tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post3418865090003881683..comments2024-03-28T10:41:26.999-06:00Comments on Blood-Red Pencil: Cues from the Coach: What’s for Dinner?Danihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14471919576687777886noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-46494176463664046942012-04-14T07:18:12.595-06:002012-04-14T07:18:12.595-06:00Oh, Patricia, the kitty? I'm so sorry. Have yo...Oh, Patricia, the kitty? I'm so sorry. Have you tried reading to it? Maybe it doesn't yet appreciate what you do. Seriously, buying out the time to write is a challenge no matter what our situation.<br /><br />You're manufacturing interruptions, Christopher? Consider yourself fortunate to have that luxury.<br /><br />You're exactly right, Dean — one word at a time. And each of those words must bring value to that chest of priceless treasures. It's not nearly as easy as it sounds.Linda Lanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06686488133905538811noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-62927816313111562832012-04-14T07:10:15.079-06:002012-04-14T07:10:15.079-06:00Kathryn, this is really sad. To say that Judge Jud...Kathryn, this is really sad. To say that Judge Judy's assessment of writing is demoralizing is an understatement. Writing is hard work. <br /><br />Several authors I know put in more hours on the job than many non-writers; others write in addition to holding down other part-time or full-time jobs. I can only suggest that perhaps Judge Judy isn't the creative type, so she may not appreciate the labor of love and and dedication to purpose that goes into being a writer. No offense intended, Judge.Linda Lanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06686488133905538811noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-88984086951276970392012-04-13T20:48:58.322-06:002012-04-13T20:48:58.322-06:00This comment has been removed by the author.Dean K Millerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01846624912452227191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-22985070730159882622012-04-13T20:48:57.529-06:002012-04-13T20:48:57.529-06:00Time comes and goes, but the word on the page is f...Time comes and goes, but the word on the page is forever.<br /><br />Here's to any moment in time that produces priceless treasures, one word at a time.Dean K Millerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01846624912452227191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-31639980209990095932012-04-13T11:02:15.097-06:002012-04-13T11:02:15.097-06:00This is telling like it is, Linda. You'd think...This is telling like it is, Linda. You'd think I'd have all the time in the world to write since I'm retired, my kids live in other parts of the country, and my husband plays bridge and works at his ham radio hobby. Truth is, I need to set up writing sessions at the library just to escape my demanding kitty. There's always something.Patricia Stolteyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17192369425956406122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-37218012282932410532012-04-13T10:24:41.964-06:002012-04-13T10:24:41.964-06:00Geez, Linda, I sorta envious ... I have to manufac...Geez, Linda, I sorta envious ... I have to manufacture the interruptions for my task avoidance.Christopher Hudsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03667548312923348614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-10495362602549018532012-04-13T09:00:25.282-06:002012-04-13T09:00:25.282-06:00Excellent plan, Dani. Respect and boundaries are s...Excellent plan, Dani. Respect and boundaries are sadly lacking qualities today. We need to teach them to our children (and perhaps to our mates — keeping in mind respect and boundaries ourselves, of course).Linda Lanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06686488133905538811noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-31500245616742124282012-04-13T08:57:49.504-06:002012-04-13T08:57:49.504-06:00Linda, this post reminds me of an episode of Judge...Linda, this post reminds me of an episode of Judge Judy. We writers have to believe that what we are doing is worthy and important to society so that we can create the boundaries that protect our creative lives—even though that work may go in rewarded, monetarily, for many years as we learn our craft.<br /><br />Well on the episode I saw this woman was breaking up with her boyfriend, saying he was a slacker and hadn't contributed to the rent per their initial agreement. <br /><br />"What do you do for a living?" Judge Judy said.<br /><br />"I'm a novelist," he said.<br /><br />"What have you published?"<br /><br />"Nothing, yet," he said. "You have to write a lot before you're ready to publish."<br /><br />Judge Judy went ballistic, and basically said he was a good-for-nothing and that writing wasn't a career until he published and was earning money.<br /><br />It physically hurt me to watch that episode.Kathryn Crafthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08371458857187160425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-39070433771931938212012-04-13T08:50:53.670-06:002012-04-13T08:50:53.670-06:00I remember my first few Book-in-a-Week sessions wh...I remember my first few Book-in-a-Week sessions when hubbo served me lunch and snacks even as he tiptoed through the house. So cute! That lasted about three months. Now years later, he groans when I say "next week is BIW". The best plan is private space and predesignated times that are sacrosanct, except in case of dire emergency. It's a good opportunity to teach respect and boundaries.Danihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14471919576687777886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-5090141790146927252012-04-13T07:53:53.795-06:002012-04-13T07:53:53.795-06:00As you note, Larry, this post applies equally to m...As you note, Larry, this post applies equally to male writers. I had no intention of excluding them, but was just trying to avoid the complication of "he/she" and double examples in writing it. Thank you for reminding all of us that these problems are not gender specific.<br /><br />Isn't it funny how "retirement" has become such an ambiguous term? At one time well within my memory, it meant a cessation of employment at age 65. Now, times and economics have written new rules. Even though I have "retired" as an editor, I still may need to take an editing or coaching job now and then to make ends meet. Life is never simple, is it? But then this is what makes great grist for a story.Linda Lanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06686488133905538811noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-84692903633152273212012-04-13T07:40:21.341-06:002012-04-13T07:40:21.341-06:00Yes, Amanda, people are definitely more important ...Yes, Amanda, people are definitely more important than things. And one thing that makes us good writers is our compassion for people, their problems, their strenths and weaknesses, their needs — the list goes on. And as you note, our digressions to help someone just may take us to an "aha moment" that we would never otherwise have experienced.Linda Lanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06686488133905538811noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-42603950584684832552012-04-13T05:04:11.298-06:002012-04-13T05:04:11.298-06:00Thanks for painting the picture so many face. Of c...Thanks for painting the picture so many face. Of course, it works the other way, too. Substitute "Dad" for "Mom" and change the pronouns and you have the life of many male writers. Then there are those of us who would, by all rights, be retired and settled into full-time writing but still carry the responsibilities of sole breadwinner. In the end, we all make the time for the people and the passions in our lives in some muddled, imperfect way. And some of the unfinished manuscripts get finished and published and read.Larry Constantine (Lior Samson)http://www.amazon.com/Lior-Samson/e/B004KDPO9A/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-12184436807064058272012-04-13T00:43:50.683-06:002012-04-13T00:43:50.683-06:00I've been battling with this very thing today,...I've been battling with this very thing today, Linda. Just when I thought I had time to sit down and work on a chapter that's been bugging me for months, my elderly neighbor called and asked if I might be going to the supermarket for supplies. I wasn't - but what could I say? The poor dear cut her leg badly a few weeks back and has hardly been out of the house since. So, I picked her up and took her shopping. Later, as I was dropping her off at her door, she turned to me and said "I always say that people are more important than things. You're a wonderful neighbor and I don't know what I'd do without you." And suddenly, that chapter just didn't matter anymore. Tomorrow's another day and who knows, maybe I'll have an aha moment between now and then and add something really awesome to it. Or not. Such is life, I guess :)<br />Thanks for your post - I enjoyed it.Amanda Antoniohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03611780606323088530noreply@blogger.com