I hear you about being alone here on Easter. Nobody's commenting on my publisher's LJ group which I'm hosting today either.
You wrote:
> "I'm saying they no longer work for me, as I am no longer that writer or that person. "
So, do you think this is just a function of normal growth as a writer, or is it a result of your personal experiences, or both?
I'm finding myself looking at the novel I wrote 3 years ago, which I should really be urging people to go buy, and well, I'm not in love with it anymore. It's not the book I'd write now. So I'm wondering if that's something that everyone runs up against.
I hear you about being alone here on Easter. Nobody's commenting on my publisher's LJ group which I'm hosting today either.
It sucks.
So, do you think this is just a function of normal growth as a writer, or is it a result of your personal experiences, or both?
Both.
If we do not eventually fall out of love with our early work (and that means relative to where we are at the present, as much as it means in an absolute, chronological sense), you're not growing as an author, and you should stop writing.
My ex-wife still has my copy of To Charles Fort, With Love, I've probably mentioned before. I still hope to someday get it back.
There's still a lot of Two Worlds and In Between for me to get through, and damnit I'm still waiting on my copy of Confessions of a Five-Chambered Heart.
I actually liked your Beowulf adaptation, for itself. I like your old stuff, I like your new stuff, and I am known to grieve loudly over the limited editions I missed, like Alabaster and, well, everything you did through SubPress pre-Two Worlds. And probably everything you'll do after Confessions as I'm out of cash, nothing is selling, and I'm still not confident in my capacity to get/keep a Real Job(tm). I'd settle for reprints, or even for ebooks, and I really, really hope there will be an Alabaster: Wolves trade because despite my enthusiasm and eager advocacy, the aforementioned cashflow problem timed itself beautifully to coincide with the release of said endeavour
( ... )
My ex-wife still has my copy of To Charles Fort, With Love, I've probably mentioned before. I still hope to someday get it back.
I shall keep my fingers crossed.
There's still a lot of Two Worlds and In Between for me to get through, and damnit I'm still waiting on my copy of Confessions of a Five-Chambered Heart.
Everyone is waiting on the latter, as it won't be released until late July (the release was pushed back).
I actually liked your Beowulf adaptation, for itself.
Oh fuck, please never say that again. That was the very definition of hackwork, written for a fat paycheck and nothing else. The only thing good that came of it was the money and the neat Korean and Japanese editions.
I am known to grieve loudly over the limited editions I missed, like Alabaster
I sincerely wish these were more widely available. But big publishing houses aren't interested in short-story collections, unless they're from BIG NAME AUTHORS (and sometimes not even then). I am a "mid list" and "cult" author. Ergo
( ... )
I have confirmation on a hardcover collection of the series, which will be due out in Feb. 2013.
That's wonderful news, as I'm not in great fiscal straits myself, but want to support this project. I love Dancy and her stories, and have been intrigued by this new direction you've decided to take her in ever since you started talking about it.
I have confirmation on a hardcover collection of the series
So much hooray!!
That was the very definition of hackwork, written for a fat paycheck and nothing else. The only thing good that came of it was the money and the neat Korean and Japanese editions.
I know you never liked it. As an example of your work, no, as a retelling of Beowulf, no, but for itself I don't think it was quite as bad as you think.
The other good thing that came of it was getting your other books, your loved books, into bookstores that previously hadn't carried them. I saw it happen, in Australia, where I couldn't get your books for love nor money except by internet, until after that one came out and there you were, not as grandly represented as perhaps in Waterstones in Manchester (I don't know if you remember, but I took photos, someone working there loves you I'm sure, they had everything and masses of your SubPress editions, that was where my Five of Cups came from), but nevertheless *there* where you hadn't been before.
My sincere apologies as no hurt was intended -- I had presumed you were Christian because of several references in the beginning of the thread. It's clear I don't know you well enough to be right.
Just as many Orthodox Jews say in parting, "Next Year in Jerusalem," expressing hope that "next year" (someday) they will meet in their holy city, I say "Next year in Luna City," in the the same way, expressing hope that "next year" (someday) we will get to meet in an established city on the moon. For me, it's as close as I get to religion.
Comments 34
You wrote:
> "I'm saying they no longer work for me, as I am no longer that writer or that person. "
So, do you think this is just a function of normal growth as a writer, or is it a result of your personal experiences, or both?
I'm finding myself looking at the novel I wrote 3 years ago, which I should really be urging people to go buy, and well, I'm not in love with it anymore. It's not the book I'd write now. So I'm wondering if that's something that everyone runs up against.
Reply
I hear you about being alone here on Easter. Nobody's commenting on my publisher's LJ group which I'm hosting today either.
It sucks.
So, do you think this is just a function of normal growth as a writer, or is it a result of your personal experiences, or both?
Both.
If we do not eventually fall out of love with our early work (and that means relative to where we are at the present, as much as it means in an absolute, chronological sense), you're not growing as an author, and you should stop writing.
Reply
There's still a lot of Two Worlds and In Between for me to get through, and damnit I'm still waiting on my copy of Confessions of a Five-Chambered Heart.
I actually liked your Beowulf adaptation, for itself. I like your old stuff, I like your new stuff, and I am known to grieve loudly over the limited editions I missed, like Alabaster and, well, everything you did through SubPress pre-Two Worlds. And probably everything you'll do after Confessions as I'm out of cash, nothing is selling, and I'm still not confident in my capacity to get/keep a Real Job(tm). I'd settle for reprints, or even for ebooks, and I really, really hope there will be an Alabaster: Wolves trade because despite my enthusiasm and eager advocacy, the aforementioned cashflow problem timed itself beautifully to coincide with the release of said endeavour ( ... )
Reply
I shall keep my fingers crossed.
There's still a lot of Two Worlds and In Between for me to get through, and damnit I'm still waiting on my copy of Confessions of a Five-Chambered Heart.
Everyone is waiting on the latter, as it won't be released until late July (the release was pushed back).
I actually liked your Beowulf adaptation, for itself.
Oh fuck, please never say that again. That was the very definition of hackwork, written for a fat paycheck and nothing else. The only thing good that came of it was the money and the neat Korean and Japanese editions.
I am known to grieve loudly over the limited editions I missed, like Alabaster
I sincerely wish these were more widely available. But big publishing houses aren't interested in short-story collections, unless they're from BIG NAME AUTHORS (and sometimes not even then). I am a "mid list" and "cult" author. Ergo ( ... )
Reply
That's wonderful news, as I'm not in great fiscal straits myself, but want to support this project. I love Dancy and her stories, and have been intrigued by this new direction you've decided to take her in ever since you started talking about it.
Reply
So much hooray!!
That was the very definition of hackwork, written for a fat paycheck and nothing else. The only thing good that came of it was the money and the neat Korean and Japanese editions.
I know you never liked it. As an example of your work, no, as a retelling of Beowulf, no, but for itself I don't think it was quite as bad as you think.
The other good thing that came of it was getting your other books, your loved books, into bookstores that previously hadn't carried them. I saw it happen, in Australia, where I couldn't get your books for love nor money except by internet, until after that one came out and there you were, not as grandly represented as perhaps in Waterstones in Manchester (I don't know if you remember, but I took photos, someone working there loves you I'm sure, they had everything and masses of your SubPress editions, that was where my Five of Cups came from), but nevertheless *there* where you hadn't been before.
late July (the release was ( ... )
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Er...thank you. But I'm not an Xtian, and Easter makes me hurt.
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My sincere apologies as no hurt was intended -- I had presumed you were Christian because of several references in the beginning of the thread. It's clear I don't know you well enough to be right.
I hope there are no angry feelings. I meant well.
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Good for you. Beginning at the "right" place.
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What's next year in Luna City? Where's Luna City?
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Just as many Orthodox Jews say in parting, "Next Year in Jerusalem," expressing hope that "next year" (someday) they will meet in their holy city, I say "Next year in Luna City," in the the same way, expressing hope that "next year" (someday) we will get to meet in an established city on the moon. For me, it's as close as I get to religion.
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