tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206355073837906221.post4871520533354285598..comments2024-03-08T20:57:25.380-08:00Comments on Julie Musil, Author: Is your story worth saving?Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger46125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206355073837906221.post-35330535542706974262011-07-12T06:24:23.015-07:002011-07-12T06:24:23.015-07:00Julie, I'm so far behind commenting on posts -...Julie, I'm so far behind commenting on posts - I apologize for that... but I was thinking about this post at 4:30 this morning. I have a story idea - which I have started and ran it by my CP and she loved it. (I even put my other two MS's on hold to work on this one.) But the last few days it's been a struggle to write, which made me wonder "if it's worth saving". I asked myself the questions you listed and answered "yes" to them. Talked with my CP first thing this morning and we brainstormed. So with your help and hers - you guys got me back on track, and back into a positive mode with the story. <br />Just wanted to share and say thank you.Ainsley Shayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00163418497413705562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206355073837906221.post-69756907957387983702011-06-25T15:34:07.432-07:002011-06-25T15:34:07.432-07:00I loved WRITING MAGIC when I read it years ago. Le...I loved WRITING MAGIC when I read it years ago. Levine's just got such a way with words...she really inspired me to keep going. <br /><br />Hmm...maybe I'll troll around the library for that book again... :)CallMeIshmaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00326302326017231411noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206355073837906221.post-63726904570216995252011-06-25T15:32:48.623-07:002011-06-25T15:32:48.623-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.CallMeIshmaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00326302326017231411noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206355073837906221.post-444533269539231172011-06-24T20:27:34.811-07:002011-06-24T20:27:34.811-07:00Its a personal choice, Julie....some stories shoul...Its a personal choice, Julie....some stories should be left alone and the writer must move on to another story that will work well. Beta Readers and Crit partners are indeed good guides and can nudge us in the right direction.Rachna Chhabriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16900999965919504282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206355073837906221.post-19344012462688188862011-06-24T18:25:21.646-07:002011-06-24T18:25:21.646-07:00Betas & crit partners are great at pushing you...Betas & crit partners are great at pushing your ms as far as it can go. At some point you have trust you've done the best you can and put it out there for the pros to decide on. And there may come a time at this point where you have to decide whether it should be put away. But I don't think you should do that until you've reached this phase. Every story's like a dream & should have the chance to come true.Nancy Thompsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05735642863696266005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206355073837906221.post-51932591133057511372011-06-24T16:23:21.930-07:002011-06-24T16:23:21.930-07:00I have a book that I'm willing save, but I nee...I have a book that I'm willing save, but I need to give it a loooooot of distance first. If I'm still excited about it when I return to it, then I know it's worth it to spend the time to save it. :DStinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11415189347501942340noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206355073837906221.post-24937173401703526842011-06-24T07:55:59.136-07:002011-06-24T07:55:59.136-07:00'do i love this story?' is the first, midd...'do i love this story?' is the first, middle and last question for me. if i answer yes, then it is worth any hiccups to keep on moving the plot forward.Amanda Summerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00942636545948440422noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206355073837906221.post-60255160431550938572011-06-24T07:31:43.317-07:002011-06-24T07:31:43.317-07:00When I feel that way, I spend a few hours (or days...When I feel that way, I spend a few hours (or days!) analyzing my original concept of the story and why it isn't resonating. Usually, I've lost track of my book's goal. When I get it back, I love the story again!Jill Kemererhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07865493609868329393noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206355073837906221.post-65460460177079633852011-06-23T13:26:11.390-07:002011-06-23T13:26:11.390-07:00Julie,
I'm new to your blog and what a great ...Julie,<br /><br />I'm new to your blog and what a great first post to read! This has me thinking about some of the projects I've scrapped because I didn't have the bandwidth to rescue them. Now I might have to pick a few back up and stop being lazy...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206355073837906221.post-57742449660450579082011-06-23T09:40:04.561-07:002011-06-23T09:40:04.561-07:00Hmmm... my MSs have to be very bad or something re...Hmmm... my MSs have to be very bad or something really drastic has to happen for me to give up my story. <br /><br />Even at the darkest of dark moments, I just kept going, because I didn't want to let go of something that forms such a vital part of my life. <br /><br />:-) Still, I think it differs from person to person.Misha Gerrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06364173848456424521noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206355073837906221.post-61748455999659955362011-06-23T09:15:13.761-07:002011-06-23T09:15:13.761-07:00Julie~
Tag, you're it! You've been tagged...Julie~<br /><br />Tag, you're it! You've been tagged in a game of Blog Tag:)Gwen Gardnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13132836346305559246noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206355073837906221.post-68745712440805525992011-06-23T08:49:32.805-07:002011-06-23T08:49:32.805-07:00Good post Julie and even better that you've to...Good post Julie and even better that you've tossed you life preserver to it. In truth, I feel every story is worth saving. If it was worth writing then it should be worth saving. Revisions can be frustrating and downright evil sometimes but when you have a spot to gain some perspective you can usually find your way through the labyrinth. Sometimes revisions can be a matter of changing a few lines in each chapter and sometimes a re-write but it should never be abandoned. You may move onto another idea or project for a period but in the end you should come back and bring that piece to life. Anything worth writing is worth reading.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01046515540256155412noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206355073837906221.post-22156206042682774042011-06-23T08:25:53.301-07:002011-06-23T08:25:53.301-07:00I have a story like that. I love the story, but it...I have a story like that. I love the story, but it was my first and therefore it STINKS! I keep hoping to resurrect it, but who am I kidding? Someday I'll have the courage to just cut it loose.Laurisa White Reyeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12500840034913586508noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206355073837906221.post-91961895973133005512011-06-22T20:41:45.310-07:002011-06-22T20:41:45.310-07:00Whew, I'm glad you were able to answer YES and...Whew, I'm glad you were able to answer YES and keep going. I hope you find a super way to "rescue" the story! Yes, it definitely can be HARD work to make a novel shine...Carol Riggshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14092209912983783974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206355073837906221.post-36663158331410240692011-06-22T19:37:01.188-07:002011-06-22T19:37:01.188-07:00I feel my story is worth saving. As I finish the l...I feel my story is worth saving. As I finish the last few scenes of my first draft, I feel that I can answer "yes" to all of your questions, which is a good thing! I have a lot of work left to do but am ready for it. :)Ghenet Myrthilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12621168379560585094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206355073837906221.post-75851455668993580042011-06-22T19:05:27.229-07:002011-06-22T19:05:27.229-07:00Love your questions, Julie. Went through each one...Love your questions, Julie. Went through each one, dutifully asking myself how to answer w/regard to my novel, and came out with "whew! I can do this." But it's a big old pile o' paper to get through and stay objective! i can do it, i can do it, i can . . .Linda Grayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18001433214194860481noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206355073837906221.post-80431625420923643802011-06-22T14:25:02.968-07:002011-06-22T14:25:02.968-07:00Funny! I'm in the same boat as you are! And I ...Funny! I'm in the same boat as you are! And I loved to hear what you had to say. And I'm impatient, too!! :PAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00482654021641010175noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206355073837906221.post-64548197970783345282011-06-22T14:11:19.881-07:002011-06-22T14:11:19.881-07:00It is a personal choice, but it can be a tough one...It is a personal choice, but it can be a tough one. I think it does help to have wonderful critique partners and readers for guidance, but in the end I guess it's really about how much passion and devotion there is for the project. Sometimes I will put something away for a while, too. This often gives me a fresh perspective.Cynthia Chapman Willishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12408985785062180536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206355073837906221.post-70873825050263531222011-06-22T08:16:57.344-07:002011-06-22T08:16:57.344-07:00Asking your critique partners or beta readers is a...Asking your critique partners or beta readers is a great way to get an outside opinion. There are times many of us have wanted to give up but one of our sisters saw that something special in our story and wouldn't let us.Linda Grayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00464543671077860561noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206355073837906221.post-23878888980376684952011-06-22T07:59:02.112-07:002011-06-22T07:59:02.112-07:00Love this post Julie. And I too love the idea of w...Love this post Julie. And I too love the idea of writing different scenes to see which one works best. This would be a great tool to use on beta's as well. If they don't like a particular scene or if you aren't sure about it, have them read an alternate version and see which scene they prefer.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05686424597825645224noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206355073837906221.post-26637122248365799432011-06-22T04:22:42.912-07:002011-06-22T04:22:42.912-07:00I've let a few picture book manuscripts fall t...I've let a few picture book manuscripts fall to the ocean floor. I don't know how much harder it would be with an epic novel. The first MG novel I ever wrote may just be dredged up after all, even bottom of the ocean stories can be brought back to life. Only time can tell you.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206355073837906221.post-19647461445959212952011-06-21T23:03:36.106-07:002011-06-21T23:03:36.106-07:00Great questions! For me, time is the answer. Somet...Great questions! For me, time is the answer. Sometimes starting a shiny new project sends me back to the old one because I remember how much I love it and how much I have invested in getting it to the best state I can manage.Carriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03733651711754068802noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206355073837906221.post-90887969586967604862011-06-21T20:02:22.153-07:002011-06-21T20:02:22.153-07:00Ooh, great tips. I'm still in the planning sta...Ooh, great tips. I'm still in the planning stage but I don't think it's too early to start considering these questions. Thanks for the post!lindahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16524291742541007382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206355073837906221.post-41522126812089052792011-06-21T19:49:23.738-07:002011-06-21T19:49:23.738-07:00I love the idea of writing different scenes and ch...I love the idea of writing different scenes and choosing the one that works best. Gonna have to use that one.Alleged Authorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04869021184116123477noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206355073837906221.post-62907061428188294122011-06-21T19:20:20.789-07:002011-06-21T19:20:20.789-07:00I definitely have many of those moments, mostly wh...I definitely have many of those moments, mostly when I'm burned out on revisions or whatever - like with my novel SUNDOWN. I've had to leave it alone for fear I'll go nuts & delete the whole thing :PTrishahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16927558937796802496noreply@blogger.com