tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1401296522737471037.post8144940315626148790..comments2023-12-26T09:58:45.306-06:00Comments on Writer Musings: Is It Ever Really Done?Tabithahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17420910182752981979noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1401296522737471037.post-77446447505133387392009-02-27T17:57:00.000-06:002009-02-27T17:57:00.000-06:00I finished one novel. That's my trunk novel. I sti...I finished one novel. That's my trunk novel. I still tweak my second novel and I'm still honing my third novel. My fourth novel is a WIP.<BR/><BR/>I think any work of art is perpetually unfinished. Even a potter who has fired his clay probably still wishes he could go back and fix imperfections only he can see. When I play the piano, the piece I'm playing is never good enough.<BR/><BR/>Leonardo Da Vinci said it best: Art is never finished, only abandoned.<BR/><BR/>Thanks for visiting my blog and I love your sites--both your website and your blog. Very impressive and professional. I'll be coming back.Tia Nevitthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05489109929908389257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1401296522737471037.post-4673913970930938752009-02-25T18:59:00.000-06:002009-02-25T18:59:00.000-06:00This is such an interesting topic. Some writer onc...This is such an interesting topic. Some writer once said that when all you are doing is moving around commas on your manuscript, put it down and step away!<BR/><BR/>When I was at the Winter SCBWI Con in NY a few weeks ago, MG writer Bruce Hale quoted Zora Neale Hurston. It reminds me, Tabitha, of what you said about your short story having to be told.<BR/><BR/>"There is no agony like bearing an untold story inside of you."<BR/><BR/>That is a beautiful quote.Ronald L. Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03649046677631873728noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1401296522737471037.post-74811935313949439082009-02-24T09:55:00.000-06:002009-02-24T09:55:00.000-06:00I know exactly what you mean. There are times I th...I know exactly what you mean. There are times I think "what is WRONG? Why can't I send this out yet? The i's are dotted...the t's are crossed...everyone says it's ready!" BUT it's not. BUT once I get it RIGHT - THEN I can send it out. If that "feeling" of incompleteness is still there, it's NOT ready. But when I have the peace that can NOT be explained...then I am able to send that baby out. It's done. <BR/><BR/>:)Write2ignitehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17266315375662322726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1401296522737471037.post-65426746500258338122009-02-23T15:45:00.000-06:002009-02-23T15:45:00.000-06:00I agree about the story being finished but the wri...I agree about the story being finished but the writing not. I'm so OCD, that I tend to keep on going until time runs out. I always seem to find "one more thing" that needs additional attention. I'm a knit-picker, plain and simple. It's hard for me to let it go. When I do, I still question myself.<BR/><BR/>I have this same issue with my art. It's never really what I thought it could be. I'm painfully perfectionistic and it drives me nuts! I think that ultimately, it just depends on the person.C.J. Raymerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14048899669852154500noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1401296522737471037.post-57441841404528642552009-02-23T12:01:00.000-06:002009-02-23T12:01:00.000-06:00Several times during the writing process, I think ...Several times during the writing process, I think the mss is done (and I guess at that point is it--for me). But then I get feedback from my agent or editor, smack myself on the forehead, and dive back in. Plus, it seems like I'm always finding sentences that could be better worded. <BR/><BR/>Great topic!Sydney Salterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00004855240652246923noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1401296522737471037.post-38487276329852132432009-02-23T10:12:00.000-06:002009-02-23T10:12:00.000-06:00But then comes the editor. And your eyes open wide...But then comes the editor. And your eyes open wide and you see all the things that still need to be done :)<BR/><BR/>Seriously, feedback from editors has been so eye-opening to me. And I can't believe I couldn't see those things before.PJ Hooverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02602205868934777662noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1401296522737471037.post-12271903334174186912009-02-23T07:17:00.000-06:002009-02-23T07:17:00.000-06:00To make the question even more of a quandary, the ...To make the question even more of a quandary, the story can be done but the writing not be.<BR/><BR/>This question really arises for me when I read a book and think it's got glaring problems in the story, writing or both. Obviously, a whole chain of people thought it was done, or it wouldn't be in print. All I really know is that "done" is much farther down the road than we usually think. Unless you're on deadline, in which case a draft plus a pass-through revision is about all you get.Marciahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10006966091789130047noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1401296522737471037.post-41480440888902538692009-02-23T07:06:00.000-06:002009-02-23T07:06:00.000-06:00Exactly. :) After I wrote my very first novel (w...Exactly. :) After I wrote my very first novel (which is in a deep, deep drawer), I was shocked when I realized that a first draft isn't anywhere near done. :) It really is a journey we've decided to embark upon, isn't it? :)Tabithahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17420910182752981979noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1401296522737471037.post-88104947475404269672009-02-23T06:14:00.000-06:002009-02-23T06:14:00.000-06:00I always think it's done. I really do. I always ta...I always think it's done. I really do. I always talk myself into thinking that everything's perfect.<BR/><BR/>But since joining crit groups and getting beta readers, I've realized it's not done until there is no comment that bothers me. If a comment makes me defensive, or makes me self critical, then I've got to rewrite. But if a comment just makes me go "eh, that's just a difference of style, no need to change that," or "eh, that's just you--these ten other readers disagree," then I know it's done. <BR/><BR/>And I think getting to a point where you know your ms. is done is brilliant--this has only just happened to me with my recent ms.; before, I just accepted what I had as done, but now I can see a difference in my own writing.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11431700962951592287noreply@blogger.com