tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post1473144681440485754..comments2024-03-20T02:49:17.606-07:00Comments on Between Fact and Fiction: Being YOUNatalie Whipplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09978251567306345129noreply@blogger.comBlogger37125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-89619598822462256452010-01-26T10:49:01.833-08:002010-01-26T10:49:01.833-08:00Awww, who doesn’t like you? What’s not to like? Yo...Awww, who doesn’t like you? What’s not to like? You’re funny, sweet, and helpful! I know what you mean though. When you write you put yourself out there, for the world to see, and it can feel daunting and nerve-wracking. There is an urge to protect yourself, to hide yourself away, but I think the best writing comes from, as the quote goes “opening up a vein, and bleeding it out drop by drop.” If your blog posts are anything like your writing, I know you’re a talented writer, because you write from the heart. There’s a void in the YA section where Relax, I’m a Ninja and your other books should be. I am sad I can’t actually read them yet. But they will be published very soon I’m sure!<br /><br />Thanks for the great post!Elizabeth Poolehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03214706118828699708noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-90980046984768066452010-01-26T09:14:57.156-08:002010-01-26T09:14:57.156-08:00Thank you Natalie. I need this today more than in ...Thank you Natalie. I need this today more than in a long, long time. Thank you for being you! Always brightens my day. :)Michelle D. Argylehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09696465137285587646noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-30257834417626257042010-01-26T08:05:44.673-08:002010-01-26T08:05:44.673-08:00Well Natalie, I've only met you once and thoug...Well Natalie, I've only met you once and thought you were pretty cool. I mean the whole ninja daughter thing? Made me laugh. =) <br /><br />I think people do put up walls to protect themselves. I wish everyone liked me, but not everyone does. I enjoy writing, quiet nights and watching a good play. While other girls go dancing, have get togethers and play practical jokes on each other. Both things are okay, we are just different. <br /><br />I love your blog. Although I have only been following for a short time, you are very real here. I love it. =) Thanks for the awesome post.Carolyn V.https://www.blogger.com/profile/15456210036213016603noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-55338969496393673332010-01-26T06:07:23.285-08:002010-01-26T06:07:23.285-08:00Hi~ I enjoyed reading your blog! This entry come...Hi~ I enjoyed reading your blog! This entry comes at the perfect time... I'm off on Friday to spend the weekend with my four sisters. I love them, but I'm hurtled back to that place a hundred years ago when we all lived together, criticized each other... I've gotta stay centered through the drama :P<br /><br />I agree with you: Each of us as writers has our own author's voice, as unique to us as our fingerprints. When we embrace that fact, and relax, our writing becomes fluid and sensational.<br /><br />Thanks for the reminder :))Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01899768909313326172noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-81179594315994117742010-01-26T05:29:58.395-08:002010-01-26T05:29:58.395-08:00me and my daughter talked about this too.. I still...me and my daughter talked about this too.. I still struggle much the way she does.. but I have to rise above it somehow and teach her to realize 'it's ok.'Shelbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02757079675613448834noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-66660220811752666612010-01-26T05:20:24.686-08:002010-01-26T05:20:24.686-08:00Pep talks AND Han Solo? This is why YOU are so kew...Pep talks AND Han Solo? This is why YOU are so kewl.Carrie Harrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14893023777471521703noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-59197686909071290302010-01-26T01:55:32.785-08:002010-01-26T01:55:32.785-08:00Funny, I had almost *exactly* this conversation wi...Funny, I had almost *exactly* this conversation with a friend last night. Out of my brain, Natalie - I know it's warm and squishy in there, but still :)<br /><br />I used to try and compromise who I was to fit in. I was terrible at it, and I spent years doing it.<br /><br />Then I got good at it practically overnight, and I started to fool people. And it only took a few weeks of successfully being someone else before I lost my temper with it and abandoned the whole endeavour and went back to being me. <br /><br />Believing advice like this earlier would have helped a lot.Ellen Brickleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01184391430927483100noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-46693605367384074072010-01-25T23:47:58.990-08:002010-01-25T23:47:58.990-08:00Not everyone likes me and that is fine.
I wish I&...Not everyone likes me and that is fine.<br /><br />I wish I'd understood this a lot earlier in my life!fairyhedgehoghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14141089706966852951noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-1067127563309954672010-01-25T21:37:02.573-08:002010-01-25T21:37:02.573-08:00Beautifully said. Thanks for that.
Also, The 98 d...Beautifully said. Thanks for that.<br /><br />Also, The 98 degrees (boy band anyone?) song "true to yourself" (or something like that) just popped into my head...here's a line from the chorus: Open your eyes, your heart can tell you no lies. <br /><br />Did that ^ make sense at all? Lol. Oh well. <br /><br />And I really don't see how anyone could not like you. You're awesome! :DAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12294516011395206412noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-18116076478875302862010-01-25T21:28:11.982-08:002010-01-25T21:28:11.982-08:00Aw, Natalie! I really love reading your blog! You ...Aw, Natalie! I really love reading your blog! You always know just what to say to give me a boost about my own writing self-esteem!<br /><br />Please, please, please keep it up!<br /><br />p.s. Who could possibly not like you?Nicolehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12268407996242055175noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-29922976576757100082010-01-25T20:26:49.470-08:002010-01-25T20:26:49.470-08:00Many of my favorite books deal with this very issu...Many of my favorite books deal with this very issue. It's important that we not only stay true to ourselves, but that you keep your characters genuine too.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07993728503710435697noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-76305139771982819962010-01-25T18:18:23.530-08:002010-01-25T18:18:23.530-08:00There are people that don't like you?? Hmmm. ...There are people that don't like you?? Hmmm. Weird. :) Well, I like you all sorts. And I love your books. Also, your post is so true. It's easy to find myself wanting everyone to like me and my books. And when people don't, it hurts. But if I'm okay with me, then it doesn't matter how other people feel about me. Thanks for the pep talk.Kasie Westhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14169629001145903361noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-75022385495954815902010-01-25T16:56:59.996-08:002010-01-25T16:56:59.996-08:00Good advice. Sadly, though, such a thing is easier...Good advice. Sadly, though, such a thing is easier said than done. But, if it helps, I like you! :)JamieKatehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13160684316112779014noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-90404460271211052282010-01-25T16:35:47.309-08:002010-01-25T16:35:47.309-08:00You are right, we all lead double lives.
Sometime...You are right, we all lead double lives.<br /><br />Sometimes I think I live a triple life...but the reality is that we all hide behind something.<br /><br />That is why sometimes it is so hard to take criticism about our writing, because sometimes it's the one place we don't hide.<br /><br />Shelleystoryqueenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07039684494823420722noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-76918340128100507122010-01-25T16:33:30.718-08:002010-01-25T16:33:30.718-08:00Don't worry Natalie. I don't take things t...Don't worry Natalie. I don't take things too personally. I always feel that if someone doesn't like me now - just wait you'll really hate...I mean like me later. *grin*Mary E Campbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13119298615414367828noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-16737780424808879492010-01-25T16:31:53.882-08:002010-01-25T16:31:53.882-08:00Being Someone to be Liked in Boy Land:
1. Cool bo...Being Someone to be Liked in Boy Land:<br /><br />1. Cool boys are good at sports, so I will play sports.<br />2. I suck at sports.<br />3. Boys mock me to make themselves appear cooler than they really are.<br />4. I join one of the uncool cliques where I can be me, or at least pretend to be cool more effectively (possible positions include: nerd, techie, drama geek, goth, or token white guy in the Asian crowd).<br /><br />Dang, I forgot how much I hated highschool.Adam Heinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02225813532455467868noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-15465286570842390392010-01-25T16:12:26.553-08:002010-01-25T16:12:26.553-08:00Yeah, see Mary? Sorry! I like you! I just get so n...Yeah, see Mary? Sorry! I like you! I just get so nervous and never know what to say and and and...<br /><br />Hyperventilating.<br /><br />I'm so much better in print. Less anxiety, so my brain actually finds the words it intends.Natalie Whipplehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09978251567306345129noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-28162206551728340732010-01-25T16:10:18.285-08:002010-01-25T16:10:18.285-08:00You're such an advice columnist sometimes. You...You're such an advice columnist sometimes. You seem to always know exactly what to say! Thanks!Claire Dawnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14354840714847021685noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-63591485210399490142010-01-25T16:08:52.468-08:002010-01-25T16:08:52.468-08:00I did notice you're sort of aloof in person. I...I did notice you're sort of aloof in person. I took it to mean you don't like me or you're unsure about me. I suppose that's why people may not like you, because they think you don't like them. But I've read your words and even if you are aloof in person I still feel I know you or at least the part of you you're willing to share and I like you. <br />I know what you mean about comparing our writing to others. It's so discouraging to read a finished novel and have it be so incredible and then wish I could write just like that. I can't write just like that though. I can only write like me - and then hope one day someone will read my work and they'll be wishing they could write like me - only kidding. Sort of.Mary E Campbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13119298615414367828noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-87418844736217791152010-01-25T16:06:38.907-08:002010-01-25T16:06:38.907-08:00Ah, this is a lesson that took me many years to le...Ah, this is a lesson that took me many years to learn. Trying to please other people will only bring you pain in the long run. So it's better to be true to yourself. Very nice post!Melissa Hursthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15530652829980250261noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-74308140912361634792010-01-25T16:05:16.723-08:002010-01-25T16:05:16.723-08:00Very, very true! It's sometimes hard to be our...Very, very true! It's sometimes hard to be ourselves, but it's the only way to be happy :)Jemi Fraserhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02214408467456320167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-44732927888042913372010-01-25T15:32:05.852-08:002010-01-25T15:32:05.852-08:00You have the best pep talks :)You have the best pep talks :)Mariah Irvinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15181111151756005743noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-21798144421525021152010-01-25T15:29:15.494-08:002010-01-25T15:29:15.494-08:00So true. I've gotten better at just being me a...So true. I've gotten better at just being me as I've gotten older and not comparing myself to others or trying to conform so much, but writing is definitely one area where I still struggle!Guineverehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10058786129073896210noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-45155378750909093962010-01-25T15:14:42.326-08:002010-01-25T15:14:42.326-08:00Beyond true, Natalie. It's the hardest thing i...Beyond true, Natalie. It's the hardest thing in the world NOT to compare. Or to read too much into one's words -- especially on the internet. <br /><br />My motto: Assume good will.Elana Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05877856005992028912noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-30053365121377122722010-01-25T15:12:08.654-08:002010-01-25T15:12:08.654-08:00I hate when writers compare themselves to others -...I hate when writers compare themselves to others - for good or bad. It assumes there's a baseline that doesn't actually exist.<br /><br />All writers are not created equal. Two talented writers can be given the same prompt, situation, even first line, and the resulting pieces will be so different that line will be the only similarity in the final products.<br /><br />One you might like, one you might hate, or you might love them all. The genres may not even be the same, but they absolutely cannot be held up next to each other and quantified.Josin L. McQueinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05751043333147850336noreply@blogger.com