tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206355073837906221.post1821917243359653633..comments2024-03-08T20:57:25.380-08:00Comments on Julie Musil, Author: Writers--appreciate your growthUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206355073837906221.post-78941475939285065552011-06-15T19:08:06.538-07:002011-06-15T19:08:06.538-07:00This is a nice reminder to remember how I've g...This is a nice reminder to remember how I've grown as a writer. I bet if I read the stuff I wrote back in college creative writing classes and earlier, I'd feel like I've improved so much! :)Ghenet Myrthilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12621168379560585094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206355073837906221.post-82175388611837551812011-06-13T16:56:58.939-07:002011-06-13T16:56:58.939-07:00What a great comparison! We do grow as a writer. A...What a great comparison! We do grow as a writer. About three years ago, I finally felt I wrote something worth fixing. So I've been in edit mode since then. I had to learn everything, but most importantly, I learnt how to let my work go when it's all grown up.Tanya Reimerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00293977395016853814noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206355073837906221.post-38264277166230338122011-06-12T15:39:22.273-07:002011-06-12T15:39:22.273-07:00That's a terrific list! I echo many of those. ...That's a terrific list! I echo many of those. I'd also add that I now like to start just at the point of change for the MC - something I thought you had to build to before :)<br /><br />I love going through the photos when I change them - it always makes me smile!!Jemi Fraserhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02214408467456320167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206355073837906221.post-72735841969578293362011-06-12T11:57:37.322-07:002011-06-12T11:57:37.322-07:00Great list, Julie! May I also suggest:
Avoid overu...Great list, Julie! May I also suggest:<br />Avoid overuse of "to be" in all its forms.<br /><br />Thanks for visiting my blog.Bob Sanchezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08350825385315155962noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206355073837906221.post-44907957107938038242011-06-12T11:31:37.369-07:002011-06-12T11:31:37.369-07:00Yay! I can say all of the above! Although, while...Yay! I can say all of the above! Although, while I've learned all of these things (and grown as a writer because of these lessons), I'm not sure I'm consistently following these guidelines yet. But I'm a lot better off than where I was when I began! Great post and sooo true! Christyerica and christyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13074820593371226159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206355073837906221.post-29909886648367409502011-06-12T10:14:48.563-07:002011-06-12T10:14:48.563-07:00My son is almost 13, and is taller than me! There...My son is almost 13, and is taller than me! There's nothing like a yearly picture to show how much they've changed.<br /><br />I can fix so much on my own now without critiquers pointing out the mistakes. But I still make too many mistakes. Still... growth.Theresa Milsteinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03477761307315565259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206355073837906221.post-58132747892599318182011-06-12T07:25:07.034-07:002011-06-12T07:25:07.034-07:00Yes, it's so important to focus on growth as a...Yes, it's so important to focus on growth as a writer, because the "pay off" can be so long in coming. We have to celebrate the little steps we take in the right direction.<br /><br />Great post, Julie! :)<br /><br />AmyA.L. Sonnichsenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11358456786727534289noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206355073837906221.post-84622842518097461402011-06-12T06:14:46.956-07:002011-06-12T06:14:46.956-07:00Man, my list would be HUGE if I listed it all. I t...Man, my list would be HUGE if I listed it all. I think lately the biggest things I've learned is understanding the structure behind great novels and understanding exactly how to create a sympathetic feeling in a reader right away through character technique. Those are both biggies for me. :)<br /><br />Angela @ The Bookshelf MuseAngela Ackermanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01808259088625142389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206355073837906221.post-73072823991599536972011-06-12T06:05:08.085-07:002011-06-12T06:05:08.085-07:00I used to head hop an awful lot and be terrible at...I used to head hop an awful lot and be terrible at descriptions. I think everyone gets better at descriptions through reading a good book, but head hopping, you juse need someone to whack you over the head about it often enough lol.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206355073837906221.post-58484653020242060392011-06-11T21:09:19.918-07:002011-06-11T21:09:19.918-07:00I definitely learned each scene must have a purpos...I definitely learned each scene must have a purpose. Also each scene should have a beginning, middle, and end. Helped me so much!Alleged Authorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04869021184116123477noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206355073837906221.post-70901461873625811892011-06-11T20:42:52.005-07:002011-06-11T20:42:52.005-07:00I can say one for sure and that's revision. Ho...I can say one for sure and that's revision. How to truly change that first draft into a story. And over everything else that has been the hardest thing to learn b/c in order to do it you need to know what to fix and how to fix it.Laura Paulinghttp://www.laurapauling.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206355073837906221.post-72528630872486905822011-06-11T18:25:48.630-07:002011-06-11T18:25:48.630-07:00Yes, it is a good thing to stop and examine our ow...Yes, it is a good thing to stop and examine our own progress from time to time. In fact, I just wrote a post on that subject entitled "Making a Little Progress."<br /><br />In my case, it would be a "little" - that is for sure. Good question.Marsha Younghttp://spotsandwrinkles.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206355073837906221.post-39406402215725732772011-06-11T16:29:51.273-07:002011-06-11T16:29:51.273-07:00It is very hard to remeber this... but i try.It is very hard to remeber this... but i try.Jeff Kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00667419764890599092noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206355073837906221.post-66815364500908006592011-06-11T15:59:01.413-07:002011-06-11T15:59:01.413-07:00Save some of those baby pictures for right in fron...Save some of those baby pictures for right in front of the glass, as in memorizing poetry for the pleasure of improving your prose.Caroline Gerardohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12376556246231855571noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206355073837906221.post-207532760361827412011-06-11T15:56:28.694-07:002011-06-11T15:56:28.694-07:00I've learned so much through my writing journe...I've learned so much through my writing journey. I didn't realize the amount of time that is required to make a book shine. I am usi g the five senses better, and showing more versus telling.Miranda Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17880449368013410349noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206355073837906221.post-88508952318077906322011-06-11T15:04:52.155-07:002011-06-11T15:04:52.155-07:00Wonderful post. I like how you compared a child&#...Wonderful post. I like how you compared a child's growth and change to the growth and change a writer goes through.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206355073837906221.post-58623574828739938112011-06-11T13:33:20.432-07:002011-06-11T13:33:20.432-07:00I've worked on those bad habits, but in additi...I've worked on those bad habits, but in addition, i think my growth is in getting the story down the way I want it and in the ability to congratulate myself when I do something great. I never used to want to admit that, and picked around looking for something to trash. Sometimes a "yay me" pat on the back is good!Michele Shawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16768815750264631798noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206355073837906221.post-13616767713104047732011-06-11T12:17:06.168-07:002011-06-11T12:17:06.168-07:00Great list. I feel each time I get rid of an unfor...Great list. I feel each time I get rid of an unfortunate writing habit I grow a new "filter" that allows me to grow as a writer. Of course my fantastic critique partners are major factors in my writing journey.Leslie S. Rosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17122865337924270039noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206355073837906221.post-70682503975448661482011-06-11T11:49:34.330-07:002011-06-11T11:49:34.330-07:00Oh, Julie, I've learned ALL those things over ...Oh, Julie, I've learned ALL those things over the last few months. My first (and second and third...) draft was an amateurish mess. But as I've connected with other writers and had a few as crit partners, I've gotten a lot better. A LOT! I'm actually getting a great deal of positive feedback now. Most of this has been achieved through reading other blogs, mostly by other writers, but also many agents. Every time I see a post that hits on an issue I recognize in my own work, I rush through my manuscript, locate every instance that can be fixed and do just that. It has been a very enlightening process. <br /><br />On a side note, I am enjoying your blog and have become your newest follower so you might be seeing me pop my head in from time to time.Nancy Thompsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05735642863696266005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206355073837906221.post-29451897265777397202011-06-11T11:20:44.037-07:002011-06-11T11:20:44.037-07:00I still feel like a beginner in certain ways, but ...I still feel like a beginner in certain ways, but you're right~ looking at small steps lets me know that I'm making some progress. Thanks for the boost :)Jesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14121018905141253640noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206355073837906221.post-76842633254403886752011-06-11T10:25:48.683-07:002011-06-11T10:25:48.683-07:00I'm learning to world-build better, and my cri...I'm learning to world-build better, and my critique partners say I've learned to write an even better story. Still a long way to go, but I'm trying!Alex J. Cavanaughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09770065693345181702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206355073837906221.post-38281875545939486252011-06-11T09:59:00.453-07:002011-06-11T09:59:00.453-07:00Addictive words, yes! "Just" and "B...Addictive words, yes! "Just" and "But" are two that I still haven't managed to cull effectively (grrr). got rid of "really" though! The biggest thing for me has been acknowledging my more substantive issues with character development (making the MC's flaws real and substantive, not placeholders). This is an important one, and I can feel that leap of faith coming, and almost taste the joy that follows . . . (it only took me YEARS to get to the jumping-off place, sigh) I'll celebrate that.Linda Grayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18001433214194860481noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206355073837906221.post-21372416026924178992011-06-11T08:59:36.139-07:002011-06-11T08:59:36.139-07:00Sorry typo above...
I would say that in the last ...Sorry typo above...<br /><br />I would say that in the last 10 years that I've been writing, (I wrote before that but not seriously) I've grown by leaps and bounds in the last 3. I'm talking a real growth spurt. I'm finally starting to get it...like your list above and structure.<br /><br />Today, I celebrate writing growth with you.Loree Huebnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09845600356878587780noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206355073837906221.post-45054090299664902512011-06-11T08:54:26.187-07:002011-06-11T08:54:26.187-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.Loree Huebnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09845600356878587780noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206355073837906221.post-27095162793634859042011-06-11T08:52:28.510-07:002011-06-11T08:52:28.510-07:00What an awesome thing to point out, Julie!!! It...What an awesome thing to point out, Julie!!! It's so true. We do spend so much time beating ourselves up for the negatives, we sometimes forget to stop and celebrate all we've learned. Your list is great, and I'm sure it's only a partial one. :DLisa Gail Greenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03648323153868702165noreply@blogger.com