tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post8030766480649846950..comments2024-03-26T05:15:39.663-07:00Comments on Equestrian Ink: The Writing LifeJami Davenporthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05259390150273030284noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post-20822814614598027292010-10-14T14:40:29.178-07:002010-10-14T14:40:29.178-07:00Thanks, Leslie--I have enjoyed reading about your ...Thanks, Leslie--I have enjoyed reading about your adventures with your two horses also. I strongly encourage you (and anyone else who is interested) to persevere and finish a ms. It really is a very satisfying feeling to complete a "book", whether you get it published or not.Laura Crumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15200878892304748308noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post-9161753493942743292010-10-14T12:46:15.567-07:002010-10-14T12:46:15.567-07:00Sometimes we just need a swift kick to wake us up!...Sometimes we just need a swift kick to wake us up! How could I have overlooked the "just do it" part?I get caught up in too much revising of my short projects so wondered how in the world I'd get along with longer...well,you just gave me the proverbial kick. Maybe more of a tap, but you know what I mean. Enjoyed reading the post, Laura. I do enjoy Gail's adventures!Lesliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00224646742863478548noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post-5129032952759158972010-10-14T12:17:49.953-07:002010-10-14T12:17:49.953-07:00Mikey--I very much enjoy your writing on your blog...Mikey--I very much enjoy your writing on your blog and feel sure that you can/will produce a terrific book. Go for it! (I know, I know, it ain't easy, but you can do it.)Laura Crumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15200878892304748308noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post-36668029632607770302010-10-14T10:05:18.962-07:002010-10-14T10:05:18.962-07:00That was an excellent post. I would love to write ...That was an excellent post. I would love to write a full ms, but get stuck and then give up. You're absolutely right to push to the end and then fiddle with it. Perhaps you'll inspire me to FINISH one!Mikeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03574914465998507310noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post-91110091470061958002010-10-13T15:21:19.110-07:002010-10-13T15:21:19.110-07:00Susan--I totally relate to how discouraging it can...Susan--I totally relate to how discouraging it can be to "be" an author. You would think that after eleven books published--eight with a big NY house, three with a legitimate mystery press, and a contract for the twelfth, I'd feel pretty good about my career. But nope, I get discouraged, too, and feel as though my books are largely ignored, and I often have a hard time getting motivated to write another. I think all authors who are not big time best sellers feel this way at times, just as Alison said. So, we're all in the same boat in that sense. Just like you, there are so many days when I could really use a pep talk.<br /><br />Anyway, keep at it! I think the greatest satisfaction of all is to look at the body of written work that you've produced--work that truly reflects you and your view of the world. <br /><br />Oh, and you'd be suprised. I know quite a few authors who write on subjects they know absolutely nothing about--other than researching said subject in a book. Needless to say, I am not a big fan of this approach. Like you, I try to write of what I know.<br /><br />Shanster--You know that I think you are a very talented writer. Maybe a novel would be the ticket. What do you think?Laura Crumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15200878892304748308noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post-45895942861927167992010-10-13T14:28:12.451-07:002010-10-13T14:28:12.451-07:00Nice post! Very interesting...Nice post! Very interesting...Shansterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04397551985965117012noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post-17884466659422720832010-10-13T14:02:51.911-07:002010-10-13T14:02:51.911-07:00And Alison- Thanks so much for the pep talk. What ...And Alison- Thanks so much for the pep talk. What would it take to have an encouraging message from you guys in my inbox every morning?Susanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04986249712144982103noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post-40989153344514770842010-10-13T13:30:16.284-07:002010-10-13T13:30:16.284-07:00Laura-Although I don't really consider myself ...Laura-Although I don't really consider myself an experienced author, yet, I agree with what you say about pushing on and finishing a ms. I am still working at finding my own voice. I think I did fairly well in A Story of the West, but in this next book I am working on it even more. As far as how much of myself to put into a book, I mainly write what I know know about, as does any author, so that makes it personal. I think that's what makes anyone like a particular author's writing. It's their take on life and the way they express it that a reader finds satisfying and enjoyable.Susanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04986249712144982103noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post-65450719799715480242010-10-13T13:11:14.795-07:002010-10-13T13:11:14.795-07:00Oh, and oops, Alison, I did not mean to "stea...Oh, and oops, Alison, I did not mean to "steal" your title. I only just now noticed that you had done a post called "The Writerly Life". Ah well, perhaps no one else will notice that I more or less copied you.Laura Crumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15200878892304748308noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post-83636014297437481732010-10-13T13:08:16.079-07:002010-10-13T13:08:16.079-07:00Barb--I think you've got the right sort of app...Barb--I think you've got the right sort of approach. Just push on and get that material out there. That really is the hardest part.<br /><br />Linda--Thanks again for sending my kid your book. He really enjoyed it and I second his opinion that all children of roughly the same age with an interest in horses would certainly like "The Horse Jar."Laura Crumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15200878892304748308noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post-89907693188226436582010-10-13T10:44:30.828-07:002010-10-13T10:44:30.828-07:00Laura - Thank your son for the nice review! I'...Laura - Thank your son for the nice review! I'm so glad he liked THE HORSE JAR. One of the reasons I love writing for young people is to share a bit of hope in this world.<br /><br />As far as writing advice, yes, I also think it's important to press on until you finish, and worry about revisions later. Many beginning writers get so bogged down perfecting the first few chapters that they never finish, and never get anywhere. Finishing a book (even a first draft - and writers give themselves high-fives for finishing a first draft) is a great accomplishment, and gives you confidence that you can, indeed, be a writer.<br /><br />Good luck to all of you working on projects. Write whenever you can, and those words will add up!Linda Bensonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17948970237555890150noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5037107797013641705.post-23014048312780155302010-10-13T10:24:27.607-07:002010-10-13T10:24:27.607-07:00This was great information. Thank you so much. I...This was great information. Thank you so much. I have decided to put my memoirs into a book and it is difficult to do because at times I find myself stuck because I'm trying to write it in chronological order. Instead I am pushing myself to just write whatever I think of and can put it all together later. Not easy at all. At least I know I'm not alone!!BBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09432729957196570774noreply@blogger.com