tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post1770210136333992453..comments2024-03-28T09:42:20.558-04:00Comments on Writers Who Kill: A Writer's InsecuritiesJim Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15090252530437277145noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-75898397962300880012014-08-28T22:18:17.872-04:002014-08-28T22:18:17.872-04:00Thanks for reenforcing the idea that writers tend ...Thanks for reenforcing the idea that writers tend to be insecure, and that writing for one's own satisfaction is a quite acceptable venture.<br /><br />I think many of us scratch our heads over books that become best sellers or are otherwise recognized. Not everyone likes the same thing, and I can usually see why a book is so successful, even if it isn't my particular cup of tea. Every once in a while, though, I have to just shake my head and wonder what I'm missing.KM Rockwoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03973749764907859829noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-82605520078854811242014-08-28T22:03:07.812-04:002014-08-28T22:03:07.812-04:00I like reading your beautiful prose and poetry, Gl...I like reading your beautiful prose and poetry, Gloria!<br /><br />One of my writing insecurities is getting the facts wrong, especially in historicals, and being called on it. It leads to over-researching and procrastination.Kara Cerisehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16484336785514235707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-62415971140787622242014-08-28T13:58:09.779-04:002014-08-28T13:58:09.779-04:00Thanks for the pep talk, Polly. I know I'm a b...Thanks for the pep talk, Polly. I know I'm a big chicken. But then a few years ago I bugged Annette Dashofy to blog. She refused, and she didn't publish until she was ready. It worked for her! When I feel one of my manuscripts is truly polished--I'll query. Thanks!E. B. Davishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16746747050278597888noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-58208003561653348862014-08-28T13:05:12.395-04:002014-08-28T13:05:12.395-04:00Warren, if you've done it before, you can do i...Warren, if you've done it before, you can do it again. Your short stories are amazing.<br /><br />Polly, thank you for stopping by and giving your input. Your books that I've read can't be improved on in my opinion. I've only read two so far, but plan on reading all of them. I just got more positive feedback last night when a friend of mine called and said she was with her sister-in-law and a friend of her sister-in-law and she and her sister-in-law were making such positive comments on my series, that the friend now wants my first two books signed. So two more books sold and I did nothing except write books people she knew liked to sell those two.Gloria Aldenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13581719606924364447noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-70213014864546447772014-08-28T11:58:42.694-04:002014-08-28T11:58:42.694-04:00Great post, Gloria. You keep doing what you do. Yo...Great post, Gloria. You keep doing what you do. You're right when you say readers have different tastes. I'm happy you put yourself out there. It's hard, and sometimes it hurts when a reviewer is nasty. I read those once, then never again. As long as you're getting positive feedback, you're doing something right.<br /><br />Jim, I've been to a Pat Conroy event, and I loved it. He was funny and engaging. I came away exhilarated, and that was before I started writing.<br /><br />Elaine, if you keep putting off getting that book out, you'll never do it. Do it! Not everyone will like it. That's just the way it is. I didn't like The Help, a book practically everyone loved. We aren't going to please everyone. Writers must grow a thick skin. I haven't succeeded doing that, but it's a lot thicker than it used to be.<br /><br />I've published 6 suspense books, and my insecurity is I know I could have made all 6 better. The 7th is coming out at the end of September, and I'm doing my best to make it the best it can be, but it will never be good enough. That doesn't stop me for writing more though.<br /><br /><br /><br />Polly Iyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05729656119287702191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-30490225003171117352014-08-28T10:53:31.373-04:002014-08-28T10:53:31.373-04:00My insecurity occurs after something of mine gets ...My insecurity occurs after something of mine gets published. I did it. Can I do it again?Warren Bullhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07789270258599769915noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-61664835317545901922014-08-28T08:00:37.470-04:002014-08-28T08:00:37.470-04:00E.B. I hear you on that. So many people were crazy...E.B. I hear you on that. So many people were crazy about Gone Girl, but I didn't like the characters from the beginning and couldn't read past the fifth chapter or so. In my book club, it got very mixed reviews. It's a matter of taste. I want to like at least one of my characters.<br /><br />I feel the same way about my books, too, Elaine. I think if your beta readers and editors feel your manuscripts are good, that you should go with a belief in them. I hear you about the art of procrastination. Every time I'd get a rejection from an agent or publisher, I'd pull my head back into my shell and not try again for months. I considered self-publishing for a while before I finally decided to go that route. What motivated me was when a young man in my local writers group self-published a book of his poetry, and I realized I could pay him to put it up for me since he knew how. That's when I started reading how to format and hired my granddaughter to do the cover. I've never regretted my decision, but I think there are a lot more small publishers out there now so I wouldn't give up on them, either, if I were you. It's good having more options now. Whatever route you go, you should go for it.Gloria Aldenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13581719606924364447noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-27298381456530509142014-08-28T07:37:30.136-04:002014-08-28T07:37:30.136-04:00I read a lot. I'm not too discriminating in ch...I read a lot. I'm not too discriminating in choosing books, rarely reading book reviews. The fact is that I conclude my tastes must be different than the average American. Few bestsellers in books, movies, or TV fascinate me. If I read a books that I think are lame, I stop reading them, make note of the author so I won't read them again--which brings me to my insecurity. <br /><br />I've written two manuscripts that beta readers and editors feel are worthy. But it is putting out that first book, having readers judge, and wondering if they will label it "lame" and never read me again. <br /><br />Writing under pseudonyms has its advantages. But the writing community is small and establishing a reputation is important. I've perfected the art of procrastination!E. B. Davishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16746747050278597888noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-5816490157382662422014-08-28T07:20:39.777-04:002014-08-28T07:20:39.777-04:00Jim, I'm glad to hear Conroy did not exaggerat...Jim, I'm glad to hear Conroy did not exaggerate about his family. I'm going to let that book club know that and continue reading his other books, too. <br /><br />Also, you make a good point about critical reviews. Certainly, in book clubs we feel free to point out what we think was well done and where the author failed at least as we see it. I know I'm always disappointed when I read a book that I think I'll like and it doesn't live up to its hype. Also, I don't always like books that others seem to like that are on the best seller list. It's all a matter of personal taste.Gloria Aldenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13581719606924364447noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-38590586454524708932014-08-28T06:30:59.035-04:002014-08-28T06:30:59.035-04:00I’ve met Pat Conroy and heard him speak with most ...I’ve met Pat Conroy and heard him speak with most of his brothers and sisters participating in a discussion of their family. They agree: Pat did not exaggerate.<br /><br />It’s fine that Pat never wrote a critical review, but I don’t consider it praiseworthy. Without book reviews we’d have to read everything ourselves to know whether we might like reading them. Especially for indie authors and those published by small publishers, without reviews we have a very limited audience.<br /><br />We'd be better off with more critical reviews of big name authors to encourage them to write the way they did when they first became known -- but I've blogged on that topic before.<br /><br />And I should say critical of the writing is not being critical of the person, although I suspect Pat Conroy would not agree.<br /><br />~ Jim<br />Jim Jacksonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15090252530437277145noreply@blogger.com