Comment

Comment by Barbara Ehrentreu on October 14, 2010 at 6:57pm

Hi all,
I have written four novels, three are YA and one is adult romance/suspense/adventure. Currently I am about to pitch my first YA novel on Sunday to a publisher at the Muse Online Writers Conference. To make Janet feel better I have sent it out seven times for seven rejections. This has been during the course of five years. I have rewritten it too many times to think about and if you think about how many times I've rewritten my first chapter it's double that. If you think about how much I've rewritten the first page you would have to triple that!! Finally I feel that it is ready, because after my last rewrite the publisher loved my first page. Keep your fingers crossed for me.

Meanwhile, that is only one novel. The second one has been subbed to a critique group as was my first novel. However, with the first one I also had a couple of beta readers and then resubbed it to a different group.

Definitely if you feel it is finished, send it out. Make sure you have had some people look at it first.

Comment by Candy Fite on October 14, 2010 at 6:37am

Thanks for all the heartfelt advice! Mary, I promise to cut myself some slack. I needed to hear that! Even though it was my decision, giving up a full time job after five years felt like giving a part of myself away. I hope your "tough stuff" works out soon as well. I walked seven miles the other day and I plan on another few today. Today, I plan on working through a story line while walking instead of worrying about my job.

Rebecca, my brains being sucked dry by aliens is exactly how I feel! Thanks for the :))) Every day this week, I've procrastinated about writing. Until today. I sat down and forced myself to write a short story for a magazine. At first, I sat there, gazing blankly at the screen, watching the cursor blink. I literally had to force my fingers to type! And then, it began to flow. I plan on editing later today and sending out tomorrow.

Christa, Thanks for the website. I plan on perusing the site today. You're so right about the cycle of fear keeping us from accomplishing our goals. By not writing, I do have control...good point. I'm usually pretty good at working my difficult situations out on paper. This seems different. I know I'll get through it though.

Thank you all from the bottom of my heart!!

Comment by Meg Waite Clayton on October 14, 2010 at 3:03am

Holy moly - you go traveling for a day and 41 new She Writers join the novelist group! With apologies for not personally saying hello to all the newbies. Please introduce yourselves by telling us what you're working on in the "Show Me Your Novel and I'll Show You Mine" thread!

Meg (from Bath, England)

Comment by Christa Mastrangelo on October 13, 2010 at 5:28pm

Candy, It is important to do it, even if it's just for 10 minutes. (I take this idea from www.literaryliving.com Joan Dempsey and also Leo Babuata). But also yes, it is good to recognize when you must be kind to yourself when you're undergoing change. What is also important is to not get caught in the cycle of fear, that keeps you from accomplishing your goals. Also from Joan Dempsey at literary living is the idea that we keep our fear of writing close to us (writer's block a convenient name for this fear often) because it is self preserving. By putting nothing out there, we are then in control of our failures. Anyway, perhaps journal a little, in just 10 short minutes, about the changes in your life right now, and don't worry about production for a little bit. Whew---that was long winded!

Comment by Linda Boulanger on October 13, 2010 at 1:25pm

Telling others about your book in 1-2 short sentences. I want to hear yours: What's Your Logline

Comment by Elizabeth Kolodziej on October 13, 2010 at 12:36pm

New Writers Community to join!! (Screen) Writers and Authors Community is up and comming and could use some fresh writers discussing new things! I think we should support each other so why not join up?

Comment by Mary Kennedy Eastham on October 13, 2010 at 11:42am

Candy - first, cut yourself just a little slack. A loss of any kind, esp. a job, even if it was your choice, is a loss. I've been going through a lot of tough stuff as of late, exercise helps tremendously, so I try to do something every day.
It also helps me to get out of my office and go to Borders Cafe or a place like that. Just being out in the world, so to speak, helps me get motivated for my writing. I do feel a lot of deadlines swirling in my head, so that helps.
Reading great lines from books I love always gets me going. Even if ur not writing, read writing blogs, do anything you can to get your ass in the seat!
Best of luck, Candy...

Comment by Rebecca Bredholt on October 13, 2010 at 11:03am

I'm just a commenting fool today - Dear Candy, sit down and write anyway. I consider it like going to the gym when i don't want to go. It's a crappy work out but I get points for showing up. Start writing: here's why i don't have anything to say today....my mind is blank, sucked dry by the aliens from Planet Procrastination....see where it goes...

Comment by Candy Fite on October 13, 2010 at 10:38am

Does anyone have any good writer's block remedies? I'd been dealing with a struggle at work which led to my resignation this past week. Everytime I think about sitting down at the computer to write, my mind goes numb. Walking usually clears my head, but even that's not working. Help, fellow writers! Thanks!

Comment by Amalia Gladhart on October 13, 2010 at 8:55am

Thanks Rebecca, and Christa. I kind of like the vignette idea. I think what I need to do, too, is abandon my efforts to make everything fit the way I first thought it would, and let the story move in another direction.

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• …
• 339
• 340
• 341
• 342
• 343
• …
• 367
• Next ›
• Page