| Writing Woes | |
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+13missjulie ReNu Novel-Goddess Bluepolarbear Lapillus Ren DPowell sdficklin aresity pronetoidiocy imaginary daeonica emilycross 17 posters |
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emilycross The Boss of the Board
Number of posts : 1170 Age : 37 Registration date : 2009-02-05
| Subject: Re: Writing Woes Thu Feb 19, 2009 1:18 pm | |
| Ren is right - (especially in regards to the uni stuff - dont let people force you around and do something that you don't want to do!) | |
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sdficklin Outlining the plot
Number of posts : 47 Location : Colorado Registration date : 2009-02-09
| Subject: Re: Writing Woes Thu Feb 19, 2009 2:29 pm | |
| Thanx guys! I feel better! | |
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daeonica Editor of the Board
Number of posts : 369 Age : 33 Location : Scotland Job/hobbies : on my gap year! Registration date : 2009-02-07
| Subject: Re: Writing Woes Thu Feb 19, 2009 2:35 pm | |
| Just remember that times like 3 months aren't actually that unreasonable for a whole lot of agents. They have backlog. They have a lot of stuff to do. But I do feel your pain for something you sent off in May and haven't heard back from yet. | |
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Lapillus Informatio consuasor
Number of posts : 125 Age : 37 Location : California Registration date : 2009-02-19
| Subject: Re: Writing Woes Thu Feb 19, 2009 10:31 pm | |
| I'd be very careful about calling agents. I follow several agent blogs and a few of them have posted that writers should not call them in the querying stage. If they are truly interested in your book, they will get back to you, so it just annoys them to receive e-mails and phone calls. I hear you though, it's an awful process. I hope you get an offer for representation soon! | |
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Bluepolarbear March Competition Winner
Number of posts : 162 Age : 42 Location : NY Job/hobbies : Once Therapist, now SAHM. Humor : Yes Please! Registration date : 2009-02-06
| Subject: Re: Writing Woes Tue Mar 10, 2009 10:12 pm | |
| I have been finding that every time I decide to write I suddenly loose interest. It's the same with crocheting or knitting or any specific project. Planning doesn't work for me at the moment. It's so annoying too because I want to write, I just don't know what to do or only get one or two paragraphs in. I suppose it's better than nothing though. | |
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Novel-Goddess Editor of the Board
Number of posts : 505 Age : 30 Location : Everywhere. Job/hobbies : I write stuff. Humor : My entire life is one of those "you had to be there" jokes. Registration date : 2009-02-07
| Subject: Re: Writing Woes Sun Mar 15, 2009 11:00 am | |
| I had that problem for a while this past summer, Blue. As it turned out, I had a mild form of WB and needed to take a week off. | |
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Novel-Goddess Editor of the Board
Number of posts : 505 Age : 30 Location : Everywhere. Job/hobbies : I write stuff. Humor : My entire life is one of those "you had to be there" jokes. Registration date : 2009-02-07
| Subject: Re: Writing Woes Thu Apr 02, 2009 8:34 pm | |
| ^ I did NaNo this past year. It was pretty wild. I think I missed the bus in the mornings more that month than I have the rest of the year. But it was totally worth it. | |
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ReNu Lois Lane has nothing on ReNu
Number of posts : 382 Location : Between the pages of a good book Job/hobbies : Working journalist, aspiring novelist, history buff, collector of vintage fountain pens and war medals. Registration date : 2009-02-08
| Subject: Re: Writing Woes Fri Apr 03, 2009 4:25 am | |
| ARGH! I have exams till Apr 28th, which means I can't write a word till then. | |
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ReNu Lois Lane has nothing on ReNu
Number of posts : 382 Location : Between the pages of a good book Job/hobbies : Working journalist, aspiring novelist, history buff, collector of vintage fountain pens and war medals. Registration date : 2009-02-08
| Subject: Writing Woes Thu Apr 16, 2009 10:15 am | |
| Here's my first rant/whine I have two WIPs (see the topic Plot Synopsis for details) The first one has 6,595 words so far, and the second has a 5-page outline and 800 words My problem: I have final exams from Monday. When I try to study, I get an idea for a dialogue (for WIP - 1) and put away my books and think about my dialogue. Then I decide to write the dialogue. That's when I get another idea for a character in WIP - 2. So off I go to do that. That's when I get an idea for a blog article. Here, I take a shower to cool down, and I get an idea for a synopsis. I emerge, feeling very guilty about the exams, and sit down to do some reading. The process repeats itself all over again. Sob! I don't want Monday to turn up, ever. I HAVE to study for the exams! This proves how pathetic and weak I am. Any tips on increasing focus/concentration? Don't suggest meditation or yoga please. The moment I try to make my mind blank for meditating, I get exciting thoughts of me chasing smugglers and capturing (singlehandedly) the opium mafia. And I fell asleep in my first and only yoga class. | |
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missjulie Designing book covers
Number of posts : 108 Location : Michigan Job/hobbies : Art Director Humor : For teh lulz! Registration date : 2009-02-11
| Subject: Re: Writing Woes Thu Apr 16, 2009 10:20 am | |
| This is what I did when I ran into similar issues with studying and getting distracted... (I'm ADD too, so THAT doesn't help!!)
Set a timer for 15 minutes. Start the timer and study. When it goes off, stop studying. Reset the timer and read/write for WIPs or blog. When it goes off stop doing that. Repeat.
It got me through MANY boring ass exam study sessions. I have no idea if it works for anyone else but its worth a shot!! Its like a reward for having focus for 15 straight minutes. Set it to 10 if you have trouble with 15.
I hope that helps!!
Last edited by missjulie on Thu Apr 16, 2009 10:48 am; edited 2 times in total | |
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*Moonlight_Mania* Still typing first draft
Number of posts : 203 Age : 30 Location : Skyway Avenue Job/hobbies : Occupation: Student. Hobbies: Writing (duh), playing around with Photoshop, and singing. Humor : Laughing at my spastic self Registration date : 2009-04-15
| Subject: Re: Writing Woes Thu Apr 16, 2009 10:42 am | |
| Oh that's a really good idea! I think I'll try that too, since I sometimes have the same problem ReNu is having. ^_^; Writing is so much more fun than studying. D: What I sometimes do, too, is when I'm daydreaming in English class (I have a teacher who's kind of a hillbilly and whenever I think about how much I hate him, I somehow get story ideas), I just write down one sentence or two to remember what it is I want to write, then get back to what schoolwork I had to do. It puts me at ease since I know I won't forget the idea, since it's written down, so I can concentrate. Then, when I finally have some free time, I write the scene out! Hope that helps, too. >w< | |
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ReNu Lois Lane has nothing on ReNu
Number of posts : 382 Location : Between the pages of a good book Job/hobbies : Working journalist, aspiring novelist, history buff, collector of vintage fountain pens and war medals. Registration date : 2009-02-08
| Subject: Re: Writing Woes Thu Apr 16, 2009 10:14 pm | |
| Missjulie, you are good! Thanks to you I tried it and completed History of Journalism. Now I'm tackling Press Laws today I HATE that paper. The timer is on TWO minutes now. | |
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Novel-Goddess Editor of the Board
Number of posts : 505 Age : 30 Location : Everywhere. Job/hobbies : I write stuff. Humor : My entire life is one of those "you had to be there" jokes. Registration date : 2009-02-07
| Subject: Re: Writing Woes Mon Apr 20, 2009 12:26 pm | |
| Okay, this is pretty much just me whining and doing that whole "oh, woe is me!" thing, but I have to say (type, whatever) it or I might explode.
I got another rejection letter, bringing the total up to eight. I understand why I got the first seven -- because my queries sucked. Majorly. They were just...horrible. But this one...I worked really hard on this one. I went crazy over it. I formatted it correctly, made sure there were no typos or grammar mistakes...all that.
And I still got rejected. With a form letter. I've started to think that maybe it's not me or my queries, it's my story. What if it's crap? What if the concept just isn't interesting or inventive or unique? What if it's just some words on some pages written by some wannabe-writer of a fifteen-year-old?
What if all 326 pages are nonsense? What if all 89,095 words are garbage? What if my characters are stale and predictable and I've deluded myself into thinking that I can actually write when I can't?
I just...I'm really upset. I want somebody to read it and help me make it publishable, but at the same time I don't want anybody to see it because I'm worried that it *is* crap and that it *is* cliched and that it *won't* ever see the world outside of my filing cabinet.
If you've read this far, thanks. Have a cupcake and a gold star.
I'm going to go get some chocolate now... | |
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sdficklin Outlining the plot
Number of posts : 47 Location : Colorado Registration date : 2009-02-09
| Subject: Re: Writing Woes Mon Apr 20, 2009 12:59 pm | |
| Novel,
Don't give up!! Nine, ten rejetions, that's NOTHING!!! I got over 20 rejects, and even Twilight got like 16. Do not let it get you down!! It's all about finding that special person who loves your book as much as you do. That person is out there! The more queries you send,( and the more rejections you get,) the closer you are to finding that person!! | |
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missjulie Designing book covers
Number of posts : 108 Location : Michigan Job/hobbies : Art Director Humor : For teh lulz! Registration date : 2009-02-11
| Subject: Re: Writing Woes Mon Apr 20, 2009 2:39 pm | |
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Novel-Goddess Editor of the Board
Number of posts : 505 Age : 30 Location : Everywhere. Job/hobbies : I write stuff. Humor : My entire life is one of those "you had to be there" jokes. Registration date : 2009-02-07
| Subject: Re: Writing Woes Mon Apr 20, 2009 2:59 pm | |
| *Hugs back* Aw, thanks. It's just been a bad day for me...I've been throwing up ALL DAY and I might miss school tomorrow, too...ugh. It's throwing everything off...ah, well. | |
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missjulie Designing book covers
Number of posts : 108 Location : Michigan Job/hobbies : Art Director Humor : For teh lulz! Registration date : 2009-02-11
| Subject: Re: Writing Woes Tue Apr 21, 2009 9:22 am | |
| Take a day off and just eat chocolate and ice cream in bed. I still need those days once in a while... don't let a little rejection get you down. Let all those emotions you're feeling fuel the fire for putting your awesome work out there! For every ten, twenty, thirty NO's you get, there is at least one YES! out there! You just have to plug along and keep yourself focused.
A similar thing happened to me a long while back... I sent in some of my most fab poetry to a literary arts magazine and it /all/ got turned down. I was distraught for weeks, especially since I thought some of the stuff that made it was positively awful. So I took all that anger and defeat and frustration and channeled it into writing more poetry and submitting nearly 50 things to the magazine the next year. It was all anonymous so I thought over-saturation would get at least *something* through!! Well it turns out... I was right! They took about 20 of my poems and I even won two awards.
And every writer, at some (or multiple) points in their life thinks, "Oh my god, this is complete crap. What have I been doing with my life?!" But that self criticism is very normal and, usually, it means you're doing something right.
*hugs!* | |
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emilycross The Boss of the Board
Number of posts : 1170 Age : 37 Registration date : 2009-02-05
| Subject: Re: Writing Woes Tue Apr 21, 2009 10:41 am | |
| Novel i'm posting a link i think you should read. ReNu - i'm the exact same. i'm supposed to be doing a report right now, but i don't wannnna *whinge* | |
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Novel-Goddess Editor of the Board
Number of posts : 505 Age : 30 Location : Everywhere. Job/hobbies : I write stuff. Humor : My entire life is one of those "you had to be there" jokes. Registration date : 2009-02-07
| Subject: Re: Writing Woes Tue Apr 21, 2009 10:49 am | |
| Thanks, everyone! I sent out another query earlier this morning (or was it last night? I forget) and I'm feeling a lot better today, even though I'm still home sick. But I haven't thrown up yet! HA!
Anyway...thanks for the link, Emily! | |
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gobblegobble Editing the First draft
Number of posts : 251 Age : 39 Location : La La Land Job/hobbies : My job is being a Mom and My hobby is writing. Humor : "Due to budget cuts, the light at the end of the tunnel will be turned off until further notice!" Registration date : 2009-03-04
| Subject: Re: Writing Woes Tue Apr 21, 2009 9:33 pm | |
| Novel--putting out another query is a good thing. Rejections are good--you can learn how to change things even if the agency/publisher doesn't tell you anything. You are an amazing writer and I cannot wait to see yours or anyone else's works on the shelves here as well. I am glad you are feeling better.
P.S. I still want to read The Enigma--it's been making me think about lately. | |
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Novel-Goddess Editor of the Board
Number of posts : 505 Age : 30 Location : Everywhere. Job/hobbies : I write stuff. Humor : My entire life is one of those "you had to be there" jokes. Registration date : 2009-02-07
| Subject: Re: Writing Woes Tue Apr 21, 2009 9:39 pm | |
| Well, I'll have to go back to working on it, then, won't I? When I get home tomorrow, I'll start edits on it. Thanks again, guys. | |
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emilycross The Boss of the Board
Number of posts : 1170 Age : 37 Registration date : 2009-02-05
| Subject: Re: Writing Woes Thu Apr 23, 2009 1:16 am | |
| Hey guys, this isn't a vent but is a warning. anyone who posted stuff on FF.net, you should know there is a wiki which records your activities and sets up a page with a link to all your FF. sounds cool and great idea - but many of us want to get rid of our ff.net stuff when we seek publication so i'm giving you a heads up. never knew this site existed | |
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*Moonlight_Mania* Still typing first draft
Number of posts : 203 Age : 30 Location : Skyway Avenue Job/hobbies : Occupation: Student. Hobbies: Writing (duh), playing around with Photoshop, and singing. Humor : Laughing at my spastic self Registration date : 2009-04-15
| Subject: Re: Writing Woes Thu Apr 23, 2009 3:24 pm | |
| - emilycross wrote:
- Hey guys, this isn't a vent but is a warning.
anyone who posted stuff on FF.net, you should know there is a wiki which records your activities and sets up a page with a link to all your FF.
sounds cool and great idea - but many of us want to get rid of our ff.net stuff when we seek publication so i'm giving you a heads up.
never knew this site existed I had no idea that was even possible. o_O But you can't publish fan fiction...right (unlike Lady S *cough cough*)? So why would people seriously seek publication for it? Though I understand the "getting rid of it part" because my fan fiction is bad X_X | |
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missjulie Designing book covers
Number of posts : 108 Location : Michigan Job/hobbies : Art Director Humor : For teh lulz! Registration date : 2009-02-11
| Subject: Re: Writing Woes Thu Apr 23, 2009 7:29 pm | |
| Does this mean all the smut I posted on ff.net will be forever cycling in the web? That's just downright terrifying... | |
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ReNu Lois Lane has nothing on ReNu
Number of posts : 382 Location : Between the pages of a good book Job/hobbies : Working journalist, aspiring novelist, history buff, collector of vintage fountain pens and war medals. Registration date : 2009-02-08
| Subject: Re: Writing Woes Thu Apr 23, 2009 10:31 pm | |
| Emily that link is awesome. Christie is so inspiring. | |
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