tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-437730797773263014.post4686177704698387218..comments2024-03-17T02:30:04.788-06:00Comments on Shallee McArthur: When You Want to Give UpShalleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09907680428735740943noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-437730797773263014.post-516340532978469662011-03-28T19:03:20.554-06:002011-03-28T19:03:20.554-06:00I haven't gotten to the point of want to say g...I haven't gotten to the point of want to say goodbye to a story, but i have gotten stuck and more times than not, i realize that it's because the story took a turn that just isn't working out for me. I find that I'm most unhappy when i keep trying to force the scene to work as is instead of just admitting to myself that I need to turn this story in a different direction. Then I'm usually good to go. This was actually happening to me over the past 5 days. I took a break from the MS for a few days, gave myself time to think and finally realized that i have to make a change and the words are starting to flow once again. Great post!Melaniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03696084321447737813noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-437730797773263014.post-3566044598799252232011-03-27T23:35:32.105-06:002011-03-27T23:35:32.105-06:00Interesting--this works for sewing,too. I've h...Interesting--this works for sewing,too. I've had plenty of "wadders," sometimes completely finished things that just didn't turn out as hoped, but I have also found that after sticking something in the back of the closet for a couple of weeks, when I get it back out I'm much better able to decide if it's a success without being focused in on mistakes.<br /><br />Actually, I have a wadder in my closet right now that I haven't wanted to get rid of yet since there was a lot of good work in it, and I just got an idea for how to possibly rehabilitate it.<br /><br />-ZinaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-437730797773263014.post-48453435062187352652011-03-26T16:46:51.425-06:002011-03-26T16:46:51.425-06:00I haven't been able to let any of my stories g...I haven't been able to let any of my stories go. Put them on a shelf for later, sure, but never have I thought up a story that wasn't worth telling. Excellent point about waiting and gaining perspective. All things take on a whole new light, over time.David P. Kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17259276981865439853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-437730797773263014.post-81244636844154280902011-03-26T11:44:26.178-06:002011-03-26T11:44:26.178-06:00Oh yes, I've been through this. I'm so gla...Oh yes, I've been through this. I'm so glad you stuck with it. <br />I'm a follower now. :)Ciarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15628488753277495111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-437730797773263014.post-36633429780596522062011-03-25T15:25:06.858-06:002011-03-25T15:25:06.858-06:00I think it's important to write the story that...I think it's important to write the story that you love - not that there won't be moments of wanting to chuck it across the room - but if you're working on the story you know you're supposed to write right now, then you can push through the discouragement and finish. Great post!Stacy Henriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03303383087338174942noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-437730797773263014.post-87665144947033901392011-03-25T10:23:31.813-06:002011-03-25T10:23:31.813-06:00I've set book #1 aside for now. I think it ne...I've set book #1 aside for now. I think it needs some major revisions before it would really sell. Now, book #3 is the one I'm in love with. Every time I read it I fall in love all over again. Now, if only an agent or editor would feel the same way :DJulie Musilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02150454913885915017noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-437730797773263014.post-76460417992566493622011-03-24T23:40:00.787-06:002011-03-24T23:40:00.787-06:00I have never officially let a story go. I have she...I have never officially let a story go. I have shelved several projects with the belief that they will one day be resurrected. At about 20-25,000 words, in everything I write. I think it's crap. Every time. I'm getting used to it.<br /><br />Also, since my stories are all about characters, I love my people and it keeps (or gets) me back on track.Jolene Perryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14809468564016928636noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-437730797773263014.post-1892033773672710262011-03-24T19:27:16.027-06:002011-03-24T19:27:16.027-06:00Taking a break is definitely a good idea. There h...Taking a break is definitely a good idea. There have been times I've wanted to quit because it all just seemed so overwhelming. So I took a break and just let myself think about it, or not. But I always come back- I'm still in love with my story, and want to make it the best it can be. It also helps that I have 4 amazing crit partners and they help me through my slumps, the same way I help them through theirs.Abby Minardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11963640263845561309noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-437730797773263014.post-2443811414540307072011-03-24T18:28:54.439-06:002011-03-24T18:28:54.439-06:00Taking a break and getting perspective is importan...Taking a break and getting perspective is important! I try not to make decisions like dumping a story in the heat of the moment.KM Nallehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06714392426676743868noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-437730797773263014.post-85725452743550788302011-03-24T18:26:12.011-06:002011-03-24T18:26:12.011-06:00I used to be exactly like Kelly: I had a lot of un...I used to be exactly like Kelly: I had a lot of unfinished stories and nothing complete. I still have a lot of unfinished tales, but now I have 4 completed novels plus book 1 of a trilogy. Getting better.mshatchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06308916014310536449noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-437730797773263014.post-59136721172350485772011-03-24T15:36:43.834-06:002011-03-24T15:36:43.834-06:00I'm sure everyone struggles with this...and yo...I'm sure everyone struggles with this...and you're absolutely right: perspective is key. The hardest thing for me was actually making the decision that a manuscript wasn't worth suffering over any more at the time--it was my beloved first manuscript, and as many times as I'd told myself it just wouldn't work, it was a lot harder to actually awaken to the fact that I wasn't just complaining! But I'm so glad that I moved on to other projects with the knowledge that first ms gave me.Faith E. Houghhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03823750019164801104noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-437730797773263014.post-90390539119343296042011-03-24T14:30:41.739-06:002011-03-24T14:30:41.739-06:00I'm terrible at this -- I always let the stori...I'm terrible at this -- I always let the stories go too early, and end up regretting it later and wishing I had stuck to them.<br /><br />P.S. I'm very, very sorry it's taking me forever to get your critiques back. I should have it done by tomorrow at most. I know that you're almost done with DEVOLUTIONARIES -- but just wonder if you'd still like to receive the critiques? I'm not sure how helpful it'd be, now. I'm so sorry for this! I didn't know how busy the last month would be when I first offered to beta.Emy Shinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08109925009902220083noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-437730797773263014.post-44139727144936780912011-03-24T14:26:01.385-06:002011-03-24T14:26:01.385-06:00I've never given up a story completely, at lea...I've never given up a story completely, at least not once I've started putting it all together (i.e. get past the idea/scene-sketching phase). I <i>have</i> set something aside for a month or two, just to get a break from it. Like you said, stepping back and getting some perspective is really all you have to do.Reecehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16610242701129500313noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-437730797773263014.post-65841571294411915982011-03-24T12:37:31.780-06:002011-03-24T12:37:31.780-06:00I have let stories go, but for me, they're alw...I have let stories go, but for me, they're always in the back of my mind. And sometimes I go back to them and fix them when I'm to a point that I can. <br /><br />Great post! Best of luck with your story!Janet Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12688012956157161889noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-437730797773263014.post-35903096700770243052011-03-24T12:32:26.205-06:002011-03-24T12:32:26.205-06:00Def yes; I've let stories go. I had to decide ...Def yes; I've let stories go. I had to decide if I could actually sell it or if I had gotten feedback on itAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-437730797773263014.post-22032328539060584012011-03-24T12:09:22.943-06:002011-03-24T12:09:22.943-06:00I'm currently not so in love with a story. I ...I'm currently not so in love with a story. I want to be, but I just can't find the love. It'll be a matter of finding the one thing that had me interested from the beginning. But this is good advice - wait! I'm waiting and starting another story. When I'm ready to come back and sort out my feelings for it, I will.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-437730797773263014.post-33337209020301825072011-03-24T12:09:01.659-06:002011-03-24T12:09:01.659-06:00That happens to me at some point with every single...That happens to me at some point with every single thing I write. No kidding. So I totally expect it and don't freak out. I daydream about the characters, ponder new ways to take the plot. It usually doesn't take too long to find the spark that was missing. Good luck with yours!Angiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01445455787485222068noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-437730797773263014.post-25893872087625289802011-03-24T11:57:13.342-06:002011-03-24T11:57:13.342-06:00I've been guilty of that so many times.
the re...I've been guilty of that so many times.<br />the result? I'm on revision round 6 of my darling manuscript. When I get like how you described in the post, I work on something different for a while before going back to it.<br />Sometimes I wonder if I'm just using "my story is not ready yet" to avoid jumping back into the query land.Akosshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13496491705617311571noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-437730797773263014.post-23633586216668694612011-03-24T11:45:29.825-06:002011-03-24T11:45:29.825-06:00Enjoyed your post. A couple of times I've let...Enjoyed your post. A couple of times I've let go of one of my stories because it made sense to me but didn't translate. But I've never let go of anything I truly loved. People can see the love when the dust around it is cleaned up (I think.)Kittie Howardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07756250649095903317noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-437730797773263014.post-47646100205336955472011-03-24T11:03:52.825-06:002011-03-24T11:03:52.825-06:00That is one of my writing weaknesses...I have a pl...That is one of my writing weaknesses...I have a plethora of unfinished stories that started out as brilliant ideas. I think I get a new, fresh idea and the love affair I've had with the old is sacrificed for the excitement of the new story. Waiting does help though.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09494832442352719710noreply@blogger.com