tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post2448718140789167754..comments2024-02-12T17:59:33.534-06:00Comments on RAZORED ZEN: To A WriterCharles Gramlichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02052592247572253641noreply@blogger.comBlogger46125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-52476093215441651462010-07-05T03:34:05.265-05:002010-07-05T03:34:05.265-05:00I liked the fact that you think a writer should re...I liked the fact that you think a writer should read. A lot of writers would scoff at that notion, especially the published ones. Or in some cases they would read other 'established writers', whatever that means.<br /><br />Great post. Many thanks.<br /><br />Greetings from London.A Cuban In Londonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16423293358605007539noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-53002925570773827292010-07-04T14:59:35.888-05:002010-07-04T14:59:35.888-05:00Lost here, among the 44 other comments, I have to ...Lost here, among the 44 other comments, I have to say, I don't know which I worry more for, people who want to write, or people who go into education.Stewart Sternberg (half of L.P. Styles)https://www.blogger.com/profile/00895152179113722902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-12561713443215053262010-07-03T13:29:46.879-05:002010-07-03T13:29:46.879-05:00Barbara Martin, thanks, Barbara. I do think I do a...Barbara Martin, thanks, Barbara. I do think I do allright on the discipline side of things. Most times.<br /><br />Erik Donald France, lol. I like that about the cat.<br /><br />Mona, as long as you get it down then sometimes you can get the emotion right later.Charles Gramlichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02052592247572253641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-59569007074326914462010-07-03T06:25:06.835-05:002010-07-03T06:25:06.835-05:00I wrote today..more with my head than with emotion...I wrote today..more with my head than with emotions :D<br /><br />Charles, I have a post at my blog about Ivan's Fire in Bradford. I request you to please read and offer your valuable comment/<br /><br />Thank you :)Monahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08615034229525061880noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-58910051421471903992010-07-02T23:47:55.507-05:002010-07-02T23:47:55.507-05:00Absolutely right on. Enjoy reading tons -- and als...Absolutely right on. Enjoy reading tons -- and also listening, and observing, and remembering telling details. <br /><br />Curiosity killed the cat, but satisfaction brought him back . . .Erik Donald Francehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02332500850365598564noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-78411559068583585272010-07-02T23:32:46.794-05:002010-07-02T23:32:46.794-05:00Reading and writing every day keeps one in a disci...Reading and writing every day keeps one in a discipline to succeed as a writer. Perfect post, Charles.Barbara Martinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00610140328527165017noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-91444217382680015972010-07-02T16:08:20.909-05:002010-07-02T16:08:20.909-05:00Heff, that's the most complicated step.
Patti...Heff, that's the most complicated step.<br /><br />Pattinase, it's definitely worth the rereading.Charles Gramlichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02052592247572253641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-85779910790079570022010-07-02T15:53:52.087-05:002010-07-02T15:53:52.087-05:00I read this book years ago and need to read it aga...I read this book years ago and need to read it again.pattinase (abbott)https://www.blogger.com/profile/02916037185235335846noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-89046541586832485112010-07-02T10:32:09.834-05:002010-07-02T10:32:09.834-05:00Thanks for explaining that "paper & pen&q...Thanks for explaining that "paper & pen" part.<br /><br />I had NO IDEA how to begin, LMAO !!Heffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13396114362826135207noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-29865827969655116282010-07-02T09:44:31.128-05:002010-07-02T09:44:31.128-05:00AvDeeBee, vamps in many incarnations do seem to be...AvDeeBee, vamps in many incarnations do seem to be pretty capable of Morphing into new forms. They are the true shapechangers.<br /><br />X. Del, well there's two kinds of truth, objective and subjective. Few people tell the objective truth about themselves, but many do believe their own subjective truths.Charles Gramlichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02052592247572253641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-79182886253125464212010-07-02T09:38:26.543-05:002010-07-02T09:38:26.543-05:00Hey Charles,
Very well said. I think writing is ...Hey Charles,<br /><br />Very well said. I think writing is too often coded as mysterious. I read all I can to improve and work as hard as possible. That's it.Michelle's Spellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15769666862403600253noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-43806351218552878992010-07-01T19:41:11.580-05:002010-07-01T19:41:11.580-05:00Lol. Judging from some of the memoirs I've re...Lol. Judging from some of the memoirs I've read, honesty doesn't always enter into writing.X. Dellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17561609651507566271noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-49605334078354175592010-07-01T10:26:50.021-05:002010-07-01T10:26:50.021-05:00Angie -- You are right. I should have been more s...Angie -- You are right. I should have been more specific. Pitching a vampire to the current, "A vampire is this __________ (insert popular notion of a vampire's traits)" trend is unwise. By the time one is finished with their portrayal of the sensitive schoolboy vamp, the market will probably have long been saturated.AvDBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16574481780173046619noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-4709763490198659012010-06-30T16:20:25.740-05:002010-06-30T16:20:25.740-05:00BernardL, I like that most of the writing time is ...BernardL, I like that most of the writing time is spent alone. I'm kind of a loner, but I've been in groups for quite a while and taking just that one day a week, for a few hours, has turned out to be energising to me.<br /><br />AvDeeBee, Once or twice I've been tempted to chase the market, but the market also comes back around so if you have a zombie book say, the time will pass, but eventually come again. If you can be patient.<br /><br />Cloudia, not so bad here. I've been busy but not distracted by much outside stuff.<br /><br />Angie, vampires may be the exception that proves the rule in other cases. They've certainly shown staying power.<br /><br />X. Dell, I think a lot of folks are scared about what they'll find out about themselves. There is an honest that is required in writing and it can be frightening.<br /><br />Harry Markov, certainly. We nearly lost a guy just recently from a group because of that. He stood up and said, "sorry to have wasted your time," and was headed out the door just because of a criticism. At least this time it wasn't mine.Charles Gramlichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02052592247572253641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-37166915510989112072010-06-30T14:58:37.268-05:002010-06-30T14:58:37.268-05:00Very well said. I'd add to never ever take cri...Very well said. I'd add to never ever take criticism as personal attack and start attacking back. Unproductive.Harry Markovhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09140305922494369576noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-86727818945024597872010-06-30T14:38:41.835-05:002010-06-30T14:38:41.835-05:00I think a lot of people associate writing to their...I think a lot of people associate writing to their schooling, where the process always seemed esoteric. A teacher or professor would say yea or by inserting a red-pencil mark, often with little explanation. There then developed this mystery about the finer points (why not split inifinitives; why not end sentences with prepositions; or are those both allowable, but only under certain circumstances--like when you're describing a death scene while writing underwater with your shoes untied). <br /><br />I can understaned why many folks find writing somewhat intimidating. They fear the craft, it seems, much more than the expressive aspects. Taking the plunge is often the hardest part. Most of the great American novels out there never make it to the first page.X. Dellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17561609651507566271noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-74870928539493486502010-06-30T14:32:35.780-05:002010-06-30T14:32:35.780-05:00AvDeeBee -- I agree completely with your principle...AvDeeBee -- I agree completely with your principle, but not with your example. :) Romantic vampires have been around since the seventies (check out Yarbro's Saint Germain books) and have been a major "fad" since the eighties. People have been predicting the passing of that fad for almost thirty years, but it's still with us. I have a feeling vampires have a bit more staying power left in them. :)<br /><br />AngieAngiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11920578701763415331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-48770400571609755782010-06-30T13:46:58.800-05:002010-06-30T13:46:58.800-05:00Things have been CRAZY here! Check out my Wednsday...Things have been CRAZY here! Check out my Wednsday post if you can<br /><br /><br />Aloha from Waikiki<br /><br /><a href="http://comfortspiral.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">Comfort Spiral</a>Cloudiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05853753108637831069noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-43546426397265936462010-06-30T10:59:19.095-05:002010-06-30T10:59:19.095-05:00Those are indeed the basics. Nothing guarantees p...Those are indeed the basics. Nothing guarantees publication, but one can still be a damn good writer, nonetheless. In fact, I hear it helps with attaining the former.<br /><br />Another key point to new writers is--do not try to write to the market. Yes, vampires are all the rage, but, by the time you're done with your vampire romance not only will the zombie craze have taken over and passed, mermen love stories will be the next hot thing and your vampire will be severely outdated and ignored by everyone.AvDBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16574481780173046619noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-34287349990288229692010-06-30T10:38:31.107-05:002010-06-30T10:38:31.107-05:00Very well stated response. I would only object to ...Very well stated response. I would only object to the 'group'. One of the best things about writing is it can be done alone. :)BernardLhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09722619048888613647noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-7093527961356774912010-06-30T10:24:41.747-05:002010-06-30T10:24:41.747-05:00Angie, I tihnk that creativity in writing style ac...Angie, I tihnk that creativity in writing style actually comes from the mixing of many elements from many genres. Otherwise you sound just like the more narrow style that characterizes a single genre.<br /><br />Deka Black, yes it does. Having to come up with consistent material really makes you work at times.<br /><br />Mark, I've seen that movie but it's been a long time. I'm not sure how it relates to writing but I'll take you word for it.Charles Gramlichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02052592247572253641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-53181019499178636082010-06-30T06:30:15.745-05:002010-06-30T06:30:15.745-05:00Whenever someone asks me how they should start wri...Whenever someone asks me how they should start writing I tell them to watch the movie "Throw Momma From The Train." <br /><br /><br />"Writers write"the walking manhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10058913927297370740noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-68489375671021521622010-06-30T03:39:02.191-05:002010-06-30T03:39:02.191-05:00Thanks Charles ^^ (And for discipline, keep a blog...Thanks Charles ^^ (And for discipline, keep a blog helps a lot)Deka Blackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08328847551867893941noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-88007073989661693162010-06-30T02:32:37.130-05:002010-06-30T02:32:37.130-05:00Not only in the genre the writer wants to work in,...<i>Not only in the genre the writer wants to work in, but in all kinds of genres. Fiction, nonfiction, poetry.</i><br /><br />Yes! Whenever I run across a writer who says he/she only reads the genre they write, I want to headdesk really hard. :/ Reading fiction from different genres, different eras and different cultures expands your options for style, voice, character, setting -- everything. And reading non-fiction gives you more things to write <i>about.</i> IMO an omnivorous reading habit is vital to a writer.<br /><br />AngieAngiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11920578701763415331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-22299596087159748312010-06-29T23:26:54.578-05:002010-06-29T23:26:54.578-05:00Deka Black, the key, I think, is to make progress....Deka Black, the key, I think, is to make progress. Even if it's a little bit of progress you are still moving forward and eventually you'll reach "the end."<br /><br />sage, I need to get his "writing about your life." I have an old book of his called "writing with a word processor." I don't know if I could read a book about baseball.<br /><br />Steve Malley, thankee. I need reminding an awfully lot myself.<br /><br />G, yeah, the journey is certainly most of the fun in writing.<br /><br />Rick, it's primarily about nonfiction but I find it good advice for all writing. It's also got quite a lot of humor in it.<br /><br />ivan, there's a certain stubbornness to writers who manage to keep selling. There's a bit of obsessiveness, especially in those who do make it big. I said in Write With Fire that a book written by someone who isn't famous is worth the reading because most writers aren't famous.<br /><br />Travis Cody, that's what I tell students. Get it down. It can always be fixed, but if it's not on the page there's no fixing that.<br /><br />Jodi, me too.Charles Gramlichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02052592247572253641noreply@blogger.com