tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13641764.post112843560181312701..comments2023-11-03T09:23:03.895-04:00Comments on Hard To Want: FeedbackScotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13323167263283798566noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13641764.post-1128802187076907492005-10-08T16:09:00.000-04:002005-10-08T16:09:00.000-04:00King's On Writing is just great, and I got a blast...King's On Writing is just great, and I got a blast reading Danse Macabre as well. Both caused me to rethink his fiction.<BR/><BR/>After my first novel flopped I got about 2/3 through the second, then moved to SoCal and started grinding out unproduced screenplays. My biggest challenge is sticking with it and setting aside my writing time while balancing a pretty demanding day job and family. Kind of like working out -- you need to do it regularly to get results.<BR/><BR/>Keep it up, and I'll dish out fair-minded critiques, as I can appreciate that's what you need. Happy 41st! Mine is six weeks away or so.Jasonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17978725951686660396noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13641764.post-1128604219899328942005-10-06T09:10:00.000-04:002005-10-06T09:10:00.000-04:00I have my own copy on the way, so we are on this j...I have my own copy on the way, so we are on this journey together.Scotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13323167263283798566noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13641764.post-1128601686156910492005-10-06T08:28:00.000-04:002005-10-06T08:28:00.000-04:00Self editing for fiction writers has been purchase...Self editing for fiction writers has been purchased.<BR/><BR/>I will hold you personally responsible if turns out to be rubbish (especially if the grammar is poor)<BR/><BR/>:-)Ultra Toast Mosha Godhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05450892955592722188noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13641764.post-1128527920742992582005-10-05T11:58:00.000-04:002005-10-05T11:58:00.000-04:00Mosha - Or should I just refer to you as God? Che...Mosha - Or should I just refer to you as God? Check out Zombies comment. He recommends <A HREF="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1594200696/qid=1128527610/sr=8-4/ref=pd_bbs_4/104-1015156-2967169?v=glance&s=books&n=507846" REL="nofollow">Elements of Style</A> and <A HREF="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0060545690/qid=1128527761/sr=2-1/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_1/104-1015156-2967169?v=glance&s=books" REL="nofollow">Self-Editing for Fiction Writers</A>. I highly recommend a creative writing course though, not so much for grammar, but for inspiration.<BR/><BR/>Tee - Thanks, I appreciate that! I picked up a McMurtry book, and one of the first tags I saw was "declaimed." Hmm....Scotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13323167263283798566noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13641764.post-1128527770362035272005-10-05T11:56:00.000-04:002005-10-05T11:56:00.000-04:00I remember in school the teacher encouraged us to ...I remember in school the teacher encouraged us to change "said" to something else... It does get a little silly if overdone.<BR/><BR/>I love your writing, if I ever see anything I think you could tweak, will let you know.<BR/><BR/>Otherwise, keep up the great work. (And I agree, the support available through blogging is awesome.)Tee/Tracyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01213584316807112321noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13641764.post-1128523539435902502005-10-05T10:45:00.000-04:002005-10-05T10:45:00.000-04:00I too love writing. I never attended a course thou...I too love writing. <BR/><BR/>I never attended a course though. Ergo, my grammar tends to be lacking and I pick the odd descriptive duffer when selecting words. <BR/><BR/>Perhaps I should go on a course.Ultra Toast Mosha Godhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05450892955592722188noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13641764.post-1128516530303205682005-10-05T08:48:00.000-04:002005-10-05T08:48:00.000-04:00Jen - Writing can be frustrating, especially when ...Jen - Writing can be frustrating, especially when you know something isn't right but have no idea what it is. If you ever want a critique of something you have spent some time with, just give me a shout. I would be happy to help you out.<BR/><BR/>Moni - I have seen classes pertaining to childrens writing. As with all genres, there is a learnable technique to it. Don't give up so easy! Writing lyrics is just another form of creativity. <BR/><BR/>Zombie - I really appreciate your recommendations. I put them both on my library queue and will give them a read. If I can't live without them, I will pick visit my local bookstore.Scotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13323167263283798566noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13641764.post-1128489167693844532005-10-05T01:12:00.000-04:002005-10-05T01:12:00.000-04:00Scott - One tip from a writer to a writer. Read S...Scott - One tip from a writer to a writer. Read Shrunk & Whites <I>Elements of Style</I> book once a year. It has done wonders to my writing.<BR/><BR/>My older brother has three books published. He bought me a book called <I>Self-Editing for Fiction Writers</I>. It has helped a lot as well.The Zombieslayerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00739873812900433755noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13641764.post-1128456900153908282005-10-04T16:15:00.000-04:002005-10-04T16:15:00.000-04:00Stephen King's book, On Writing is awesome. I can...Stephen King's book, On Writing is awesome. I can't believe a teacher of his actually told him he was wasting his time by writing sci-fi shorts.<BR/><BR/>I once tried to write a children's book, I couldn't do it...so I have the utmost respect for those who have the ability to write stories.<BR/><BR/>It's almost like I can't be that expansive and descriptive so I write lyrics. heheh :)Monihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07875354074271255315noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13641764.post-1128456270047946222005-10-04T16:04:00.000-04:002005-10-04T16:04:00.000-04:00Great food for thought Scott. I just write whatev...Great food for thought Scott. I just write whatever pops into my head. I try to be correct but it is difficult. I know fanfiction writers use what they call a BETA or editor. It helps with feed back and such.<BR/><BR/>Feel free to e-mail me with suggestions, I don't mind!jenbeautyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07304789117482763021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13641764.post-1128445847779311202005-10-04T13:10:00.000-04:002005-10-04T13:10:00.000-04:00MagnetBabe - I thought the same thing, that after ...MagnetBabe - I thought the same thing, that after so many repetitions of said and asked I would sound like a skipping record. The run on sentence is one construct I can't identify--yet. That's why I'm hitting the books. I'll bet I have a few in the story. Thanks for the props.<BR/><BR/>Ben - I felt the same way, that this was taking away from serious writing. That's why I started the short story project. Now I have something to polish and call my own.Scotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13323167263283798566noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13641764.post-1128445542684266292005-10-04T13:05:00.000-04:002005-10-04T13:05:00.000-04:00On Writing should be required reading for every wr...On Writing should be required reading for every writer-to-be. He has such a way of character development . . . anyone who dismisses him as a "Scary" author does so at their own peril.<BR/><BR/>Add me to the list of those with goals similar to yours - I'm afraid this blog thing of mine has taken more time away from serious writing than I had anticipated. It's fun, though.<BR/><BR/>Ben O.Ben O.https://www.blogger.com/profile/17771867224421972175noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13641764.post-1128445266935410572005-10-04T13:01:00.000-04:002005-10-04T13:01:00.000-04:00I'm stupified. I always thought such "dialogue ta...I'm stupified. I always thought such "dialogue tags" kept a story from sounding redundant, like when you find yourself using a word way too much and start searching the thesaurus for a synonym. Good thing I don't really write creatively. This is kind of like when I learned from Nick Hornby's The Polysyllabic Spree that true literary snobs dislike e.e. cummings. I hadn't a clue. I love him. Anyway, you obviously have a talent for creative writing and I'm very glad you are using criticism constructively and finding resources to improve your talent further. Whoa, that was a run on sentence. Keep up the good work. I look forward to future stories!Nataliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05344778775085687558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13641764.post-1128444959472152072005-10-04T12:55:00.000-04:002005-10-04T12:55:00.000-04:00Chloe - Wow, a teacher makes all the difference. ...Chloe - Wow, a teacher makes all the difference. What an exposure to read in front of a class and have it ripped mercilously. There is an art to being a writing teacher.<BR/><BR/>Sadie - Thanks Sadie, I will always try to be humble. It's that or be humbled.Scotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13323167263283798566noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13641764.post-1128440690742975652005-10-04T11:44:00.000-04:002005-10-04T11:44:00.000-04:00I love Stephen King. His Dark Tower Series is one ...I love Stephen King. His Dark Tower Series is one of my favorite stories of all time. <BR/>His book <I>On Writing</I> was a great read even for people who don't aspire to be writers.<BR/>I've taken maybe three or four creative writing classes over the years and one thing remains the same: Constructive critism is only good for someone who is listening.<BR/>I have offered pointers to people before and I could just tell that they don't give a rat's behind what I have to say.<BR/>I think writers have a tendancy to be their own biggest fan and that's a dangerous place to be.<BR/>My advice: Be humble.<BR/>From this post, it seems like you've already got that down.Sadie Louhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07362158642491145353noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13641764.post-1128436740924546042005-10-04T10:39:00.000-04:002005-10-04T10:39:00.000-04:00Scott, you said it perfectly. Never did I imagine...Scott, you said it perfectly. Never did I imagine that I'd get as much encouragement as I have from my fellow bloggers. You are so lucky to have had a great professor. I took a writing class once and would get ill before every class just knowing I'd have to share the same air as my teacher. He was mean, self-absorbed, and cutting, none in a good way. I'll stick it to him good when I get published, though!Chloehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13478079861724476336noreply@blogger.com