Again...thank you for your comments and encouragement. I've not stopped writing, though my output has been much reduced lately due to other obligations and I'm just now picking up the quill again.
I hate "rejection" as much as anyone, of course; and I've had a run of them this year, particularly from WOTF from whom I expected at least an HM (my ego is at least this large).
If I was seeking fortune and fame with my writing, this year of rejection after rejection would be incentive to stop--as it was when I was an undergraduate English major many long years ago over the hills and far away. However, for all practical purposes, I've achieved, well, relative fame and fortune in another discipline and art. This permits me the lattitude to grumble [at the lack of obvious editor* insight (and soul) as I peruse each form rejection letter] and to pretty much do as I please to keep the act of writing joyful, to sculpt worlds and peoples and experiences for my personal pleasure like some little closet universe diety.
Oh, I do wish people to read and enjoy my writing nearly as much as I do. And that is a worthy secondary goal, for have I truly written if no one reads what I write? (I've heard trees fall in the Maine woods, btw).
I am merely commenting on the science and engineering of story creation in the worthy Mr. Worlverton's 87 points every author needs ask themselves. These are all excellent points, but my whole purpose in returning to writing is to escape from the science that permeates every minute of my logical, sequential, rational, analytical, and objective left brain life as a physician for the random, intuitive, holistic, and subjective right brain freedom and joy I achieve with my writing.
I am hopeful that I may have something(s) new to share with my fellow Hatrackers by the end of summer. We shall see. I do appreciate if I was trying to be a professional writer as a living, then I would be far more productive and more appreciative and keenly attentive to the excellent lessons and points Mr. Wolverton expounds. And then, after he rejects my next fanciful WOTF submission, have something new to share in a "Ghosts of WOTF" Group thread.
Be well.
Respectfully, Dr. Bob
* Well, mostly assistent editors (youths younger than my neckties) Posts: 1475 | Registered: Aug 2010
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posted
Not sure if this is exactly what you meant but this came to mind as I read your comment.
quote:Oh, I do wish people to read and enjoy my writing nearly as much as I do. And that is a worthy secondary goal, for have I truly written if no one reads what I write? (I've heard trees fall in the Maine woods, btw).
I am merely commenting on the science and engineering of story creation in the worthy Mr. Worlverton's 87 points every author needs ask themselves. These are all excellent points, but my whole purpose in returning to writing is to escape from the science that permeates every minute of my logical, sequential, rational, analytical, and objective left brain life as a physician for the random, intuitive, holistic, and subjective right brain freedom and joy I achieve with my writing.
Actually we are all suppose to write for that reason. But a lot of us try too hard to do it right and get caught in the "science and engineering of story creation" instead of the "the random, intuitive, holistic, and subjective right brain freedom and joy"
In other words we get bogged down with the how to and try too hard. We forget about the thrill of telling a story. It can be a fine line between working to improve our craft and getting caught in the effort.
Posts: 5289 | Registered: Jun 2010
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quote:Originally posted by LDWriter2: Not sure if this is exactly what you meant but this came to mind as I read your comment.
quote:I am merely commenting on the science and engineering of story creation in the worthy Mr. Worlverton's 87 points every author needs ask themselves. These are all excellent points, but my whole purpose in returning to writing is to escape from the science that permeates every minute of my logical, sequential, rational, analytical, and objective left brain life as a physician for the random, intuitive, holistic, and subjective right brain freedom and joy I achieve with my writing.
Actually we are all suppose to write for that reason. But a lot of us try too hard to do it right and get caught in the "science and engineering of story creation" instead of the "the random, intuitive, holistic, and subjective right brain freedom and joy"
In other words we get bogged down with the how to and try too hard. We forget about the thrill of telling a story. It can be a fine line between working to improve our craft and getting caught in the effort.
There is so much truth in this. I struggle with it every day.
Posts: 248 | Registered: May 2012
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posted
Can someone provide a link to these "87 points" everyone's talking about? I get the Daily Kick and all I can find are the ten things that will get you quickly rejected.
If you are looking for answers on why a previous story failed, or think one that KDW rejected has a better chance with He Who Isn't Easily Impressed (a distant cousin to KDW brown eye/blue eye clan), join in.
I know you have one buried in those files, WriterDan, and Jennifer, how about that one that went down a few quarters ago? Jump in
Posts: 3072 | Registered: Dec 2007
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posted
My apologies. I have been fighting a gall stone this weekend, and last week worked a mad 86 hours. So I have gotten a little behind. mbwood, I have your critique nearly ready, and am 3/4 through LDs. Meredith, my sincere apologies - I will get onto it soon.
Posts: 789 | Registered: Aug 2007
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quote:Originally posted by Brendan: My apologies. I have been fighting a gall stone this weekend, and last week worked a mad 86 hours. So I have gotten a little behind. mbwood, I have your critique nearly ready, and am 3/4 through LDs. Meredith, my sincere apologies - I will get onto it soon.
No problem. Real life will sometimes do that to you.
Hope you're feeling better soon. Send your story on whenever you're ready.
Posts: 4633 | Registered: Dec 2008
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Brendan I'm not that worried about the crit, especially with RL stuff happening to you. But I never received a story from you. If you did send one I'm not sure what I did with it.
It's debatable how much my crit will be worth at the moment but I'll still be sending one.
Posts: 5289 | Registered: Jun 2010
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posted
I'd been revising my 2011 HM story when this thread started, but didn't join in because I knew I wouldn't finish in time. Well, I finally finished today, so if anyone is interested in trading crits, feel free to e-mail me.
I cut my story from 16k to 10k words. Hopefully it is tighter now. Posts: 1043 | Registered: Jul 2010
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