Comments on: Are You In Love With Your Writing?

By: Anne

Anne — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 15:51:47 +0000

Meryl, I’m more like you in that regard than not… which I’m grateful for.

By: Anne

Anne — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 15:51:07 +0000

Yes … see 9 Keys for a Successful Writing Group – http://www.aboutfreelancewriting.com/2008/12/9-keys-for-a-successful-writers-group/

By: Anne

Anne — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 15:24:21 +0000

Lol, good point… although sometimes I want to read out loud and tape away from my computer… have a tiny recorder for interviews which will download to my computer.. a great combo.

By: Anne

Anne — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 15:23:15 +0000

Hannah… I know what you mean… I’ve learned to turn my editor off mostly when I’m just reading for fun.

By: Anne

Anne — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 15:22:33 +0000

Good for you… for learning.

By: Kathryn Pless

Kathryn Pless — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 05:27:53 +0000

I can really relate to this article. Recently I wrote what I thought was an excellent article. I was passionate, poured my all into it and sent it off for review. It came back with some edits, which I did. Once again I sent my “baby” off. The edits I did weren’t accepted and the article was rejected. My first thought was, how dare they?? Then I stepped back, reread the article and could see why they rejected it. I hadn’t done the edits properly and learned from the experience. It has made me a better writer and also made me realize that a rejected article isn’t personal. But still, there’s a part of me that still says, Humph! LOL

By: Hannah

Hannah — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:30:07 +0000

Putting it aside for a while helps me. If I’m not going to edit right away, it’s better, because I can’t sit on it very long before I’m itching to hack and slash. Since I’ve been learning how to edit, I find myself doing it with everything I read, which is kind of annoying, actually. It’s much better when I get back to my own work, because I CAN change it. I’m getting ready to rip something out of my current book and consolidate a little and I’m not happy about it, but it needs to be done.

By: jorgekafkazar

jorgekafkazar — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 21:40:20 +0000

All very good points, Anne, as usual. As far as reading a piece out loud to a tape recorder, it is now possible, through some beneficent miracle of modern technology, and Windows (about which I’m not so sure regarding the beneficent part), to record voice inside your computer. Does anyone even make tape recorders, now? Probably. Heck, you can still get buggy whips:

http://jedediahsbuggywhip.com/
.-= jorgekafkazar´s last blog ..Tenirax, Ch V =-.

By: Tannice Pendegrass

Tannice Pendegrass — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 16:24:06 +0000

I heartily recommend joining a writing group. It can be hard to show something that feels so personal or that you’re ‘in love with’ to others, but that thin skin soons get thickened up when a massive plot hole or inaccurate description has been picked up by someone in your group.

You also find differing reactions to your work: for example, one of my pieces elicited tears from a reader in my writing group. Another found it funny! Another member’s work divided our group: a story about a widow’s experience with a ghost led to discussions about the character and whether we sympathised with her. One member hated the character and the rest of us loved her… discussion of this kind reveals that a reader makes of your work what they will.

It’s also helpful to criticise others’ work – that way you find that it’s easier to look at your own work with fresh eyes, bringing that much-needed distance that allows good, “loved” work to be brilliant.

By: Meryl K Evans

Meryl K Evans — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 16:10:41 +0000

When I write — I am writing for the reader not myself. I’ve never had trouble detaching myself — maybe it’s my nature or my knowing editors turn my work into a great final product. Usually I don’t surprise myself until after an article is published… sometimes I read it and think “Dang! I can’t believe I wrote that.” (in a good way). I don’t think that while working on it as I’m focused on creating a complete and effective piece.
.-= Meryl K Evans´s last blog ..How Muscle Memory Affects Writing =-.