Comments on: Hope Springs Eternal http://www.staciakane.net/2007/02/21/hope-springs-eternal/ Author of Urban Fantasy Sat, 04 Sep 2010 16:36:27 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: December Quinn http://www.staciakane.net/2007/02/21/hope-springs-eternal/#comment-1659 December Quinn Fri, 23 Feb 2007 10:13:00 +0000 http://www.staciakane.net/2007/02/21/hope-springs-eternal/#comment-1659 I do know what you mean, Jenn. Fester is a good word for it, too, although I think I may have cracked an issue with my making-the-rounds-book last night. Going to think about that.<br/><br/>Very true, Bernardl. I do try to re-read my old books once a year/18 months or so, to make sure I'm not going over old ground. I do miss those projects though! I do know what you mean, Jenn. Fester is a good word for it, too, although I think I may have cracked an issue with my making-the-rounds-book last night. Going to think about that.

Very true, Bernardl. I do try to re-read my old books once a year/18 months or so, to make sure I’m not going over old ground. I do miss those projects though!

]]> By: BernardL http://www.staciakane.net/2007/02/21/hope-springs-eternal/#comment-1657 BernardL Thu, 22 Feb 2007 20:09:00 +0000 http://www.staciakane.net/2007/02/21/hope-springs-eternal/#comment-1657 Starting a new manuscript while editing a finished one always relieves some of the grind for me. I don’t miss the last project; because whether it gets picked up by a real publisher, or is doomed to a POD existence, it will still have to be gone over at regular intervals. If our old works are not read with some frequency, we can find ourselves becoming virtual clichés. :) Starting a new manuscript while editing a finished one always relieves some of the grind for me. I don’t miss the last project; because whether it gets picked up by a real publisher, or is doomed to a POD existence, it will still have to be gone over at regular intervals. If our old works are not read with some frequency, we can find ourselves becoming virtual clichés. :)

]]> By: Jenn on the Island http://www.staciakane.net/2007/02/21/hope-springs-eternal/#comment-1656 Jenn on the Island Thu, 22 Feb 2007 17:27:00 +0000 http://www.staciakane.net/2007/02/21/hope-springs-eternal/#comment-1656 I'm never done. It's always there in the back of my mind festering. <br/><br/>On the other hand though I'm also perpetually starting things, which is a nice distraction from the oozing... I’m never done. It’s always there in the back of my mind festering.

On the other hand though I’m also perpetually starting things, which is a nice distraction from the oozing…

]]> By: December Quinn http://www.staciakane.net/2007/02/21/hope-springs-eternal/#comment-1655 December Quinn Thu, 22 Feb 2007 14:17:00 +0000 http://www.staciakane.net/2007/02/21/hope-springs-eternal/#comment-1655 Oh, Bernita, I'm so glad I'm not the only one. You just expressed exactly how I feel. Oh, Bernita, I’m so glad I’m not the only one. You just expressed exactly how I feel.

]]> By: Bernita http://www.staciakane.net/2007/02/21/hope-springs-eternal/#comment-1654 Bernita Thu, 22 Feb 2007 11:36:00 +0000 http://www.staciakane.net/2007/02/21/hope-springs-eternal/#comment-1654 I can't put a work away until a new idea shakes me with excitement.<br/>Then the old one strikes me as crap.Maybe it's the excitement, the possibilities I hope will unfold, and those have worn off the previous work. I can’t put a work away until a new idea shakes me with excitement.
Then the old one strikes me as crap.Maybe it’s the excitement, the possibilities I hope will unfold, and those have worn off the previous work.

]]> By: December Quinn http://www.staciakane.net/2007/02/21/hope-springs-eternal/#comment-1653 December Quinn Thu, 22 Feb 2007 07:14:00 +0000 http://www.staciakane.net/2007/02/21/hope-springs-eternal/#comment-1653 Ooh, I know what you mean, kis. I've knitted a baby blanket and re-tiled a floor, refinished cabinets and countertops, painted rooms...it always makes me feel like I'm actually participating in life and not just watching it go by.<br/><br/>But writing never feels done. I'm the same way. I'm still editing in my head books that have been released, and thinking of ways I could have made them stronger. I always feel like I could have done a better job, I should have done this or that...sigh. Ooh, I know what you mean, kis. I’ve knitted a baby blanket and re-tiled a floor, refinished cabinets and countertops, painted rooms…it always makes me feel like I’m actually participating in life and not just watching it go by.

But writing never feels done. I’m the same way. I’m still editing in my head books that have been released, and thinking of ways I could have made them stronger. I always feel like I could have done a better job, I should have done this or that…sigh.

]]> By: December Quinn http://www.staciakane.net/2007/02/21/hope-springs-eternal/#comment-1652 December Quinn Thu, 22 Feb 2007 07:11:00 +0000 http://www.staciakane.net/2007/02/21/hope-springs-eternal/#comment-1652 Lol, lbl. See, when I pick up one of my books to start editing, I'm surprised at how good it is. Then after I've done editing I know intellectually it's stronger but nitpicking all its flaws makes me think it isn't.<br/><br/>Poetry I can't write at all. I've written some amusing limericks on occasion when I was bored. That's about it. Lol, lbl. See, when I pick up one of my books to start editing, I’m surprised at how good it is. Then after I’ve done editing I know intellectually it’s stronger but nitpicking all its flaws makes me think it isn’t.

Poetry I can’t write at all. I’ve written some amusing limericks on occasion when I was bored. That’s about it.

]]> By: December Quinn http://www.staciakane.net/2007/02/21/hope-springs-eternal/#comment-1651 December Quinn Thu, 22 Feb 2007 07:09:00 +0000 http://www.staciakane.net/2007/02/21/hope-springs-eternal/#comment-1651 Welcome, Devon! You know, it's funny--I wrote <i>Blood Will Tell</i> and <i>Prince of Death</i> at basically the same time (although I eventually put <i>Blood</i> aside for a few weeks to finish up <i>Prince</i>) but since then I haven't worked on more than one project at a time. Except editing, of course.<br/><br/>It worked well for me, but for some reason something inside me ust always thinks it's not a good idea. I wonder why? When it works so well for so many people and actually worked for me, and both of those projects sold?<br/><br/>Hmmm. Maybe I should try this again.<br/><br/>Thanks for the thought, and the comment! Welcome, Devon! You know, it’s funny–I wrote Blood Will Tell and Prince of Death at basically the same time (although I eventually put Blood aside for a few weeks to finish up Prince) but since then I haven’t worked on more than one project at a time. Except editing, of course.

It worked well for me, but for some reason something inside me ust always thinks it’s not a good idea. I wonder why? When it works so well for so many people and actually worked for me, and both of those projects sold?

Hmmm. Maybe I should try this again.

Thanks for the thought, and the comment!

]]> By: kis http://www.staciakane.net/2007/02/21/hope-springs-eternal/#comment-1650 kis Thu, 22 Feb 2007 05:28:00 +0000 http://www.staciakane.net/2007/02/21/hope-springs-eternal/#comment-1650 Building fences, bookcases, built-in cabinets, painting walls, putting together furniture, sewing a quilt--all leave me feeling like Rocky at the top of those steps. Those are all things that, unlike dishes, laundry and cutting the grass, actually <i>stay done.</i><br/><br/>I can fiddle with words forever. Switch a period to a comma in the morning, then switch it back at night. Gaahhhh! I think part of me is scared to snip the cord. (Maybe that's why I carried my last kid an extra 27 days?) I'll come up with excuses not to write if there's a chance I'll actually finish something. Or my motivation will just deflate, and I'll get this urge to jump to some other project.<br/><br/>I did it just yesterday--set down a novella that's 38 000 words in to putter with something else. I'm just praying that I'll arrive at a place soon where they all just kind of finish effortlessly, and I can spend a few months submiting a half-dozen stories.<br/><br/>But I have this feeling that even when something of mine is in print, I'll look at it and say, "Dang, I should have made that comma a period." Building fences, bookcases, built-in cabinets, painting walls, putting together furniture, sewing a quilt–all leave me feeling like Rocky at the top of those steps. Those are all things that, unlike dishes, laundry and cutting the grass, actually stay done.

I can fiddle with words forever. Switch a period to a comma in the morning, then switch it back at night. Gaahhhh! I think part of me is scared to snip the cord. (Maybe that’s why I carried my last kid an extra 27 days?) I’ll come up with excuses not to write if there’s a chance I’ll actually finish something. Or my motivation will just deflate, and I’ll get this urge to jump to some other project.

I did it just yesterday–set down a novella that’s 38 000 words in to putter with something else. I’m just praying that I’ll arrive at a place soon where they all just kind of finish effortlessly, and I can spend a few months submiting a half-dozen stories.

But I have this feeling that even when something of mine is in print, I’ll look at it and say, “Dang, I should have made that comma a period.”

]]> By: littlebirdblue http://www.staciakane.net/2007/02/21/hope-springs-eternal/#comment-1649 littlebirdblue Thu, 22 Feb 2007 00:32:00 +0000 http://www.staciakane.net/2007/02/21/hope-springs-eternal/#comment-1649 When I finish a novel, I am so happy and glorious and proud.<br/><br/>Then I put it in a drawer for a few weeks and pull it out (print it out) and read it and Lo! it is shite. It is mud and dirt, and not the good kind sweet grass and yummy vegetables can grow in. I tweak and edit and rewrite, then put away for another month or so (already working through the next, of course)....<br/><br/>And then it comes back into the light of day, and I hold me breath, and YAY! It's delicious.<br/><br/>Poetry (<i>my own</i> poetry and select others--I'm much pickier in poetry than in prose) I love right off the bat. I go back and read my poems over and over again when I feel unaccomplished in other things.<br/><br/>Short stories, I don't know yet. I haven't experimented yet enough to get a handle on the process there. When I finish a novel, I am so happy and glorious and proud.

Then I put it in a drawer for a few weeks and pull it out (print it out) and read it and Lo! it is shite. It is mud and dirt, and not the good kind sweet grass and yummy vegetables can grow in. I tweak and edit and rewrite, then put away for another month or so (already working through the next, of course)….

And then it comes back into the light of day, and I hold me breath, and YAY! It’s delicious.

Poetry (my own poetry and select others–I’m much pickier in poetry than in prose) I love right off the bat. I go back and read my poems over and over again when I feel unaccomplished in other things.

Short stories, I don’t know yet. I haven’t experimented yet enough to get a handle on the process there.

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