dealing with envy - CrimeSpace2024-03-29T14:55:36Zhttps://crimespace.ning.com/forum/topics/dealing-with-envy?commentId=537324%3AComment%3A192954&feed=yes&xn_auth=noGreat question, Minerva.
Yes…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2009-12-04:537324:Comment:2215072009-12-04T15:30:29.874ZJaden Terrellhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/BethTerrell
Great question, Minerva.<br />
<br />
Yes, I absolutely swing between the extremes of loving the book and thinking it is the most awful drivel ever written. I sometimes despair of ever writing anything worth reading. Then I pick up the work again, and it's...hey, it's pretty darn good.<br />
<br />
I love Dana's advice. Sometimes reading a poorly written published book is what I need to keep myself going, and sometimes a brillinatly written book is what I need to inspire myself to stretch a bit and not rely on the…
Great question, Minerva.<br />
<br />
Yes, I absolutely swing between the extremes of loving the book and thinking it is the most awful drivel ever written. I sometimes despair of ever writing anything worth reading. Then I pick up the work again, and it's...hey, it's pretty darn good.<br />
<br />
I love Dana's advice. Sometimes reading a poorly written published book is what I need to keep myself going, and sometimes a brillinatly written book is what I need to inspire myself to stretch a bit and not rely on the easy words and phrases. I agree with Dana - reading c…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2009-11-26:537324:Comment:2209472009-11-26T23:56:09.994ZJulie Lomoehttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/julielomoe
I agree with Dana - reading crappy books is a great antidote to the fear that you're a terrible writer. Try reading some Danielle Steel - that should boost your confidence. Often there's no connection between success and quality of the writing.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://julielomoe.wordpress.com" target="_blank">Julie Lomoe's Musings Mysterioso</a>
I agree with Dana - reading crappy books is a great antidote to the fear that you're a terrible writer. Try reading some Danielle Steel - that should boost your confidence. Often there's no connection between success and quality of the writing.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://julielomoe.wordpress.com" target="_blank">Julie Lomoe's Musings Mysterioso</a> It's happening again....
Rea…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2009-11-18:537324:Comment:2201242009-11-18T03:22:01.864ZminervaKhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/minervakoenig
It's happening again....<br />
<br />
Reading 'The Chicago Way' by Michael Harvey and gnashing my teeth. I could write a million years and never be this good.<br />
<br />
Damn it.
It's happening again....<br />
<br />
Reading 'The Chicago Way' by Michael Harvey and gnashing my teeth. I could write a million years and never be this good.<br />
<br />
Damn it. You mean someone can actually…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2009-04-12:537324:Comment:1932402009-04-12T19:41:48.708ZB.R.Statehamhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/BRStateham
You mean someone can actually write an original mystery novel and not 'borrow' ideas from other writers?! That's possible?<br />
<br />
Wow!
You mean someone can actually write an original mystery novel and not 'borrow' ideas from other writers?! That's possible?<br />
<br />
Wow! This is exactly how I feel ev…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2009-04-12:537324:Comment:1931402009-04-12T04:41:59.029ZBenjamin Sobieckhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/BenjaminSobieck
This is exactly how I feel every time I read a book. If they did it, why can't I? It made me feel inadequate, like I should give up.<br />
<br />
But I knew I shouldn't. I need to keep writing. As of typing this, I haven't sold my debut manuscript. That doesn't mean I'm a failure. That means I haven't sold my debut manuscript.<br />
<br />
Here's my piece of advice: F*ck envy. Don't weigh yourself against the accomplishments of others. Exist in your own world, not theirs. Be happy for their accomplishments. They were…
This is exactly how I feel every time I read a book. If they did it, why can't I? It made me feel inadequate, like I should give up.<br />
<br />
But I knew I shouldn't. I need to keep writing. As of typing this, I haven't sold my debut manuscript. That doesn't mean I'm a failure. That means I haven't sold my debut manuscript.<br />
<br />
Here's my piece of advice: F*ck envy. Don't weigh yourself against the accomplishments of others. Exist in your own world, not theirs. Be happy for their accomplishments. They were unknowns at some point. Success comes to the truly passionate because they don't give up. I used to worry about being u…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2009-04-11:537324:Comment:1930652009-04-11T19:37:26.576ZDana Kinghttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/DanaKing
I used to worry about being unduly influenced by reading other mystery writers when I was writing, but I got over it. First, I'm working on some writing project just about twelve months a year, so I'd never read anyone if I did that. I also not infrequently find ideas for how to fix something while reading. Not like I'm using something someone did so I feel like I'm ripping off Elmore Leonard or Ed McBain, but I'll see how a particular POV works, or doesn't, for something similar to what I have…
I used to worry about being unduly influenced by reading other mystery writers when I was writing, but I got over it. First, I'm working on some writing project just about twelve months a year, so I'd never read anyone if I did that. I also not infrequently find ideas for how to fix something while reading. Not like I'm using something someone did so I feel like I'm ripping off Elmore Leonard or Ed McBain, but I'll see how a particular POV works, or doesn't, for something similar to what I have coming up. Or I'll see someone go into more detail than I might have with a description, and I'll think I could give a little more there, so long as I do it right.<br />
<br />
I try to stay away from using too much of someone else's voice or style by re-reading the last page or so I wrote to keep me in the voice of what I've been doing. It works pretty well. The moratorium on reading oth…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2009-04-11:537324:Comment:1929542009-04-11T07:36:16.471ZminervaKhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/minervakoenig
The moratorium on reading other mystery writers while working makes some sense... I wonder what would be good reading while working? Hm... hm... *ponders*
The moratorium on reading other mystery writers while working makes some sense... I wonder what would be good reading while working? Hm... hm... *ponders* No work ever lives up to the…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2009-04-11:537324:Comment:1929322009-04-11T01:46:06.777ZJohn Desjarlaishttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/JohnDesjarlais
No work ever lives up to the writer's original vision for it. While I was writing my first mystery, I decided not to read too much in the genre (a difficult decision made easier by the fact that I was writing the book over a college sabbatical and had limited time). That way, I wouldn't constantly compare myself to others - or unwittingly borrow from them.<br />
<br />
Like all the others, I've felt serious self-doubt. The only way to overcome it is to keep going. Marathon runners hit a 'wall' too and…
No work ever lives up to the writer's original vision for it. While I was writing my first mystery, I decided not to read too much in the genre (a difficult decision made easier by the fact that I was writing the book over a college sabbatical and had limited time). That way, I wouldn't constantly compare myself to others - or unwittingly borrow from them.<br />
<br />
Like all the others, I've felt serious self-doubt. The only way to overcome it is to keep going. Marathon runners hit a 'wall' too and berate themselves saying 'why did I even start? Whatever made me think I could do this? My legs hurt and I feel like bursting and just stopping.' But they keep running. Writing a book is a marathon. Ditto! :)tag:crimespace.ning.com,2009-04-09:537324:Comment:1924772009-04-09T14:35:57.233ZI. J. Parkerhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/Ingpark
Ditto! :)
Ditto! :) "like admiration having a bad…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2009-04-09:537324:Comment:1924452009-04-09T12:24:45.692ZDana Kinghttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/DanaKing
"like admiration having a bad day"<br />
<br />
I'm going to remember that. Excellent.
"like admiration having a bad day"<br />
<br />
I'm going to remember that. Excellent.