Comments on: Successful Fiction Writing http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/01/08/successful-fiction-writing/ America's Mad Professor of Fiction Writing Fri, 29 Aug 2008 03:29:29 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.1.3 By: Daan Van der Merwe http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/01/08/successful-fiction-writing/#comment-3569 Daan Van der Merwe Tue, 08 Jan 2008 11:35:59 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/01/08/successful-fiction-writing/#comment-3569 Hi Randy, I have returned from vacation yesterday and I spent quite some time reading all the posts by you and Susan as well as all the comments and questions. It was great! Two months ago, I was inspired to translate an English novel in Afrikaans and, thanks to the holidays, I have translated 216 of the 338 pages, which is 73 326 words. It is very exciting and in the process, I learn a great deal about the craft. As I am back at the grindstone, my target is to translate at least 500 words every evening. It is not so difficult but occasionally I must think really hard on how to translate a specific phrase and sometimes only one word forces me to do some research! It's great to visit the blogg again. It's the only thing in my office that I have missed during the holidays. Hi Randy,

I have returned from vacation yesterday and I spent quite some time reading all the posts by you and Susan as well as all the comments and questions. It was great!

Two months ago, I was inspired to translate an English novel in Afrikaans and, thanks to the holidays, I have translated 216 of the 338 pages, which is 73 326 words.

It is very exciting and in the process, I learn a great deal about the craft. As I am back at the grindstone, my target is to translate at least 500 words every evening.

It is not so difficult but occasionally I must think really hard on how to translate a specific phrase and sometimes only one word forces me to do some research!

It’s great to visit the blogg again. It’s the only thing in my office that I have missed during the holidays.

]]> By: Pam Halter http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/01/08/successful-fiction-writing/#comment-3571 Pam Halter Tue, 08 Jan 2008 14:05:25 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/01/08/successful-fiction-writing/#comment-3571 Randy said: Anything that makes you a better writer is an improvement. I say, anything that you do which is creative makes you a better writer, as well. We all know what we should be doing by now. But I've discovered when life gets in the way (like Christmas prep) and I'm working on designing and sewing quilts, it still exercises the part of the brain I use for creating stories. I suppose the moral is not to waste anything. There is so much we can do to improve our writing life. We just have to do it! Randy said: Anything that makes you a better writer is an improvement.

I say, anything that you do which is creative makes you a better writer, as well. We all know what we should be doing by now. But I’ve discovered when life gets in the way (like Christmas prep) and I’m working on designing and sewing quilts, it still exercises the part of the brain I use for creating stories.

I suppose the moral is not to waste anything. There is so much we can do to improve our writing life. We just have to do it!

]]> By: Camille http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/01/08/successful-fiction-writing/#comment-3572 Camille Tue, 08 Jan 2008 14:49:32 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/01/08/successful-fiction-writing/#comment-3572 If only I told a story as fast as I type <i>now</i>. If only I told a story as fast as I type now.

]]> By: Susan http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/01/08/successful-fiction-writing/#comment-3573 Susan Tue, 08 Jan 2008 16:30:15 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/01/08/successful-fiction-writing/#comment-3573 Wow! I love the whole "small improvements multiply" concept. This is a great way to keep motivated. All of the hard work is not only adding to my knowledge and experience. It's multiplying. Thanks Randy. Wow! I love the whole “small improvements multiply” concept. This is a great way to keep motivated. All of the hard work is not only adding to my knowledge and experience. It’s multiplying.

Thanks Randy.

]]> By: Stephenie http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/01/08/successful-fiction-writing/#comment-3574 Stephenie Tue, 08 Jan 2008 16:36:09 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/01/08/successful-fiction-writing/#comment-3574 I think that sounds like a great plan. I love the creating side of things and could get lost in it for hours. What good will that do if I never send it out (market!) or if I can't find it (organize!)? I have done little things this way, but hadn't really thought about making my goals specific to organizing and marketing. It makes sense, though, and will help my creativity flourish even more. Disorganization and lack of success can be creativity killers. I think that sounds like a great plan. I love the creating side of things and could get lost in it for hours. What good will that do if I never send it out (market!) or if I can’t find it (organize!)?
I have done little things this way, but hadn’t really thought about making my goals specific to organizing and marketing. It makes sense, though, and will help my creativity flourish even more.
Disorganization and lack of success can be creativity killers.

]]> By: Sylvia http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/01/08/successful-fiction-writing/#comment-3575 Sylvia Tue, 08 Jan 2008 17:17:03 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/01/08/successful-fiction-writing/#comment-3575 What is the advantage of incorporating your business? It sounds like a lot of work and at least some expense, so what is the advantage to you? What is the advantage of incorporating your business? It sounds like a lot of work and at least some expense, so what is the advantage to you?

]]> By: Cathy http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/01/08/successful-fiction-writing/#comment-3576 Cathy Tue, 08 Jan 2008 17:19:23 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/01/08/successful-fiction-writing/#comment-3576 Thanks Randy for your blog. Your last one, asking us to tell what we planned to do that day, got me motivated to choose something that would help clean up the clutter in my office as well as in the rest of the house. The job is far from done, but a lot of progress has been made. Some of this is because my husband also jumped in to help with this chore . . . and I didn't even have to ask him. Thanks Randy for your blog. Your last one, asking us to tell what we planned to do that day, got me motivated to choose something that would help clean up the clutter in my office as well as in the rest of the house. The job is far from done, but a lot of progress has been made. Some of this is because my husband also jumped in to help with this chore . . . and I didn’t even have to ask him.

]]> By: Carrie Stuart Parks http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/01/08/successful-fiction-writing/#comment-3577 Carrie Stuart Parks Tue, 08 Jan 2008 18:14:20 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/01/08/successful-fiction-writing/#comment-3577 We incorporated our business in 2006. We have a CPA that does a lot of the paperwork (sending me monthly "sign here" packets.) I'm learning to not panic when my schedule isn't full (read no income...) as I need this "down time" to prepare, catch up, plan, and work on new projects--like new books. We just moved one house up and are going to use our previous house for business. I spend a portion of each day on income tax (finite work), a portion on creativity--writing (ongoing work) and a portion on cleaning and organizing the business house. Your blog is one of my highlights. We incorporated our business in 2006. We have a CPA that does a lot of the paperwork (sending me monthly “sign here” packets.)

I’m learning to not panic when my schedule isn’t full (read no income…) as I need this “down time” to prepare, catch up, plan, and work on new projects–like new books. We just moved one house up and are going to use our previous house for business. I spend a portion of each day on income tax (finite work), a portion on creativity–writing (ongoing work) and a portion on cleaning and organizing the business house.

Your blog is one of my highlights.

]]> By: ML Eqatin http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/01/08/successful-fiction-writing/#comment-3578 ML Eqatin Tue, 08 Jan 2008 18:38:14 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/01/08/successful-fiction-writing/#comment-3578 Small steps forward do count. I'm even happy with going forward on a vector. Sometimes I liken my unreliable creative side to getting a new llama down the trail when he doesn't want to go. If he won't go forward, we pull him to the side. If that doesn't work, we go around and pull him in a circle so that he's at least moving, and then usually once he's facing forward the momentum will keep him going. Now that I have a list of things to build my platform, and market as well as write, when the creativity grinds to a halt, I just 'move to the side' by picking up one of the other tasks. Stuff like platform-building and marketing use a different part of my brain. Then I get excited about the possibilities, and I find I can move forward on the original project again. Small steps forward do count. I’m even happy with going forward on a vector. Sometimes I liken my unreliable creative side to getting a new llama down the trail when he doesn’t want to go. If he won’t go forward, we pull him to the side. If that doesn’t work, we go around and pull him in a circle so that he’s at least moving, and then usually once he’s facing forward the momentum will keep him going.

Now that I have a list of things to build my platform, and market as well as write, when the creativity grinds to a halt, I just ‘move to the side’ by picking up one of the other tasks. Stuff like platform-building and marketing use a different part of my brain. Then I get excited about the possibilities, and I find I can move forward on the original project again.

]]> By: Paulette Harris http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/01/08/successful-fiction-writing/#comment-3579 Paulette Harris Tue, 08 Jan 2008 18:45:49 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/01/08/successful-fiction-writing/#comment-3579 Successful Fiction Writing was very helpful to me today as I prepare to go to CWG the end of the month. I am really making strides to keep things in balance and organize what is important and what isn't. I also have been putting my toe in deep waters as to what I want to do as a business with my writing in the coming year. I usually live by a word that impresses me each year. This year is legacy, what do I really want to leave my family as I grow? HELP! Thanks Randy for all the help you give to us writers. Successful Fiction Writing was very helpful to me today as I prepare to go to CWG the end of the month. I am really making strides to keep things in balance and organize what is important and what isn’t. I also have been putting my toe in deep waters as to what I want to do as a business with my writing in the coming year.
I usually live by a word that impresses me each year. This year is legacy, what do I really want to leave my family as I grow?
HELP! Thanks Randy for all the help you give to us writers.

]]> By: David McKee http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/01/08/successful-fiction-writing/#comment-3580 David McKee Wed, 09 Jan 2008 03:51:52 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/01/08/successful-fiction-writing/#comment-3580 Randy, I don't know what your take is on the critiquing the work of other writers in an online fashion. I mentioned that I have joined a critiquing website www.critters.org which is basically a web version of the writers getting together to look at each others work. I must say it is a good move because just reading how to critique and then doing it forces me to edit my own work that much better. I would highly recommend this site for two very good reasons: First it has writers from novices to published and it archives all of the critiques so you can see what actually catches the eyes of people. The only way it could get better is if it had seasoned editors. Secondly it is free! You must perform critiques in order to be allowed to post your own ms. Seems fair to me! Dave. Randy,

I don’t know what your take is on the critiquing the work of other writers in an online fashion. I mentioned that I have joined a critiquing website www.critters.org which is basically a web version of the writers getting together to look at each others work. I must say it is a good move because just reading how to critique and then doing it forces me to edit my own work that much better. I would highly recommend this site for two very good reasons: First it has writers from novices to published and it archives all of the critiques so you can see what actually catches the eyes of people. The only way it could get better is if it had seasoned editors. Secondly it is free! You must perform critiques in order to be allowed to post your own ms. Seems fair to me!

Dave.

]]> By: Daan Van der Merwe http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/01/08/successful-fiction-writing/#comment-3590 Daan Van der Merwe Thu, 10 Jan 2008 05:57:04 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/01/08/successful-fiction-writing/#comment-3590 Hi Randy, I was on vacation for three weeks so I sat down and read all the posts by you and Susan as well as all the comments and questions. It was great! To you and Susan, thank you very much for all the valuable information. Hi Randy,

I was on vacation for three weeks so I sat down and read all the posts by you and Susan as well as all the comments and questions. It was great!

To you and Susan, thank you very much for all the valuable information.

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