tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post4878830950785794758..comments2024-03-28T01:44:27.279-06:00Comments on Blood-Red Pencil: New Year, Final DraftDanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14471919576687777886noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-25829470604984424012016-01-17T17:31:31.718-07:002016-01-17T17:31:31.718-07:00I appreciate that, Kara. Sometimes I worry that I ...I appreciate that, Kara. Sometimes I worry that I have a weakness for turning the tangible into the abstract, which isn't nearly as useful as what you're describing. And hey, I too can't wait for you to read my published novel. ;) Wishing you much success with yours, too. Carahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04051728774050516027noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-73140994554089425242016-01-17T17:29:38.875-07:002016-01-17T17:29:38.875-07:00I love the story of the perfect shoe, Polly. Thank...I love the story of the perfect shoe, Polly. Thanks!Carahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04051728774050516027noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-50622331505811701712016-01-14T09:01:54.690-07:002016-01-14T09:01:54.690-07:00This is just what I needed to hear at the perfect ...This is just what I needed to hear at the perfect time. Thank you Cara! You have such a gift with turning the abstract into the tangible--with a few belly laughs thrown in for good measure. I can't wait to read your published novel. Wishing you much success in 2016!Kara Martineznoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-22780576259504392012016-01-14T08:25:53.211-07:002016-01-14T08:25:53.211-07:00Such a good post, Cara. Years ago, I mean decades ...Such a good post, Cara. Years ago, I mean decades ago, when I got a new illustration account, I had to draw one shoe. I stayed up until 4 a.m. drawing the perfect shoe. A whole pad of paper was crumpled on the floor because nothing was perfect enough. At that time I realized that the last shoe I drew was the best I could do AT THAT TIME. And it was. I think it's the same way with writing. Best to put that imperfect effort aside for a while to look at it later with a fresh eye. Maybe then we'll see what's wrong with it. Or what's right.Polly Iyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05729656119287702191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-11263743429831030842016-01-13T15:28:06.947-07:002016-01-13T15:28:06.947-07:00You always make me laugh, Christopher. I too have ...You always make me laugh, Christopher. I too have received many "good luck with your project" replies from agents. I just keep throwing spaghetti at the walls till one noodle sticks. Thanks for your kind words about the painting - that was about the halfway mark. Carahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04051728774050516027noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-26882649316366387522016-01-13T15:25:25.781-07:002016-01-13T15:25:25.781-07:00Well said, Diana.Well said, Diana.Carahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04051728774050516027noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-85751576311621136002016-01-13T15:24:51.518-07:002016-01-13T15:24:51.518-07:00Thanks, Linda. You take my meaning perfectly, thou...Thanks, Linda. You take my meaning perfectly, though the more I think about this, it truly is scary to engage in that sort of acceptance.Carahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04051728774050516027noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-13232126179128022382016-01-13T15:22:43.148-07:002016-01-13T15:22:43.148-07:00Groundhog Day as a deadline: I love it!Groundhog Day as a deadline: I love it!Carahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04051728774050516027noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-64147542922927716562016-01-13T15:22:06.404-07:002016-01-13T15:22:06.404-07:00Aw, Lori, I'm humbled by your kind praise. Tha...Aw, Lori, I'm humbled by your kind praise. Thank you. I'll make sure to give you more. ;)Carahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04051728774050516027noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-74830167208078035782016-01-13T15:20:58.980-07:002016-01-13T15:20:58.980-07:00Put yourself out of your misery! Haha, Patricia, I...Put yourself out of your misery! Haha, Patricia, I know what you mean. As several authors have been quoted, "I hate to write, but I love having written."Carahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04051728774050516027noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-35174152629018081432016-01-13T15:07:18.342-07:002016-01-13T15:07:18.342-07:00Wow ... you found an agent who will read your stuf...Wow ... you found an agent who will read your stuff, Cara? That's impressive ... the only thing I've ever gotten from an agent was, 'good luck with your project'. Nice painting, by the way.Christopher Hudsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03667548312923348614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-66090422713023740012016-01-13T14:45:54.007-07:002016-01-13T14:45:54.007-07:00Deciding to stop chopping away at is as important ...Deciding to stop chopping away at is as important as deciding to start.Diana Hurwitzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18216220574149672733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-5752336910911017962016-01-13T14:01:35.620-07:002016-01-13T14:01:35.620-07:00You make such a great point here -- completion and...You make such a great point here -- completion and perfection are not the same thing. No imperfect human is capable of creating the perfect story. Excellence, on the other hand, is quite attainable. An excellent story can be a bit flabby, and its characters may be lacking in various areas. Are we not all lacking here and there? Our readers will relate to characters whose faults may match their own. However, a perfect book might not find many readers because we can't relate to what we don't know or understand -- perfection. Excellent post, Cara!Linda Lanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16056682992943171805noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-59522951537965649732016-01-13T13:42:15.524-07:002016-01-13T13:42:15.524-07:00Being a parent is good practice for launching and ...Being a parent is good practice for launching and letting go. I've launched two kids with two more on the runway and eight novels in print, so have had plenty of practice. Committing to a date certain does help. I have promised my editor that the final copy for 'The Millicent Factor' will be in her hands by Groundhog Day.<br />Now, back to the final edits!Larry Constantine (Lior Samson)http://amazon.com/author/liorsamson/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-56826054082255557962016-01-13T13:03:05.419-07:002016-01-13T13:03:05.419-07:00I love everything you write, even the flabby parts...I love everything you write, even the flabby parts, because to me, I will always say, "I want more".Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01900188607171740951noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-50905322610463295132016-01-13T12:08:04.284-07:002016-01-13T12:08:04.284-07:00I had five versions of one of those novels I'd...I had five versions of one of those novels I'd been working on for years. In 2015, I went back to version 3, did a little editing, and submitted the darned thing. I don't know if it will be a go or not, but at least I finally decided to put myself out of my misery and declare it done.Patricia Stolteyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17192369425956406122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-3854210335026489922016-01-13T11:09:53.997-07:002016-01-13T11:09:53.997-07:00So glad it resonates with you, Maryann. I also wri...So glad it resonates with you, Maryann. I also write and edit in collaboration with clients, and I'm discovering that we humans all have some sort of issue with completion.Carahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04051728774050516027noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-71224194641785871372016-01-13T09:12:00.132-07:002016-01-13T09:12:00.132-07:00This post resonated with me on so many levels, Car...This post resonated with me on so many levels, Cara. I, too, had a painting instructor snatch the brush out of my hand and say, "Stop. It's finished."<br /><br />And too often, I will let the momentum of a story slow down because I feel the compulsion to fix every little problem now. The time for fixing, at least for me, is when the first draft is finished. Then I can go back and start fixing.<br /><br />Finally, I just loved this in your post: ...she also suggested the work is flabby in places. I’ll cut as much flab as I can, but, like me, my book might never lose those last five pounds. That doesn’t mean it shouldn’t dress up and go out.<br /><br />Yes, sometimes we have to let the babies walk out the door.Maryannwriteshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09479027709233807149noreply@blogger.com