tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post1966654626570056463..comments2024-03-27T01:07:03.944-04:00Comments on The Roses of Prose: Writing and the Inevitable Rough and Bumpy Road by Margo HoornstraAlison Hendersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12725250883303287946noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post-6770900336152169802015-02-27T13:37:12.411-05:002015-02-27T13:37:12.411-05:00The blank page still holds out hope.The blank page still holds out hope.Rohn Federbushhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02016317876402074001noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post-62355633028597147372015-02-27T13:37:12.098-05:002015-02-27T13:37:12.098-05:00The blank page still holds out hope.The blank page still holds out hope.Rohn Federbushhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02016317876402074001noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post-89141294019638387682015-02-24T11:15:09.375-05:002015-02-24T11:15:09.375-05:00Love the comments on this topic. So much agony an...Love the comments on this topic. So much agony and not enough ecstasy :-) I am so happy to be rid of this latest manuscript which I've changed (with my editor) and polished for so long I have no idea what is there or not there. Margo, I live in fear of the thing that just happened to you. I wonder when my 'game' is over...how many good stories I have in me. I'm not like Vonnie, who seems to have a million stories bursting to come out. What juice I have...hope it doesn't dry out!Rolynn Andersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09504770204968969467noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post-87833678374854009352015-02-24T08:09:06.592-05:002015-02-24T08:09:06.592-05:00Melissa. Some stories seem to take longer to polis...Melissa. Some stories seem to take longer to polish. I can sure attest to that.Margo Hoornstrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00036077481652050799noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post-45464743428189904882015-02-24T08:08:23.650-05:002015-02-24T08:08:23.650-05:00Susan. Take heart! I think we all struggle. It'...Susan. Take heart! I think we all struggle. It's still better than not writing at all.Margo Hoornstrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00036077481652050799noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post-14977459234626319872015-02-24T08:07:33.142-05:002015-02-24T08:07:33.142-05:00M.J.! Welcome. I love that, putting things aside w...M.J.! Welcome. I love that, putting things aside with a good heart. I tend to get frustrated too easily when life interrupts my writing. I'll have to adopt more of your good feeling attitude. Making up stories like we do isn't always pretty for sure. Maybe it's not supposed to be.Margo Hoornstrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00036077481652050799noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post-31953419220258485092015-02-23T23:00:49.233-05:002015-02-23T23:00:49.233-05:00For me, I believe that time holds the key. If I ta...For me, I believe that time holds the key. If I take too long between writing and rewrites or edits, then I'm frustrated. I feel like the story has been let go of...but if it's still soon after, I'm happy and love to polish it.Melissa Keirhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10247037321769755660noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post-11617007494304330602015-02-23T20:44:07.839-05:002015-02-23T20:44:07.839-05:00Well, it's all hard for me. I often feel I lac...Well, it's all hard for me. I often feel I lack the creative imagination to compose, but once written, it takes powerful forces to move me to revise and edit the ms. Sigh. Too bad we writers HAVE to write!Susan Coryellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04700818086229953333noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post-27838354285649167342015-02-23T18:52:49.575-05:002015-02-23T18:52:49.575-05:00I'm a lunch lady at my day job and so I have f...I'm a lunch lady at my day job and so I have from about 1 o'clock on to work on writing...if I'm not interrupted by my four children and husband. It seems like someone always needs me! So what I've had to work on is setting things aside with a good heart and looking forward to getting back to them. Of course, if too much time passes I get that antsy feeling that every writer gets when they haven't been able to work on their WIP, and then sometimes things aren't quite so pretty! Great topic!MJ Schillerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08921672646433078203noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post-15033865541350175542015-02-23T15:49:09.404-05:002015-02-23T15:49:09.404-05:00Thanks, Alicia. I have a lot of editor in me too, ...Thanks, Alicia. I have a lot of editor in me too, thanks to the day job. Not always a good thing, I'm afraid for the writier part of me. Talk about internal conflict! :-) I'm with you, going gung ho on a new piece of work then coming to a screeching halt wondering what happens next.Margo Hoornstrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00036077481652050799noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post-43244954563564244472015-02-23T15:45:11.149-05:002015-02-23T15:45:11.149-05:00My writing process is sometimes a mixed bag, too, ...My writing process is sometimes a mixed bag, too, Diane. It's also hard for me to start a new chapter. I find I will revise, revise, revise that first paragraph until it says exactly what it should say in the least amount of words. And bringing an older manuscript up to date. So far, I've done it once and ended up ditching most of it. Margo Hoornstrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00036077481652050799noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post-75099447449012012072015-02-23T15:23:32.859-05:002015-02-23T15:23:32.859-05:00Fantastic post! I hadn't really thought about ...Fantastic post! I hadn't really thought about it before, but I think there are pros and cons to both. Starting on a new story is fun and exciting, but I often find myself at a bit of a standstill as to how to fill those empty pages with words. Overall, I find the rewriting easier, but that could partly be the editor in me, although I don't edit myself as well as I do others. :) Best of luck on the WIP. Oh wow, Vonnie...that's crazy! How could an editor let that happen? LOL. <br />Alicia Deanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12003539473772776004noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post-21391975332242339562015-02-23T14:08:00.733-05:002015-02-23T14:08:00.733-05:00I love writing the first draft. But I also go back...I love writing the first draft. But I also go back & edit as I'm writing. I know, people say not to do that but it works for me. What I find extremely difficult is taking an older manuscript and bringing it up to date. Harder to revise than to write new.Diane Burtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03754105332297068271noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post-46812758181588858182015-02-23T12:17:48.715-05:002015-02-23T12:17:48.715-05:00Thanks, Vonnie. Interesting way to write. In layer...Thanks, Vonnie. Interesting way to write. In layers. I think I do that to some extent. I'll have to concentrate more and perfect it. A 'raw' book out there? Oh, no! I think. Hopefully it will turn out to be a blessing in disguise. After all, you've already gotten a good review, right?Margo Hoornstrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00036077481652050799noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post-39222709519642483582015-02-23T11:01:46.352-05:002015-02-23T11:01:46.352-05:00I like the energy of a blank computer screen and a...I like the energy of a blank computer screen and a storyline ready to burst forth on it. I also like the read-overs and changing a word, taking out a sentence, or adding more emotion. I tend to write in layers. Dialog and basic movements first. Then a layer of body movements and internal dialog. Finally, narration and description. I tend to make things happen and then pad the action with words. I had an editor tell me to take out a complete chapter. GASP! I did. Then paragraph by paragraph, I snuck most of it back in the manuscript at various parts of the story. Another editor at a big 5 forgot to read my book! I kept waiting for edits and 3 weeks prior to release date, I emailed, asking her for my edits. Silence on her end for a week. Finally...oh, Vonnie, I'm so sorry. I never read your book, I just sent it onto production. Everything is done and ready for release. Talk about panic!!! For I definitely need editing. I'm no super writer. So, I have a "raw" book out there. My latest reviewer said it was a good story, but could have used some editing. Yup, it certainly could have!!! Great post. Vonnie Davis ~ Romance Authorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07360480832587538895noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post-79219590798156434462015-02-23T10:53:58.964-05:002015-02-23T10:53:58.964-05:00Ah, yes, Jannine. The pain and suffering. It is ni...Ah, yes, Jannine. The pain and suffering. It is nice to have someone to share that with. LOL! Fairly easy rewrites, for sure. Until someone (ahem) makes a suggestion and throws a monkey wrench into the works - in progress - I should add. Nice metaphor there, crosses to bear. Exactly how it feels. But we wouldn't trade it.Margo Hoornstrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00036077481652050799noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post-34633625764290779312015-02-23T10:40:32.901-05:002015-02-23T10:40:32.901-05:00I can relate to the pain you're feeling over y...I can relate to the pain you're feeling over your WIP Repeat--especially since I've edited it twice now. LOL I applaud your determination to beat it into submission!<br /><br />For me, the rewrites are usually fairly easy. My first draft is pretty close to my last with minor changes (with a few notable exceptions). However that blank page can be torturous. I expect the words put down to be perfect. Which means I go over it endlessly while still writing. I'm a point A to point B writer on a straight course. I can't imagine cutting and adding and rearranging the way you do. We all have our different writing strategy crosses to bear!Jannine Gallanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01047728297429025804noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post-14768877429263347342015-02-23T08:54:07.327-05:002015-02-23T08:54:07.327-05:00Everything is relative, Maris. Rewrites can be enj...Everything is relative, Maris. Rewrites can be enjoyable. What I like, though, is the freedom to write whatever comes to mind - good, bad or indifferent - in the first draft. Polishing (editor over my shoulder to be sure) seems to take me FOREVER! Now, once my CP gets hold of it with fresh eyes (and suggestions) I'm off and running again.Margo Hoornstrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00036077481652050799noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post-39046414930469730042015-02-23T08:14:30.958-05:002015-02-23T08:14:30.958-05:00Interesting that you find the rewrites the more di...Interesting that you find the rewrites the more difficult. With me, it's just the opposite. That blank page is the one I struggle with. Oh, sure, I can race ahead in spots, but then I come to a halt and worry about all the little things. (It's that editor on my shoulder.) Once I have the entire book written (rough draft), I know I can let that editor loose, play with different ways to word a sentence, flesh out a scene, and get rid of those redundant words and phrases. The rewrites, for me, are fun.Marishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14714052867941990380noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post-4072210423030969842015-02-23T07:50:02.896-05:002015-02-23T07:50:02.896-05:00Very true, Joanne, about the pain part. One editor...Very true, Joanne, about the pain part. One editor of mine once asked me to re-write the BBM from her POV into his. After letting loose a string of mild expletives and stomping my feet a few times, I complied. Guess what? The scene became even stronger. Who knew? ;-)Margo Hoornstrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00036077481652050799noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post-47843255369481082552015-02-23T07:48:25.742-05:002015-02-23T07:48:25.742-05:00I'm with you, Leah. I never really 'kill&#...I'm with you, Leah. I never really 'kill' any of it completely. Consequently, I have a collection of - 'may be used in the future' folders for each manuscript. One time, I was actually able to use some paragraphs I was quite proud of I'd written for a workshop exercise. That was fun, plugging the words in, instead of 'plodding' them in. Like your trained and re-trained and trained again way of thinking.Margo Hoornstrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00036077481652050799noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post-29783452308914358512015-02-23T07:39:54.359-05:002015-02-23T07:39:54.359-05:00Great post, Margo. I've had to do 3 sets of fa...Great post, Margo. I've had to do 3 sets of fairly major revisions for published books recently. In the end, the books DID become something I was rather proud of. But the process of doing it was excruciating. I know it won't be my last time, either. I'm hoping I won't have to do too many more of those in the future. It's not just the act of tearing down a manuscript that gets me. It's being able to see outside of my vision of the book enough to do what my editors want me to that's the painful part. So, I feel your pain. I also agree with Leah. Letting it sit for a period of time (and moving on to something new in the meantime) really helps. I usually come back to it with fresh eyes and can see things I couldn't before. Joanne Stewarthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17708364499624604625noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post-28647859618711641142015-02-23T06:10:47.954-05:002015-02-23T06:10:47.954-05:00Great post, Margo. It's really hard to "k...Great post, Margo. It's really hard to "kill your babies," but it has to be done. I put all mine in a separate "unused" folder. I may never use them again, but that way, at least in my head, there's hope for life! :-) I think the more we do it, the better we get. Your internal editor has to be trained, and retrained, and trained some more. :-) It really helps me if I put a project aside for about a month, then read it with fresher eyes.Leah St. Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11004006100786260893noreply@blogger.com