Comments on: Retiring to Write or Writing to Retire – Part 1 https://writersinthestormblog.com/2023/02/retiring-to-write-or-writing-to-retire-part-1/ A Blog On Writing Thu, 19 Dec 2024 07:15:38 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1.3 By: Jettie H. van den Boom https://writersinthestormblog.com/2023/02/retiring-to-write-or-writing-to-retire-part-1/#comment-157601 Thu, 02 Mar 2023 15:56:57 +0000 https://writersinthestormblog.com/?p=47220#comment-157601 “
1) “Miguel de Cervantes published The Man of La Mancha in 1605,” you say, but Miguel de Cervantes DID NOT PUBLISH the Don Quixote.. If you quote, please do it right. Miguel de Cervantes was allowed to bring the translated edition of “The history of the valorous and wittie Knight Errant Don-Quixote of the Mancha ( never write La Mancha!! That region was established 80 years later!!) to the publisher. That’s why it is said “composed by Miguel de Cervantes” not written by..
2) “ And in 1620 in English,” you say, but the original English editions were published in 1612 and 1620.
3) “He passed away with a clear mind in April of 1615,” you write.. but that was in 1616.
This was just some comment to let you know that writing is not easy!

]]> By: Kris Maze https://writersinthestormblog.com/2023/02/retiring-to-write-or-writing-to-retire-part-1/#comment-157266 Sat, 25 Feb 2023 23:03:53 +0000 https://writersinthestormblog.com/?p=47220#comment-157266 In reply to Alistair.

Hi Alistair,
Thanks for your example of a writer who made their mark in literature. My hope is that you continue to write, it gets easier (and harder!) and plots are tricky for most of us. Especially if your muse is typically busy working on someone else's words.

The key is if you still enjoy writing, the struggle is worth it. Who knows? Perhaps you could be the next Rex Stout.

Thanks for joining the conversation. Happy writing!
Kris

]]> By: Alistair https://writersinthestormblog.com/2023/02/retiring-to-write-or-writing-to-retire-part-1/#comment-157263 Sat, 25 Feb 2023 03:53:52 +0000 https://writersinthestormblog.com/?p=47220#comment-157263 Rex Stout, best known for the Nero Wolfe novels, dabbled in writing stories for pulp magazines in his 20s, but then, determined to find a better way to support himself, put his writing on hold for many years. He was 42 or 43 when he published his first novel, and in his late 40s when he started the Nero Wolfe series. It didn't hold him back: he would write 33 Wolfe novels and 39 novellas by the time of his death at 88.

As for me, I'm 62 and have 2 novels on the go (and a third in mind). I have been chiseling away at them for years and am not sure I'll ever finish! I have no great designs on being published or becoming "successful" at it. (If I ever do finish a book, I will likely print up a few copies for friends and family.) I write mainly to amuse myself. I like the challenge of it but I am very slow, and I struggle with plotting. Sometimes it gushes out. But I can also spend spend weeks or even months chewing over a single paragraph until I am happy with it!

Part of the problem is that my fulltime career also involves writing, but of a very different sort (previously journalism, now technical/analytical writing and business marketing). It's demanding of my time and mental energy, and I find that "changing gears" is not easy. Still, it's not something I stress over.

But I would surely like to finish at least one of my books 🙂

Anyway, thanks for the blogs. Very interesting and helpful!

]]> By: Kris Maze https://writersinthestormblog.com/2023/02/retiring-to-write-or-writing-to-retire-part-1/#comment-157251 Fri, 24 Feb 2023 05:36:26 +0000 https://writersinthestormblog.com/?p=47220#comment-157251 In reply to Lisa Norman.

Wonderful, Lisa. The muse was strong with you even as a little girl... don't ignore that wild, imaginative beast, right? Muses have a way of not letting us ignore them for too long.

Work/Writing balance issues happen even when we are deep into the writing career too. I'm glad to hear you are getting back into your own works and creating more. 🙂

]]> By: Kris Maze https://writersinthestormblog.com/2023/02/retiring-to-write-or-writing-to-retire-part-1/#comment-157250 Fri, 24 Feb 2023 05:33:19 +0000 https://writersinthestormblog.com/?p=47220#comment-157250 In reply to Denise.

Yeah! Another Spanish Lit fan! (Perhaps, it was a requirement that I just happened to love.)

Denise, I too am plugging along. Some days with more mojo than others, but I couldn't imagine a better way to spend a day. Keep on writing and publishing. That's the dream. 🙂

]]> By: Kris Maze https://writersinthestormblog.com/2023/02/retiring-to-write-or-writing-to-retire-part-1/#comment-157249 Fri, 24 Feb 2023 05:30:12 +0000 https://writersinthestormblog.com/?p=47220#comment-157249 In reply to Holly.

Oh Holly,
That warms my writerly heart. 🙂
We hope to see you around WITS for great tips on writing and publishing.
Happy writing and enjoy your journey!
Kris

]]> By: Holly https://writersinthestormblog.com/2023/02/retiring-to-write-or-writing-to-retire-part-1/#comment-157248 Thu, 23 Feb 2023 20:05:47 +0000 https://writersinthestormblog.com/?p=47220#comment-157248 Thank you for this! I'm 55 and just getting started with writing novels. You gave me hope. 🙂

]]> By: Denise https://writersinthestormblog.com/2023/02/retiring-to-write-or-writing-to-retire-part-1/#comment-157244 Thu, 23 Feb 2023 04:46:47 +0000 https://writersinthestormblog.com/?p=47220#comment-157244 I read *Don Quixote* in its native language when I was in high school--it was an advanced Spanish class.

I'm still early in my writing career. I have been published five times and am still plugging along.

]]> By: Lisa Norman https://writersinthestormblog.com/2023/02/retiring-to-write-or-writing-to-retire-part-1/#comment-157243 Thu, 23 Feb 2023 04:26:12 +0000 https://writersinthestormblog.com/?p=47220#comment-157243 Kris - this is so near to my heart these days! I've been stepping back from the big projects so I can focus on my writing, as terrifying as that has been. I was going through some old boxes today and found my early report cards. At the old-age of 5, one of my teachers complimented my growing creative writing talent. Throughout all of my school years, I see notations of this on my report cards. It is a passion for me. Something I've let idle for too long. I'm of the ilk that goes insane without writing!!!

]]> By: Kris Maze https://writersinthestormblog.com/2023/02/retiring-to-write-or-writing-to-retire-part-1/#comment-157241 Wed, 22 Feb 2023 21:26:06 +0000 https://writersinthestormblog.com/?p=47220#comment-157241 In reply to Sipora Coffelt.

And Sipora, congratulations on moving forward on your desires to write fiction. It sounds like you have waited a long time to dip into the more creative side of the writing pool.

Keeping in mind the fun part of crafting a story helps me to not worry as much about the 'clock ticking'. Although for some writers, that pressure could be motivating, for me, it can take away from my creative energy.

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