tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post3062481717001813829..comments2023-10-31T10:59:03.023-04:00Comments on INKSPOT Crime Fiction Blog | A Place for Mystery, Mayhem, Writing and Life: The Secret HandshakeLinda O. Johnstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01512430135042480450noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-64823198915176062232007-07-11T19:57:00.000-04:002007-07-11T19:57:00.000-04:00Mark, well said. I would add "believe in yourself"...Mark, well said. I would add "believe in yourself" to that list for those times when the rejection pile seems bigger than the manuscript.Felicia Donovanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03556232226152556397noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-40093336461995023452007-07-11T14:18:00.000-04:002007-07-11T14:18:00.000-04:00Excellent post, Mark. I've found the same thing, t...Excellent post, Mark. I've found the same thing, that a lot of so-called bestsellers or "best" books just bore me. Sometimes I wonder if I'm just strange and don't know "good" when I see it or write it. But persistence makes a lot of sense as part of the secret, and it's important to remember that luck doesn't mean sitting around waiting for someone to find us and bless us with publication. One doesn't get lucky in the lottery without buying a ticket. A writer buys the ticket by learning, improving, writing, and submitting. I guess that's all the secret handshake we get.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-6758279563212770632007-07-11T11:29:00.000-04:002007-07-11T11:29:00.000-04:00It's possible, Bill, that I DO know the secret han...It's possible, Bill, that I DO know the secret handshake, but no aspiring writer has actually sent me a large enough check to make it worth my while.<BR/><BR/>For all those who want to know, Mail me a check for the size you think would be adequate to:<BR/><BR/>Mark Terry<BR/>1264...Mark Terryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09410424046477699059noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-83581573829692962002007-07-11T11:18:00.000-04:002007-07-11T11:18:00.000-04:00All good points, Mark.“In fact, one of the writers...All good points, Mark.<BR/><BR/>“In fact, one of the writers’ organizations I belong to gave a “best” award to a book I later tried to read and couldn’t even finish.“<BR/><BR/>I'm struggling through a novel right now that won the Pulitzer Prise for Fiction and was an Oprah must read. I find it extremely painful to read because the author decide to abandon all accepted norms in structure. Must be art or something. I'm at page 50 and just about to give up. The pain is not worth the pleasure.<BR/><BR/>BTW, there is a secret handshake. It's at: http://secrethandshake.com/Joe Moorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00028401465567502250noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-37625968546447356592007-07-11T11:04:00.000-04:002007-07-11T11:04:00.000-04:00I know the secret handshake, but if I tell you, I'...I know the secret handshake, but if I tell you, I'll have to kill you.Bill Cameronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04796321136771189464noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-28657681734086288622007-07-11T10:16:00.000-04:002007-07-11T10:16:00.000-04:00Great informative post, Mark. If there is a "secre...Great informative post, Mark. If there is a "secret handshake," I believe it would be one that signifies persistence.Sue Ann Jaffarianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09984054116933714621noreply@blogger.com