tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post2436967719189128614..comments2024-03-27T10:02:56.747-04:00Comments on Fiction University: All the World's a Stage: The Stages of a WriterJanice Hardyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-23954931046268935172011-11-15T21:47:59.375-05:002011-11-15T21:47:59.375-05:00I'm on Stage Three transitioning into Stage Fo...I'm on Stage Three transitioning into Stage Four once I do more work on my main project.chihuahuazerohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15677672177353350936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-70605776310730912532011-07-07T18:26:35.997-04:002011-07-07T18:26:35.997-04:00These are great :)These are great :)Laurahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15725049899131699912noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-34725244978183729392011-05-07T13:24:33.857-04:002011-05-07T13:24:33.857-04:00totally disagreetotally disagreeAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-80794354358219633232011-05-06T16:42:48.816-04:002011-05-06T16:42:48.816-04:00Carradee: That's so nice that someone helped y...Carradee: That's so nice that someone helped you out like that. Betas are vital in my opinion. I have am entire crit group dedicated to works in progress for that very reason. It's really helpful to get some feedback before you've done too much to fix.<br /><br />MDK: Awesome :) Hey, nothing wrong with slow. Better to go slow and be ready than rush it and crash.<br /><br />Michael: LOL yeah, I wish there were merits badges in writing. It's so hard to know when you're "ready" sometimes.<br /><br />Stephsco: Crit groups are great. I've learned a lot from critiquing other's work. It's easier to be objective, then you can double check yourself to see if you're making the same mistakes. And Mark has good advice about being a critter. I just happen to have a crit post and I'll toss that up for you for Friday's evening post.<br /><br />Mark: That's so true about being a reader. If the story doesn't grab you, how good the writing is won't matter. People have things to offer even if they're still in the learning stages. <br /><br />Jasie: There's light, just keep on walking ;) It can be a long journey, but as long as you have fun along the way it isn't so bad.<br /><br />Jay: Thanks!Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-79664463917555942882011-05-06T04:14:52.863-04:002011-05-06T04:14:52.863-04:00You nailed it! Awesome post.
http://jaykrow.bl...You nailed it! Awesome post. <br /><br /><br /><br />http://jaykrow.blogspot.com/Jay Krowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06378132011010958267noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-64631914773655913502011-05-06T04:08:23.203-04:002011-05-06T04:08:23.203-04:00This is such a great post, especially for someone ...This is such a great post, especially for someone who's just at the first stage now. There's light at the end of the tunnel. :)Jasie@ArchEditinghttp://archediting.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-84027029329496817982011-05-06T03:14:47.317-04:002011-05-06T03:14:47.317-04:00"t's okay to be at whatever stage you'..."t's okay to be at whatever stage you're on."<br /><br />Janice, that's the best advice ever.<br /><br />Shorty411 & Stephsco - The thing with critiques is to remember you are a reader, not an expert on writing.<br /><br />Look at other people's work from a reader's perspective, and do the same with your own. Write to impress your readers. <br /><br />Agents aren't interested in perfect prose. They want books that will sell.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-81616126056418554372011-05-06T01:14:03.690-04:002011-05-06T01:14:03.690-04:00I also like the idea of a post on what to look for...I also like the idea of a post on what to look for when critiquing. I am part of a writer's group, new to it this year. While I'm getting the hang of it, I have trouble with balance; submissions in my group are either polished and well edited, or the extreme opposite.<br /><br />I've definitely learned a lot about my own writing from critiquing work in the group. Every time I sit down to edit my 2nd draft, I apply new skills. But I get frustrated because there is so much MORE to learn. It will take me years and years to get my draft in decent enough shape! <br /><br />Maybe I should have a beta reader (besides my husband) sooner rather than later, as Carradee said.Stephscohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06328839483008086049noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-18040482097852714682011-05-06T00:42:37.582-04:002011-05-06T00:42:37.582-04:00The reason I liked the Boyscouts is because it was...The reason I liked the Boyscouts is because it was easy to check what level you were at and what merit badges you needed to advance. This writing this is hard. :PAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16518183823230864763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-74371120678585973962011-05-05T22:44:25.384-04:002011-05-05T22:44:25.384-04:00Hi Janice,
Thanks for the straight dope. lol! Wor...Hi Janice,<br /><br />Thanks for the straight dope. lol! Working my way up the stages, slowly but surely.MDKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17384794936333159433noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-73480115163960169492011-05-05T20:46:49.186-04:002011-05-05T20:46:49.186-04:00I was incredibly clueless myself, and naive, but a...I was incredibly clueless myself, and naive, but a lady working at a local publishing house (that didn't do fiction) kindly pointed teenage me in the right direction.<br /><br />On getting WiPs done, I've found that it helps to have at least 1 beta reading the work-in-progress, with whom I discuss my goals and planning for the story, for a few reasons.<br /><br />1. If you aren't sure if a scene's working, they can check it for you right then and get you back on track before you skew too far off-course.<br /><br />2. If you're writing anything worth reading, they'll keep up with you on your progress, providing incentive for getting it done.<br /><br />3. If you can't remember the reason behind a story element and that reason will affect something you're about to write, instead of panicking and cursing yourself for your incomplete note-taking habits, you can call your beta, who will calmly remind you of that reason (or offer you some ideas of what that reason might have been) and laugh at you for freaking out.Carradeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05431561739001270522noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-80178206970083105192009-06-02T13:10:19.702-04:002009-06-02T13:10:19.702-04:00I wish I could just skip right on ahead to that la...I wish I could just skip right on ahead to that last stage.Bethnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-31392751537188209872009-05-31T07:08:19.879-04:002009-05-31T07:08:19.879-04:00Great idea Shorty411! (as always). Sean Willis, I'...Great idea Shorty411! (as always). Sean Willis, I've been there too. I can clearly remember the first time I ever queried a novel. I was certain I'd get about an 80% partial request, and about half those would turn into full requests. I actually said something like that to someone in a crit group I was in. Naturally, I got all rejections. It wasn't so much arrogance on my part as naivete. I was so clueless! LOLJanice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-62405989785344874582009-05-29T17:14:32.950-04:002009-05-29T17:14:32.950-04:00I can identify with this. The first time I ever tr...I can identify with this. The first time I ever tried writing a novel, I wanted to publish it. (Needless to say, I didn't even manage to finish that one - I was thinking more about being published than about the story!) It's a tricky balance to get right, which is why I think blogs like this are so useful - it's extremely heartening to know that everybody tends to go through the same stages of development.<br /><br />(It's also fun to try and work out which stage you're at now :P)Sean Willshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00369840744013951942noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-49440944031812080822009-05-29T13:14:37.576-04:002009-05-29T13:14:37.576-04:00Ok I'm super excited you've been a bad blogger lat...Ok I'm super excited you've been a bad blogger lately becuase it gave me a chance to catch up since I've been a bag blog reader :) However, I'm caught up now and first, congrats on finishing Shifter 2, second, I love this post on stages, so thank you for it and third, of course, is a question. In your Confidence post you mentioned something about being a good critiquer and that made me start thinking about whether you could do a post on what good critiquers should be doing. Not neccessarily the part about how to give it, as in, don't be mean, say something positive and make sure it's constructive, etc. But, the types of things to look for and pay attention to in someone's writing, etc.<br /><br />Basically, any tips for making myself a better critiquer since I'm sure knowing those things will help me when evaluating my own writing.<br /><br />Thanks as usual!shorty411https://www.blogger.com/profile/10682462733301561147noreply@blogger.com