tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post5339773916411024637..comments2023-10-31T10:59:03.023-04:00Comments on INKSPOT Crime Fiction Blog | A Place for Mystery, Mayhem, Writing and Life: YOU JUST DOLinda O. Johnstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01512430135042480450noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-86687216163566324012010-09-02T00:59:50.379-04:002010-09-02T00:59:50.379-04:00Great insight, Darrell. Writing is almost like cli...Great insight, Darrell. Writing is almost like climbing Everest. Level one is so warm and cozy inside the tent. Venturing into two is painful and ego-deflating, yet we must make the arduous journey from the base camp to summit three. Don't think I've reached it yet. Level four is for the masters, whether the Sherpas or repeat climbers who don't require oxygen masks. It's natural and all the reflexes are there after years of practice or amazing genetics.<br /> <br />Also, I wonder about Leonard's quote. My interpretation (without context) is less about style than content, like having your mother read sex scenes or the inner thoughts of psychopaths that you penned. It's best to not worry about moral judgments and write what best serves the story. That's my bible-belt background speaking. <br /><br />And finally, I don't know if it is by design, but you posted at 12:01am for the Midnight Ink blog!Travis Richardsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11921123586885981804noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-37924346770594131732010-08-29T14:36:55.842-04:002010-08-29T14:36:55.842-04:00The skill of writing is definitely something one h...The skill of writing is definitely something one hones constantly. I think I got very, very good at writing magazine articles -- especially at making boring assigned topics interesting -- but I never mastered the art of the personal essay, a genre I love. Penning a mystery is more fun than most types of writing, nevertheless it is work.Vicki Douderahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12683468231378487388noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-86537873168873994512010-08-28T17:21:29.583-04:002010-08-28T17:21:29.583-04:00Valid and true comments, everyone. I think every n...Valid and true comments, everyone. I think every now and then it's good to stop and consider where you're at with things. But, in the end, progress is life, it's ongoing. Maybe, only a future look back in time can say for sure what you've accomplished.Darrell Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08394984700734588887noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-53747740013640465982010-08-28T16:54:34.392-04:002010-08-28T16:54:34.392-04:00I think I'll forever be at stage 2, I'm al...I think I'll forever be at stage 2, I'm always conscious of how much I don't yet know. sigh...Dianahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09732860672849251316noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-46604139227694450552010-08-28T07:01:10.525-04:002010-08-28T07:01:10.525-04:00I'm still at stage three and expect to be ther...I'm still at stage three and expect to be there for a long time;)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-60934283164883444832010-08-27T20:43:58.285-04:002010-08-27T20:43:58.285-04:00Striving to be better is what keeps writers from b...Striving to be better is what keeps writers from becoming stale and boring and makes the challenge of writing fun. Watch out for any writer who says s/he has reached level four. Unless of course her name is Nellie Harper Lee. She reached level four. She knew it. And she quit. Nowhere to go from there. Sad.That Author Guyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02486335730429537536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-58181014684321793002010-08-27T16:58:56.962-04:002010-08-27T16:58:56.962-04:00Put me in the group who can't tell whether the...Put me in the group who can't tell whether their own stuff is any good. I just wait for other people to tell me--one way or the other!Alan Orloffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03695574442723430347noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-56328854410620782042010-08-27T13:22:20.704-04:002010-08-27T13:22:20.704-04:00Really interesting post, Darrell. Level four would...Really interesting post, Darrell. Level four would be a wonderful place to live. I tend to bounce around the other three levels. When I write a first draft I try not to pay too much attention to how good (or bad) it is. Then I come back after and see where it really is good -- and where it stinks. I am confident at that point that I can recognize the difference and fix pretty much anything, so I'll count that as stage three.<br /><a href="www.hearthcricket.com" rel="nofollow"> Hearth Cricket</a>Cricket McRaehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12786996969148417569noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-42232896825750108432010-08-27T13:21:11.351-04:002010-08-27T13:21:11.351-04:00How can we judge our own stuff? I can't. For...How can we judge our own stuff? I can't. For me it's all about sales. Who was it said, "Show me the money!" It's great to be an artiste, but here's to making a living writing books.Carol Gracehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14396587145906682529noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-49464631695311821872010-08-27T12:09:17.438-04:002010-08-27T12:09:17.438-04:00I was a slow learner, mostly because I wrote in a ...I was a slow learner, mostly because I wrote in a vacuum for years. I knew I could finish a book, but I wasn't taking classes, learning about the industry, etc., and so my work wasn't improving. Once I started getting thoughtful feedback I started making progress. Level 4? Oh my, I can only dream!Kathleen Ernsthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07009876100214388898noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-2986833932733033872010-08-27T11:42:00.371-04:002010-08-27T11:42:00.371-04:00E.B. it sounds to me like you're there.
Caroly...E.B. it sounds to me like you're there.<br />Carolyn- I know what you mean, I want to go back and edit even after it's published.<br />Beth-I start to feel like my work stinks when I've been away from it for a while. When I go back I find, hey, this wasn't so bad after all.<br />G.M., Keith, and Sue Ann- You guys were born "there".Darrell Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08394984700734588887noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-66542617521960625662010-08-27T11:08:10.084-04:002010-08-27T11:08:10.084-04:00My works in progress are always absolute dreck--or...My works in progress are always absolute dreck--or at least that's what I think while I'm writing them. During the process of writing every rough draft, I berate myself for ever thinking I could write. But then when I go back and start editing to prepare chapters to submit to critique group, I find bits that aren't so bad, and they tell me other bits aren't so bad, and my confidence starts coming back. I really think the only way you can know how good your writing is is to get other writers to read it and give you their honest opinions.Beth Groundwaterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13999372882748655834noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-44438113278771580272010-08-27T11:00:42.940-04:002010-08-27T11:00:42.940-04:00I could go back and make changes--some radical--in...I could go back and make changes--some radical--in every book I've written. My rule now is that it's ready when the beginning has a good hook, when the middle keeps moving, and when the ending resonates--not so much with complete resolution of every theme and subplot, but with a sense that characters have achieved (most of) what they were there to do, have made some kind of peace with that, and know it's time to more in a new direction.Carolyn J. Rosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02499059171631792224noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-45414810328552249232010-08-27T10:25:34.693-04:002010-08-27T10:25:34.693-04:00Interesting, Darrell. As for me, I never have any ...Interesting, Darrell. As for me, I never have any idea of whether my work-in-progress is any good. Never expect to either.Keith Raffelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02926077627965529183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-59395940480601671312010-08-27T09:51:59.160-04:002010-08-27T09:51:59.160-04:00I'm not sure I'll ever hit Stage 4, but I ...I'm not sure I'll ever hit Stage 4, but I hit Stage 3 shortly after Ghost a la Mode was published. It wasn't until then that I realized I could write just about anything with skill and confidence. Being able to succeed out of my comfort zone was the doorway to Stage 3 for me.Sue Ann Jaffarianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09984054116933714621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-13426594729339576592010-08-27T09:49:46.806-04:002010-08-27T09:49:46.806-04:00Somehow this reminds me of the famous John Lennon ...Somehow this reminds me of the famous John Lennon quote: "Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans." I don't think I'm there yet. And if I get there, I probably won't notice.G.M. Malliethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13805971625496094303noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-73081715478054127212010-08-27T08:21:23.373-04:002010-08-27T08:21:23.373-04:00I'm just approaching Stage 3, so I can't a...I'm just approaching Stage 3, so I can't answer your question. I've had two shorts published, which has increased my confidence level--a much needed adjustment. When I queried my second novel, I was asked for partials, but no takers, so I'm working to increase my craft skills for novel writing while hoping that the best is yet to come. Thanks for the insight. Until you're published, I think there is always doubt.E. B. Davishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16746747050278597888noreply@blogger.com