Comments on: More Thoughts On Action http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/10/28/more-thoughts-on-action/ America's Mad Professor of Fiction Writing Sun, 07 Sep 2008 22:17:53 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.1.3 By: Camille http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/10/28/more-thoughts-on-action/#comment-2894 Camille Mon, 29 Oct 2007 07:19:36 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/10/28/more-thoughts-on-action/#comment-2894 Whew---thanks!! I'll give it my best shot AND work on improving my shot at the same time. Good luck with the Very Cool Thing! Whew—thanks!! I’ll give it my best shot AND work on improving my shot at the same time.

Good luck with the Very Cool Thing!

]]> By: Karla Akins http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/10/28/more-thoughts-on-action/#comment-2896 Karla Akins Mon, 29 Oct 2007 12:28:59 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/10/28/more-thoughts-on-action/#comment-2896 You gave me goosebumps this morning. Thanks for the inspiration! :-) You gave me goosebumps this morning. Thanks for the inspiration! :-)

]]> By: Rob http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/10/28/more-thoughts-on-action/#comment-2897 Rob Mon, 29 Oct 2007 12:38:04 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/10/28/more-thoughts-on-action/#comment-2897 I think Yoda said it best. "Do or do not. There is no try." :) I think Yoda said it best. “Do or do not. There is no try.” :)

]]> By: Debbie Thorkildsen http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/10/28/more-thoughts-on-action/#comment-2898 Debbie Thorkildsen Mon, 29 Oct 2007 13:14:56 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/10/28/more-thoughts-on-action/#comment-2898 Randy: You said, "Folks, don’t settle for “I’ll try.” Take action and keep taking action until one of two things happen: 1) You realize that the goal you chose is impossible, or 2) You realize that you don’t want this goal anymore–you want a different one" I believe there is a third option - Take action and keep taking action UNTIL YOU REACH YOUR GOAL. I realize this was an OBVIOUS oversight. Randy:

You said, “Folks, don’t settle for “I’ll try.” Take action and keep taking action until one of two things happen:
1) You realize that the goal you chose is impossible, or
2) You realize that you don’t want this goal anymore–you want a different one”

I believe there is a third option - Take action and keep taking action UNTIL YOU REACH YOUR GOAL.

I realize this was an OBVIOUS oversight.

]]> By: Daan Van der Merwe http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/10/28/more-thoughts-on-action/#comment-2899 Daan Van der Merwe Mon, 29 Oct 2007 13:22:03 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/10/28/more-thoughts-on-action/#comment-2899 Once again, thanks for all the information and inspiration. Especially #1 and #2 in your last paragraph. That is indeed the harsh reality. Once again, thanks for all the information and inspiration. Especially #1 and #2 in your last paragraph. That is indeed the harsh reality.

]]> By: Lynda http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/10/28/more-thoughts-on-action/#comment-2900 Lynda Mon, 29 Oct 2007 13:29:30 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/10/28/more-thoughts-on-action/#comment-2900 Every time I learn something new, I find my novel needs another revision. Now I'm going through the darn thing with my wuss-o-meter. Ordinarily I'm with Debbie "until you reach your goal." But, I'm getting very tired and wonder if its a lost cause. Every time I learn something new, I find my novel needs another revision. Now I’m going through the darn thing with my wuss-o-meter. Ordinarily I’m with Debbie “until you reach your goal.” But, I’m getting very tired and wonder if its a lost cause.

]]> By: Pam Halter http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/10/28/more-thoughts-on-action/#comment-2901 Pam Halter Mon, 29 Oct 2007 13:40:47 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/10/28/more-thoughts-on-action/#comment-2901 It's taken me many years, but I finally found my genre: fantasy. My first middle grade novel was comtemporary and took me about 4 years to finish. When I began writing the fantasy novel, the ideas flowed and everything I learned from writing a bad first novel went into it. I finished the novel in a year and a half and now an agent is interested in it. In an interview with Dean Koontz on Novel Journey, he said to "write what you love." I found it to be so true. Still, the process had some "death crawl" to it. Sure, my fantasy took me less time and it was enjoyable to write. But there were times when I thought I might not make it. Now that's it's done, I'm glad I gave it my best effort! I'll keep you posted on the agent situation. :) It’s taken me many years, but I finally found my genre: fantasy. My first middle grade novel was comtemporary and took me about 4 years to finish. When I began writing the fantasy novel, the ideas flowed and everything I learned from writing a bad first novel went into it. I finished the novel in a year and a half and now an agent is interested in it.

In an interview with Dean Koontz on Novel Journey, he said to “write what you love.” I found it to be so true.

Still, the process had some “death crawl” to it. Sure, my fantasy took me less time and it was enjoyable to write. But there were times when I thought I might not make it.

Now that’s it’s done, I’m glad I gave it my best effort!

I’ll keep you posted on the agent situation. :)

]]> By: Robert Treskillard http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/10/28/more-thoughts-on-action/#comment-2902 Robert Treskillard Mon, 29 Oct 2007 15:18:50 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/10/28/more-thoughts-on-action/#comment-2902 I had not seen the movie yet. Thanks for sharing that story--very inspiring. Think of it ... any of us CAN. We just need to DO. One question on your post. You said "A lot of writers have to write about [5-6 novels] before they break in". Do you only recommend abandoning a novel if it has irreparable problems? My thought is that as long as the premise is good I should just keep re-working it and rewriting until it is publishable? Sol Stein said in one of his books that he told someone what they needed to fix in their novel, and then instead of doing that they went off and started on another novel. If I remember it, he didn't seem to approve of that. Where do we draw the line on DO vs. REDO? At what point do we need to buckle down and fix it until it's right? I had not seen the movie yet. Thanks for sharing that story–very inspiring.

Think of it … any of us CAN. We just need to DO.

One question on your post. You said “A lot of writers have to write about [5-6 novels] before they break in”. Do you only recommend abandoning a novel if it has irreparable problems? My thought is that as long as the premise is good I should just keep re-working it and rewriting until it is publishable?

Sol Stein said in one of his books that he told someone what they needed to fix in their novel, and then instead of doing that they went off and started on another novel. If I remember it, he didn’t seem to approve of that.

Where do we draw the line on DO vs. REDO? At what point do we need to buckle down and fix it until it’s right?

]]> By: Robert Treskillard http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/10/28/more-thoughts-on-action/#comment-2903 Robert Treskillard Mon, 29 Oct 2007 15:20:17 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/10/28/more-thoughts-on-action/#comment-2903 I had not seen the movie yet. Thanks for sharing that story--very inspiring. Think of it ... any of us CAN. We just need to DO. One question on your post. You said "A lot of writers have to write about [5-6 novels] before they break in". Do you only recommend abandoning a novel if it has irreparable problems? My thought is that as long as the premise is good I should just keep re-working it and rewriting until it is publishable? Sol Stein said in one of his books that he told someone what they needed to fix in their novel, and then instead of doing that they went off and started on another novel. If I remember it, he didn't seem to approve of that. Where do we draw the line on DO vs. REDO? At what point do we need to buckle down and fix it until it's right? I had not seen the movie yet. Thanks for sharing that story–very inspiring.

Think of it … any of us CAN. We just need to DO.

One question on your post. You said “A lot of writers have to write about [5-6 novels] before they break in”. Do you only recommend abandoning a novel if it has irreparable problems? My thought is that as long as the premise is good I should just keep re-working it and rewriting until it is publishable?

Sol Stein said in one of his books that he told someone what they needed to fix in their novel, and then instead of doing that they went off and started on another novel. If I remember it, he didn’t seem to approve of that.

Where do we draw the line on DO vs. REDO? At what point do we need to buckle down and fix it until it’s right?

]]> By: yeggy http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/10/28/more-thoughts-on-action/#comment-2905 yeggy Mon, 29 Oct 2007 22:58:32 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/10/28/more-thoughts-on-action/#comment-2905 I think Yoda said it best. “Do or do not. There is no try.” Definitely sums it up for me, Rob. Randy, I haven't seen the movie but that story is definitely inspirational. I think Yoda said it best. “Do or do not. There is no try.”

Definitely sums it up for me, Rob.

Randy, I haven’t seen the movie but that story is definitely inspirational.

]]> By: Rachelle http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/10/28/more-thoughts-on-action/#comment-2906 Rachelle Tue, 30 Oct 2007 01:50:56 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2007/10/28/more-thoughts-on-action/#comment-2906 Interesting that you recapped my favorite scene from Facing the Giants, a movie I didn't think I'd like but I, too, found inspirational. Lately when I exercise or go running, I hear that coach screaming in my head, "Give me all you've got"! and "Don't leave ANYTHING on the field." And it definitely helps me. When I want to quit I ask myself, have I got anything left? Anything? If so, I have to keep going. It's become quite a metaphor for my life -- my spiritual life, my work life, my personal life. Thanks for highlighting the scene; it really was worth the entire movie. Interesting that you recapped my favorite scene from Facing the Giants, a movie I didn’t think I’d like but I, too, found inspirational. Lately when I exercise or go running, I hear that coach screaming in my head, “Give me all you’ve got”! and “Don’t leave ANYTHING on the field.” And it definitely helps me. When I want to quit I ask myself, have I got anything left? Anything? If so, I have to keep going. It’s become quite a metaphor for my life — my spiritual life, my work life, my personal life. Thanks for highlighting the scene; it really was worth the entire movie.

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