tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1439710678680377391.post5818960372052976133..comments2023-10-31T07:49:59.631-04:00Comments on Edited to Within an Inch of my Life: OrganicHeather Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06699360166269376285noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1439710678680377391.post-16204546015650933482009-10-22T17:23:08.939-04:002009-10-22T17:23:08.939-04:00Sarah--good points. I like how you talk about enj...Sarah--good points. I like how you talk about enjoying the process. I forget during revisions or tedious times to try to balance and put the enjoyment back in.Heather Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06699360166269376285noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1439710678680377391.post-43630406429765716792009-10-22T12:39:51.879-04:002009-10-22T12:39:51.879-04:00I know, from doing NaNo previously, that I can wri...I know, from doing NaNo previously, that I can write whenever I sit down and put fingers to keyboard. Does that mean the words are what I was hoping for? Sometimes yes, sometimes no. But when I let it flow naturally from being in one of my creative moods, I get the same results. What's different is whether or not I'm enjoying the process and how much writing gets done.<br /><br />I need that balance between flow and pushing it.<br /><br />The year I did the NaNo, I burnt myself out on writing until February. It's quite a drain to the old creative juices, but I learned invaluable lessons from doing it.Sarah Laurensonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09252565450452195395noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1439710678680377391.post-74904723760815034142009-10-21T15:04:20.923-04:002009-10-21T15:04:20.923-04:00Paul--I agree, and I love how you put it. The ide...Paul--I agree, and I love how you put it. The idea of being with the story and doing whatever the story needs in that moment.Heather Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06699360166269376285noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1439710678680377391.post-12322858737314091092009-10-21T11:33:14.996-04:002009-10-21T11:33:14.996-04:00Organic--For me, I think this means staying in the...Organic--For me, I think this means staying in the present moment. Be with the story now, whether you're cranking out 5,000 words a day on a first draft, doing line editing, or just pausing at a fork in the road of your story, exploring in your mind what would happen depending on which fork you took.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1439710678680377391.post-34714124767271271282009-10-21T09:01:33.703-04:002009-10-21T09:01:33.703-04:00Is there a wrong? I think I'd like to try the...Is there a wrong? I think I'd like to try the mashing method. My characters give me lip all the time--maybe it's a problem that I allow it.Heather Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06699360166269376285noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1439710678680377391.post-30401457163980280362009-10-21T04:54:59.409-04:002009-10-21T04:54:59.409-04:00I write fast and I edit fast and I mash all of my ...I write fast and I edit fast and I mash all of my characters into a rigid outline. If they give me any lip, I mash harder.<br /><br />I guess what I'm trying to say is: I probably write wrong.Ray Veenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11956279552298172157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1439710678680377391.post-53279576975856308872009-10-20T17:22:45.081-04:002009-10-20T17:22:45.081-04:00I write rather quickly as well- I liken it to skii...I write rather quickly as well- I liken it to skiing straight down a steep slope. And then I take my time in revisions. But you are right-- it does take collaboration. I'm so happy that you are getting great feedback now. I'm stoked for your recent success!Heather Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06699360166269376285noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1439710678680377391.post-84520210126417886152009-10-20T16:52:31.390-04:002009-10-20T16:52:31.390-04:00Great post. I write fast - like 6,000 words a day...Great post. I write fast - like 6,000 words a day is easy for me. (I know, annoying.) NaNoWriMo has never been a challenge for me because of this.<br /><br />But revising?<br /><br />ARGH!<br /><br />I spend months - a year, most of the time - revising my manuscript. And sometimes I can't stop. Writing is totally an organic process. But I think it is also something that has to be collaborative too. I think you need people to encourage you and say, "This IS good..." That's something I've had recently, agented writers in my corner cheering me on.<br /><br />Good post!Bryan B.https://www.blogger.com/profile/02065696515808415952noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1439710678680377391.post-50637509894331224182009-10-20T16:39:34.686-04:002009-10-20T16:39:34.686-04:00I did it last year. It was a great experience. W...I did it last year. It was a great experience. What I wrote wasn't very good, but I learned A LOT about myself by the end. I definitely recommend giving it a shot!Casey Somethinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17596079290053524103noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1439710678680377391.post-69166855655305234792009-10-20T15:05:07.603-04:002009-10-20T15:05:07.603-04:00Casey--I am all signed up for NaNo, mostly because...Casey--I am all signed up for NaNo, mostly because I am super curious. I'm hoping it feels like Mardi Gras for writing. (Everyone seems really pumped to do it!) It'll be fun to work on drafting again.Heather Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06699360166269376285noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1439710678680377391.post-33375473072224087262009-10-20T15:02:31.262-04:002009-10-20T15:02:31.262-04:00Karen--I agree. Forcing it always makes it feel, ...Karen--I agree. Forcing it always makes it feel, well, forced. Sometimes I think the best writing is accomplished by not writing at all, in order to let an idea stew for a while.Heather Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06699360166269376285noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1439710678680377391.post-41686744391604099882009-10-20T14:47:59.195-04:002009-10-20T14:47:59.195-04:00Great post, Heather!
I've been trying to un-r...Great post, Heather!<br /><br />I've been trying to un-rush lately. My story just isn't coming together. I'm trying to force it and I think it's getting worse.<br /><br />But at the same time... I'm thinking about doing NaNo again this year with a new project.<br /><br />Oh, the contradictory nature of me. ; )Casey Somethinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17596079290053524103noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1439710678680377391.post-2696826722980081162009-10-20T12:39:57.696-04:002009-10-20T12:39:57.696-04:00Love this post Heather!
I totally agree. I would ...Love this post Heather!<br /><br />I totally agree. I would love to write quicker and faster, but I find that when I force it, it doesn't come out well. <br /><br />Sometimes you have to let go and be open to write organically. This is where the beauty of writing happens. But it does require patience.Karen Stronghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08697785820907711723noreply@blogger.com