Comments on: Three Reasons to Believe in Your Work https://writersinthestormblog.com/2015/12/three-reasons-to-believe-in-your-work/ A Blog On Writing Sun, 02 Feb 2025 05:59:16 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0 By: jamesr403James Preston https://writersinthestormblog.com/2015/12/three-reasons-to-believe-in-your-work/#comment-100933 Thu, 17 Dec 2015 02:22:48 +0000 https://writersinthestormblog.com/?p=23728#comment-100933 In reply to Jenny Hansen.

Thanks, Jenny. When I was starting out there was nothing like WITS, and that's why I appreciate it so much. And you're right -- Rochelle made a lot of sense.

]]> By: jamesr403James Preston https://writersinthestormblog.com/2015/12/three-reasons-to-believe-in-your-work/#comment-100930 Thu, 17 Dec 2015 02:19:39 +0000 https://writersinthestormblog.com/?p=23728#comment-100930 Hi, Rochelle -- What a great, thoughtful, comment! I have heard Harlan Ellison say, "Writing is easy -- you just cut out part of yourself and leave it on the page." Never be afraid of revealing too much. What we do is serious, it's keepsakes marbles and to do it well you need to care about your work. Just like you do. I think you're in the right track. Keep it up; keep reading the blog; keep caring about the people you create in your stories. There is a Robert A. Heinlein novel in which that is literal truth. There really is a Land of Oz and a flesh-and-metal Tin Man. Thanks for commenting!

]]> By: Jenny Hansen https://writersinthestormblog.com/2015/12/three-reasons-to-believe-in-your-work/#comment-100921 Thu, 17 Dec 2015 00:59:30 +0000 https://writersinthestormblog.com/?p=23728#comment-100921 In reply to Rochelle.

You certainly did make sense, Rochelle. And that's a big part of why we started this community - so that writers could weather the publishing storm with support.

Keep writing!

]]> By: Rochelle https://writersinthestormblog.com/2015/12/three-reasons-to-believe-in-your-work/#comment-100915 Thu, 17 Dec 2015 00:36:20 +0000 https://writersinthestormblog.com/?p=23728#comment-100915 As I work on my first novel aimed for publication, reading your thoughts here, have been inspirational. Fear about my capabilities to share a story that's not "anonymous" has kept me from reaching for and attaining this major goal of mine. I will be writing fiction, but my characters come from my dreams, my nightmares and they will carry a part of me with them. While I'm writing, I get angry when their angry and I cry when they cry. I don't want there to be one moment in one of my stories, that the reader doesn't believe, respond or feel some type of attachment to these individuals that are so eager to be known.

I've heard so many different opinions about growing too attached to the story we write, but I finally said, "Tough! I'm following my gut and writing my way". Thank you, for sharing your views and thanks to those who have shared their comments. Honestly, you all have given me a little gift, though I probably don't make a lick of sense sharing that. 🙂

]]> By: James R. Preston https://writersinthestormblog.com/2015/12/three-reasons-to-believe-in-your-work/#comment-100912 Wed, 16 Dec 2015 21:42:47 +0000 https://writersinthestormblog.com/?p=23728#comment-100912 In reply to karenmcfarland.

Thanks, Karen! Glad to hear you have chosen OC as your setting. No, you're not crazy; it's actually a good thing when your characters start to speak up.

]]> By: karenmcfarland https://writersinthestormblog.com/2015/12/three-reasons-to-believe-in-your-work/#comment-100906 Wed, 16 Dec 2015 20:55:20 +0000 https://writersinthestormblog.com/?p=23728#comment-100906 Interesting. It's always good to know I'm not the only crazy person out there. Yes, my characters speak to me. And yes, I do find it hard to hurt them. But, I must and therefore have taken much painstaking time in doing so. I am also writing stories that revolve around the SoCal coast with my first book taking place in HB and the greater OC area, though not a mystery.

Thank you James!

Karen
http://www.karenmcfarland.com

]]> By: jamesr403James Preston https://writersinthestormblog.com/2015/12/three-reasons-to-believe-in-your-work/#comment-100897 Wed, 16 Dec 2015 18:30:41 +0000 https://writersinthestormblog.com/?p=23728#comment-100897 Two quick points: first, I just looked at Ms Willson's site and it's a good one. Check it out. Second: what about characters that speak to us, and they are not very nice? I have one who is a stone killer, but he does speak up now and then. I kind of like it. Not that I'd want to have coffee with him . . .

]]> By: jamesr403James Preston https://writersinthestormblog.com/2015/12/three-reasons-to-believe-in-your-work/#comment-100894 Wed, 16 Dec 2015 17:53:46 +0000 https://writersinthestormblog.com/?p=23728#comment-100894 Bad news, Celia -- resistance is futile. Your characters will take over. It's only after they do weird stuff that bears no relation to the story that you an bring them under control. But that makes it interesting. At least, that's what I tell myself. Maybe it's even true. I do have a favorite character that speaks to me before I make a public appearance. She's very comforting. Boy, that last sounds weird. Oh, well, the readers of this blog will understand; other folks might say,"Bring out the net." Thanks for the kind words.

]]> By: Celia Lewis https://writersinthestormblog.com/2015/12/three-reasons-to-believe-in-your-work/#comment-100891 Wed, 16 Dec 2015 17:46:19 +0000 https://writersinthestormblog.com/?p=23728#comment-100891 Thank you so much. Sometimes it seems I'm afraid of investing more emotion in my characters because I don't want them to take over... or something else. Probably something else. Think I need to spend more time with them, go for coffee or a beer with them. A very timely post as I wrestle with revisions. Cheers.

]]> By: jamesr403James Preston https://writersinthestormblog.com/2015/12/three-reasons-to-believe-in-your-work/#comment-100888 Wed, 16 Dec 2015 17:21:55 +0000 https://writersinthestormblog.com/?p=23728#comment-100888 In reply to Denise Willson.

I agree about the connection, Dee. But I wonder -- do you find it hard to hurt your characters? I do but that is what makes a good story. Yeah, sometimes my characters mumble and I'm going, "What? Say that again." And I guess that's one reason we do it, because we are interested in our characters. I get the creeps every time I read the Harris essay where he talks about writing the first book about Hannibal Lecter, and he thinks Lecter can see him. Yow!

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