tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83528601653366510.post1994267616310589867..comments2024-01-03T04:03:15.300-05:00Comments on S.P. Bowers: Which way should we go?S.P. Bowershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09746614009206426805noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83528601653366510.post-70546990690432402632012-08-29T08:08:50.107-04:002012-08-29T08:08:50.107-04:00I know exactly how that feels! I seem to be dealin...I know exactly how that feels! I seem to be dealing with it by jumping into a new story, but then I feel doubly guilty - I'm supposed to be editing the other one.Deniz Bevanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17134553551048836979noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83528601653366510.post-17782802449734892862012-08-29T00:15:18.900-04:002012-08-29T00:15:18.900-04:00I guess the best advice I ever heard was ... '...I guess the best advice I ever heard was ... 'Do something!" even if its not the best option, at least you have something to work with.widdershinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04205462833259334647noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83528601653366510.post-29900490778667771062012-08-28T17:24:49.377-04:002012-08-28T17:24:49.377-04:00It's been awhile but seems to me I became publ...It's been awhile but seems to me I became published by accident. I stopped stressing myself out worrying whether it was time. I actually set the ms aside for a year, then one day I decided to have one copy printed. My life changed from there. I think as you mature, you gain confidence and the ability to listen to that blessed instinct you're born with. You just know. And no that's not much help if you don't feel that way at the present moment. I remember someone saying exactly that and me thinking, Thank for the help, but no thanks! And then one day zing ... I just knew. And now with two books published, one on the way, and 2 in the works, I actually don't think or worry. I rely on my instincts. I do make sure I get plenty of feedback. My partners check out my ms because I trust and I know they won't hold back. Then I read Donald Maass' workbook Breakout Novel just make sure I've done the very best I can do. Then I put the ms aside for 10 days, start a new book, read the ms over, and start querying. Joylene Nowell Butlerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04497637513532136615noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83528601653366510.post-61913808123161240032012-08-28T14:53:06.628-04:002012-08-28T14:53:06.628-04:00I keep writing - even if it doesn't make sense...I keep writing - even if it doesn't make sense for this chapter, I may be able to use it elsewhere.<br /><br />And, I'm still moving forward :)<br />Mark Koopmanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03634424953074803816noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83528601653366510.post-39410253009796522902012-08-27T21:10:23.445-04:002012-08-27T21:10:23.445-04:00Good luck! I love hearing that people are getting...Good luck! I love hearing that people are getting close. S.P. Bowershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09746614009206426805noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83528601653366510.post-23796498146278416632012-08-27T21:09:23.153-04:002012-08-27T21:09:23.153-04:00You know, often the first path is the best. I just...You know, often the first path is the best. I just always second guess myself. S.P. Bowershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09746614009206426805noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83528601653366510.post-32003441293445588212012-08-27T21:08:56.025-04:002012-08-27T21:08:56.025-04:00Lol, Unfortunately I run into walls on a regular b...Lol, Unfortunately I run into walls on a regular basis. I'll have to try the running. S.P. Bowershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09746614009206426805noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83528601653366510.post-25726217924181518772012-08-27T19:56:30.553-04:002012-08-27T19:56:30.553-04:00If the "where I want to go next" refers ...If the "where I want to go next" refers to the writing then I go to sleep or take a shower. (My muse likes to visit when I can't take notes.) If the question is about what to do with the project after finishing then I haven't really hit that point yet. I'm doing my first in-depth, post-critiqued edits and revisions. It's getting there, closer all the time, but not quite there yet. Soon though. Soon.Jeff Hargetthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14198367021884647821noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83528601653366510.post-4418833667921328862012-08-27T19:41:49.766-04:002012-08-27T19:41:49.766-04:00I usually just go with the path I saw first and ma...I usually just go with the path I saw first and make a footnote of all the other paths. Who knows? Maybe when I go back and edit I will find that some of these paths can actually coexist.Samantha Mayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09370961661054617338noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83528601653366510.post-61137918698461635772012-08-27T19:21:41.167-04:002012-08-27T19:21:41.167-04:00I hit my head against the wall, and if that doesn&...I hit my head against the wall, and if that doesn't work, I go for a run. :DStinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11415189347501942340noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83528601653366510.post-84580285978694187812012-08-27T19:08:55.957-04:002012-08-27T19:08:55.957-04:00Very true. Though, I'm not quite ready to give...Very true. Though, I'm not quite ready to give up on this one yet. S.P. Bowershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09746614009206426805noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83528601653366510.post-41207578606853484982012-08-27T16:23:32.582-04:002012-08-27T16:23:32.582-04:00I think getting into a routine with writing helps ...I think getting into a routine with writing helps a lot with both knowing when the MS is ready and with knowing where to go when you get stuck. I admit to having times where I got stuck enough with a novel (more like being bored with it) that I just pushed it into the trash bin and started anew. If nothing else, it's practice.Charlie N. Holmberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13546802577363686054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83528601653366510.post-59645352747003680422012-08-27T13:50:29.399-04:002012-08-27T13:50:29.399-04:00Thanks Elise. It's always great to have good c...Thanks Elise. It's always great to have good crit partners. Good luck with your queries!S.P. Bowershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09746614009206426805noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83528601653366510.post-62967761909762837792012-08-27T13:48:59.425-04:002012-08-27T13:48:59.425-04:00I keep going over mine, spinning my wheels without...I keep going over mine, spinning my wheels without making any thing really better or worse. Good luck, I hope those queries go well!<br />S.P. Bowershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09746614009206426805noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83528601653366510.post-70859827616688054982012-08-27T13:10:59.590-04:002012-08-27T13:10:59.590-04:00Hey Sara. I'm lucky to be working with a good ...Hey Sara. I'm lucky to be working with a good friend who is also my editor. As soon as she and I get 2 to 3 round of edits finished, I'll start sending out queries. Talk to your beta readers and/or cps, I'm sure they give you some good feedback. And then, you're just gonna have to jump in! (: Elise Fallsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14734537117333738468noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83528601653366510.post-90340623956615292392012-08-27T13:10:02.457-04:002012-08-27T13:10:02.457-04:00Wow Sara, this post hit me right between the eyes!...Wow Sara, this post hit me right between the eyes! I keep going back over my WIP thinking that at some point I will have that "Voila moment" where I know it's finished. I have recently come to the point that after my present pass over my MS I will send it to a different editor friend. If she gives it the okay then I'll send off my queries later this fall. Good luck, friend!Victoria Lindstromhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09694066132860951997noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83528601653366510.post-2833421522587198932012-08-27T12:55:59.458-04:002012-08-27T12:55:59.458-04:00Thanks Emily, I may have to have another round.
Thanks Emily, I may have to have another round.<br />S.P. Bowershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09746614009206426805noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83528601653366510.post-5355262626424190962012-08-27T12:55:24.717-04:002012-08-27T12:55:24.717-04:00Yikes, that is the hardest decision of all! Yikes, that is the hardest decision of all! S.P. Bowershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09746614009206426805noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83528601653366510.post-38725947709868940292012-08-27T12:54:25.354-04:002012-08-27T12:54:25.354-04:00It is, thanks Suze. Good luck with your dilemmas....It is, thanks Suze. Good luck with your dilemmas.<br />S.P. Bowershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09746614009206426805noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83528601653366510.post-81154340328951987302012-08-27T12:54:01.828-04:002012-08-27T12:54:01.828-04:00Your two cents are worth a lot! Thanks, I know I ...Your two cents are worth a lot! Thanks, I know I need to feel the waters more but one of the things I'm concerned with is that I'm querying the wrong agents since I had an agent tell me it belonged in another genre. Sigh. Good luck with the waiting. That's no fun either. S.P. Bowershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09746614009206426805noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83528601653366510.post-85123029716381924602012-08-27T12:52:34.123-04:002012-08-27T12:52:34.123-04:00Yikes on the downsizing. That's hard. Good l...Yikes on the downsizing. That's hard. Good luck with it and I'm glad you have great critique partners. They can make everything better.<br />S.P. Bowershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09746614009206426805noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83528601653366510.post-90028184250219187122012-08-27T12:51:16.199-04:002012-08-27T12:51:16.199-04:00Well there's lots of choices there too. But w...Well there's lots of choices there too. But with drafting you do get to explore most of them and worry about which ones work later. S.P. Bowershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09746614009206426805noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83528601653366510.post-49098259316001306562012-08-27T12:10:07.588-04:002012-08-27T12:10:07.588-04:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Come At Me Brohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12471756942136977057noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83528601653366510.post-90990789328238249232012-08-27T11:38:03.207-04:002012-08-27T11:38:03.207-04:00I agree that feedback is the key. Once you've ...I agree that feedback is the key. Once you've survived several rounds of experienced betas, you're ready to rock and roll!Emily R. Kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03892444969625637064noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83528601653366510.post-38572188599264867242012-08-27T11:13:01.285-04:002012-08-27T11:13:01.285-04:00I knew I was done with my previous MS when I didn&...I knew I was done with my previous MS when I didn't know if the changes I was making were making my story better or worse. And then...after some super hard soul searching...I also knew that MS wasn't *the one* and shelved it. Sometimes moving on means letting go too.Barbara Watsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06547166495514562286noreply@blogger.com