tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1401296522737471037.post2662237194978649887..comments2023-12-26T09:58:45.306-06:00Comments on Writer Musings: Professional WritingTabithahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17420910182752981979noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1401296522737471037.post-40597939841003110102009-04-12T14:34:00.000-05:002009-04-12T14:34:00.000-05:00The Caren Johnson blog has rapidly become one of m...The Caren Johnson blog has rapidly become one of my favorites. :)<BR/><BR/>And it is very sad that so many writers can't see things differently. Makes it both harder and easier for the rest of us...Tabithahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17420910182752981979noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1401296522737471037.post-21453967717170646312009-04-10T15:00:00.000-05:002009-04-10T15:00:00.000-05:00Thanks for the post. I went over to the agency's s...Thanks for the post. I went over to the agency's site, and you're right there are many good discussions over there. Its certainly a blog I'll start following.<BR/><BR/>Like so many have already said, I know writers like this and nothing seems to change their attitude toward getting published.Matthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01391867546599335769noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1401296522737471037.post-40880260686669121492009-04-03T16:52:00.000-05:002009-04-03T16:52:00.000-05:00I heard about that kid. I kind of felt sorry for ...I heard about that kid. I kind of felt sorry for him, because he's being thrown into this field of rejections and expectations and he doesn't know what he's getting in to. At least we do. :)<BR/><BR/>And your relatives are hilarious!! Yeah, it's just that simple to write a blockbusting bestseller with movie rights and everything. And then get it published. Sure. :) Most non-writers don't understand... :)Tabithahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17420910182752981979noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1401296522737471037.post-11119960740928315102009-04-03T16:24:00.000-05:002009-04-03T16:24:00.000-05:00There was a very young kid who published a book ab...There was a very young kid who published a book about how to get girls some time back. He had labored over it obviously, and it was cute as could be, but it was still what it was: a kid's first effort. I found myself depressed that he'd managed to find an agent and land a publishing contract so effortlessly when I've been whacking away at the coal face for the past ten years. I didn't really feel envious -- how could I? -- but I do wonder what I'm doing sometimes. <BR/><BR/>I've got non-blood relatives who will probably have a lot more time for me now that I'm actually earning money teaching, and not just writing all day long. They can't understand why I don't write a bestselling book like 'The DaVinci Code' and make millions of dollars. (Their words, not mine...)Mary Witzlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06458299046574564155noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1401296522737471037.post-11366273371223462682009-04-03T09:38:00.000-05:002009-04-03T09:38:00.000-05:00Thanks! And, yeah, he said that. But hey, it rea...Thanks! And, yeah, he said that. But hey, it really doesn't change anything so no big deal. :)Tabithahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17420910182752981979noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1401296522737471037.post-48318498517247405362009-04-02T18:48:00.000-05:002009-04-02T18:48:00.000-05:00Wow ... great post! I can't believe a family memb...Wow ... great post! I can't believe a family member said that!Kelly H-Yhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07324529762031928328noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1401296522737471037.post-25042880849309555132009-04-02T12:31:00.000-05:002009-04-02T12:31:00.000-05:00Aww, thanks!!! :) That's a really nice thing to ...Aww, thanks!!! :) That's a really nice thing to hear, especially in this profession that's so full of rejection. Thanks! :)Tabithahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17420910182752981979noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1401296522737471037.post-30579222388609091802009-04-02T07:28:00.000-05:002009-04-02T07:28:00.000-05:00That's really sad about your family member who thi...That's really sad about your family member who thinks you should just self publish and get over with it! We believe in you!Christina Farleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03459203755170266842noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1401296522737471037.post-78610029222771509942009-03-31T20:40:00.000-05:002009-03-31T20:40:00.000-05:00No angry crowds are gathering here, because all op...No angry crowds are gathering here, because all opinions are welcome on this blog. :)<BR/><BR/>I think that's a valid way to think of being a writer. And it it worked for you, that's great. I happen to be un-fazed by those 'You're not published? Oh...' folks, so I still call myself a writer. :) But that doesn't mean everyone has to.<BR/><BR/>I'll start preparing myself for the 'Only one book?' thing, so thanks for the heads up. :)Tabithahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17420910182752981979noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1401296522737471037.post-70136083710775105502009-03-31T12:07:00.000-05:002009-03-31T12:07:00.000-05:00See, I have an unpopular belief. I think you actua...See, I have an unpopular belief. I think you actually are an ASPIRING writer until you publish. (Hope angry crowds aren't gathering) But, honestly, I've been on both sides of this fence, and if you say you are a writer, and you have no published work, people are going to inwardly - and sometimes outwardly - wince.<BR/><BR/>Writers won't because we get what you're saying -- but the rest of the world...<BR/><BR/>I just always found no one had a problem when I said I was a hopeful writer or an apiring writer. It just sounds less arrogant I guess.<BR/><BR/>And btw, after you publish that first book, people come up to you and say, "You only published that ONE novel, right?"<BR/><BR/>So get ready for that next. : )Anne Spollenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12915171740680350711noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1401296522737471037.post-21683932011373443842009-03-30T22:02:00.000-05:002009-03-30T22:02:00.000-05:00Carrie - yeah, a few other agents commented on Car...Carrie - yeah, a few other agents commented on Caren's blog that they'd seen the same guy. Kind of sad that he still hasn't learned. Glad zombie books cheer you right up, though, cause one is on its way to you. :)<BR/><BR/>Beth - oh yes, BIG difference. I can be understanding about newbie mistakes. We've all made them. But not about the same mistake being made again and again and again. I mean, seriously, how many times can you slam yourself against that wall?? It's gotta hurt. :)<BR/><BR/>PJ - I *completely* agree with you. My computer science job was like kindergarten compared with writing. But, as you say, unless someone writes, he's not going to understand it. :)<BR/><BR/>Emina - it's very unfortunate. And I for one don't call this person a Writer! :) <BR/><BR/>Bish - yep, that's the saddest part of all (the not realizing it). Especially since he probably doesn't search out things on craft that could easily tell him what what he's doing is WRONG. Instead, he seems to be going from agency to agency, flooding the inboxes. Very sad.<BR/><BR/>Jacqui - I totally agree that this guy's energy has the wrong focus. He needs to go back to writing, because, as you say, that's what makes us writers. :)Tabithahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17420910182752981979noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1401296522737471037.post-48657552986374608532009-03-30T20:01:00.000-05:002009-03-30T20:01:00.000-05:00I usually try to convince as many people as possib...I usually try to convince as many people as possible to consider themselves "writers," the idea being that it's writing that makes you a writer, not publishing. Which comes at your point from a different direction, I think, in that this guy's energy seems to be in the wrong places.Jacquihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08277260387578439327noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1401296522737471037.post-73949778418728735872009-03-30T15:04:00.000-05:002009-03-30T15:04:00.000-05:00People like that "writer" make it harder for peopl...People like that "writer" make it harder for people like us who put so much time and effort into our work. The real crime is they don't even realize it.Bish Denhamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13359927719391990534noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1401296522737471037.post-24828172155773871612009-03-30T13:27:00.000-05:002009-03-30T13:27:00.000-05:00I like the post.It's unfortunate how some people c...I like the post.<BR/>It's unfortunate how some people can be so unprofessional. Dare we still call them "true" writers?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1401296522737471037.post-82825532830499050122009-03-30T13:17:00.000-05:002009-03-30T13:17:00.000-05:00The writing business is so much harder than other ...The writing business is so much harder than other "professional" jobs. In engineering, I never had the ups and downs that I have in writing. I never comments against my work personally. <BR/>But unless they write, people just don't get it.PJ Hooverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02602205868934777662noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1401296522737471037.post-84544433192668748502009-03-30T12:56:00.000-05:002009-03-30T12:56:00.000-05:00Argh. I read that on her blog, and it made me SO M...Argh. I read that on her blog, and it made me SO MAD. I HATE it when people do that. There's a difference between an amateur mistake and solid pig-headedness.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11431700962951592287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1401296522737471037.post-57669577046116040462009-03-30T11:33:00.000-05:002009-03-30T11:33:00.000-05:00You know, I've heard about this guy from other age...You know, I've heard about this guy from other agent blogs too. And then I think about the people who really are working hard at both business and craft, and it makes me sad.<BR/><BR/>But then I hear a success story, or I win a zombie book, and then I'm happy again. ;)Carrie Harrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14893023777471521703noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1401296522737471037.post-52482024909053421862009-03-30T10:30:00.000-05:002009-03-30T10:30:00.000-05:00Justus - LOL! There's nothing like learning from ...Justus - LOL! There's nothing like learning from the School of Hard Knocks, though. You never forget the lesson. :)<BR/><BR/>Christy - I am SO with you here. But, hey, even if people like that did get it, nothing would change for me. I'd still work my butt off with craft and research and such. So when I hear things like 'self-publish,' I shrug and walk away, then go back to work. :)Tabithahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17420910182752981979noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1401296522737471037.post-862040189253799782009-03-30T10:22:00.000-05:002009-03-30T10:22:00.000-05:00I wish people would keep their opinions to themsel...I wish people would keep their opinions to themselves when they say you should just self publish and be done w/ it. They just don't get it. Poor people. Makes me want to go "grrrrr" ;0)C.R. Evershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09034891037873664976noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1401296522737471037.post-89123143041759217422009-03-30T10:13:00.000-05:002009-03-30T10:13:00.000-05:00I came into this thinking, "writing seems easy eno...I came into this thinking, "writing seems easy enough." Ha ha. Sometimes it's painful to learn the truth.Bowmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11031226145526664876noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1401296522737471037.post-20908255436214101362009-03-30T10:12:00.000-05:002009-03-30T10:12:00.000-05:00Keri - thanks! :) BTW, I love the cover to your ...Keri - thanks! :) BTW, I love the cover to your new book! :)<BR/><BR/>Angela - frustrating is a very nice way to put it. :) I wish there weren't so many people like this one out there.<BR/><BR/>Glam - soooo, true. Very little seems to be fair in this industry. Fortunately, those of us working our butts off here can withstand that. :)Tabithahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17420910182752981979noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1401296522737471037.post-62151354165341155452009-03-30T10:00:00.000-05:002009-03-30T10:00:00.000-05:00It's frustrating to me when I see people actually ...It's frustrating to me when I see people actually succeed when they didn't really try that hard. And here I am working my butt off.<BR/><BR/>And I understand about people not seeing you as a writer until you're published. It doesn't seem fair, does it? Not much seems fair in this business. :)Michelle D. Argylehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09696465137285587646noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1401296522737471037.post-50114326450864123102009-03-30T08:06:00.000-05:002009-03-30T08:06:00.000-05:00Unfortunately I think there are a lot of these ou...Unfortunately I think there are a lot of these out there, clogging up slush piles. It's...frustrating.Angela Ackermanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01808259088625142389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1401296522737471037.post-30186259362038445522009-03-30T06:40:00.000-05:002009-03-30T06:40:00.000-05:00Great post. And so true!!Great post. And so true!!Keri Mikulskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10674081854220914215noreply@blogger.com