tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post2673504630488689943..comments2024-01-12T00:48:48.031-06:00Comments on Go Teen Writers: How to Get Adults to Take You SeriouslyStephanie Morrillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13128389560727867719noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-48052013035665589122012-03-29T20:05:33.339-05:002012-03-29T20:05:33.339-05:00Hi, Jazmine! Sorry it took me a while to respond--...Hi, Jazmine! Sorry it took me a while to respond--I just now saw your comment! Yes, I definitely lack self-confidence at times (read: most of the time). I think that's part of being a teenage girl. ;) I have doubts and fears all the time--mainly the fear of being rejected and hated by the people who read my writing. But I just have to keep remembering that I write because I love it, not because I owe it to anyone. I will continue to write whether or not people love to read it. And if it is successful, praise God! But even when people criticize my work, I just have to remember that *I* like it, and that is what keeps me going. :) Hope that helps!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-88859696002019768882012-03-25T21:47:19.557-05:002012-03-25T21:47:19.557-05:00So Rachel,
I have a question. :) You sound like ...So Rachel, <br /><br />I have a question. :) You sound like a girl that's very similar to me in the sense of lacking self-confidence in situations like trying to get published (or stepping out and making friends, etc), so my question for you... <br /><br />How did you get over fear and doubt's whisperings in your head?Jazmine~https://www.blogger.com/profile/06246960020080246030noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-9391887840886348352012-03-25T21:43:52.431-05:002012-03-25T21:43:52.431-05:00Knowing that people are actually prejudice of your...Knowing that people are actually prejudice of your age just makes me sad, just sad. SO dumb. Especially when that young person has got a good head on their shoulders and is very mature for their age.Jazmine~https://www.blogger.com/profile/06246960020080246030noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-35399219068177114352012-03-21T07:06:14.545-05:002012-03-21T07:06:14.545-05:00I totally agree with Stephanie! It probably has no...I totally agree with Stephanie! It probably has nothing to do with your book, Samantha. Some people just can't see past the age thing at all. :(Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-12263555793889021412012-03-19T21:13:24.062-05:002012-03-19T21:13:24.062-05:00I'm not Rachel, but I'll answer :) Samanth...I'm not Rachel, but I'll answer :) Samantha, I think that's just kinda the way it goes sometimes. Just like some people are uncomfortable around babies or kids, some people really don't know how to talk to teenagers. It wasn't until I got married that I felt like others saw me as a bonafide adult. Just keep doing what you're doing, keep following through on commitments, and don't worry to much about it. Sounds like it's not a "you" problem.Stephanie Morrillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13128389560727867719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-72294073048043774072012-03-19T20:23:45.216-05:002012-03-19T20:23:45.216-05:00Yet, somehow, I manage to follow every guideline y...Yet, somehow, I manage to follow every guideline you listed, long before you ever mentioned them(like, back in 6th grade I was following those guidelines, basically), and I still manage to get treated like a child. How, I do not know. Any other advice?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-55457710533541874212012-03-18T10:39:38.710-05:002012-03-18T10:39:38.710-05:00Thanks! I'll go check that out!Thanks! I'll go check that out!Sarah Faulknerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00244256396217402116noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-27163257004831026542012-03-16T18:31:41.632-05:002012-03-16T18:31:41.632-05:00Oh, I know what you mean! I haven't experience...Oh, I know what you mean! I haven't experienced much criticism face-to-face (I find people aren't usually brave enough to do that), but I have had a lot of comments sent to me through email! I think the hardest thing is when someone that you like and respect and view as a friend says something negative about your writing. It's always hard to accept criticsm from someone you admire, but I do think that friends and family members probably give some of the best advice. You just have to be tough enough to take it! :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-45232789716585984472012-03-16T18:29:28.488-05:002012-03-16T18:29:28.488-05:00Yep, I advertised my age very freely. The thinking...Yep, I advertised my age very freely. The thinking was, I need to stand out as much as possible. I wrote a whole article on the query letter/publisher searching process on my blog if you want to check it out: http://rachelcoker.wordpress.com/2012/01/31/the-dos-and-donts-of-writing-query-letters/. :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-16377559100300248012012-03-16T18:27:46.407-05:002012-03-16T18:27:46.407-05:00Thanks for your questions, Laura! I wish I had mor...Thanks for your questions, Laura! I wish I had more advice about editing, but the truth is that my first book just didn't go through that many rounds of editing. Most of the work was already done by the time Zondervan signed it, and I only had a few small things to change with my editor. I can't imagine that I would have time to make 15 pages of editing! I guess I would have to really prioritize if I had all that work to do! I'm sure that my writing would be much, much better if I did more editing, but unfortunately that's not the case. :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-77932415779206524952012-03-16T07:01:30.199-05:002012-03-16T07:01:30.199-05:00This is great! :D I was smiling all the way until ...This is great! :D I was smiling all the way until I came to the criticism part. I love criticism and often crave it. However... I mostly get it through emails. When I'm NOT staring my critic in the eyes, I tend to do just fine. Great even. Rolling with the punches. So my question is- what do you do when you ARE critiqued in person? I have this problem that I can't seem to master. If somebody were to critique me in person (it doesn't even have to be mean), I would start crying. No sobbing, just some tears and a red face (it's usually followed by somebody saying, "DON'T CRY!!!" :O and me- "I'm noottt"). It's completely involuntary. Ugh I can't help it. I'm not even sad! I think I just get nervous and it all shows on my face. What advice do you have on composing yourself in a public situation like that? Anything would be much appreciated.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-67403046193519088222012-03-16T01:26:28.908-05:002012-03-16T01:26:28.908-05:00Your book is out? Alright. In a week I will be wis...Your book is out? Alright. In a week I will be wishing for it to be on my lap. Pages open. Devouring its words... oh I can't wait!<br />And Steph, guess what... your book is offically in our school library. Although it's in the 'new books' section and I'm pretty sure Me, Just Different isn't THAT new. :P<br /><br />I love how in this post, adults are the people and kids are kids. Not being sarcastic. I do love it. "Argh, don’t you just hate it when people (grown-ups)" :Demiihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02042164350910286833noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-68971864956203815382012-03-15T14:26:27.301-05:002012-03-15T14:26:27.301-05:00Great! I love it!Great! I love it!Indyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11254115730032063725noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-57570969847019385732012-03-15T13:04:07.912-05:002012-03-15T13:04:07.912-05:00Hi, Rachel, it's really great to have you here...Hi, Rachel, it's really great to have you here. Believe me, I totally understand what you're talking about with the whole respect issue. I avoid telling people, especially adults, that I want to be a publisher, because they give me that "look." You know the one, the that's-nice-darling-now-why-don't-you-go-play-with-your-dolls look. I'm very grateful that my parents are so supportive of all my crazy dreams. Dreams are never off limits in our house. ^_^ (Stories, either.)Becki Badgerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14421459879883678878noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-45013570560115861912012-03-15T09:52:21.479-05:002012-03-15T09:52:21.479-05:00So, when you were first looking around for a publi...So, when you were first looking around for a publisher, did you come right out and say your age, or did you wait a little bit?<br />Thanks for posting! I'm so excited to get to see you on Go Teen Writers once a month!<br />~Sarah F.Sarah Faulknerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00244256396217402116noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-2846363714100713562012-03-15T08:57:03.473-05:002012-03-15T08:57:03.473-05:00Great post! That is so true about criticism. It us...Great post! That is so true about criticism. It used to be that I would give up on something I was working on if an adult even hinted that I change something to make it better. (I was a very sensitive child) I'm much better about that now...Thank goodness! <br /><br />Oh, I have a question: Was it hard to balance the things Zondervan wanted you to do (like edits) with the rest of the things in your life (like school and family)? <br /><br />Also, how much editing did your book go through? I know some books need more than others. I once went to a book signing where the writer pulled out a 15 page editor's letter talking about everything she needed to change, and a color coded manuscript that marked where all the changes were. Seems like that would be daunting for anyone, but especially for a teenager who already has six hours of homework every night!<br /><br />!Laura Millshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13021197723868815422noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-90016226574658692342012-03-15T08:37:08.607-05:002012-03-15T08:37:08.607-05:00Oh no... that typo at the top... is embarrassing. ...Oh no... that typo at the top... is embarrassing. I knew I was too excited. I'm sorry.Annikahttp://writingbeyondthemoon.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-36302401362749154732012-03-15T08:35:59.496-05:002012-03-15T08:35:59.496-05:00Amazing post! I had no idea you would been a teen ...Amazing post! I had no idea you would been a teen writer, that is so inspiring :)<br /><br />I need to work on accepting criticism better... I rarely get it- for some reason people always say I'm doing pretty good, but there is this one person who always has something to say. <br />She even said all my characters seemed like me '2.0' and 'people I want to be' once! She doesn't know me all the way anyways, as she is an online friend and she hasn't read any of my writing beyond snippets and the roleplay we're both on.<br />Gah, I'm rambling now. Great post, I'll be sure to read your book, it looks interesting :)Annikahttp://writingbeyondthemoon.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com