a hugely helpful blog.corinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12752871210851803525noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-1169266032445168902007-01-19T23:07:00.000-05:002007-01-19T23:07:00.000-05:00Jill wrote: As a writer, how much importance do yo...Jill wrote: <I>As a writer, how much importance do you place on obtaining reviews?</I><BR/><BR/>Me personally? None. Getting a book reviewed is PR, and that's the publisher's responsibility, not the writer's. <BR/><BR/><I>Do you believe they actually help your sales and how much time and effort do you spend soliciting them?</I><BR/><BR/>I don't solicit reviews at all. If I have extra ARCs or copies on hand, I provide them at my cost to reviewers who request them, as long as I'm reasonably sure that the reviewer isn't going to turn around and sell them on eBay.<BR/><BR/>The last time I gave my general opinion on the impact of reviews on sales, I had to deal with mountains of hate e-mail from every dingbat on the internet. Some of the dingbats still come here every day looking to start trouble, and frankly, I'm too tired to deal with yet another e-mail bombing this month. I'm sorry, Jill, but under the circumstances would you mind if I bow out of answering that part of your question?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-1169263664400493062007-01-19T22:27:00.000-05:002007-01-19T22:27:00.000-05:00Anonymous wrote: I have recently found out that th...Anonymous wrote: <I>I have recently found out that the social service program that I work for is being closed down in 6 months. I love what I do, it is amazing and beautiful, and fufilling. And in one moment of greed, ambition, and corporate politics it is gone. I could attempt to find something else in this field, but unfortunately there are no other comparable services.</I><BR/><BR/>I'm so sorry to hear this. Too many worthy services are lost to capitalist indifference.<BR/><BR/><I>I also love writing, but it was always just for me. My oasis. I have read about all of the challenges on your site regarding a professional writing career. My extremely long winded question is this. Knowing everything you do about this industry and all of the battles you have fought, would you choose it again?</I><BR/><BR/>Yes, I believe I would. <BR/><BR/><I>Or more specifically, did you have anything else that ran a close second that would make you question your decision?</I><BR/><BR/>Unfortunately a very bad car accident and rheumatoid arthritis starting making most of my decisions for me back when I was in my twenties. I'll probably always wonder if I had gone to medical school and gotten my MD that I might have somehow found a way to manage a practice along with my family and my disease, but I think you always do that "might have been" stuff. I made the right decision. <BR/><BR/><I>Why can't I have ten lifetimes to pursue all of the exciting experiences that the world has to offer?</I><BR/><BR/>I wish I knew the answer to that one. But in the end we only get one shot at life, and it's up to each of us to decide how best to use our time on the planet.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-1169262303221669512007-01-19T22:05:00.000-05:002007-01-19T22:05:00.000-05:00Ris wrote: What do you do when you have difficulti...Ris wrote: <I>What do you do when you have difficulties with the final scenes of a novel?</I><BR/><BR/>Currently if I think the last chapter is going to be difficult, I write it first. Even a very rough draft seems to help.<BR/><BR/><I>I'm struggling with the last couple of scenes and I can't decide if it is from sheer exhaustion with the project, serious plot problems or characterization problems that are finally manifesting, or I'm just plain lazy.</I><BR/><BR/>There are a couple of things to consider. It may be that you're dragging because you've got too much ending, which can be solved by ending the book a few scenes back. Look at the scenes before the ones you're struggling with and see if any of them (with small modifications, if needed) would make an ending.<BR/><BR/>Or it could be that you've left something unresolved, and your writer-subconscious is making you drag your feet. Check all your running threads and subplots and make sure you tied them up neatly.<BR/><BR/>It could be a simple thing, too. Sometimes I don't want to finish a book just because I don't want to finish the book. It's a bit like story separation anxiety; maybe because on some level I'm not ready to let other people read it, put their hands on it, rip it to pieces, etc. I don't have an easy answer for this one. However you can, you have to set aside your feelings, write the end, and let it go. <BR/><BR/>If there are story problems, you'll likely catch them during the editing phase. If you're feeling tired, don't beat yourself up over it. Writing can be exhausting, especially toward the end of the novel.<BR/><BR/>If you have to write an unsatisfying ending to finish the book for now, write it. You can always change an ending. You can't do anything with an unfinished novel.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-1169261086307731852007-01-19T21:44:00.000-05:002007-01-19T21:44:00.000-05:00Ann wrote: have a question about the ebook challe...Ann wrote: <I> have a question about the ebook challenge. Have you finished reading all of the entrants? What did you think about the variety you got? (Okay the truth, what I really want to know is if you thought mine sucked eggs)</I><BR/><BR/>I have read all of the e-books from the challenge (I need to check my notes against the list one more time in that obsessive-compulsive manner I have of checking lists thirty times.) I'm in the process of typing up the critiques, which got a little more involved than I anticipated (the Dragon doesn't want to talk to my Adobe, so I'm putting them together in Microsoft Word and trying to import them.) I'll be starting to mail them out in the next couple of days. I apologize for keeping everyone waiting on these.<BR/><BR/>Ann, if yours is the one I think it is, it definitely did not suck eggs. :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-1169260663678282112007-01-19T21:37:00.000-05:002007-01-19T21:37:00.000-05:00Lara wrote: What is Fast Draft?According to the li...Lara wrote: <I>What is Fast Draft?</I><BR/><BR/>According to the link Jordan Summers posted on her weblog, it's a class being conducted by Write_Workshop, who have a yahoogroup <A HREF="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Write_Workshop/" REL="nofollow">here</A> (Jordan, jump in and correct me if I'm wrong.)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com