Comments on: On Writing: The Doubt Thing http://msbookish.com/on-writing-the-doubt-thing/ Everything I know, I learned from a book. Well, maybe not everything ... Fri, 10 Feb 2012 18:40:33 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Dorte H http://msbookish.com/on-writing-the-doubt-thing/comment-page-1/#comment-3442 Dorte H Sat, 20 Jun 2009 13:13:49 +0000 http://msbookish.com/on-writing-the-doubt-thing/#comment-3442 I certainly want my friends to admire every word I write and flatter me all the way - but I KNOW that editors don´t work that way. Most of them are polite, some are even kind and offer constructive advice even when they have to reject your manustript, and a few are downright rude. That is why my writing course has been so useful. Most people have been really kind and positive, but they have asked a lot of questions, wanting me to write clearer, better, explain something etc. I believe I have learned something during that process - but let´s see. .-= Dorte H´s last blog ..<a href="http://djskrimiblog.blogspot.com/2009/06/just-teaser.html" rel="nofollow">Just a teaser ...</a> =-. I certainly want my friends to admire every word I write and flatter me all the way – but I KNOW that editors don´t work that way. Most of them are polite, some are even kind and offer constructive advice even when they have to reject your manustript, and a few are downright rude.

That is why my writing course has been so useful. Most people have been really kind and positive, but they have asked a lot of questions, wanting me to write clearer, better, explain something etc. I believe I have learned something during that process – but let´s see.
.-= Dorte H´s last blog ..Just a teaser … =-.

]]> By: Belle http://msbookish.com/on-writing-the-doubt-thing/comment-page-1/#comment-3393 Belle Fri, 19 Jun 2009 01:44:41 +0000 http://msbookish.com/on-writing-the-doubt-thing/#comment-3393 Marie, yes, that self-filling bottle of bum glue is a very nice side benefit to this daily writing thing! Dorte, I know - and I think a part of me want to say, don't give me your honest opinion. I want the nice, sugarcoated one, okay? :) Cathryn, it's funny, but I'm not feeling it today, the waves of doubt I felt yesterday. Which is good. Marie, yes, that self-filling bottle of bum glue is a very nice side benefit to this daily writing thing!

Dorte, I know – and I think a part of me want to say, don’t give me your honest opinion. I want the nice, sugarcoated one, okay? :)

Cathryn, it’s funny, but I’m not feeling it today, the waves of doubt I felt yesterday. Which is good.

]]> By: Cathryn http://msbookish.com/on-writing-the-doubt-thing/comment-page-1/#comment-3390 Cathryn Thu, 18 Jun 2009 22:58:24 +0000 http://msbookish.com/on-writing-the-doubt-thing/#comment-3390 A question that has plagued me endlessly. Try not to think about it. As you've already said in your blog - be true. Tell you story, and as Nicole says, don't worry about that yet. .-= Cathryn´s last blog ..<a href="http://cathryngrant.wordpress.com/2009/06/18/sleeping-pill/" rel="nofollow">Sleeping Pill</a> =-. A question that has plagued me endlessly. Try not to think about it.

As you’ve already said in your blog – be true. Tell you story, and as Nicole says, don’t worry about that yet.
.-= Cathryn´s last blog ..Sleeping Pill =-.

]]> By: Belle http://msbookish.com/on-writing-the-doubt-thing/comment-page-1/#comment-3385 Belle Thu, 18 Jun 2009 18:41:15 +0000 http://msbookish.com/on-writing-the-doubt-thing/#comment-3385 Fran, it's so true about getting back into the writing, isn't it? These days, I can't quite understand how I stayed away from writing fiction for so long. It's just there now, this knowledge that I'm going to be setting aside some time to write that day. And the rest of the day, different scenes float into my mind, or things I'll need to edit, so it's like I'm always writing, no matter what. Nicole, that's such good advice. I don't often feel that doubt. Most of the time I'm just so busy getting the story down. But when it comes up, it definitely doesn't feel very good! Ann-Kat, well, you <em>have</em> read some of my partial starts in the past, so I'm glad you feel my writing is good! I will definitely be pressing forward. I feel less doubtful today already! Memory, that is so sweet of you! Thank you! And you're right. First drafts aren't perfect, and that's the good thing. I can rework it until I've got the book I want. Fran, it’s so true about getting back into the writing, isn’t it? These days, I can’t quite understand how I stayed away from writing fiction for so long. It’s just there now, this knowledge that I’m going to be setting aside some time to write that day. And the rest of the day, different scenes float into my mind, or things I’ll need to edit, so it’s like I’m always writing, no matter what.

Nicole, that’s such good advice. I don’t often feel that doubt. Most of the time I’m just so busy getting the story down. But when it comes up, it definitely doesn’t feel very good!

Ann-Kat, well, you have read some of my partial starts in the past, so I’m glad you feel my writing is good! I will definitely be pressing forward. I feel less doubtful today already!

Memory, that is so sweet of you! Thank you! And you’re right. First drafts aren’t perfect, and that’s the good thing. I can rework it until I’ve got the book I want.

]]> By: Dorte H http://msbookish.com/on-writing-the-doubt-thing/comment-page-1/#comment-3384 Dorte H Thu, 18 Jun 2009 18:40:25 +0000 http://msbookish.com/on-writing-the-doubt-thing/#comment-3384 Good news! So what you will need soon is good friends to take a critical look at your draft & give you their honest opinion. .-= Dorte H´s last blog ..<a href="http://djskrimiblog.blogspot.com/2009/06/mccall-smith-no-1-ladies-detective.html" rel="nofollow">A McCall Smith, The No 1 Ladies´ Detective Agency (1998)</a> =-. Good news!

So what you will need soon is good friends to take a critical look at your draft & give you their honest opinion.
.-= Dorte H´s last blog ..A McCall Smith, The No 1 Ladies´ Detective Agency (1998) =-.

]]> By: Memory http://msbookish.com/on-writing-the-doubt-thing/comment-page-1/#comment-3382 Memory Thu, 18 Jun 2009 17:49:07 +0000 http://msbookish.com/on-writing-the-doubt-thing/#comment-3382 If your blog is anything to go by, I'm sure the writing itself is wonderful! And even if the plot doesn't quite work, just remember that this is a first draft. It doesn't have to be perfect. You're free to go back and shift things around until you've got the book you want. .-= Memory´s last blog ..<a href="http://xicanti.livejournal.com/124407.html" rel="nofollow">97. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak</a> =-. If your blog is anything to go by, I’m sure the writing itself is wonderful! And even if the plot doesn’t quite work, just remember that this is a first draft. It doesn’t have to be perfect. You’re free to go back and shift things around until you’ve got the book you want.
.-= Memory´s last blog ..97. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak =-.

]]> By: Marie http://msbookish.com/on-writing-the-doubt-thing/comment-page-1/#comment-3381 Marie Thu, 18 Jun 2009 17:02:32 +0000 http://msbookish.com/on-writing-the-doubt-thing/#comment-3381 I like the self-filling bottle of bum glue. Very funny & very true. I like the self-filling bottle of bum glue. Very funny & very true.

]]> By: Ann-Kat http://msbookish.com/on-writing-the-doubt-thing/comment-page-1/#comment-3378 Ann-Kat Thu, 18 Jun 2009 14:38:05 +0000 http://msbookish.com/on-writing-the-doubt-thing/#comment-3378 First of all, I have this feeling that your writing <em>is</em> good. But I can understand where your doubt may come into play. Doubt, it seems, is just a part of life, but once you can get past it, you're golden. Keep pressing forward my dear... .-= Ann-Kat´s last blog ..<a href="http://www.todayiread.com/blacklisted-gena-showalter-notes/" rel="nofollow">Blacklisted by Gena Showalter Book Notes and Sunday Sketch (yes, I know it’s not Sunday yet)</a> =-. First of all, I have this feeling that your writing is good. But I can understand where your doubt may come into play. Doubt, it seems, is just a part of life, but once you can get past it, you’re golden. Keep pressing forward my dear…
.-= Ann-Kat´s last blog ..Blacklisted by Gena Showalter Book Notes and Sunday Sketch (yes, I know it’s not Sunday yet) =-.

]]> By: Nicole http://msbookish.com/on-writing-the-doubt-thing/comment-page-1/#comment-3375 Nicole Thu, 18 Jun 2009 12:23:53 +0000 http://msbookish.com/on-writing-the-doubt-thing/#comment-3375 Writing is such hard work. Just keep your eyes on the prize. Sometimes I feel like something is being ripped out of me. Don't worry about whether it's good or bad yet. .-= Nicole´s last blog ..<a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/LinussBlanket/~3/kGLL59Rc6gw/" rel="nofollow">Recommend In Haste & Repent At Leisure?</a> =-. Writing is such hard work. Just keep your eyes on the prize. Sometimes I feel like something is being ripped out of me. Don’t worry about whether it’s good or bad yet.
.-= Nicole´s last blog ..Recommend In Haste & Repent At Leisure? =-.

]]> By: Fran http://msbookish.com/on-writing-the-doubt-thing/comment-page-1/#comment-3373 Fran Thu, 18 Jun 2009 11:23:50 +0000 http://msbookish.com/on-writing-the-doubt-thing/#comment-3373 Congratulations. I started doing my blog last November for the same reason. Yo get back to the writing. I can't believe I'd neglected my two drawered novels for so long. It's hard work, but it's blissful, too. .-= Fran´s last blog ..<a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/yVEb/~3/aL4cQ36AvPo/how-do-you-write-fast-or-slow.html" rel="nofollow">How do you write? Fast or slow?</a> =-. Congratulations. I started doing my blog last November for the same reason. Yo get back to the writing. I can’t believe I’d neglected my two drawered novels for so long.

It’s hard work, but it’s blissful, too.
.-= Fran´s last blog ..How do you write? Fast or slow? =-.

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