tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post6859328877752631554..comments2024-02-16T02:56:00.399-08:00Comments on Between Fact and Fiction: Step It UpNatalie Whipplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09978251567306345129noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-49762861049820468622011-10-27T11:43:26.403-07:002011-10-27T11:43:26.403-07:00You insipre me!You insipre me!Janicehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12018462020647415671noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-54010790346210473362011-10-24T08:44:13.587-07:002011-10-24T08:44:13.587-07:00Amen. That is really all I have left to add. You c...Amen. That is really all I have left to add. You covered it all... :) Well done.J.R. Johanssonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02671109654769467131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-60965209657519567962011-10-24T06:47:52.427-07:002011-10-24T06:47:52.427-07:00WHAT? It's getting HARDER to get published?!? ...WHAT? It's getting HARDER to get published?!? NO! It's ALREADY hard! UGH! Le sigh.Lisa Aldinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05423334732254639943noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-74932585196291222802011-10-23T16:23:47.419-07:002011-10-23T16:23:47.419-07:00Oh my God I have moments like that every six month...Oh my God I have moments like that every six months! I just had one like last week. (In fact I'm going on an Edgar Award winner reading frenzy whilst I work on the second draft of my WIP). I remember when my agent sent me her editorial email about my second book. God it was long. This is a great post and so true!Lisa Reganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12899014095250160853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-19496496354488535222011-10-23T13:49:37.377-07:002011-10-23T13:49:37.377-07:00My experience with my now-agent was very similar t...My experience with my now-agent was very similar to yours. Nine months of revisions, in small (or not so small) chunks before signing anything. I just couldn't believe (and still can't believe) this agent was willing to spend so much time on me! As scary and disheartening as it was receiving these long emails, it was such a gift to have a professional spend so much time developing me and my ms., and I know I will take the skills I learned in that first real editing process with me forever.<br /><br />And if that isn't a Happy Writer post, I don't know what is :)Sally Hepworthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07417446672874466269noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-2175639109576975292011-10-22T15:16:57.216-07:002011-10-22T15:16:57.216-07:00With every critique I undoubtedly face this type o...With every critique I undoubtedly face this type of realization, but as you said, it's all so we can improve as writers. Great post.Anita Saxenahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12444339735834716979noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-9892572953760625002011-10-22T14:39:37.317-07:002011-10-22T14:39:37.317-07:00That's a tough realization. I'm think I...That's a tough realization. I'm think I'm improving as a writer, but I doubt I'd pass the Bransford test yet. It's sometimes hard to reconcile that knowlege with the impatience to get out there.<br /><br />To me, it's about finding the right balance between process and goal. You need goals, of course, or you'll never arrive anywhere. But if you focus entirely on objectives you can end up incredibly frustrated when your work just doesn't reach the bar. So getting better and enjoying that process as a partial end in itself has to become one of your objectives. You need to settle in and savor the journey.matt zhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13378613617294511706noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-5530543390942115702011-10-22T01:36:52.255-07:002011-10-22T01:36:52.255-07:00This is such a wonderful post. Brave and honest. I...This is such a wonderful post. Brave and honest. I had a similar realisation when I got my first editing request back from my publisher. I had to cut the first two chapters and find a way to make any of the important information in there work elsewhere in the novel. There's still so much work to do, but my editor is fantastic and helping me every step of the way.<br /><br />The first step to wisdom is admitting you know nothing. :-)Paul Anthony Shortthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14393249001158230985noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-58493855805323419242011-10-21T19:55:27.017-07:002011-10-21T19:55:27.017-07:00This is what I have been expecting all along. Well...This is what I have been expecting all along. Well, after my super-newbie-confident days (you know, after writing my first book in three months and thinking it was totally awesome). I expect that no matter how good I get, someone will say that I need to work on it. And I will agree wholeheartedly. I think as soon as writers realize this, the better off they'll be. With critiques as well as looking for ways to improving the craft. <br /><br />Great post!Kathryn Packer Robertshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16506942804607936833noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-22176127736746334272011-10-21T19:54:15.852-07:002011-10-21T19:54:15.852-07:00Be honest about the state of work. That's wha...Be honest about the state of work. That's what I needed to hear.Susan Kanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09834094675218254410noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-44676721746848466282011-10-21T18:25:02.898-07:002011-10-21T18:25:02.898-07:00Good advice and congratulations on making it throu...Good advice and congratulations on making it through the quagmire of revisions etc. It helps to develop a thick skin and to have a certain degree of confidence. Intangible Heartshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05047040538015079182noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-42567262819261510802011-10-21T18:08:10.628-07:002011-10-21T18:08:10.628-07:00Great post, Natalie. Love the honesty and the wisd...Great post, Natalie. Love the honesty and the wisdom, even if it is sometimes hard to take in.Gabe (Ava Jae)https://www.blogger.com/profile/04778524723148508140noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-5620209223080787882011-10-21T17:56:17.514-07:002011-10-21T17:56:17.514-07:00Hee hee. I remember the process I now fondly refer...Hee hee. I remember the process I now fondly refer to as the Bransford Wringer. And I'm being genuine, not saracastic, when I say "fondly." Because somehow even while he listed dozens of ways in which I could improve a ms., he always made it sound totally do-able, and I would be excited rather than discouraged about revising. That's what they call *constructive* criticism.<br /><br />And it's good preparation for editorial letters, which are similar. Even when a ms. is good enough to get a contract and have people investing their time and money in it, it still usually needs a fair amount of revision. An editorial letter is two paragraphs saying how much the editor loves your book, with a few pages in between listing everything that's wrong with it.<br /><br />I always submit a book that's as polished as I know how to make it--but an editorial letter opens new doors in my mind.Jennifer R. Hubbardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03408588432492354248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-38355242218362342882011-10-21T17:48:07.663-07:002011-10-21T17:48:07.663-07:00And on the flip side - just because you're not...And on the flip side - just because you're not good enough now, doesn't mean you won't ever be. My music teacher in high school used to repeat that a lot. Kid would say, "I can't do it!" and teacher would reply, "<i>Yet</i>." And he'd push us to continue practicing and putting in effort, and sure enough, eventually we'd find we <i>could</i> do it.Seabrookehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09400079400485962650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-58600976350064891172011-10-21T16:15:59.491-07:002011-10-21T16:15:59.491-07:00I loved this. I needed this. What a great eye op...I loved this. I needed this. What a great eye opening kick in the butt. Time to work on the craft.Tasha Seegmillerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11489911822054861132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-74439015701042384962011-10-21T15:49:28.508-07:002011-10-21T15:49:28.508-07:00"How had I dared to think I was ready to be p..."How had I dared to think I was ready to be published at all?" <br /><br />Yep.<br /><br />I'm really impressed that Nathan took that much time with someone he hadn't even signed yet. I think it must show that he saw something that convinced him you were worth it. As you said, you weren't there yet. But you could get there.Donna K. Weaverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15763832177263927311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-84666274395725087832011-10-21T15:37:06.057-07:002011-10-21T15:37:06.057-07:00Thanks for the kick in the pants. I've improve...Thanks for the kick in the pants. I've improved a lot from where I began as my feedback from authors and agents is of much better quality than in the past, but I know I have further and deeper to go. Thanks for the reminder not to get lazy and complacent. You've been in the trenches; you know of which you speak.June Ghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08570382577796763370noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-76975395469082040152011-10-21T15:22:10.417-07:002011-10-21T15:22:10.417-07:00Awesome post, Natalie.Awesome post, Natalie.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-60406465169577799952011-10-21T15:15:16.594-07:002011-10-21T15:15:16.594-07:00I know I'm not good enough...yet. But half th...I know I'm not good enough...yet. But half the fun is in the journey. Thanks for this post!Cassie Maehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17706774393186819619noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-84793428481010791612011-10-21T15:07:34.472-07:002011-10-21T15:07:34.472-07:00Great post! Thanks for sharing this with us. It&#...Great post! Thanks for sharing this with us. It's posts like this that make me work harder and push myself as far as I can.Janihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01719756455059796984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-39416493281422140082011-10-21T15:06:01.710-07:002011-10-21T15:06:01.710-07:00I have not been slapped to earth in this way...yet...I have not been slapped to earth in this way...yet. But it's coming. Great post, Natalie, and inspiring to see how you were able to use the 'bad news' to good advantage.JeffOhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07947660745120963286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-70840827876746501352011-10-21T15:04:52.490-07:002011-10-21T15:04:52.490-07:00This is the kind of honesty we all need! Awesome p...This is the kind of honesty we all need! Awesome post, thank you for writing it.Aubrey Annehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17606697533523154620noreply@blogger.com