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NeeCee
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, July 30, 2003 - 10:36 am: | 
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If you are a reader/writer, do you ever feel you've written a flawless book? Is writing a flawless book your number one goal? Or, after you've completed a project, what is the most important thing you want to achieve? |
Chris Hayden
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, July 30, 2003 - 10:50 am: |
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Neecee:
We are imperfect so therefore are the things we create--I have never written anything that was flawless--I have written flawed things that I left in for one reason or another. I have written things under a deadline where the goal was not to have it perfect, but to have it by Tuesday. In those cases I accepted that it could have been done better if I'd have had plenty of time, and usually subsequent examination has borne this out.
Writing a flawless book is not my number one goal. Writing a book that expresses what I am trying to express to the best is my goal--sometimes the flaws do this. Sometimes, especially when writing fiction a character will begin to direct the way the story is going and it will come out in a way that you did not like but that is how it was dictated.
It depends upon why I have undertaken a project what is most important to achieve. Sometimes the mere completion itself is enough. Other times, when the goal has been to create something to be sold, I want to sell it and get the money. Other times when I have created something that is to be submitted and shopped around, it is getting it published. Other times I have created things to be performed it is to get it performed and to have it make an impact on the audience. |
NeeCee
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, July 30, 2003 - 10:55 am: |
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Chris,
I love what you've said, specifically the part about 'writing a book that expresses what I am trying to express to the best is my goal -- sometimes the flaws do this.' This is so true. The raw, rugged parts that flow out of you while writing best expresses things, even if it only makes sense to the writer.
Also, how do you know when your story is complete? Does something inside let you know? Or is it the fact that the due date is looming like, RIGHT NOW, so that forces you to finish the piece? |
Chris Hayden
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, July 30, 2003 - 02:06 pm: |
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Neecee:
Most times I know where I am going to end up, so I know where I'm going, I just want to end up there.
Recently, though I was writing a story that took over and ended the very opposite way I had thought.
When I don't have an ending (and my advice is to have one even if you don't use it)I tend to rely on instinct to tell me when or where I should finish it. When I am unsure I play around--what if I end it here? how about there?
The rule is have I said everything I need to say to tell this story. When I have done that it is time to stop.
Due dates are good motivators, but by no means do they absolutely control if the piece ain't right I have to get it right--within reasonable limits of course. |
DOMINIQUEC
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, January 08, 2004 - 10:05 pm: |
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OK I NEED SOME ADVICE FROM ANYONE THAT FEELS THEY CAN CONSTRUCTIVELY HELP. MY MINOR IN COLLEGE IS ENGLISH AND I AM IN THE PROCESS OF WRITING A BOOK. I DON'T WANT MY BOOK TO B A MEDIOCRE BOOK, WHERE THE TOPIC HAS ALREADY BEEN BROUGHT AND AND I'M JUST REWORDING IT. ANYWAY THE TOPIC OF MY BOOK WHICH I WON'T REVEAL BECAUSE I WOULDN'T WANT MY IDEA TO BE TAKEN IS VERY CONTRIVERSAL. I LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THINGS THAT TEND TO STIR FEELINGS AND EMOTIONS DEEP WITHIN OTHER. ANYWAY ENOUGH OF MY BABALING. MY QUESTIONS IS SHOULD I WRITE MY BOOK BASED ON HOW I FEEL AND FOR ME OR SHOULD I WRITE IT TO APPEAL TO OTHERS DISREGUARDING MY OPINION? IF THAT QUESTION DIDN'T MAKE SENSE HERE'S ANOTHER SHOULD I WRITE TO PLEASE THE PUBLIC JUST TO BE ACCEPTED AND LIKED OR SHOULD I WRITE FOR MYSELF AND HOPE OTHERS LIKE WHAT I'M DOING? |
Anonymous
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, January 08, 2004 - 10:40 pm: |
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You should first and foremost take an English grammar course. It might serve you well to then take an E. Lit class. When you've finished come back and see us. K |
Cynique
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, January 09, 2004 - 11:19 am: |
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You should be true to yourself. You should also prepare yourself for a spate of rejection slips. |
DOMINIQUE C
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, January 10, 2004 - 01:20 am: |
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ANONYMOUS FIRST AND FOREMOST WHAT YOU SHOULD DO IS STOP BASHING OTHERS TO MAKE YOURSELF FEEL WORTHY. YOU HAVE NOTHING GOOD TO SAY OR A LEAST ABOUT THE COMMENTS I MAKE. WHAT'S YOUR PROBLEM? THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE A WEBSITE ABOUT LITERATURE NOT YOUR PERSONAL GAIN OVER PROBLEMS OTHERS HAVE NO CONTROL OVER. SO HOW ABOUT YOU GET SOME SELF PRIDE AND DIGINITY ON YOUR OWN THEN COME BACK AND SEE ME. K. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THOSE WHO ACTUALLY HAVE SOMETHING CONSTRUCTIVE TO SAY. I REALLY APPRECIATE IT. |
Cynique
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, January 10, 2004 - 01:38 am: |
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What "Anonymous" had to say was constructive, Dominique. If you have thin skin, you are in the wrong place. |
DOMINIQUE C
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, January 10, 2004 - 02:04 am: |
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IF YOU THINK WHAT ANONYMOUS HAD TO SAY WAS CONSTRUCTIVE THEN SOMETHING'S WRONG OR MAYBE ANONYMOUS IS YOU. SHE OR HE WAS BLATANLY TRYING TO BE RUDE BY CALLING ME ILLITERATE IN A NICE WAY. I DON'T HAVE THIN SKIN. AND IF YOU READ WHAT I SAID YOU WOULD HAVE NOTICED THAT MY MINOR IS ENGLISH. WHICH MEANS THAT I AM TAKING ENGLISH CLASSES. |
Cynique
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, January 10, 2004 - 02:44 am: |
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I assure you, I am not "Anonymous."
I think your misspelled words and lack of punctuation were probably what prompted Anonymous' feedback. |
ABM
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, January 10, 2004 - 10:43 am: |
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DOMINIQUE C,
I say the following in all respect due to you (and to others that it may apply to).
I must respectfully concur with Cynique. It is difficult to take seriously what you hope to achieve when your post(s) is fraught with grammar and spelling errors. Tis not to suggest that everything that I or anyone posts here should always be flawless. But the quality of your writing suggests a general "DISREGARD" for some of the basic writing tenets. If you are going to seriously request help from the people here - many writers, publishers and highly initiated readers - with writing/publishing a book, you should at least present yourself as being capable of adequately achieving such.
For example, there is a writing convention that is called a "comma" or a ",". Please learn when and how to use it. |
ABM
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, January 10, 2004 - 12:28 pm: |
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And another thing, DOMINIQUE C:
Pay $8 - $12 for the legendary writing guide booklet "The Elements of Style" by Strunk and White. For any writer - novice, intermediate and expert - "The Elements of Style" likely will be the most cost-effective investment that you will ever make. |
DOMINIQUE C
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, January 10, 2004 - 02:00 pm: |
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Thanks. Now that someone has explained what that comment meant, I no longer take it offensively. I honestly didn't think it would matter if I used proper grammar. I was just writing for a response, and yes I do know how to use grammar properly. |
ABM
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, January 10, 2004 - 02:59 pm: |
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DOMINIQUE C,
And now to address what I think it is that you need. Two of the very best websites for getting countless invaluable links, references, articles and data about any/all things concerning writing/publishing are as follows:
Writer's Digest: http://writersdigest.com/
Writer's Market: http://writersmarket.com/index_ns.asp
The Writer's Digest site provides loads of FREE info about writing. The Writer's Market is the better site, as it includes virtually all Writer's Digest does and MORE, but The Writer's Market requires an annual or monthly fee. Still, if you are serious about writing, Writer's Market is amply worth the very minimal cost.
I hope these help.
Word of advice: It is always a risky thing to proclaim oneself to have minored in English only to then repeatedly slight some of the basis writing strictures. The writing geeks in deeze parts (including Your Truly) will likely respond to that as a shark does to blood in seawater. |
Anonymous
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, January 10, 2004 - 04:58 pm: |
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ABM
***Snicker*** **snicker*** ("as it includes virtually all Writer's Digest does and MORE,")
"The writing geeks in deeze parts will likely respond to that (ABOVE) as a shark does to blood in seawater" What do's Writer's Digest Does LMAO
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