tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999125118927001112.post6031921716035646527..comments2023-09-16T05:02:59.946-07:00Comments on Heroines with Hearts: X is for ExtraDebra St. Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07154130275058459169noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999125118927001112.post-79078842042562113062016-07-04T03:53:44.516-07:002016-07-04T03:53:44.516-07:00Most definitely, Jennifer. It gives us the distanc...Most definitely, Jennifer. It gives us the distance we need to see what works and what doesn't.Margaret Mayo Authorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02191565514869927386noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999125118927001112.post-33503842141735974412016-07-01T14:29:16.367-07:002016-07-01T14:29:16.367-07:00I'm just getting back to a manuscript I put as...I'm just getting back to a manuscript I put aside about a month or so ago and finding areas that need improvement, as well as pieces of it I love. The time off is essential to me.JENNIFER WILCKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16218241106543538422noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999125118927001112.post-42148943276882493942016-07-01T14:12:51.843-07:002016-07-01T14:12:51.843-07:00I know exactly what you mean, Debra, and in the be...I know exactly what you mean, Debra, and in the beginning I used to send my books off without anyone else having read them. And they always came back with suggestions for changes. Eagerness always gets in the way, I'm afraid. We think our books are perfect, we've spent many long hours on them, so how could they not be? All par for the course I guess.Margaret Mayo Authorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02191565514869927386noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999125118927001112.post-21988847908217298862016-07-01T14:08:41.555-07:002016-07-01T14:08:41.555-07:00Oh, Anna, don't put yourself down. I guess we ...Oh, Anna, don't put yourself down. I guess we all do have doubts but I'm sure yours are ill-founded. The trouble with being a writer is that we are so close to our work that we cannot see if there's anything wrong. That's where crit partners come in.Margaret Mayo Authorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02191565514869927386noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999125118927001112.post-40382860312540563232016-07-01T13:57:12.546-07:002016-07-01T13:57:12.546-07:00You're very lucky, Paula. Nevertheless I do va...You're very lucky, Paula. Nevertheless I do value my one critique partner.Margaret Mayo Authorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02191565514869927386noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999125118927001112.post-72656554453591043302016-07-01T12:08:11.200-07:002016-07-01T12:08:11.200-07:00A story definitely takes many drafts. My biggest p...A story definitely takes many drafts. My biggest problem is the willpower you mentioned. I'm always so eager to send it off to my editor I usually don't set it aside for that long and come back to it.<br /><br />I need to get better at finding readers before I submit, too. Again...my eagerness gets in the way and I just want to send it off.Debra St. Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07154130275058459169noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999125118927001112.post-72421570507818826842016-07-01T11:55:49.834-07:002016-07-01T11:55:49.834-07:00I'm the opposite, Margaret. I am only slowly c...I'm the opposite, Margaret. I am only slowly coming to accept that I have a chance at being a decent story teller.<br />I'm a great newsletter writer, great at slice of life vignettes. But crafting a story is a different kettle of fish. I rely hugely on my critique loop and my bestest one-on-one crit partner. I don't care much for contest feedback. First round judges are too often poor writers with an axe ready to cut you down.<br />I would never assume I nailed a story without crit partners. Even then, I feel too often that I'll never be good enough. <br />Ana Morganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12325215832587691886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999125118927001112.post-59164287371803142612016-07-01T08:16:05.259-07:002016-07-01T08:16:05.259-07:00Excellent advice, Margaret. I have 2 critique part...Excellent advice, Margaret. I have 2 critique partners and 2 'readers', all of whom help me in different ways. Paula Martinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10040623635956769807noreply@blogger.com