tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2907737240492304428.post32424194929172021..comments2024-03-28T16:52:31.923-04:00Comments on The Write Conversation: Life Lessons—Are You Just Playing it Safe with Your Writing?Edie Melsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03902312441667526147noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2907737240492304428.post-39221791498700274602014-04-07T08:44:09.449-04:002014-04-07T08:44:09.449-04:00Maureen, a question is never a sidetrack! I did a ...Maureen, a question is never a sidetrack! I did a post on recommended books a while back. Here's the link: http://thewriteconversation.blogspot.com/2014/03/dollars-sense-for-writers-guidelines-on.html I hope this helps! Blessings, EEdie Melsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03902312441667526147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2907737240492304428.post-83425559496120921762014-04-06T22:14:36.288-04:002014-04-06T22:14:36.288-04:00As a novice writer--not to sidetrack you--that mig...As a novice writer--not to sidetrack you--that might be a good book for me to read! Maureen Hall PucciniAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2907737240492304428.post-33668526743346475562014-04-04T19:12:42.567-04:002014-04-04T19:12:42.567-04:00I have the exact same problem, Beth. Began my care...I have the exact same problem, Beth. Began my career as a journalist, then worked in radio, both of which teach you to write tight. In radio, I had to tell a story in less than 180 words, sometimes less than 30-45. So when I finished the first draft of my novel, I went back and did the same thing: asked myself what I was leaving out in my effort to keep things moving.<br /><br />But when it comes to editing, I have the opposite problem. I tweak and cut and nitpick the manuscript obsessively, until I finally have to force myself to let it go. I'm so OCD about wanting it to be perfect, that I cling to the work too long. ~sharynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03900618724766476779noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2907737240492304428.post-34784848813463747202014-04-04T18:18:06.119-04:002014-04-04T18:18:06.119-04:00Michelle, you're so right. Small bits add up f...Michelle, you're so right. Small bits add up fast! Blessings, EEdie Melsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03902312441667526147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2907737240492304428.post-89861367687956834862014-04-04T18:17:39.802-04:002014-04-04T18:17:39.802-04:00Bren, I'm aiming a kick in your direction! Ble...Bren, I'm aiming a kick in your direction! Blessings, EEdie Melsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03902312441667526147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2907737240492304428.post-59572130576085870022014-04-04T18:17:16.857-04:002014-04-04T18:17:16.857-04:00Jennifer, we all feel like that! Blessings, EJennifer, we all feel like that! Blessings, EEdie Melsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03902312441667526147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2907737240492304428.post-11954588650979383232014-04-04T18:16:53.148-04:002014-04-04T18:16:53.148-04:00Mary, so true! Blessings, EMary, so true! Blessings, EEdie Melsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03902312441667526147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2907737240492304428.post-58744051433954510692014-04-04T14:17:59.881-04:002014-04-04T14:17:59.881-04:00Having a critique buddy to spur me on really helps...Having a critique buddy to spur me on really helps! Sometimes it is just focusing in on one thing at a time. Being diligent each day to write something means at the end of the week I have accomplished much.Michellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02555114982961724400noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2907737240492304428.post-142402668851995612014-04-04T13:33:34.249-04:002014-04-04T13:33:34.249-04:00Not letting life (and family!) interfere is one of...Not letting life (and family!) interfere is one of my problems. Knowing how to motivate myself into starting again and sticking to it are more. Need a good, swift kick to the rear right now! :)Bren Fousek Bowmanhttp://www.brenfousekbowman.blogspot.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2907737240492304428.post-13783034367119880292014-04-04T12:12:42.226-04:002014-04-04T12:12:42.226-04:00I keep diving out there into the "writing&quo...I keep diving out there into the "writing" world and making mistakes, coming up for air, and going under again. At the rate I'm going, I believe I can put together a nice work of non-fiction on what not to do as a writer... :)Jenniferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04163521563641083919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2907737240492304428.post-33170734115982410152014-04-04T11:41:23.319-04:002014-04-04T11:41:23.319-04:00I agree with Beth! I work hard to get my manuscrip...I agree with Beth! I work hard to get my manuscript down, but the editing is harder still. Cutting the "telling" and adding the "showing". Making sure the setting is clear. Describing the senses. Having my characters act and react according to their personalities. Thankfully, my critique group keeps me going, cheering me on when I want to quit! :)Dee Dee https://www.blogger.com/profile/12568993522822927873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2907737240492304428.post-62007250156031933412014-04-04T10:06:14.511-04:002014-04-04T10:06:14.511-04:00Beth, this is exactly what I was getting at. Great...Beth, this is exactly what I was getting at. Great insight, thank you so much! Blessings, EEdie Melsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03902312441667526147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2907737240492304428.post-60107226257240076692014-04-04T09:49:18.561-04:002014-04-04T09:49:18.561-04:00Love this insight, Edie. As a journalist turned no...Love this insight, Edie. As a journalist turned novelist, I'm trained to write tight. It took me a while to realize that good editing was sometimes causing me to stop too soon. I'd written a good scene, said what needed to be said -- and it was time to move on. But as I worked to layer in deeper emotion, I realized that by "moving on," I was sometimes avoiding doing the harder work. -- the needed work --- of learning to writing stronger character emotion. So I am learning to write a scene and then go back and ask: Did I end this too soon? Am I depriving my reader of a more satisfying experience because I left something out? Beth K. Vogthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04032849469366266791noreply@blogger.com