Comments on: Finish Your Novel One Stroke at a Time

By: Tracy Glastrong

Tracy Glastrong — Fri, 03 Nov 2017 13:38:32 +0000

Very impressive blog.

Interesting article right on the subject.

By: Kathryn Craft

Kathryn Craft — Mon, 02 Oct 2017 11:07:54 +0000

What a lovely note to wake up to in a Monday morning, Jo, set against news of the horrid shooting in Las Vegas. There's some resistance for you: our world needs to become a more compassionate place, and there's no better way to walk a mile in someone else's shoes than through story. If your current story is not engaging you, reach for a bigger, more important one, until the compulsion to write will not ease its grip.

By: 50at70

50at70 — Mon, 02 Oct 2017 01:49:18 +0000

Hi Kathryn, I love reading your work and this one is just what I need right now. When I gave up full time homemaker, wife and mother and took the step to enroll in college at the age of 40 and if I didn't give up or flunk out I would try to find a job. My roll in the part I had played had shifted from prime to support and I needed a life of my own. I made in the english class I started and my neighbor help me and supported my sagging confidence at not getting fired the first week. I started as a unit secretary and (retired sadly)as a program manager for the engines on all the Air Force aircraft, helo, and missiles. I had gone to school to get my ultimate goal a Masters in Science and was writing running a home and prime caretaker for a very ailing husband. Now I have nothing to stand in the way of writing (a few health problems but just about all taken care but one and it is close) but I am not making any headway with the writing I have loved since 3rd grade. I think you helped me (as so many times before) find what is wrong. I have nothing to work against to achieve my new goal of a professional fiction writer. I've always as swimmers say swam against the tide. Negative people, competition of other for the job, the driving desire to accomplish where I wanted to be. I had no water to swim against and I need that. I'm not sure how I'll be able to concur this but I'll try doing it in mind since that was the way I got where I am. No one told me I could be a college graduate or head of a team with an important mission or nurse a husband at home until he had to give up his journey and join the Lord but I've done all this. How wonderful it is that your mind works to send us what we need when we need it. Thanks again for all your help.

By: Kathryn Craft

Kathryn Craft — Sun, 01 Oct 2017 11:23:06 +0000

In reply to Fae Rowen. Congratulations, Fae!! Wishing you all good things. Now it will be more like treading to keep your head above water!

By: Fae Rowen

Fae Rowen — Sun, 01 Oct 2017 05:52:01 +0000

I love the swimming analogy, Kathryn. I swam a lot in college, though I wasn't on any team. With the pre-orders on my first book going live tomorrow, I really get that "writing is not a sprint."

By: Kathryn Craft

Kathryn Craft — Wed, 27 Sep 2017 16:30:39 +0000

In reply to Victoria Marie Lees. You're welcome, Victoria, and good luck to you on your long "swim"!

By: Victoria Marie Lees

Victoria Marie Lees — Wed, 27 Sep 2017 15:49:26 +0000

This is wonderful inspiration, Kathryn. Bravo to you! One word at a time, I tell myself, a story is built. Or in your case, one stroke at a time completes the manuscript journey. Thanks for sharing this with Writers in the Storm followers.

By: Kathryn Craft

Kathryn Craft — Wed, 27 Sep 2017 10:56:09 +0000

In reply to Rose M Deniz. Enjoy your rewrite, Rose! Shaping up the story in subsequent drafts is my favorite part of the process.

By: Rose M Deniz

Rose M Deniz — Wed, 27 Sep 2017 06:47:41 +0000

I love the idea of one stroke at a time, rather than steps. I'll carry that thought with me as I work on a rewrite. Thank you for sharing your insight, relatable at any stage of the writing (or life) process!

By: Kathryn Craft

Kathryn Craft — Tue, 26 Sep 2017 17:38:48 +0000

In reply to colleen. Love what you latched onto here, Colleen. Push with whatever you've got!