tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6913682603555541882.post8190760211236344154..comments2024-03-10T19:26:35.256-04:00Comments on Just Jemi: Sweating the Small Stuff!Jemi Fraserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02214408467456320167noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6913682603555541882.post-44346766326913404722009-10-18T19:47:13.373-04:002009-10-18T19:47:13.373-04:00VR - That's a good one! You're so right - ...VR - That's a good one! You're so right - readers are active participants and they understand so much more than we sometimes give them credit for :)Jemi Fraserhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02214408467456320167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6913682603555541882.post-51274777223981950232009-10-18T19:15:19.359-04:002009-10-18T19:15:19.359-04:00Great question, Jemi. I've learned to trust my...Great question, Jemi. I've learned to trust my reader. Things don't have to be spelled out to the letter or repeated again and again. Readers *get* it. This was a huge epiphany.VR Barkowskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04927993233682731113noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6913682603555541882.post-78530017142850814102009-10-18T16:13:28.961-04:002009-10-18T16:13:28.961-04:00Elspeth - it's very difficult to hear our own ...Elspeth - it's very difficult to hear our own voice. It's easier for me when I'm writing dialogue because each character has his/her own voice. Like you I'm becoming more confident with my own.Jemi Fraserhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02214408467456320167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6913682603555541882.post-89918936349593538812009-10-18T14:55:44.624-04:002009-10-18T14:55:44.624-04:00I'm still learning to accept that as much as I...I'm still learning to accept that as much as I admire certain authors, I don't write like them. I'm becoming more satisfied with my own voice and not judging it harshly simply because its mine.<br /><br />ElspethElspeth Futcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10330102545384369360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6913682603555541882.post-37356167809221433252009-10-17T17:06:42.586-04:002009-10-17T17:06:42.586-04:00Debra - very true! I love how being more concise a...Debra - very true! I love how being more concise and economical with words makes the writing stronger :)<br /><br />Elizabeth - very nice! What a lovely description of what we do!Jemi Fraserhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02214408467456320167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6913682603555541882.post-91124565507786515472009-10-17T15:32:13.690-04:002009-10-17T15:32:13.690-04:00I have learned to re-write, until the words flow s...I have learned to re-write, until the words flow so smoothly there's no hesitation or question as to whether they are strung along exactly as they should be.Elizabeth Bradleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03150221675618198674noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6913682603555541882.post-10055528438541793532009-10-17T12:05:39.408-04:002009-10-17T12:05:39.408-04:00As I wrote in my last post, Twitter has helped me ...As I wrote in my last post, Twitter has helped me be more economical with my words. As you take words away, the meaning often becomes clearer. The "small stuff" is simply writing. Every time we write a sentence, we become better writers. ;-)Debra Lynn Sheltonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08238268767406623274noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6913682603555541882.post-84204942788107886972009-10-17T12:04:58.326-04:002009-10-17T12:04:58.326-04:00Cindy - those are all great things to learn! I'...Cindy - those are all great things to learn! I'm the same - finding a small way to improve seems less overwhelming to a new writer, but it makes a huge difference!Jemi Fraserhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02214408467456320167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6913682603555541882.post-12094193429804725622009-10-17T11:42:56.448-04:002009-10-17T11:42:56.448-04:00I've learned a lot about pacing, about how to ...I've learned a lot about pacing, about how to make my characters more realistic. About easing up on redundant exposition. Definitely small things that I've been able to work on one at a time that has made me a better writer.Cindy R. Wilsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13488732331021750408noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6913682603555541882.post-91068244496923139322009-10-17T09:34:19.992-04:002009-10-17T09:34:19.992-04:00Elizabeth - so true! Pushing through those tough d...Elizabeth - so true! Pushing through those tough days is something I've learned makes a huge difference!<br /><br />Cat - it takes so much courage to make those cuts! This first time I made big changes I actually broke out into a sweat. I've kept all the versions of the ms, but it's still hard sometimes. I am getting better :)Jemi Fraserhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02214408467456320167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6913682603555541882.post-13691352674029067652009-10-17T07:29:44.730-04:002009-10-17T07:29:44.730-04:00To cut. I am no longer afraid to slice my manuscr...To cut. I am no longer afraid to slice my manuscript apart and sew it back together. As a beginning writer, the tendency during rewrites is to change the insignificant words: cutting out a that, changing a simple dialogue tag, deleting adverbs, minor tinkering that doesn't always get to the heart of the problem. <br /><br />As an experienced writer, I have learned it's okay to get rid of big stuff to help the over all flow and clarity of my writing. We get so attached to our words and feel as if we are mutiliting ourselves when we cut them from our pieces. However, they are just words.<br /><br />Okay, maybe that's something big, but it's one of the most important lessons I've learned.Cat Woodshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00493268568982185122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6913682603555541882.post-91927380863112302852009-10-17T00:31:21.846-04:002009-10-17T00:31:21.846-04:00To write, even when I don't feel like writing....To write, even when I don't feel like writing. My muse and I are speaking to each other, but I'm still trying to do a little every day. :)<br /><br />Elizabeth<br /><a href="http://mysterywritingismurder.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow"> Mystery Writing is Murder</a>Elizabeth Spann Craighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15625595247828274405noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6913682603555541882.post-61945177469877673212009-10-16T21:45:39.518-04:002009-10-16T21:45:39.518-04:00I like that! I love when a first draft takes over ...I like that! I love when a first draft takes over me and my life. It's so much fun to just ride the wave. Even if the laundry refuses to get itself done :) Thanks for dropping by!Jemi Fraserhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02214408467456320167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6913682603555541882.post-27043174380165655562009-10-16T21:39:27.615-04:002009-10-16T21:39:27.615-04:00What I've learned is to get out of the way and...What I've learned is to get out of the way and let the story go (at least on the first draft). Never try to hone a newborn story. Just let it flow and have fun. There's always time to be the grown-up editor on the second draft, revision, and nit-picky editing portions.<br /><br />Thanks for the post.Juliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04225611074151575663noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6913682603555541882.post-64139590305209484802009-10-16T21:20:27.444-04:002009-10-16T21:20:27.444-04:00Writing sure does require a lot of patience, doesn...Writing sure does require a lot of patience, doesn't it! Thankfully it's a lot of fun as well :)Jemi Fraserhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02214408467456320167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6913682603555541882.post-17222619030467697302009-10-16T21:02:50.779-04:002009-10-16T21:02:50.779-04:00Patience and persistence go hand in hand; without...Patience and persistence go hand in hand; without them I'd be lost. They are the two that make me a better writer. Although, it's a constant work in progress of it's own! :-DAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com