tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2907737240492304428.post6109884929234300486..comments2024-03-18T09:25:56.836-04:00Comments on The Write Conversation: Evaluate Your Progress on the Writing PathEdie Melsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03902312441667526147noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2907737240492304428.post-86275568519029954592014-12-16T21:43:05.898-05:002014-12-16T21:43:05.898-05:00Thanks Edie, for having us reflect like this as th...Thanks Edie, for having us reflect like this as the calendar year comes to a close.<br /><br />Writing successes: (1) writing every day; today is day 200 (2) started and have maintained a blog; I post weekly on the weekend<br /><br />Setbacks and Writing Advice: learning that omniscient (old style) is out of date and that I have a lot to learn about POV. I'm a head-hopper. It took me three to months to finally read a blog that explained it in a way that I could say, "Oh, I get it now!" I went back and re-read other blogs I had bookmarked, and they finally all made sense. As an English teacher for over 25 years I was stuck in the four basic types of point of view. It was a major paradigm shift for me that I am still not sure I grasp. I want to be that fly on the wall that sees all, gets in all heads, and can be all places at once, but they say that won't work for a newbie for sure and that the old omniscient narrator is out-of-date anyway. Man, did I have a lot to learn and still do!<br /><br />Brought Me the Most Joy: when others tell me they enjoy reading my blog. I just wish they would write in the comment section. That is my Christmas wish! But hey, I've only been at this for six months, so the fact that people are even reading it, means a lot. <br />Melodie Beth Harrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01491194906557915679noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2907737240492304428.post-56227836856472833932014-12-16T13:34:35.740-05:002014-12-16T13:34:35.740-05:00Edie,
A great and thought-provoking post, as usua...Edie,<br /><br />A great and thought-provoking post, as usual. Following are my answers to your questions.<br /><br />SUCCESSES<br />Sent a polished manuscript to beta readers<br />Wrote 25 freelance articles (to date), all of which were published<br />Published 3 non-fiction (art instruction) books<br />Wrote nearly 900,000 words (blogs, articles, fiction, non-fiction) and still counting<br /><br /><br />SETBACKS<br />Inability to find direction with any story idea that was compelling enough or engaging enough to hold my attention from initial concept to completed rough draft. (Too many cool, new ideas; too little time!)<br />Failed to reach one million words written<br /><br />BEST WRITING ADVICE<br />A lot of writing advice seemed aimed directly at me. The most recent was this:<br /><br />You don't jump at the first agent that speaks your name. You don't self-publish with the first vanity press that shoots you spam. You don't hire the first editor who quotes you a cheap rate. You don't listen to all criticism from your writing group. In other words, be true to yourself. If the fit doesn't feel right, trust your instincts and walk away. You have to be able to look at yourself in the morning.<br /><br />The most important part of that quote is “If the fit doesn't feel right, trust your instincts and walk away.” When I read this paragraph, I was in the middle of sorting through crit partner comments.<br /><br />MOST JOY<br />Developing new ideas<br />Blogging<br /><br />I don't know if you would consider it joy or not, but getting through my weekly to-do list each week was a major source of satisfaction even when the larger projects weren't going well.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2907737240492304428.post-89983375147821207012014-12-16T07:33:11.924-05:002014-12-16T07:33:11.924-05:00One of my writing successes this year was completi...One of my writing successes this year was completing a short story in an entirely new genre. I also finished the second book in a fantasy series. And in NaNoWriMo, I wrote 42,000 words in book 3. I also completely revised and updated my website.<br />Among my setbacks were rejections from publishers and agents.<br />Best writing advice has been with me for a few years: It won't get written if my butt isn't in the chair and my fingers on the keyboard.<br />The most joy has come from working with other writers and seeing them get published, win contests, and improve in the craft. Equal with is spending time with my writer friends the ones who help me grow as a writer and a person..<br />Henry McLaughlinhttp://www.henrymclaughlin.orgnoreply@blogger.com