Comments for Writers First Aid http://institutechildrenslit.net/Writers-First-Aid-blog Fri, 18 May 2012 15:49:36 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 Comment on Quantity vs. Quality: Big Issue for Today’s Writer by Kristi Holl http://institutechildrenslit.net/Writers-First-Aid-blog/2012/05/16/quantity-vs-quality-big-issue-for-todays-writer/comment-page-1/#comment-136186 Kristi Holl Fri, 18 May 2012 15:49:36 +0000 http://institutechildrenslit.net/Writers-First-Aid-blog/?p=5000#comment-136186 Patti, welcome to the world of writing for children. Sounds like you have a built-in audience for testing your stories. :-) You have a unique background for writing for this age, with all your experience. I would imagine that having such close contact with the age group you write for would certainly speed things up. Thanks for posting a comment! Patti, welcome to the world of writing for children. Sounds like you have a built-in audience for testing your stories. :-) You have a unique background for writing for this age, with all your experience. I would imagine that having such close contact with the age group you write for would certainly speed things up. Thanks for posting a comment!

]]> Comment on Quantity vs. Quality: Big Issue for Today’s Writer by Patti Brocato http://institutechildrenslit.net/Writers-First-Aid-blog/2012/05/16/quantity-vs-quality-big-issue-for-todays-writer/comment-page-1/#comment-136182 Patti Brocato Fri, 18 May 2012 14:05:49 +0000 http://institutechildrenslit.net/Writers-First-Aid-blog/?p=5000#comment-136182 Dear Ms. Holl, I am a first time writer...joining the Children's family in April of this year, 2012. I want to say thankyou for your encouraging blogs, comments, and articles. I have been a Child Care professional for over 20 years, but, to write stories for children, & then getting the chance to read them to an actual audience of preschoolers, puts the icing on the cake! In regards to quality vs.quantity, it depends on the age, day, & time...being aware of trhese 3 things, shows that you are a sensitive author, with the children's needs in mind! Dear Ms. Holl,
I am a first time writer…joining the Children’s family in April of this year, 2012. I want to say thankyou for your encouraging blogs, comments, and articles. I have been a Child Care professional for over 20 years, but, to write stories for children, & then getting the chance to read them to an actual audience of preschoolers, puts the icing on the cake! In regards to quality vs.quantity, it depends on the age, day, & time…being aware of trhese 3 things, shows that you are a sensitive author, with the children’s needs in mind!

]]> Comment on Quantity vs. Quality: Big Issue for Today’s Writer by Kristi Holl http://institutechildrenslit.net/Writers-First-Aid-blog/2012/05/16/quantity-vs-quality-big-issue-for-todays-writer/comment-page-1/#comment-136178 Kristi Holl Fri, 18 May 2012 12:53:47 +0000 http://institutechildrenslit.net/Writers-First-Aid-blog/?p=5000#comment-136178 Marilyn, I have often thought of those books like Jane Eyre and Gone With the Wind and To Kill a Mockingbird...and how some authors gave it all to one book that continues to live on and on...through books and movies and being taught in schools. Yes, that would be a real writer's dream, to have a timeless book!!! Or like Jane Austen, to have several timeless books! Marilyn, I have often thought of those books like Jane Eyre and Gone With the Wind and To Kill a Mockingbird…and how some authors gave it all to one book that continues to live on and on…through books and movies and being taught in schools. Yes, that would be a real writer’s dream, to have a timeless book!!! Or like Jane Austen, to have several timeless books!

]]> Comment on Quantity vs. Quality: Big Issue for Today’s Writer by Marilyn Faulhaber http://institutechildrenslit.net/Writers-First-Aid-blog/2012/05/16/quantity-vs-quality-big-issue-for-todays-writer/comment-page-1/#comment-136168 Marilyn Faulhaber Fri, 18 May 2012 09:26:21 +0000 http://institutechildrenslit.net/Writers-First-Aid-blog/?p=5000#comment-136168 My mother used to say anything worth doing is worth doing well. When I read a book written by an author I know, I expect it to be good--maybe better than past books. It's always disappointing when the writing quality does not stand up. And, it's obvious that they were rushed to meet deadlines. As a writer, I'd rather work on quality and strive to perfect my craft than just crank work out like a sweatshop, not caring about the end product. But then, I'm not trying to make a living at writing but if I were, I would want anything with my name on it to be my best. One case in point looking at quality -- Margaret Mitchell. Her one and only wonderful, glorious book has never gone out of print. Generations have enjoyed her book for decades. Isn't that ultimate writers dream? My mother used to say anything worth doing is worth doing well. When I read a book written by an author I know, I expect it to be good–maybe better than past books. It’s always disappointing when the writing quality does not stand up. And, it’s obvious that they were rushed to meet deadlines. As a writer, I’d rather work on quality and strive to perfect my craft than just crank work out like a sweatshop, not caring about the end product. But then, I’m not trying to make a living at writing but if I were, I would want anything with my name on it to be my best. One case in point looking at quality — Margaret Mitchell. Her one and only wonderful, glorious book has never gone out of print. Generations have enjoyed her book for decades. Isn’t that ultimate writers dream?

]]> Comment on Quantity vs. Quality: Big Issue for Today’s Writer by Vijaya http://institutechildrenslit.net/Writers-First-Aid-blog/2012/05/16/quantity-vs-quality-big-issue-for-todays-writer/comment-page-1/#comment-136148 Vijaya Thu, 17 May 2012 22:48:09 +0000 http://institutechildrenslit.net/Writers-First-Aid-blog/?p=5000#comment-136148 "But with fiction! You’d think I was being tortured some days." Hee hee ... I think it's because we want our babies to be purrrrr-fect. “But with fiction! You’d think I was being tortured some days.”

Hee hee … I think it’s because we want our babies to be purrrrr-fect.

]]> Comment on Quantity vs. Quality: Big Issue for Today’s Writer by Kristi Holl http://institutechildrenslit.net/Writers-First-Aid-blog/2012/05/16/quantity-vs-quality-big-issue-for-todays-writer/comment-page-1/#comment-136146 Kristi Holl Thu, 17 May 2012 21:42:49 +0000 http://institutechildrenslit.net/Writers-First-Aid-blog/?p=5000#comment-136146 Kay, isn’t it disappointing to have a book fizzle out after you’ve invested time and emotion in it? And I’m afraid it makes us a lot less eager to read something else by this author. You made an excellent point about setting a manuscript aside for a good length of time between revisions. That used to be standard practice, but with the feeling of being rushed, many writers don’t do that anymore (or their deadline doesn’t allow for it). As you said, we are enamored with our words—until we take time to step back a while! Good for you! Kay, isn’t it disappointing to have a book fizzle out after you’ve invested time and emotion in it? And I’m afraid it makes us a lot less eager to read something else by this author. You made an excellent point about setting a manuscript aside for a good length of time between revisions. That used to be standard practice, but with the feeling of being rushed, many writers don’t do that anymore (or their deadline doesn’t allow for it). As you said, we are enamored with our words—until we take time to step back a while! Good for you!

]]> Comment on Quantity vs. Quality: Big Issue for Today’s Writer by Kay Przybille http://institutechildrenslit.net/Writers-First-Aid-blog/2012/05/16/quantity-vs-quality-big-issue-for-todays-writer/comment-page-1/#comment-136137 Kay Przybille Thu, 17 May 2012 21:00:02 +0000 http://institutechildrenslit.net/Writers-First-Aid-blog/?p=5000#comment-136137 I remember reading a Fantasy book a few years ago and finding it mesmerizing until I reached the last third and realized he was now rushing towards a deadline. The characterization, lesser storylines and plot all suffered noticably. I felt, if given more time, the author would have had a magnificent story. Instead I'd lost interest by the last page. I know I have worked on three different books simultaneously for 10 years. Every time I go back, I see the story with new eyes and can improve it. Finally, they are getting to a readable state. Unfortunately I sent them out to a few publishers too soon and was rightfully rejected. I may never be published because I am a slow writer, enamored with my words until I am away from them for months. I remember reading a Fantasy book a few years ago and finding it mesmerizing until I reached the last third and realized he was now rushing towards a deadline. The characterization, lesser storylines and plot all suffered noticably. I felt, if given more time, the author would have had a magnificent story. Instead I’d lost interest by the last page.

I know I have worked on three different books simultaneously for 10 years. Every time I go back, I see the story with new eyes and can improve it. Finally, they are getting to a readable state. Unfortunately I sent them out to a few publishers too soon and was rightfully rejected. I may never be published because I am a slow writer, enamored with my words until I am away from them for months.

]]> Comment on Quantity vs. Quality: Big Issue for Today’s Writer by Kristi Holl http://institutechildrenslit.net/Writers-First-Aid-blog/2012/05/16/quantity-vs-quality-big-issue-for-todays-writer/comment-page-1/#comment-136145 Kristi Holl Thu, 17 May 2012 20:42:24 +0000 http://institutechildrenslit.net/Writers-First-Aid-blog/?p=5000#comment-136145 Vijaya, you’re like me. I can write nonfiction fast and well, but there are so many fewer things to keep track of with nonfiction. With fiction, if you incorporate everything that needs to be there, you’re juggling dozens of balls in the air at the same time. 8-) I actually feel like a different kind of writer when doing nonfiction…rather business-like and I keep to a schedule easily and have very little trouble getting going. But with fiction! You’d think I was being tortured some days. 8-) Vijaya, you’re like me. I can write nonfiction fast and well, but there are so many fewer things to keep track of with nonfiction. With fiction, if you incorporate everything that needs to be there, you’re juggling dozens of balls in the air at the same time. 8-) I actually feel like a different kind of writer when doing nonfiction…rather business-like and I keep to a schedule easily and have very little trouble getting going. But with fiction! You’d think I was being tortured some days. 8-)

]]> Comment on Quantity vs. Quality: Big Issue for Today’s Writer by Vijaya http://institutechildrenslit.net/Writers-First-Aid-blog/2012/05/16/quantity-vs-quality-big-issue-for-todays-writer/comment-page-1/#comment-136135 Vijaya Thu, 17 May 2012 20:26:10 +0000 http://institutechildrenslit.net/Writers-First-Aid-blog/?p=5000#comment-136135 A wonderful post, Kristi, and as I respond, I am on a super-tight deadline. Does this make my work of lesser quality? I think not. I can dither a great deal when I have the time. And my novels, the works of my hearts, are still unpublished, because frankly I did not have the skills when I first started writing. However, I am on my third novel and it has gone a lot faster because I have many tools in my toolkit and at my disposal. I know several writers who write fast and well. I can do NF but fiction has always taken time to percolate. All my novels have been brewing in my head a loooooong time (3-20 years), and I suspect that the things I'm thinking about now will take a good half a dozen years before I actually write about. Okay, so that's neither here nor there. I guess I hope that I never have to be in a position where I have to put up with nonsense. Good thing I married well :) A wonderful post, Kristi, and as I respond, I am on a super-tight deadline. Does this make my work of lesser quality? I think not. I can dither a great deal when I have the time. And my novels, the works of my hearts, are still unpublished, because frankly I did not have the skills when I first started writing. However, I am on my third novel and it has gone a lot faster because I have many tools in my toolkit and at my disposal.

I know several writers who write fast and well. I can do NF but fiction has always taken time to percolate. All my novels have been brewing in my head a loooooong time (3-20 years), and I suspect that the things I’m thinking about now will take a good half a dozen years before I actually write about.

Okay, so that’s neither here nor there. I guess I hope that I never have to be in a position where I have to put up with nonsense. Good thing I married well :)

]]> Comment on Quantity vs. Quality: Big Issue for Today’s Writer by Kristi Holl http://institutechildrenslit.net/Writers-First-Aid-blog/2012/05/16/quantity-vs-quality-big-issue-for-todays-writer/comment-page-1/#comment-136144 Kristi Holl Thu, 17 May 2012 20:15:55 +0000 http://institutechildrenslit.net/Writers-First-Aid-blog/?p=5000#comment-136144 Taurean, happy belated birthday to you! I hadn’t thought of the self-publishing angle, but you’re right in saying at least you aren’t rushed when you set your own deadlines. That’s a plus. And I don’t think there is any stigma attached to someone who gets an outside critique, either a paid one or with a critique group or a critique swap. I do that myself because we all have blind spots that another writer/reader can catch. I liked your comments about arrogance and humility. It’s funny how being a writer requires some of both. :-) You have to be arrogant enough to think someone should pay you to read something you wrote, but humble enough to keep learning and improving. A two-sided coin there. Taurean, happy belated birthday to you! I hadn’t thought of the self-publishing angle, but you’re right in saying at least you aren’t rushed when you set your own deadlines. That’s a plus. And I don’t think there is any stigma attached to someone who gets an outside critique, either a paid one or with a critique group or a critique swap. I do that myself because we all have blind spots that another writer/reader can catch. I liked your comments about arrogance and humility. It’s funny how being a writer requires some of both. :-) You have to be arrogant enough to think someone should pay you to read something you wrote, but humble enough to keep learning and improving. A two-sided coin there.

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