tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5115759973832197426.post1078649974193203107..comments2023-05-07T03:47:02.348-04:00Comments on The Rockville 8: Time Travel, IndeedThe Eighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03966202602120800766noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5115759973832197426.post-69522767975460099872011-12-20T11:10:12.658-05:002011-12-20T11:10:12.658-05:00Nichole -- the drawer dweller! That's what I c...Nichole -- the drawer dweller! That's what I call those books. I re-did one of those myself a while ago, and it was hard. Some days I thought it was harder than writing new, but then there were those scenes that worked that felt so good to just plunk down in place, whole. Yes, trust the reader in you!<br /><br />And thank you, Lisa. My latest approach to writing is to just force myself forward, like an automatic writing exercise, rereading at most a line or two before going on. This has resulted in some incredibly productive days. So keep it up (saying this to you as well as myself :), and good luck!Elaine Foxhttp://www.elainefox.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5115759973832197426.post-21528042452725614982011-12-19T21:17:09.313-05:002011-12-19T21:17:09.313-05:00Elaine - Thanks for joining the R8! I loved your ...Elaine - Thanks for joining the R8! I loved your post. Trusting yourself is something I think every writer has struggled with. I wrote today and I just let myself go. I realized it after I'd been writing a bit that I wasn't constantly re-reading what I'd just written. It was so blissful. Your post is right on time for me. :). Thank you for sharing your insight.Lisa McQuayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08261421741139099750noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5115759973832197426.post-16755143714107163932011-12-19T19:41:47.719-05:002011-12-19T19:41:47.719-05:00Such good advice, Elaine! And so timely. I'm w...Such good advice, Elaine! And so timely. I'm wrestling with making over a ms I stashed in my desk's bottom drawer... and I mean I am WRESTLING. <br /><br />This weekend, I asked myself, "What do I like about this ms? What don't I like?" You're right. I should trust the writer to write it like she likes it. I'll be putting your advice into practice! Firmly!<br /><br />Thanks for sharing your insights with the R8.Nichole Christoffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09799006710672537142noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5115759973832197426.post-10425257114646798422011-12-19T12:10:20.883-05:002011-12-19T12:10:20.883-05:00Evie -- it's on my wish list too! Since I'...Evie -- it's on my wish list too! Since I've been focusing this, though, it's happened more and more lately. So maybe there's hope!<br /><br />And Keely, that's so funny, the voice telling you if you're having fun it must be wrong. You must SHUT THAT VOICE UP! LOL Sometimes I think we get superstitious about feeling good, sure that something's going to come along and slap us down, when really it's the opposite that's true. Like attracts like! <br /><br />That's my story and I'm stickin' to it. :)Elaine Foxhttp://www.elainefox.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5115759973832197426.post-74020961068967941032011-12-19T11:10:39.886-05:002011-12-19T11:10:39.886-05:00Thank you for the reminder to entertain myself as ...Thank you for the reminder to entertain myself as I write. I definitely have a voice inside me that says if I'm enjoying myself writing, I must be doing it wrong! That's not a helpful feedback loop and now I can replace it with something more positive!!Keely Thrallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05656529091898492453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5115759973832197426.post-15009239175529687452011-12-18T22:15:10.892-05:002011-12-18T22:15:10.892-05:00Elaine, I LOVED Traveler, and I love the idea of t...Elaine, I LOVED Traveler, and I love the idea of throwing away my mud-colored glasses and writing freely, writing FIRMLY, with abandon. That's at the top of my wish list for 2012!Evie Owenshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00309651867249109418noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5115759973832197426.post-11776238743305149672011-12-18T19:31:40.557-05:002011-12-18T19:31:40.557-05:00Meg, I'm a big fan of Civil War era stuff too....Meg, I'm a big fan of Civil War era stuff too. When I wrote Traveler I was living in Fredericksburg, just blocks from the site of the battle of Fredericksburg. (In fact, the whole book takes place in and around my house at the time.) <br /><br />One thing that most fascinates me about the time is that it's relatively close. We have photographs of it! And when you immerse yourself in it -- read the books, watch the movies, visit the preserved battlefields -- it feels as if you can almost just take a step or two back in time and BE there. That's largely where the idea for the book came from, that feeling that the ghosts were walking in the fields I visited...and if I was open to it, and quiet, I would be able to see them.<br /><br />OOOOooooooohhh. :)Elaine Foxhttp://www.elainefox.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5115759973832197426.post-80383974714029662142011-12-18T19:26:08.677-05:002011-12-18T19:26:08.677-05:00Candy, I'm so glad that rang true for you, bec...Candy, I'm so glad that rang true for you, because I certainly believe it. An old friend of mine told me years ago the best writing advice he'd ever gotten was from a bank deposit slip. In small letters next to the deposit list it said: Write Firmly. <br /><br />Write Firmly. I've thought about this a lot over the years and I truly believe it. When we write confidently -- write free -- we write better. That's where authenticity comes from, after all, and it's authenticity that stands out in a crowd. :)Elaine Foxhttp://www.elainefox.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5115759973832197426.post-11898823296443347972011-12-18T18:59:16.739-05:002011-12-18T18:59:16.739-05:00Sooooo true, Elaine!! A great story will always be...Sooooo true, Elaine!! A great story will always be a great story. And we can nitpick a word or two, but if it hangs, it hangs. :-D<br /><br />Your book sounds so interesting, I'll have to check it out for sure! Love the Civil War era.Meghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10734148270217773194noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5115759973832197426.post-49903320114190901022011-12-18T17:09:19.475-05:002011-12-18T17:09:19.475-05:00Elaine ~ What great words of wisdom: "Maybe w...Elaine ~ What great words of wisdom: "Maybe what we should be cultivating is trusting the writer. . . . You know what you’re doing. You’re actually good at this. You’re a reader so you know not only what you like, but what works." I love this, because it rings true to me, deep down. I do read a lot and I can tell if a novel works. So I need to begin to trust that I can identify this and that, possibly, just possibly, I can do this! I'm going to go right now and buy a copy of your book. Because I love that you were writing free and I want to witness that! Plus, I love a good story. ;0) Thanks for guest blogging this week. I enjoyed your post!Candy Lyonshttp://www.candylyons.netnoreply@blogger.com