tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post7742293599156229588..comments2024-03-28T12:01:31.049-04:00Comments on Writers Who Kill: The Frustrations of Living in the AlmostJim Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15090252530437277145noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-76131261042901656042014-04-14T10:51:06.703-04:002014-04-14T10:51:06.703-04:00Everyone has such good comments about this! I'...Everyone has such good comments about this! I'm totally on board with controlling what I can, and trying (so, so hard) not to worry about what I can't. Kind of hard to impart this on a five-year-old, but, hey, we adults can practice this.Sarah Henninghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06822639126179367121noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-12844785902731691022014-04-13T23:02:38.125-04:002014-04-13T23:02:38.125-04:00The "almost" can be a frustrating and di...The "almost" can be a frustrating and discouraging place. But I think striving and overcoming obstacles is one way people grow. Henry Miller wrote a story about a guru, a boy, and a butterfly. It ends with the boy learning that the only way a butterfly can strengthen its wings is by beating them against the cocoon while emerging. Without strong wings, it wouldn't survive in the world. Kara Cerisehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16484336785514235707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-77916693246111329402014-04-13T18:28:09.042-04:002014-04-13T18:28:09.042-04:00One of my daughters somehow learned to read early,...One of my daughters somehow learned to read early, and announced in kindergarten that she wanted to be a bookmaker when she grew up, intending to convey the notion that she wanted to be an author.<br /><br />In the area of South Chicago where we were living, making book was a very real occupation. This was pre-lottery days, and lots of people were numbers runners. It wasn't hard to find someone to take a bet on almost anything. Her statement led to a conversation with school personell about what she was exposed to at home, especially since she was once in a while picked up at school by my then-boyfriend, who was a biker. I'm not saying that we were totally law abiding at that point, but we weren't bookies.<br /><br />Jim, I have a tendency to assume everything is out of my control, which I know leads at times to not taking steps that I could to influence the outcome of things that I care about. I try to be aware of that tendency and combat it.KM Rockwoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03973749764907859829noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-78227887869365622902014-04-13T13:35:01.227-04:002014-04-13T13:35:01.227-04:00Even though my writing life started years ago, I&#...Even though my writing life started years ago, I'm not sure if I am surviving well. I always seem to be playing catch up. If I get amerced in my novel, short story opportunities take me from the novel. Once I finished a spurt of short stories, I have to catch up reading and doing author interviews. So, I try to hurry through them to get back to my novel. And the whole cycle repeats itself over and over. I do the same thing with real life work. Oh no, I'm a lab rat!E. B. Davishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16746747050278597888noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-47675049693217392862014-04-13T10:39:03.768-04:002014-04-13T10:39:03.768-04:00Right now I'm hearing that song "High Hop...Right now I'm hearing that song "High Hopes" in my mind - the one about the little ant trying to move a rubber tree plant "Oops there goes another rubber tree plant!" Your son will get there.<br />The Almost is a frustrating place. It helps to focus on the things within my control - the actual writing or sending a query. Achieving small writing goals - a blog completed, edits done - helps me feel that I am moving in the right direction. <br />Shari Randallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16425493627354028820noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-56541305036472027582014-04-13T10:05:51.300-04:002014-04-13T10:05:51.300-04:00Sarah, how good you must feel that your son is fru...Sarah, how good you must feel that your son is frustrated over something so dear to your heart, too. My first son at that age wanted to be a garbage man. Of course, of all my children, he was the one who loved reading the most.<br /><br />I write long "to do" lists and at the end of the week the list is still long. I get frustrated over the too many things to do and the not enough time frustration. One of my sisters looked at my list once and decided she needed to lie down and take a nap after reading my list. :-)Gloria Aldenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13581719606924364447noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-88316542043599650092014-04-13T09:39:13.552-04:002014-04-13T09:39:13.552-04:00Sarah, I can identify with your son's frustrat...Sarah, I can identify with your son's frustration! I feel like I'm going through a plateau period now. I like what Jim and Warren have said. The other day, I wrote down what I had achieved over the past year. I ended the list with: "The water in the glass is rising." I look back at that when I need encouragement.Paula Gail Bensonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08843350597811462936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-24278845459294816062014-04-13T09:06:47.285-04:002014-04-13T09:06:47.285-04:00I think it is not an altogether bad thing for your...I think it is not an altogether bad thing for your son to find out that what he wants takes time and effort to achieve. As jim said, some things are out of out control, we put in time and effort with no guarantee. To balance that I find having friends and family helps. Also doing other things that I enjoy reminds me that some things come easily. Warren Bullhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07789270258599769915noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-47373564954924737572014-04-13T04:30:03.764-04:002014-04-13T04:30:03.764-04:00The difference is that a lot of our almosts are wi...The difference is that a lot of our almosts are within our control, whereas your son has a bit of mental growing to do and then <i>poof</i> he’ll have it. For those things under my control, I try to take control. Those I can’t affect I try to ignore and concentrate on something I can do.<br /><br />And when I fail, I remind myself what success looks like and try again. :)<br /><br />~ Jim<br />Jim Jacksonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15090252530437277145noreply@blogger.com