tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post1869484756973543930..comments2024-03-20T02:49:17.606-07:00Comments on Between Fact and Fiction: When To Send It OffNatalie Whipplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09978251567306345129noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-33515862072669110992010-09-16T20:28:10.373-07:002010-09-16T20:28:10.373-07:00I have never felt like my story is "done"...I have never felt like my story is "done" and I don't think I ever will. I will always find something! I'm planning on re-writing one of my stories and surprisingly I'm excited!<br /><br />Good luck with your edits!VICTORIA SAAVEDRAhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10329745716789899212noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-30058138496328233902010-09-16T18:38:10.486-07:002010-09-16T18:38:10.486-07:00I can't imagine feeling my work is "done&...I can't imagine feeling my work is "done" to the point it doesn't need more work. I'm nearing what I hope are my last edits before submission, but part of me thinks my agent will say, "What? Are you crazy? You've got MILES to go!!!" Thank goodness none of us are self-doubting perfectionists. ;-)Debra Lynn Sheltonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08238268767406623274noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-41146352841083601782010-09-16T17:50:41.058-07:002010-09-16T17:50:41.058-07:00I hear that! If you don't send it off it simme...I hear that! If you don't send it off it simmers and eventually burns and tastes rather foul.Shari Arnoldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15393609010526562080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-63004845166857704502010-09-16T16:56:59.124-07:002010-09-16T16:56:59.124-07:00Another great post that I can only say AMEN to! I ...Another great post that I can only say AMEN to! I hate when I hit that blind moment because I don't have a solid crit group. <br /><br />Luckily I have some fairly intelligent reading friends that do their best to get me back on track. However, writing friends critique differently than reading friends. I want to lock away the few that have helped me on occasion, so I always have their excellent advice.Charity Bradfordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01960821077619680661noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-65449632755634290472010-09-16T13:40:50.045-07:002010-09-16T13:40:50.045-07:00Nothing quite like a good critter.Nothing quite like a good critter.lotusgirlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06663641163048764869noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-34099803687809431202010-09-16T13:36:53.760-07:002010-09-16T13:36:53.760-07:00I finished the first draft of my new manuscript an...I finished the first draft of my new manuscript and realized it needed more than a 2nd draft, it needed to begin again. By the time I finished the story, it was a completely different book. How did I not see this coming? Fortunately, the second half was what I wanted all along. But the first half? What a mess!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-63395206660790716762010-09-16T12:44:56.821-07:002010-09-16T12:44:56.821-07:00Once I have a 2nd draft done (like I've finish...Once I have a 2nd draft done (like I've finished the first draft, let it sit, then come back and fixed any glaring errors), I like to send it off to readers at that point because I know I'm too close. I need feedback. I need to know where I'm not being clear enough about things like character motivation and plot. <br /><br />So true that you need to step back and let it go.Tere Kirklandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13562750950130316280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-60000214759326605352010-09-16T12:30:54.423-07:002010-09-16T12:30:54.423-07:00I do the same thing!
Angela @ The Bookshelf MuseI do the same thing!<br /><br />Angela @ The Bookshelf MuseAngela Ackermanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01808259088625142389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-58179371809069044872010-09-16T11:53:30.534-07:002010-09-16T11:53:30.534-07:00Excellent points! I'm at the same spot with m...Excellent points! I'm at the same spot with my WIP, only I'm now wondering whether it's ready to send out to agents/editors. I wrote about that on my blog today too - funny coincidence.<br /><br />Sometimes, you do need someone else to look in your blind spot, and there just isn't anything else you can do until then.Julie Hedlundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04477115458570906449noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-75398765986092418252010-09-16T11:50:42.207-07:002010-09-16T11:50:42.207-07:00Thanks!Thanks!StaceyWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12230362072587995336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-79889944319731673572010-09-16T10:24:27.564-07:002010-09-16T10:24:27.564-07:00Stacey, under my reference tab you'll find a w...Stacey, under my reference tab you'll find a whole section about Crit Groups:)Natalie Whipplehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09978251567306345129noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-44179007303697702412010-09-16T10:22:45.672-07:002010-09-16T10:22:45.672-07:00How do you guys find your beta readers? Are they f...How do you guys find your beta readers? Are they friends? People you've met through your writing circles? If they're friends, how confident are you that they'll be completely honest in pointing out flaws?<br /><br />Obviously this is an issue I'm struggling with....StaceyWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12230362072587995336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-59323268202750649102010-09-16T10:16:39.930-07:002010-09-16T10:16:39.930-07:00It's exciting to send it out to beta readers a...It's exciting to send it out to beta readers and get lots of ideas to work with. And, man, can't imagine starting all over. All your work is going to pay off. It has to.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-43802242972098736892010-09-16T09:41:40.042-07:002010-09-16T09:41:40.042-07:00I just lined myself a couple of beta readers for m...I just lined myself a couple of beta readers for my ms. Now I just have to hand it over. *cringe* Thanks Natalie - great post!Carolyn V.https://www.blogger.com/profile/15456210036213016603noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-29390052932793697052010-09-16T09:25:46.482-07:002010-09-16T09:25:46.482-07:00This is exactly where I am at the moment, too. I ...This is exactly where I am at the moment, too. I sent my MS to six readers after I finished this rewrite. I had definitely reached the point where I couldn't tell what was and wasn't wrong with it, and needed fresh eyes. Already, they've given some excellent, specific, spot-on feedback that is helping me be more precise in communicating the story.<br /><br />It was scary to send it out knowing it still had (several) weaknesses. Turns out, it was the perfect time to do it - the story is pretty solid, but I know it still has polishing to be done. This means they get to see a pretty well-developed story, but I'm not so attached to the actual words that I can't cut the fluff.<br /><br />Good luck with TRANSPARENT!!<br /><br />:) KaylaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-55834274021712139662010-09-16T09:17:26.259-07:002010-09-16T09:17:26.259-07:00I know exactly what you mean! Good luck with finis...I know exactly what you mean! Good luck with finishing your edits :)Nataschahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15971236835645904189noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-2840994571760548142010-09-16T08:54:53.826-07:002010-09-16T08:54:53.826-07:00I had the same thing happen. I read my MS and tho...I had the same thing happen. I read my MS and thought "Wow, this is pretty solid." and as soon as I sent it out to my betas, they noticed that the voices of the two characters were very similar. <br />I can normally tell when there is something wrong with someone else's writing and I know when there is something wrong with it but I never know HOW to fix it.Erinnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13936046127305211439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-45989971840846760142010-09-16T08:53:38.149-07:002010-09-16T08:53:38.149-07:00Ha! Noooo, not that good. Promise.Ha! Noooo, not that good. Promise.Natalie Whipplehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09978251567306345129noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-55565559593429625472010-09-16T08:52:33.145-07:002010-09-16T08:52:33.145-07:00Maybe you are just that good!Maybe you are just that good!Jamie Manninghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12468645782406389500noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-52399700579287817302010-09-16T08:43:04.488-07:002010-09-16T08:43:04.488-07:00So true! I am completely blind sometimes, and I&#...So true! I am completely blind sometimes, and I'm thankful for other readers who catch weird stuff that I miss.Julie Musilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02150454913885915017noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-21766040338857718092010-09-16T08:40:06.331-07:002010-09-16T08:40:06.331-07:00I just did this SAME thing... I know there is SOME...I just did this SAME thing... I know there is SOMETHING off in my current MS, I just couldn't put my finger on it!~Jamiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08872228115110257474noreply@blogger.com