(no subject)
One of my first writing lessons, compliments of a critique from a very patient person, was 'show, don't tell.' Many a paragraph morphed as I learned to do this. I didn't lose words as often as I added them. Odd, I thought. Perhaps. Perhaps not. I thought I had a good grip on showing. I guess I got lazy. I received some critiques on a submitted chapter, and, boy, did I get my hands slapped. Thank goodness!
So now I've learned to strive to be ever vigilant, always guard and watch for known weaknesses. Remember lessons already learned and practice them. May it become my 'norm' soon. Just as I thought I'd mastered something, I got lazy about it. And that comes up and bits me in the a-- butt.
Next I'll submit Chapter Twenty-one. I think it's twenty-one, anyway. I needed to be reminded it hampers a critiquer's effectiveness if he or she walks in blind. A brief explanation at the beginning is needed. It's good practice, I'm sure, because I must learn to write a synopsis when the next step arrives.
I didn't 'decide' to be a writer all of a sudden. I'm not sure how it happened. It was a life-long process, I suspect. And there's so much to learn about writing! I can't complain. I hope to be a 'life student' until the day after I die.
Even when a scene seems to write itself, seems to flow onto the page, I've discovered I must be sure to check my work, especially for the things required in today's market. Every word. Every sentence. Every time. Just as each day is new, special, a gift, so it is with writing. Another lesson learned. Since 'lazy' is a nasty, four-letter word in my family, I'd best clean up my act!
People who really 'pick apart' my submission for critique are my favorites. They teach me the most. In my Thank You note, I always encourage such a critiquer to do it again because I'm grateful. They often apologize if they seemed harsh. Not to me. Of course, the exception is the Writer Troll.
I encountered one in my first submission at the first website for writers I discovered. It took a while to realize some people's opinions do stink like the outhouse. And that's okay. I received a thank you note from a brand-spankin'-new writer. Her first crit was from a Writer Troll. She said little but it was easy to read between the lines. I hope I helped her, not only with a crit but with my advice: Keep writing and learning. And do your best. That's it. And take those guys with a big grain of rock salt.
As for me, the message is clear: Don't get lazy.
So now I've learned to strive to be ever vigilant, always guard and watch for known weaknesses. Remember lessons already learned and practice them. May it become my 'norm' soon. Just as I thought I'd mastered something, I got lazy about it. And that comes up and bits me in the a-- butt.
Next I'll submit Chapter Twenty-one. I think it's twenty-one, anyway. I needed to be reminded it hampers a critiquer's effectiveness if he or she walks in blind. A brief explanation at the beginning is needed. It's good practice, I'm sure, because I must learn to write a synopsis when the next step arrives.
I didn't 'decide' to be a writer all of a sudden. I'm not sure how it happened. It was a life-long process, I suspect. And there's so much to learn about writing! I can't complain. I hope to be a 'life student' until the day after I die.
Even when a scene seems to write itself, seems to flow onto the page, I've discovered I must be sure to check my work, especially for the things required in today's market. Every word. Every sentence. Every time. Just as each day is new, special, a gift, so it is with writing. Another lesson learned. Since 'lazy' is a nasty, four-letter word in my family, I'd best clean up my act!
People who really 'pick apart' my submission for critique are my favorites. They teach me the most. In my Thank You note, I always encourage such a critiquer to do it again because I'm grateful. They often apologize if they seemed harsh. Not to me. Of course, the exception is the Writer Troll.
I encountered one in my first submission at the first website for writers I discovered. It took a while to realize some people's opinions do stink like the outhouse. And that's okay. I received a thank you note from a brand-spankin'-new writer. Her first crit was from a Writer Troll. She said little but it was easy to read between the lines. I hope I helped her, not only with a crit but with my advice: Keep writing and learning. And do your best. That's it. And take those guys with a big grain of rock salt.
As for me, the message is clear: Don't get lazy.