Comments for Leigh's Writing Adventures

Comment on Unsolicited Advice by mybackpocket

mybackpocket — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 05:11:13 +0000

Oh man! I feel you! Lucky for me I haven’t had a lot of that…although I don’t know why. I also love talking about writing but the worst thing you can do when you talk to other writers is to act as if you know more than them and that YOUR way is the RIGHT way, there are so many different ways to write!! Everyone has to find something that works for them and frankly, I feel that as long as someone IS writing who cares if its good or not! Sooner or later, through practice, you learn. I went to a nanowrimo write-in tonight for the first time and I think I experiences what you’re talking about above. There were a couple of strong personalities in the room that are veteran nanowrimos and felt the need to tell all us newbies how to write…although we never asked and many of us have been writing for years. Like you said, if they had just prefaces their lectures with something like, “this is how I like to write” or “this works really well for me!” or “this is something I’m trying to remind myself to do….” I probably would have been more excited to talk to them about writing.

I guess that’s my two cents.

Comment on Unsolicited Advice by Joseph

Joseph — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 11:41:51 +0000

It’s human nature to want to hear yourself talking and have other people listen. The subject is irrelevant. You don’t need to be an expert to have an opinion, so everyone has opinions. The trick is, “people” are your audience…

http://josephrobertlewis.wordpress.com/

Comment on Weekly Targets #4 by Ken Kiser

Ken Kiser — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 18:20:39 +0000

Good Luck to you.

Be careful to not set those word count goals too high. You’ll always enter a project highly motivated and able to hit high WC targets easily, but as the initial excitement wears off, and you begin the daily grind, you’ll need to keep those targets very reasonable or you’ll just end up discouraging yourself when you start to consistently miss them.

Remember, that even a tiny 400 words a day will give you a completed novel in about 9 months. Consistency is the key, not high daily targets.

Comment on Unsolicited Advice by Ken Kiser

Ken Kiser — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 08:48:57 +0000

*sneers* So, when are you going to start that novel of yours?

*runs away and hides* Just kidding!

Comment on Unsolicited Advice by Leigh

Leigh — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 18:34:06 +0000

Ah but that’s advice on what you’ve written and not how you should go about writing. That’s different. Someone sneering at you and saying, “why don’t you just start writing?” because you’re plotting your novel isn’t the same as criticism of the story or the writing. I need to find my own methods, figure out what works best for me. Not be told how I should do things.

Comment on Unsolicited Advice by Ken Kiser

Ken Kiser — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 10:05:22 +0000

I listen to all comments and advice VERY carefully. I don’t take the messages personally, and I’m always looking for a way to improve my work. Does that mean that these people are always right? Hell no… but you need to look very closely and without an ego to determine that.

I particularly like the advice and comments of non-writers. Why? Because I’m not writing for writers… I’m writing for readers… so those are the opinions that matter more to me.

Still, it’s hard to learn to put the ego aside and learn to accept that the writing is all that matters and everyone has a good point now and then. Don’t be too quick to dismiss even the ridiculousness harsh words of a jerk.

Comment on Unsolicited Advice by Justin

Justin — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 00:11:52 +0000

Generally, when I get this unsolicited advice, I treat it the same way I treated my friend who tried to “explain” Freud to me after he covered Freud for a class in his Intro to Philosophy class and I was two weeks from my BS in Psychology — I smiled, nodded and completely tuned him out.

Comment on Weekly targets #3 by Leigh

Leigh — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 17:18:33 +0000

Ooh thank you.

I will try and stay focused, motivated me this week!

Comment on Weekly targets #3 by Ken Kiser

Ken Kiser — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 08:22:23 +0000

That’s the attitude. Stay focused.

I like what I see here so far. I think I’ll B’roll you on my page.

Comment on Lightbulb Moment by elizaw

elizaw — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 20:16:54 +0000

Of course, I see that character and the first thing that pops into my mind is, “If wishes were horses we’d all be eating steak!” … That, and the pink-and-orange hat.