tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3774305250676105976.post5484760944162503388..comments2024-03-28T11:13:13.409-04:00Comments on Balancing Act: #IWSG: I Quit (Or Do I?)Samantha Bryanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684962313482409801noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3774305250676105976.post-41405051004827539382017-06-19T01:51:01.537-04:002017-06-19T01:51:01.537-04:00My first "serious" novel ended up in a l...My first "serious" novel ended up in a landfill too, but I rewrote it from scratch and it's a million times better.<br /><br />I haven't quit a novel in a long time, but I do take breaks. As for writing, I can't imagine my life without it. I'll never give up.J.H. Moncrieffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18045467689291025137noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3774305250676105976.post-85631783028507512022017-06-13T00:30:26.975-04:002017-06-13T00:30:26.975-04:00I agree, there must be more behind that guy's ...I agree, there must be more behind that guy's story than a kneejerk reaction. Maybe publishing this book was his way of confirming something. If it was the first book he wrote, it's usually not a good idea to publish that. Like you, I will never go back to my first book, although I spent nearly three years on it. But it was a great learning curve!Nick Wilfordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03841776353790635132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3774305250676105976.post-60609915391900722592017-06-10T08:08:34.287-04:002017-06-10T08:08:34.287-04:00Each story we write is practice. With practice, we...Each story we write is practice. With practice, we get better. My 1st manuscript is keeping yours company in that dumpster. My early works will not see the light of day. But I learned from each one. And I keep learning. When I read for enjoyment, I'm still learning about writing. (So much easier to see flaws in someone else's works than in my own. LOL)Diane Burtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03754105332297068271noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3774305250676105976.post-46942568540773661522017-06-09T13:46:38.831-04:002017-06-09T13:46:38.831-04:00Like one of the commenters above, I wouldn't b...Like one of the commenters above, I wouldn't be surprised if the man you mention in your post eventually went back to writing in some form or another. <br /><br />I'm too stubborn to quit even a writing project, let alone writing in general. If something's not working for me, I re-work it until it's better. My motto is "nothing gets put back in the drawer forever."<br /><br />Great post. Amy M. Readehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13313132085132011921noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3774305250676105976.post-60117801823185177762017-06-09T08:20:23.833-04:002017-06-09T08:20:23.833-04:00We all have those apprentice manuscripts that get ...We all have those apprentice manuscripts that get us a little closer to journeyman status and that's purpose enough for them. Hemingway said "we are all apprentices in a craft in which no one is ever a master." I think the three-day author you mentioned could have used this reminder and perhaps wouldn't have taken his setback quite so hard. <br /><br />BTW, I've nominated you for an award at my blog. No pressure; it's just for fun.Laurel Garverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03657218435228802535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3774305250676105976.post-3747543266350471192017-06-07T20:05:52.991-04:002017-06-07T20:05:52.991-04:00I think we all have stories we have to quit. But y...I think we all have stories we have to quit. But you still learn something from them and hopefully become a better writer in the process. Sarah Fosterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09481750127533816819noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3774305250676105976.post-6363836395672139362017-06-07T17:47:38.874-04:002017-06-07T17:47:38.874-04:00I left my first draft novel when I abandoned my fl...I left my first draft novel when I abandoned my flat in Toronto and left Canada. I suspect it wasn't much good but I learnt from writing it - and remnants exist in other ideas...perhaps. Good luck and good writing.Roland Clarkehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03302133565980901397noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3774305250676105976.post-92051222480176314262017-06-07T16:44:49.893-04:002017-06-07T16:44:49.893-04:00Wow, it certainly does seem like he quit easily. M...Wow, it certainly does seem like he quit easily. Maybe there was something else going on, too, or maybe it had all come easily and he wasn't prepared for it to get hard. Shannon Lawrencehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00934641808195675935noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3774305250676105976.post-27130039830146677522017-06-07T16:18:43.625-04:002017-06-07T16:18:43.625-04:00Yeah, that is a super fast trajectory, a writing d...Yeah, that is a super fast trajectory, a writing death spiral. I think you're spot on thinking that his investment level was wanting. <br /><br />Quitting a bad project takes courage. It is super easy to pretend the flaws aren't that deep, and that it can be salvaged, anything to not walk away from all that work. I admire that courage. Ryan Cartyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14431305960672470468noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3774305250676105976.post-87534114926789302662017-06-07T14:19:06.773-04:002017-06-07T14:19:06.773-04:00Three days?! Well, maybe he had doubts about publi...Three days?! Well, maybe he had doubts about publishing it in the first place and finally decided to throw in the towel, so to speak. My first published thing--a novella--has been out for two years. Like you, I've quit projects or changed them, but so far, not writing itself. Extended vacations, yes.Michelle Athyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01143019809716476693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3774305250676105976.post-3273680943634749662017-06-07T13:43:44.630-04:002017-06-07T13:43:44.630-04:00Hm. You have given me a great idea of what to do ...Hm. You have given me a great idea of what to do with my first novel (still in manuscript). I shall ditch it in New Jersey. (just kidding)<br /><br />I suspect the disappointed writer picked up his laptop again and started writing again...possibly under a different name. At lease he didn't write rebuttals...or did he?Diana Wilderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11074083771067857127noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3774305250676105976.post-28494384577261756752017-06-07T13:26:50.240-04:002017-06-07T13:26:50.240-04:00Those critical reviews can be tough. I called it q...Those critical reviews can be tough. I called it quits on reading reviews after I got a few. They sting, but I've slowly (really slowly) managed to keep going. Yay for sticking to it and getting published. Slow and steady wins the race right? Meka Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04592225193233705022noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3774305250676105976.post-39384196010702510252017-06-07T13:00:10.856-04:002017-06-07T13:00:10.856-04:00Three days, huh? Well, it is hard to take those cr...Three days, huh? Well, it is hard to take those critical reviews--especially if you haven't gone through the query/rejection process and built that thick skin. Even if you have... Crystal Collierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03912469552483168148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3774305250676105976.post-45038971795809010772017-06-07T12:48:12.530-04:002017-06-07T12:48:12.530-04:00Over and over I hear how publishing is a long game...Over and over I hear how publishing is a long game. It's not get rich quick, it may never get us 'rich' but so many writers I know who are making a living have been at it 5 years minimum. Thanks for sharing!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.stephaniescott.net/2017/06/insecure-writers-support-group-survive-little-quits/" rel="nofollow">Here's my IWSG post for June: How to Survive the 'Little Quits.'</a>Stephscohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06328839483008086049noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3774305250676105976.post-36199939452896242622017-06-07T12:42:26.536-04:002017-06-07T12:42:26.536-04:00Hello, Samantha. Wow, your description of your fir...Hello, Samantha. Wow, your description of your first novel sounds very much like my experience. I took mine through several revisions and sent out queries--nada, but I learned a lot from the experience. It helped, I think, that I looked at that process as a lesson in how to run a novel through the necessary steps. I haven't published yet, but my current work is so much better than that first attempt. Quit? Never!Sadira Stonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06879842617320020500noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3774305250676105976.post-47096832689050084502017-06-07T11:58:06.327-04:002017-06-07T11:58:06.327-04:00That does seem like a fast trajectory to me, too, ...That does seem like a fast trajectory to me, too, but like you said, who knows where he was coming from. Perhaps that was his plan all along.<br /><br />And I have a few projects that I'll never go back to, but I don't think of myself as quitting them. It's more that their purpose was to help me figure out what I wanted to do differently for the next project. I didn't leave them in the dumpster behind the grocery store, but that sure does sound tempting. :)M.J. Fifieldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15626475963328519693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3774305250676105976.post-15355681729060166682017-06-07T11:43:55.555-04:002017-06-07T11:43:55.555-04:00Ouch. He didn't expect a bad response, didn...Ouch. He didn't expect a bad response, didn't prepare for it. That's something a lot of writers aren't ready for, and it can hurt them. I just hope they can keep on going after licking their wounds.Chrys Feyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11955009490266358041noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3774305250676105976.post-24215631957829063332017-06-07T11:31:46.805-04:002017-06-07T11:31:46.805-04:00You've prove it. Writing is something we all d...You've prove it. Writing is something we all do. When we improve enough we can submit and get published. It must be earned. Some think it's easy money. I can't help but laugh at that. :-)<br /><br /><a href="http://emaginette.wordpress.com" rel="nofollow"> Anna from elements of emaginette</a>emaginettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03324981140248692448noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3774305250676105976.post-81734169052948638332017-06-07T11:23:24.940-04:002017-06-07T11:23:24.940-04:00I have a first story like yours. It'll never s...I have a first story like yours. It'll never see the light of day, but it was still fun to write and a learning experience.<br /><br />No idea if that guy was giving up easily or not, but when I need instant gratification, I pick up my crafts. I can whip up a necklace is no time and getting to hold it and show it off is always a creative boost. Then I have to wait until a craft show to see if I can sell it. LOLAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com