tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post8600338383186350105..comments2024-03-07T09:26:21.305-05:00Comments on My Hogwarts Sabbatical: The Insecure Writer and Lessons LearnedChemist Kenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09738272332470397248noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post-19435213837486615222017-07-06T23:59:20.266-04:002017-07-06T23:59:20.266-04:00Rules, just when you learn one, you break another ...Rules, just when you learn one, you break another one - or at least I do!! :) <br />Still, there is nothing that's more fun, immensely satisfying or aggravating, and constantly changing. I love it! :)Yolanda Renéehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09085436784133103221noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post-28127366746754919212017-07-06T20:09:38.730-04:002017-07-06T20:09:38.730-04:00Oh yes, about the rules. I learned readability is ...Oh yes, about the rules. I learned readability is the most important rule and all the other rules should be broken if need be to serve rule #1.M Paxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14096697282530998519noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post-86473553849964457742017-07-06T19:54:00.269-04:002017-07-06T19:54:00.269-04:00Those critique partners are so important.
And goo...Those critique partners are so important.<br /><br />And good to hear that you learned it was possible to show too much. Lynda R Young as Elle Cardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09975442291393246148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post-25909453849562537152017-07-06T14:24:18.799-04:002017-07-06T14:24:18.799-04:00Showing and telling, yep, I did more of the latter...Showing and telling, yep, I did more of the latter at the start too. Pffft to some of the rules we say at our bay lolPat Hatthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07745293224202430152noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post-52539563128511352672017-07-06T12:50:03.352-04:002017-07-06T12:50:03.352-04:00All great lessons - especially the rules just bein...All great lessons - especially the rules just being guidelines. I drove myself crazy before I figured that out. It's easy to get so lost in rules you can't even write!Julie Flandershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05003737491313673214noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post-12570567803601083352017-07-06T12:35:35.339-04:002017-07-06T12:35:35.339-04:00I agree about the value of a critique partner, but...I agree about the value of a critique partner, but you made me chuckle in your observations of growing as a writer. That first you learned to fill a book with words and then you learned to cut it back. So true!Computer Tutorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00938856237984732342noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post-23779334766225966902017-07-06T07:49:40.372-04:002017-07-06T07:49:40.372-04:00I've had some wonderful crit partners - and to...I've had some wonderful crit partners - and totally agree with you. They are the key to growth and learning!Jemi Fraserhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02214408467456320167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post-9653590124739005402017-07-06T07:15:23.500-04:002017-07-06T07:15:23.500-04:00So true, Ken. Yet, I had 3 different people read m...So true, Ken. Yet, I had 3 different people read my first 3 chapters for advice, to see if I was on the right track. Then, I had 3 absolutely different opinions. That was hard to figure out. I tend to overwrite too, and I need to tighten up my manuscript. <br />Good Post!!Cathrina Constantinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16960849263181625782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post-78813384018610598652017-07-06T04:23:37.562-04:002017-07-06T04:23:37.562-04:00I had spent too much time worrying about critique ...I had spent too much time worrying about critique partners, I wasn't really learning from the "text books" anymore. I've returned to reading about story telling and writing and am reading a lot of amazing stuff that's helping me with my writing game tremendously. Balance in all things, I guess.Cathy Keatonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18356112948372149785noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post-64343108666729299562017-07-06T04:12:13.173-04:002017-07-06T04:12:13.173-04:00I laughed at number three. Is there a business ide...I laughed at number three. Is there a business idea in there? Critique partner testing? ;)Raimey Gallanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08021528443693790662noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post-57324142584806080662017-07-05T20:32:14.643-04:002017-07-05T20:32:14.643-04:00CPs and beta readers are a life saver for me. They...CPs and beta readers are a life saver for me. They point out all the things I miss and didn't think of.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post-46241779109887318092017-07-05T19:00:05.225-04:002017-07-05T19:00:05.225-04:00My husband is my critique partner, and boy is he c...My husband is my critique partner, and boy is he critical! Which helps, even though I complain. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post-63379350718999034412017-07-05T16:00:56.357-04:002017-07-05T16:00:56.357-04:00I had to learn how to cut back. The second book of...I had to learn how to cut back. The second book of my NA series was originally 205,000+ words. Bit much, don't you think? I ended up hacking out a lot.L. Diane Wolfehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06425864276166334896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post-29184395245200616592017-07-05T13:28:00.394-04:002017-07-05T13:28:00.394-04:00Yes, showing versus telling was one thing I had to...Yes, showing versus telling was one thing I had to learn; also, to avoid "author intrusion". Ya know, you think, 'I'm gonna write my story' and off you go, not understanding what the heck you're doing. LOL And, after you've written a bit (after you've learned a few rules), you read back over what you've written and get so embarrassed! LOL<br /><br />But it's all part of growing...and CP's are an awesome tool! :) Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post-68059501517801052122017-07-05T13:12:32.328-04:002017-07-05T13:12:32.328-04:00Having great CPs is vital. I had to learn years ag...Having great CPs is vital. I had to learn years ago to cut back and be more concise with my words too. These days, I must watch not to be too tight!Christine Rainshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08263694662585963900noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post-81354817076332192202017-07-05T12:29:46.612-04:002017-07-05T12:29:46.612-04:00I've been lucky to find some really good criti...I've been lucky to find some really good critique partners and beta readers. So important to have those! My writing is much better for it.Mhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13464393340517511305noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post-62017955452482685882017-07-05T11:45:18.508-04:002017-07-05T11:45:18.508-04:00I've been very fortunate to have a long-standi...I've been very fortunate to have a long-standing critique group who are hard, fair, honest and compassionate. I couldn't keep going without them. <br /><br />Your lessons are great ones to have learned. Congrats on that.cleemckenziehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15456109243453726483noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post-31972438051470050802017-07-05T11:43:39.188-04:002017-07-05T11:43:39.188-04:00That is an important lesson to learn. I could alwa...That is an important lesson to learn. I could always use a few more critique partners. Getting myself to stop worrying about breaking rules was also an important lesson for me. James Paillyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06213113363979079375noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post-80415184385164832542017-07-05T11:09:17.587-04:002017-07-05T11:09:17.587-04:00Critique partners are the BEST. And it took me for...Critique partners are the BEST. And it took me forever to discern what was telling. Thankfully, I'm getting better at it...Loni Townsendhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05126958230703180761noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post-85157330800283369402017-07-05T10:53:40.490-04:002017-07-05T10:53:40.490-04:00Yeah, I need to find one or more critique partners...Yeah, I need to find one or more critique partners. I used to have a local critique group, but it fell apart. Tamara Narayanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03725262301091012950noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post-61108545494874167602017-07-05T10:47:47.865-04:002017-07-05T10:47:47.865-04:00All excellent lessons. I was lucky to land a FABUL...All excellent lessons. I was lucky to land a FABULOUS critique partner ten years ago, after much searching. We have both grown so much since then and branched off our separate ways, but we do occasionally come back to one another. It's all about the relationships we develop along the path, eh?Crystal Collierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03912469552483168148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post-57852346108891368792017-07-05T10:24:56.981-04:002017-07-05T10:24:56.981-04:00There is nothing like feedback to let you know you...There is nothing like feedback to let you know you're on the right track. :-)<br /><br /><a href="http://emaginette.wordpress.com" rel="nofollow"> Anna from elements of emaginette</a>emaginettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03324981140248692448noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207356626683365538.post-60932421536843293922017-07-05T09:36:04.790-04:002017-07-05T09:36:04.790-04:00I value my critique partners, that's for sure....I value my critique partners, that's for sure.<br />It took me a while to figure out the difference between showing and telling. I found a book by Jessica Bell that gave examples and then it finally clicked.Alex J. Cavanaughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09770065693345181702noreply@blogger.com