Comments on: I’m Back From My Writing Conference http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/03/19/im-back-from-my-writing-conference/ America's Mad Professor of Fiction Writing Sun, 07 Sep 2008 22:44:55 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.1.3 By: Daan Van der Merwe http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/03/19/im-back-from-my-writing-conference/#comment-4523 Daan Van der Merwe Thu, 20 Mar 2008 09:13:04 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/03/19/im-back-from-my-writing-conference/#comment-4523 I am very happy for Camille. I was thinking of all you lucky people at the conference all the time. I am very happy for Camille. I was thinking of all you lucky people at the conference all the time.

]]> By: yeggy http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/03/19/im-back-from-my-writing-conference/#comment-4524 yeggy Thu, 20 Mar 2008 09:30:12 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/03/19/im-back-from-my-writing-conference/#comment-4524 So pleased you had a great time. Hope Oatmeal brains turn to mexican jumping beans brains very soon. Although I'm pretty much a lurker at the moment I do appreciate all the hard work, time and effort you put into this blog. Excellent that Camille also had such a positive time. Woo hoo! So pleased you had a great time. Hope Oatmeal brains turn to mexican jumping beans brains very soon.

Although I’m pretty much a lurker at the moment I do appreciate all the hard work, time and effort you put into this blog.

Excellent that Camille also had such a positive time. Woo hoo!

]]> By: Carla Stewart http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/03/19/im-back-from-my-writing-conference/#comment-4528 Carla Stewart Thu, 20 Mar 2008 14:59:30 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/03/19/im-back-from-my-writing-conference/#comment-4528 It was nice seeing you at the conference. I spent a lot of time with Camille--loved her and was happy to share in her good news about the editor requests. I'm so glad you were able to encourage her as well. That's one of the things I liked most about MH--the holding each other up and cheering when good news came along. It was nice seeing you at the conference. I spent a lot of time with Camille–loved her and was happy to share in her good news about the editor requests. I’m so glad you were able to encourage her as well. That’s one of the things I liked most about MH–the holding each other up and cheering when good news came along.

]]> By: Livinus http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/03/19/im-back-from-my-writing-conference/#comment-4529 Livinus Thu, 20 Mar 2008 15:14:34 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/03/19/im-back-from-my-writing-conference/#comment-4529 Glad to know that Randy is back. Sure, as usual, he is back with a lot for us. Glad to know that Randy is back. Sure, as usual, he is back with a lot for us.

]]> By: Kristi Holl http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/03/19/im-back-from-my-writing-conference/#comment-4530 Kristi Holl Thu, 20 Mar 2008 15:26:51 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/03/19/im-back-from-my-writing-conference/#comment-4530 It was great meeting you at the conference, Randy. You were right--it was life-changing. I will be processing for a long time! It was great meeting you at the conference, Randy. You were right–it was life-changing. I will be processing for a long time!

]]> By: Camille http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/03/19/im-back-from-my-writing-conference/#comment-4531 Camille Thu, 20 Mar 2008 15:56:44 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/03/19/im-back-from-my-writing-conference/#comment-4531 Randy won't have oatmeal brains for long, trust me. The guy can fall asleep in a snap. He literally said, "Get an agent. You're ready to sell. I need a nap." Then he closed his eyes immediately and fell asleep. This guy has time management DOWN. I don't know much, but one thing I do know: it's not polite to shake a sleeping man in the seat next to you on a plane and ask him to repeat what he just said. I had to spend an hour or so frowning out the dinky plane window wondering if I heard right. Mt Hermon was my first conference and I had a fabulous, well rounded experience. (LOVE YA CARLA! What a sweetheart you are!) BUT...... for Daan and the rest of you knowledge-hungry writers who didn't get to go: they don't call this place Advanced Fiction Writing for nothing! We are getting excellent teaching on fiction writing here guys, always moving forward, nothing repeated. This is a great place to spend time if you want to press on. Some of us can't help ourselves... can't seem to learn it fast enough. Thank you so much, Randy, for all the time and effort you put into this blog. (And thank you for the kind words! If you hadn't posted it here, I'd still be thinking I dreamt the whole thing.) Now I'm really looking forward to the rest of Cindy's puzzle lesson because I missed her workshop at MH :( (But I had a very good excuse, honest!) Randy won’t have oatmeal brains for long, trust me. The guy can fall asleep in a snap. He literally said, “Get an agent. You’re ready to sell. I need a nap.” Then he closed his eyes immediately and fell asleep. This guy has time management DOWN.

I don’t know much, but one thing I do know: it’s not polite to shake a sleeping man in the seat next to you on a plane and ask him to repeat what he just said. I had to spend an hour or so frowning out the dinky plane window wondering if I heard right.

Mt Hermon was my first conference and I had a fabulous, well rounded experience. (LOVE YA CARLA! What a sweetheart you are!) BUT…… for Daan and the rest of you knowledge-hungry writers who didn’t get to go: they don’t call this place Advanced Fiction Writing for nothing! We are getting excellent teaching on fiction writing here guys, always moving forward, nothing repeated. This is a great place to spend time if you want to press on. Some of us can’t help ourselves… can’t seem to learn it fast enough.

Thank you so much, Randy, for all the time and effort you put into this blog. (And thank you for the kind words! If you hadn’t posted it here, I’d still be thinking I dreamt the whole thing.)

Now I’m really looking forward to the rest of Cindy’s puzzle lesson because I missed her workshop at MH :( (But I had a very good excuse, honest!)

]]> By: Sheila Deeth http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/03/19/im-back-from-my-writing-conference/#comment-4532 Sheila Deeth Thu, 20 Mar 2008 16:17:54 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/03/19/im-back-from-my-writing-conference/#comment-4532 Glad you had a good conference, and great news for Camille. I passed on links to your blog to some writing friends; maybe I'll see them in comments sometime. Meanwhile, I'm really enjoying the puzzle method, but taking time off from puzzling my own story while family come home for Easter. Is time off okay? Glad you had a good conference, and great news for Camille. I passed on links to your blog to some writing friends; maybe I’ll see them in comments sometime. Meanwhile, I’m really enjoying the puzzle method, but taking time off from puzzling my own story while family come home for Easter. Is time off okay?

]]> By: D.E. Hale http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/03/19/im-back-from-my-writing-conference/#comment-4533 D.E. Hale Thu, 20 Mar 2008 16:57:24 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/03/19/im-back-from-my-writing-conference/#comment-4533 Woo Hoo Camille! That's awesome!!! (Of course, now all us other sophomore's are a bit jealous...lol)! Woo Hoo Camille! That’s awesome!!! (Of course, now all us other sophomore’s are a bit jealous…lol)!

]]> By: Kellie Coates Gilbert http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/03/19/im-back-from-my-writing-conference/#comment-4534 Kellie Coates Gilbert Thu, 20 Mar 2008 17:16:02 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/03/19/im-back-from-my-writing-conference/#comment-4534 Camille's critique partners are VERY proud...!!! Camille’s critique partners are VERY proud…!!!

]]> By: Julie http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/03/19/im-back-from-my-writing-conference/#comment-4535 Julie Thu, 20 Mar 2008 17:29:25 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/03/19/im-back-from-my-writing-conference/#comment-4535 OH YEAH, GO Camille!!! OH YEAH, GO Camille!!!

]]> By: Paul D http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/03/19/im-back-from-my-writing-conference/#comment-4536 Paul D Thu, 20 Mar 2008 17:32:04 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/03/19/im-back-from-my-writing-conference/#comment-4536 Anyone not able to get to this blog entry via the link in the email? Mine doesn't work. I had to go to an earlier entry and click to this one. Anyone not able to get to this blog entry via the link in the email? Mine doesn’t work. I had to go to an earlier entry and click to this one.

]]> By: Carol F. http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/03/19/im-back-from-my-writing-conference/#comment-4537 Carol F. Thu, 20 Mar 2008 18:05:37 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/03/19/im-back-from-my-writing-conference/#comment-4537 Paul, I thought it was just me and my tired, old laptop. I have to do the same thing every day--go to post from yesterday and click forward to the post for today. Randy, I met you at Mt. Hermon two years ago. Since that time, I have benefitted from your blog, seminars and teleseminars tremendously. Keep it up, the Lord is blessing me through you. Paul, I thought it was just me and my tired, old laptop. I have to do the same thing every day–go to post from yesterday and click forward to the post for today.

Randy, I met you at Mt. Hermon two years ago. Since that time, I have benefitted from your blog, seminars and teleseminars tremendously. Keep it up, the Lord is blessing me through you.

]]> By: Karla http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/03/19/im-back-from-my-writing-conference/#comment-4538 Karla Thu, 20 Mar 2008 19:11:43 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/03/19/im-back-from-my-writing-conference/#comment-4538 CONGRATULATIONS, CAMILLE!! Yee Haw!! Don't forget us plebes when you become famous! :-) I agree with you regarding Randy, Camille. I thank God all the time that I found him. We are blessed, blessed, blessed!! THANK-YOU, MASTER RANDY! I am looking forward to reading Camille's book!! I'm so excited for her! :::Jumping up and down and doing the Snoopy Dance!::: CONGRATULATIONS, CAMILLE!! Yee Haw!! Don’t forget us plebes when you become famous! :-)

I agree with you regarding Randy, Camille. I thank God all the time that I found him. We are blessed, blessed, blessed!! THANK-YOU, MASTER RANDY!

I am looking forward to reading Camille’s book!! I’m so excited for her! :::Jumping up and down and doing the Snoopy Dance!:::

]]> By: bonne friesen http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/03/19/im-back-from-my-writing-conference/#comment-4539 bonne friesen Thu, 20 Mar 2008 21:48:32 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/03/19/im-back-from-my-writing-conference/#comment-4539 Hurray Camille! From reading your blog posts, I'm not surprised at Randy's recommendation. Believe it, and enjoy the feeling. Good for you! Hurray Camille! From reading your blog posts, I’m not surprised at Randy’s recommendation. Believe it, and enjoy the feeling. Good for you!

]]> By: Gerhi Janse van Vuuren http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/03/19/im-back-from-my-writing-conference/#comment-4543 Gerhi Janse van Vuuren Fri, 21 Mar 2008 09:53:14 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/03/19/im-back-from-my-writing-conference/#comment-4543 I'm glad there wasn't much posted over the last week because I had no time to read it. Ok, my comment is back in moderation again because I had made an important decision a while ago. Randy threw open the blog for input on under what name I should write. The most sensible option looked to be Gerhard J van Vuuren. I tried it on for size. Created a gmail address. Changed my email signature and more. Last night I had a moment of clarity. It might be a very sensible option but it is not me. I worked hard to accept me as I am and that me is Gerhi Janse van Vuuren. So what that 90% of the people can's pronounce it. I can't pronounce most of the names of writers I read. I still read them because they read well. Also, and this is getting me back to writing, I have been steaming ahead on my novel, mostly because I'm using elements of the puzzle method. It seems to work very well for me. Once I have a complete draft I will analyse it with the snowflake. I feel that I am writing enough to get a writing voice going. And what I am writing is written by a Gerhi not a Gerhard. And then I just want to quote what Camille said: "BUT…… for Daan and the rest of you knowledge-hungry writers who didn’t get to go: they don’t call this place Advanced Fiction Writing for nothing! We are getting excellent teaching on fiction writing here guys, always moving forward, nothing repeated. This is a great place to spend time if you want to press on." So, Randy, thanks for the great place! Gerhi I’m glad there wasn’t much posted over the last week because I had no time to read it.

Ok, my comment is back in moderation again because I had made an important decision a while ago. Randy threw open the blog for input on under what name I should write. The most sensible option looked to be Gerhard J van Vuuren.

I tried it on for size. Created a gmail address. Changed my email signature and more. Last night I had a moment of clarity.

It might be a very sensible option but it is not me. I worked hard to accept me as I am and that me is Gerhi Janse van Vuuren. So what that 90% of the people can’s pronounce it. I can’t pronounce most of the names of writers I read. I still read them because they read well.

Also, and this is getting me back to writing, I have been steaming ahead on my novel, mostly because I’m using elements of the puzzle method. It seems to work very well for me. Once I have a complete draft I will analyse it with the snowflake.

I feel that I am writing enough to get a writing voice going. And what I am writing is written by a Gerhi not a Gerhard.

And then I just want to quote what Camille said:
“BUT…… for Daan and the rest of you knowledge-hungry writers who didn’t get to go: they don’t call this place Advanced Fiction Writing for nothing! We are getting excellent teaching on fiction writing here guys, always moving forward, nothing repeated. This is a great place to spend time if you want to press on.”

So, Randy, thanks for the great place!

Gerhi

]]> By: Merrie Destefano http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/03/19/im-back-from-my-writing-conference/#comment-4547 Merrie Destefano Fri, 21 Mar 2008 19:58:15 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/03/19/im-back-from-my-writing-conference/#comment-4547 Randy, It was awesome to see you again! Thanks so much for being so supportive of my writing over the past year. I really appreciate it! And I agree, meeting new friends and visiting with old friends is one of my favorite parts of Mount Hermon. The late-night laugh fest up at Central Lounge more than made up for the stress of pitching. Thanks for helping with my alternate world dilemma. Those pesky alternate worlds. You trying rubbing them out, you try scrubbing them out, but they still keep popping up in speculative fiction stories. Thanks for being a good friend. :) Blessings, Merrie Randy,
It was awesome to see you again! Thanks so much for being so supportive of my writing over the past year. I really appreciate it!

And I agree, meeting new friends and visiting with old friends is one of my favorite parts of Mount Hermon. The late-night laugh fest up at Central Lounge more than made up for the stress of pitching.

Thanks for helping with my alternate world dilemma. Those pesky alternate worlds. You trying rubbing them out, you try scrubbing them out, but they still keep popping up in speculative fiction stories.

Thanks for being a good friend.
:)
Blessings,
Merrie

]]> By: Donald James Parker http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/03/19/im-back-from-my-writing-conference/#comment-4582 Donald James Parker Wed, 26 Mar 2008 13:04:54 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2008/03/19/im-back-from-my-writing-conference/#comment-4582 Thanks for sharing Camille's story. She told me that she was afraid to show her work to an editor despite the great critiques. I used two cliches (they don't become cliches for no reason) - put it in God's hands and the worst thing that can happen is that they will say no. I was jazzed to hear that she found the courage to pitch and the umpire called it a strike. I echo the thanks of others in regards to Randy spending his time to help other writers. It is greatly appreciated. Don Thanks for sharing Camille’s story. She told me that she was afraid to show her work to an editor despite the great critiques. I used two cliches (they don’t become cliches for no reason) - put it in God’s hands and the worst thing that can happen is that they will say no. I was jazzed to hear that she found the courage to pitch and the umpire called it a strike. I echo the thanks of others in regards to Randy spending his time to help other writers. It is greatly appreciated.
Don

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