tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615675676021392217.post5364651893800320487..comments2024-03-28T08:14:28.881-04:00Comments on Authoress: Friday FricasseeAuthoresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09223228949688667517noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615675676021392217.post-73058108940690201912012-07-19T15:16:06.870-04:002012-07-19T15:16:06.870-04:00Thanks for this post. I think it applies to a lot...Thanks for this post. I think it applies to a lot of what I'm going through right now, besides my writing. I often try working on the big picture and get lost/ intimidated/ frustrated. <br /><br />I think you're right, focusing on the details, taking one step at a time, is the key to success. Deal with the things you can, right now, and leave the rest.P J O'Learyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01121749745553250222noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615675676021392217.post-54107217743631317412012-07-15T06:19:25.488-04:002012-07-15T06:19:25.488-04:00There's a lot here to think about. D.There's a lot here to think about. D.Denise Covey https://www.blogger.com/profile/07106490051555233439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615675676021392217.post-87393871086472390272012-07-14T14:35:41.943-04:002012-07-14T14:35:41.943-04:00First comment on your blog! Eeep!
So, this is an ...First comment on your blog! Eeep!<br /><br />So, this is an awesome post and rings true for me in so many ways. For me, the big picture is making a career out of writing as I'm sure it is for many others. I'm a long way off from that, so I try to set bigger "bumps" along the way to that endgame. The first bump is writing a novel, which is already done, and the next is getting an agent, etc. And then to get to that next bump I try to focus on all the little details of it, i.e. outlining, revising, writing a good query, finding the right agents, etc. But the problem for me is seeing all these people I know getting agents, getting book deals, and while I'm ecstatic for them, it also makes think big picture again and freak out that I don't even have an agent yet. So I try and shut it out and focus on the next baby step, then the next, then the next. I'm starting to get it worked out in my head, but the problem is that we will always think big picture as much as we try not to, we'll always freak out that we haven't done "X" thing while "Y" person we know has. It will always happen, but it's something you have to train to minimize and push aside to allow you to focus on the details of reaching that next "bump" on your journey. <br /><br />Just my take, at least.<br /><br />--John H, who is thrilled to have FINALLY finished revising. :DYA Angsthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10576086539885745787noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615675676021392217.post-32316262262400398192012-07-14T09:09:04.913-04:002012-07-14T09:09:04.913-04:00Can't hear that enough.Can't hear that enough.Kristen Wixtedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06270464973842125576noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615675676021392217.post-86135059826816748292012-07-13T21:22:24.520-04:002012-07-13T21:22:24.520-04:00Great post, Authoress. I agree. I do this all the ...Great post, Authoress. I agree. I do this all the time, think of signings and book tours, and have to pull myself back to get my books where they need to be to sell. It's a day by day journey, and our goals have to reflect that. Today's goals. Tomorrow's goals. Next week's goals. Maybe even a couple month's goals, with today's goals set to achieve the longer ones. But no more than that. Focus on the stage we're in and celebrate every success no matter how small.<br /><br />Thanks for the reminder, Authoress.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615675676021392217.post-78738459372973241922012-07-13T18:44:39.351-04:002012-07-13T18:44:39.351-04:00Holly Lisle once said, very wisely, that you shoul...Holly Lisle once said, very wisely, that you shouldn't conflate goals with dreams, because that's setting yourself up for disappointment. Make goals things that you yourself can control -- finishing a book, sending a query letter, going to a conference -- instead of things that are outside of your control (like getting responses or making money). That made a lot of sense to me.tlbodinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08334888426768433724noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615675676021392217.post-62807856694902111082012-07-13T18:11:23.082-04:002012-07-13T18:11:23.082-04:00Great post! Yes, you definitely have to keep your ...Great post! Yes, you definitely have to keep your eye on the ball rather than worry about winning the game. So hard, though. Focus takes so much energy.Tracy Holczerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13626923883424982455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615675676021392217.post-42261505745353828392012-07-13T16:54:23.268-04:002012-07-13T16:54:23.268-04:00Focusing on the details helps with keeping sane, a...Focusing on the details helps with keeping sane, at least for me. I figure that while I focus on the details, I get the writing done. I get the writing done, I can get revisions and edits done. Step by step, I can make things happen so the puzzle pieces of the big picture fit into place.Angela Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03324366495151363782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615675676021392217.post-19567089012435195912012-07-13T16:41:23.052-04:002012-07-13T16:41:23.052-04:00Angst here as well. I'm a person who likes to...Angst here as well. I'm a person who likes to plan, to know every detail, and the "not knowing" of submission is very trying.<br /><br />Sometimes it seems like I (as a writer) have the same mentality as a lottery player: <br /><br />"Yeah, I know tons of talented writers with wonderful stories don't get published for one reason or another, but <i>somebody's</i> gotta win..."A. M. Perkinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08680290781463023921noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615675676021392217.post-23112517262983247672012-07-13T14:05:35.968-04:002012-07-13T14:05:35.968-04:00This is a timely post because I feel like I'm ...This is a timely post because I feel like I'm going through this angst right now. It's so easy to hand wring about what's not happening instead of managing the smaller things that are in my control.<br /><br />It's drizzly here, too. Hmmm...Heathernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615675676021392217.post-34939956223780447452012-07-13T13:37:54.653-04:002012-07-13T13:37:54.653-04:00Coolness. After a novel-writing-fallow time in my ...Coolness. After a novel-writing-fallow time in my life (including time spent wondering if "my thing" was a food blog that involved fiction vignettes loosely tied to the recipes) I re-realized not too long ago that yes, I *do* want to write novels, that that it's worth pursuing.<br /><br />Enter much self-deprecation for elongating the process with the fallow period. But I decided that I can't focus on past mistakes (well, I guess technically it's past preferences) and that I just need to move forward now, and work on getting a work to a state where it's submittable. <br /><br />So from there, step 1 was to realize that maybe pantsing isn't the way for me, since it resulted either in a) numerous incomplete novels or b) a complete novel that required such major overhauls I got intimidated and decided I wanted to write a blog about brownies and zombies that would be My Dream. Only I didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I would. <br /><br />All that longwindedness to say I totally agree, and the only way I'll get through this is by focusing on the steps right in front of me, that I can tackle today, rather than the ones way over the horizon.Amanda Hhttp://amandahelms.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615675676021392217.post-56099759231507555862012-07-13T13:14:57.022-04:002012-07-13T13:14:57.022-04:00Yes yes yes! This post really speaks to me. I'...Yes yes yes! This post really speaks to me. I'm on submission right now and it's an AGONIZING wait. I'm feeling very distracted and honestly, not in the mood to write, but I know it's the right thing to do. And it will make me feel better. Sort of like exercising. ;-)Beth Christopherhttp://www.bethchristopher.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615675676021392217.post-41290006090831948632012-07-13T12:20:05.859-04:002012-07-13T12:20:05.859-04:00Yes, and the angst comes when I try to be detail o...Yes, and the angst comes when I try to be detail orientated to fix a plot issue, while big picture minded because...why am I not agented yet. :)Rachelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12870655070026853342noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615675676021392217.post-65666148040861311802012-07-13T11:34:06.116-04:002012-07-13T11:34:06.116-04:00I've queried Agent du Jour with three separate...I've queried Agent du Jour with three separate books and she goes and signs that hack, McFeegle. There's no justice in this world!<br /><br />And I agree with you, by the way. When you think about writing, it really is a detail thing. You've got to focus on the details of crafting excellent stories, and then on the details of pitching it just right, to just the right people, and then getting it right again, and again. Have a great weekend.JeffOhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07947660745120963286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615675676021392217.post-75631179415414223212012-07-13T11:00:44.847-04:002012-07-13T11:00:44.847-04:00Very true. As much as any of us struggling writers...Very true. As much as any of us struggling writers want, need, to be published and find our fame, we must remember that if we work diligently and honestly we're already a success. We can't control our world, but we can control our words within it.zolosolohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15330948524013339225noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615675676021392217.post-77441495675783752452012-07-13T10:36:01.295-04:002012-07-13T10:36:01.295-04:00Awesome post! I've been stuck on the thought ...Awesome post! I've been stuck on the thought that I've still not been "successful" yet, so this blog entry really hit home for me. Thanks for making me get back to what's important!Will Overbynoreply@blogger.com