tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post2987724391307066006..comments2024-01-12T00:48:48.031-06:00Comments on Go Teen Writers: Write Stories That Excite YouStephanie Morrillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13128389560727867719noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-72972334831787526012017-06-22T09:36:07.270-05:002017-06-22T09:36:07.270-05:00This post is exactly what I needed. I've been...This post is exactly what I needed. I've been trying to figure out why I want to write so I won't lose my drive. It's happened before. Not fun. Anyways, I believe that you need to write what excites you wholeheartedly.<br />Thanks for the great post!<br /><br />www.denimbelle.comSarah Gracehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17440110696506765087noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-947607743153938652016-04-19T13:16:05.463-05:002016-04-19T13:16:05.463-05:00Thank you so much. That means a lot :)Thank you so much. That means a lot :)Rosie McCannhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10756806467175885197noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-66878617095071540112016-04-19T10:44:21.979-05:002016-04-19T10:44:21.979-05:00I don't know why JK Rowling made the choice sh...I don't know why JK Rowling made the choice she did. I wonder if she initially intended on keeping her identity a secret??? Things like that tend to leak when you're as popular as she is.<br /><br />There are many reasons to choose a pen name and Linea has given you some of them. I considered it at one time--mostly because the ups and downs of a writer's career can feel very personal and all encompassing. I thought that, perhaps, writing as another soul would distance me from it. I still think there's merit to the thought, but I obviously chose otherwise. Lots and lots of reasons to go that route.Shannon Dittemorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07757781231485815876noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-84768246033614900702016-04-19T10:41:24.452-05:002016-04-19T10:41:24.452-05:00Practice does make perfect and here's the thin...Practice does make perfect and here's the thing, the reason you love story is the very reason you get discouraged. You have good taste--I mean, look at all of those fancy writers you love. But when we hold our fledgling writing up to superstars who've been doing this thing FOREVER, our flaws will jump off the page and our good taste will remind us just how far we have to go. BUT! I guarantee Agatha Christie started somewhere. I guarantee she wasn't a genius at the outset. She worked at it. JUST LIKE YOU WILL. Shannon Dittemorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07757781231485815876noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-1921522196144003022016-04-19T10:39:34.104-05:002016-04-19T10:39:34.104-05:00You SHOULD BE PROUD! Absolutely. Pushing through t...You SHOULD BE PROUD! Absolutely. Pushing through to the end of a novel is HUGE. Very few have the tenacity to get it done. BRAVO!Shannon Dittemorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07757781231485815876noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-12774011971794196052016-04-19T10:38:55.740-05:002016-04-19T10:38:55.740-05:00I adore anything set in that era. ADORE IT. And yo...I adore anything set in that era. ADORE IT. And you're so right. And so wise. I agree with everything you said up there.Shannon Dittemorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07757781231485815876noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-56961281193978521202016-04-19T10:38:17.772-05:002016-04-19T10:38:17.772-05:00See! We learn as we write. I'm so glad you wro...See! We learn as we write. I'm so glad you wrote that novella. Shannon Dittemorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07757781231485815876noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-34643525695120121102016-04-19T10:37:32.541-05:002016-04-19T10:37:32.541-05:00Yes. Light. Light. Light. And candles. And light. ...Yes. Light. Light. Light. And candles. And light. ;)Shannon Dittemorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07757781231485815876noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-30274296527901452762016-04-19T10:36:56.111-05:002016-04-19T10:36:56.111-05:00Yes, the influx of ideas can be a problem. I'm...Yes, the influx of ideas can be a problem. I'm still working on effective ways to keep them from overwhelming me. So glad you're excited!Shannon Dittemorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07757781231485815876noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-73355266944007498202016-04-19T10:36:19.557-05:002016-04-19T10:36:19.557-05:00Yay!!! Yes! Shake it up! Find something to jump fo...Yay!!! Yes! Shake it up! Find something to jump for joy about.Shannon Dittemorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07757781231485815876noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-91713892898051524842016-04-19T10:35:52.474-05:002016-04-19T10:35:52.474-05:00I have to remind myself of this a lot. Honest to G...I have to remind myself of this a lot. Honest to God, it's always other people's enthusiasm for their own work that brings me back. Reminds me that I want to love what I do. That it doesn't have to be dark and miserable. So, I know. I totally know! <3Shannon Dittemorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07757781231485815876noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-36134608803573000132016-04-19T10:34:58.436-05:002016-04-19T10:34:58.436-05:00I'm totally not a teen either! *high five*I'm totally not a teen either! *high five* Shannon Dittemorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07757781231485815876noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-91729605728639492892016-04-19T10:34:30.071-05:002016-04-19T10:34:30.071-05:00JK Rowling does it in HP. Lots of authors skip chu...JK Rowling does it in HP. Lots of authors skip chunks of time. Everything comes down to the writing of it. You can't pretend that time didn't exist so acknowledging it in the next chunk of writing will be key.Shannon Dittemorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07757781231485815876noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-42961087601527635232016-04-19T10:33:04.411-05:002016-04-19T10:33:04.411-05:00Right?! Love your enthusiasm!Right?! Love your enthusiasm!Shannon Dittemorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07757781231485815876noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-43344483047820258572016-04-16T11:35:59.645-05:002016-04-16T11:35:59.645-05:00Usually pen names are used to separate between MG/...Usually pen names are used to separate between MG/YA and Adult (and then different genres in those groups as well, like contemporary and high fantasy). <br /><br />For example: An author who writes YA contemporary, then writes a YA high fantasy wouldn't want her contemporary readers going into a fantasy thinking it's another one of her contemporary books. Or an author who writes MG, then writes an Adult, wouldn't want an eight-year-old coming across her Adult book and reading it (because Adult books are waaay more mature in content than an MG book). A different name keeps the author's works separate.<br /><br />Here's a GTW post on the subject:<br /><br />http://goteenwriters.blogspot.com/2013/07/should-i-use-pen-name-or-my-real-name.html<br /><br />Hope that helps you out!Linea Marshallnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-3817692855138475992016-04-16T10:51:28.261-05:002016-04-16T10:51:28.261-05:00I like writing WW2 as well! I don't write '...I like writing WW2 as well! I don't write 'fun' stories always, but I make it end well. Giannanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-23246085350205071952016-04-16T10:31:09.934-05:002016-04-16T10:31:09.934-05:00I write everywhere and anywhere. I write on the de...I write everywhere and anywhere. I write on the desk on my room, my lamp on and I write! I love writing!! I write as much as possible everyday!! My average is (after my schoolwork) maybe 5 pages? It's a little sloppy during the first draft. Then I go back and look for as many mistakes as possible. ;)Giannanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-60139612934202575092016-04-16T08:08:25.015-05:002016-04-16T08:08:25.015-05:00Can someone tell me why JK changed her name to wri...Can someone tell me why JK changed her name to write these detective stories under a different name? Is it because her Harry Potter books are geared toward a younger audience? And I was also wondering if someone could tell me a little about the pros and cons to using a pen name?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-85059439861420909812016-04-16T08:05:28.770-05:002016-04-16T08:05:28.770-05:00I think if you handle the transition well, and mak...I think if you handle the transition well, and make it clear time has passed, than it will be fine :)<br /><br />DeborahAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-59638378450259772992016-04-15T21:09:51.261-05:002016-04-15T21:09:51.261-05:00I'm always comparing myself to other authors a...I'm always comparing myself to other authors and you're right, it's really discouraging. I want to be able to write as well as Louis L'Amour, Agatha Christie, P.G. Wodehouse, and Jeanne Penderwick. But then I think I'll never be as good as them . . . I have to remember, practice makes perfect. And being different doesn't necessarily mean worse.Rosie McCannhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10756806467175885197noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-91136382159427473042016-04-15T17:27:12.118-05:002016-04-15T17:27:12.118-05:00This is absolutely brilliant advice! I find this i...This is absolutely brilliant advice! I find this is very true - several years ago, I was writing an epic fantasy quest novel that I just fell out of love with. I put it aside for a few years, and eventually, when my excitement to write it was renewed, I took it back up and finished it. Although it's not my best work, I'm still pretty proud of it because it was the first novel-length work I'd finished. <br /><br />Ellie | <a href="http://ontheothersideofrealitynew.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow">On the Other Side of Reality</a><br />Eleanorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08016450998401859766noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-2241361256344776592016-04-15T16:07:08.315-05:002016-04-15T16:07:08.315-05:00AMEN. It's so important to write something th...AMEN. It's so important to write something that's really exciting and enjoyable for you on a fundamental level--because if you don't have that basic joy in writing, you'll never be able to get through the tough spots. <br /><br />Of course that doesn't mean you always have to write "fun" stories--just stories that are fun FOR YOU. I really enjoy doing WW2 historical fiction; even though the stories themselves can often be very sad, writing them makes me happy deep down inside . . . and that's why I'm willing to spend the time on it. Katie Hannahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06818413749107653398noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-66147329134771317552016-04-15T15:14:01.911-05:002016-04-15T15:14:01.911-05:00It depends on the purpose of the break and how far...It depends on the purpose of the break and how far into the story you are. My general advice, though specific instants often bend or contradict generalized advice, would be to take the leap if you are just skipping over time in which plot relevant things don't happen, unless the story revolves around your character not being present at said event/s. <br />If plot relevant things your character is witnessing (or a part of) are taking place in said timespan, you probably won't want to skip it. <br />Of course, only you know what's best for your story, so think about it (gut feelings are often right with this) and figure out why the break needs to happen. If your story doesn't loose plot or need more than a loose explanation for what happened in those weeks (unless your character was just absent from the action for awhile, in which case they could come back to chaos which may require further explanation through the natural story), the skip or skim of those weeks is probably a good choice. <br />Hope that helps, or was at least understandable. James Olivernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-34566536487367643882016-04-15T15:01:27.474-05:002016-04-15T15:01:27.474-05:00Thank you for this! I'm starting draft 3 of a ...Thank you for this! I'm starting draft 3 of a book I haven't touched in about four years--completely rewriting it, actually--and it's been a little rough so far. I spent a long time polishing the prequel to this book, and so starting something fresh feels messy in comparison. I need to turn off my inner editor for the time being, and just revel in pouring the words onto the page. However messy they come out. I want to truly ENJOY this drafting process! Thanks for reminding me why I love what I do.<br /><br />On the plus side, this is the exact reason a novella I wrote last year flowed so easily--because I loved it. The setting, the theme, the characters, all of it. I felt like I stumbled into what might be *my* voice. It was a lovely feeling. :)Tracey Dyckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03445222618456673198noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-52509695662217777022016-04-15T10:10:26.215-05:002016-04-15T10:10:26.215-05:00Oh, I'm totally with you on lots of light and ...Oh, I'm totally with you on lots of light and open windows in a writing cave. I love opening up windows and having the fresh air roll in as I write, even if it's freezing outside. It's sort of inspiring!Linea Marshallnoreply@blogger.com