tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8515903861204137058.post8760341252310351416..comments2023-10-30T09:00:07.439-05:00Comments on A Walk In My Shoes: My Work Is Never Done!Susan R. Millshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09578747592345750650noreply@blogger.comBlogger42125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8515903861204137058.post-23038870884259295472009-09-21T05:11:48.751-05:002009-09-21T05:11:48.751-05:00When I write a poem I know when it's over. It&...When I write a poem I know when it's over. It's easy to know about a few lines. With whole novels though, I wished I knew. It never seems perfect. It never seems enough. Or maybe someday it will? I'm hoping.Lorihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17708851895104018255noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8515903861204137058.post-65990669620132254472009-09-20T23:12:57.399-05:002009-09-20T23:12:57.399-05:00It's a great question because so many of us st...It's a great question because so many of us start querying too soon. I edit until I feel my ms is the best I can make it (taking into account crit group feedback). I set it aside for a few weeks and go through it again. I hope to be finished at this point and usually think I am, but something often sneaks up and tells me to revise again. So I do. You're right--it is like cleaning the house!Dawn Simonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05667675689038435581noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8515903861204137058.post-19211126829827203332009-09-20T15:38:27.382-05:002009-09-20T15:38:27.382-05:00Feeling finished (at least temporarily) about hous...Feeling finished (at least temporarily) about housework is one thing. I know I'm done when I've made the bed, swept and vaccuumed, emptied the hamper, filled the dish rack, fed the kitty, cleaned her litter box, and put out the trash. Then I cross them off my to-do list (yes, I keep track of chores - how else will I remember to do them?) so that I can feel productive for a half-second... and then I remember that I still have three blog posts to write, other blogs to visit, a magazine article to finish, a novel to finish beta-reading, a hubby to pay attention to, an exercise routine to attempt, faraway family members to call... and that my own novel will never be done. <br /><br />Oh, I finished writing it all right, but I'm not so sure it will ever be DONE. I'll let you know the answer to "Will you know without a doubt that you are ready to submit?" when I reach the other side of revision... which keeps getting farther and farther away. Is this boat drifting backwards, or what?Laura Martonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17131901155051433491noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8515903861204137058.post-2135319076493071082009-09-19T18:37:12.895-05:002009-09-19T18:37:12.895-05:00I don't think anything is ever "finished&...I don't think anything is ever "finished" - and it's a character flaw. I have to stop myself if I'm reading over and over and obsessing and essentially have entire passages memorized - there's a feeling that creeps in - I'll get ridiculously insecure about something I've written that in a saner moment thought was pretty okay :)Margohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15813140073356995390noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8515903861204137058.post-2097947128601407472009-09-19T12:06:55.776-05:002009-09-19T12:06:55.776-05:00Ahoy, my pal. Me be bringin' ye some grog for ...Ahoy, my pal. Me be bringin' ye some grog for yer pirate talkin' lesson! :)Robyn Campbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17356555082768185840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8515903861204137058.post-69286283081927673352009-09-19T09:02:14.296-05:002009-09-19T09:02:14.296-05:00Hey, Susan! I just stopped by Cindy's blog and...Hey, Susan! I just stopped by Cindy's blog and wanted to share the same thing with you that I did with her. I think it fits your topic for the week, though maybe not directly for this post... Anywho...<br /><br />One day this week you talked about keeping scenes that you had to scrap that were really good. I did that by accident a few years ago. I wrote a book that was more for the process of learning to write a book than it was for publication. There are just too many things wrong with it. But the third chapter used to knock the wind out of me because it seemed so good. So I took the first half of it out and realized that it could stand on its own as a short story. I edited the life out of it and sent it off... and it was purchased by a major Christian mag. They never printed it (BOO!), but the editor now has a different magazine and she's going to use it in December.<br /><br />Anywho... that's another possible use for "scraps". Have a great weekend!<br /><br />And congrats to Wendy, by the way! I forgot to say that yesterday!Kristen Torres-Torohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15903038121623389560noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8515903861204137058.post-73516051952903166952009-09-19T03:46:09.334-05:002009-09-19T03:46:09.334-05:00I don't think jobs are ever made to be 'do...I don't think jobs are ever made to be 'done', there is always room for more mess ... living with a partner who is worse than a kid doesn't help either! ;0)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8515903861204137058.post-29607383078636101772009-09-18T21:11:28.911-05:002009-09-18T21:11:28.911-05:00I just blogged about this. Not as well ;)
AND I&...I just blogged about this. Not as well ;)<br /><br />AND I'm supposed to be finishing, not blogging, BUT IT"S HARD!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09556206184198452490noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8515903861204137058.post-43634127244791204312009-09-18T19:35:20.360-05:002009-09-18T19:35:20.360-05:00Ugh, I don't know if I'll ever "know&...Ugh, I don't know if I'll ever "know" I'm done. I will probably question every last detail until they (whoever "they" may be!) pry it out of my kung-fu grip (wishful thinking perhaps).<br /><br />Congrats to Wendy - she totally deserves that sparkly shoe. She's a gem!Beth Mannhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14279427592537427039noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8515903861204137058.post-19417143431785898992009-09-18T19:20:51.415-05:002009-09-18T19:20:51.415-05:00My work is never done either! I must have done si...My work is never done either! I must have done six loads of laundry this week and then as I went to put my son in eh bath tonight I passed the hamper.. and to my shock and horror, it was FULL! How is that possible?Corey Schwartzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03883689227283545602noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8515903861204137058.post-51080868364830474282009-09-18T18:56:04.757-05:002009-09-18T18:56:04.757-05:00I am asking myself those exact questions right now...I am asking myself those exact questions right now.....<br /><br />(no easy answers, I'm afraid.)<br /><br />Shelleystoryqueenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07039684494823420722noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8515903861204137058.post-3919836594686419642009-09-18T18:39:35.874-05:002009-09-18T18:39:35.874-05:00Yay to Wendy:)) I was done with my book and then ...Yay to Wendy:)) I was done with my book and then discovered a rule I'd broken! Ugh! So I went back and fixed it. Makes me always wonder what else is wrong!Terri Tiffanyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07771622379178654235noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8515903861204137058.post-37110286973851869352009-09-18T18:00:16.315-05:002009-09-18T18:00:16.315-05:00I haven't reached that stage yet but I'm d...I haven't reached that stage yet but I'm definitely looking forward to finding out what the answer to that question is! Debhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01603891627784763004noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8515903861204137058.post-7624770804302836942009-09-18T17:53:07.360-05:002009-09-18T17:53:07.360-05:00Well, I'm not done with my novel yet so I'...Well, I'm not done with my novel yet so I'm not sure how I'll feel. I suppose I'll just know. I hope.AiringMyLaundryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11051140760624657630noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8515903861204137058.post-61056351891660912832009-09-18T17:34:42.731-05:002009-09-18T17:34:42.731-05:00I wish putting out fires in life was as easy as th...I wish putting out fires in life was as easy as the delete button, though. Bleh.<br /><br />lol.<br /><br />I'm so glad my man has ONE pair of shoes. I'm the only person with piles of flip flops and shoes laying everywhere. It took me a long time to finish my very first novel, but I knew when it was done as soon as I typed the last sentence. I didn't plan to be done; it just was. Editing? Whole different story...Still working that fire!Nicolettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04235387990495348455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8515903861204137058.post-71179745468352134682009-09-18T15:37:56.693-05:002009-09-18T15:37:56.693-05:00When I am done with my first novel! I will be on t...When I am done with my first novel! I will be on top of the world! And want everyone to read it! :o)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8515903861204137058.post-40222216274129415312009-09-18T14:03:54.081-05:002009-09-18T14:03:54.081-05:00I thought I did, but then I had a beta reader say ...I thought I did, but then I had a beta reader say "No not there yet." So hopefully I will venture into one more round before submitting with the knowledge that they'll be more to come.Pattihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00685341739870191402noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8515903861204137058.post-3358277475990775122009-09-18T14:02:00.214-05:002009-09-18T14:02:00.214-05:00Isn't it so hard to know? I thought maybe I wa...Isn't it so hard to know? I thought maybe I was done with it at one point--but it was more of a "I've done as much as I can do with it--I think" kind of done than an actual "Wow, it's really done--I'm afraid if I mess with it anymore it will actually ruin it. Isn't it so sparkly?" Now that I've seen what it feels like to feel the 2nd way... I feel like I know when it's done. It was a long road to get there though.J.R. Johanssonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02671109654769467131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8515903861204137058.post-47175049699413627812009-09-18T13:42:08.581-05:002009-09-18T13:42:08.581-05:00Of course, I'm not there YET... but it has cro...Of course, I'm not there YET... but it has crossed my mind. Will I be overly confident and send off a crappy ms, or will I be overly critical and never get it in the mail? Hopefully, I will be somewhere in between...Lillian Robinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13488638666900705015noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8515903861204137058.post-73643206397842165392009-09-18T13:37:51.976-05:002009-09-18T13:37:51.976-05:00Interesting question, and one I think most writers...Interesting question, and one I think most writers struggle with. We know that more editing and revising will come, even after an agent and an editor. So how do we know when we're done? I think it's a gut thing. I think we know how much we've worked on it. If it's our best. We've had fresh eyes look at it. We've given it some time alone. We know if there's still that one section that isn't sitting right. We may not know how to fix it, but we know it's not "done." It's all in the gut.Elana Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05877856005992028912noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8515903861204137058.post-52417471588849969852009-09-18T13:35:02.105-05:002009-09-18T13:35:02.105-05:00I am dreading the editing and revising stages, but...I am dreading the editing and revising stages, but I am sure I will feel relieved when it is done.<br />I had to smile, my daughter had to remove a large collection of her shoes to accomodate us recently. She was delighted to find ones she had forgotten about!Glynis Peters https://www.blogger.com/profile/01175378917872403609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8515903861204137058.post-64018644152643052522009-09-18T13:22:20.617-05:002009-09-18T13:22:20.617-05:00Congrats on the award, Wendy! Wendy's blog is ...Congrats on the award, Wendy! Wendy's blog is wonderful.<br /><br />I struggle with knowing when a manuscript is completely polished and finished and ready to submit. Whenever I think I'm done, then I find something else. I just have to go through each edit and once I'm done realize if I keep going I might be pushing it too far.Cindy R. Wilsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13488732331021750408noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8515903861204137058.post-50264108242397134072009-09-18T12:22:41.657-05:002009-09-18T12:22:41.657-05:00I've submitted, but I don't know if I ever...I've submitted, but I don't know if I ever feel like the manuscript is totally ready. I can always find something I want to tweak. But if I keep doing that, I'll never get it to anyone. So I get is to where I feel it's 95% there, then step away.Roni Lorenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02719679344024635326noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8515903861204137058.post-2205828502367120492009-09-18T12:22:30.556-05:002009-09-18T12:22:30.556-05:00Oh boy! Do I have kids shoe messes in my house.
...Oh boy! Do I have kids shoe messes in my house. <br /><br />As to your question, I wondered about this too. How will I know? And I came to the conclusion that I could edit my MG story until the cows come home or until I die. It would always need something. So I have to believe that when I can read it straight through and not grab a pencil or the backspace key, then it MUST be ready!<br /><br />And I have decided it is ready. Because you know yourself Susan, in published books you can find mistakes. That writer decided that the MS was ready. We have to do that too. It's scary. But we CAN do this! :) Have a great weekend. Don't forget tomorrow is a holiday. Talk Like a Pirate Day. WOOHOO! :)Robyn Campbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17356555082768185840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8515903861204137058.post-64371768677796884332009-09-18T12:21:26.689-05:002009-09-18T12:21:26.689-05:00Sifting and tripping over shoes never goes away. M...Sifting and tripping over shoes never goes away. Much like revising and editing--wonderful post! I love Wendy's blog!<br /><br />I've heard many "I queried too early" comments over the past year, but I disagree. Every response has given me insight into how to make my writing better. Even the form rejections made me sit back and analyze my work. Most authors get rejections. We don't have to look at them as "oh, I queried too early" as much as "oh, that's what I need to improve."<br /><br />Have a wonderful weekend!Jill Kemererhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07865493609868329393noreply@blogger.com