tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3971808675697780700.post413770518678202556..comments2023-11-06T12:36:23.406-05:00Comments on Diary of a Children's Book Writer: It's a Matter of Perspective Take Two... And Writing BuddiesSheri Perl-Oshinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08025716805041579831noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3971808675697780700.post-29357171693971560702008-06-16T14:24:00.000-04:002008-06-16T14:24:00.000-04:00Hey Anne! Sorry it's taken me so long to respond a...Hey Anne! Sorry it's taken me so long to respond and thanks for stopping by! I loved your humor and insight at our peer critique and it was a pleasure meeting you. <BR/><BR/>I know what you mean about the expense of conferences. I try to go to a workshop at least once and the annual conference. <BR/><BR/>For now I will not be going until I am done with my novel once and for all! Or at least, I will not be participating in any critiques until then...<BR/><BR/>I couldn't agree with you more about criticism and becoming stronger. In the end it's all needed and necessary!<BR/><BR/>Hope you check in again soon!Sheri Perl-Oshinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08025716805041579831noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3971808675697780700.post-46785251539373411782008-06-13T02:30:00.000-04:002008-06-13T02:30:00.000-04:00Hi Sheri,I'm so glad I met you at the conference. ...Hi Sheri,<BR/>I'm so glad I met you at the conference. You're a delightful, encouraging, talented writer.<BR/><BR/>All writers get hit with criticism--often constructive, but sometimes just hurtful. But it's never a waste because we always learn from it.<BR/><BR/>Maybe we learn not to work with a particular editor or agent in the future. (I know what agent I will never send anything to!) Or maybe if we're lucky, we meet the one who feels a connection to our work, our baby.<BR/><BR/>As hard as criticism is, it often makes our writing stronger, and hopefully us as writers, too. But as you've said, that process can only begin after the scab starts to form over the open wound.<BR/><BR/>The conferences are never a waste because they provide opportunities to meet other aspiring writers with the same hopes and who can offer insight into and suggestions for our stories. And we meet publishing contacts who might say, "I'd like to read more." <BR/><BR/>Unfortunately, the conferences do get expensive. I try to do one a year. The other 364 days are spent writing, rewriting, listening to critiques, and continually improving my stories. I'm always hopeful that by the next workshop or conference, my stories are that much closer to eventually getting published.<BR/><BR/>Keep plugging away at the novel. Stay your same, sweet, optimistic self. And I'll be in line to buy your first novel when it hits the stores!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3971808675697780700.post-6863137477662164562008-06-12T09:28:00.000-04:002008-06-12T09:28:00.000-04:00Thanks Jim. And welcome!I know it was a rather lon...Thanks Jim. And welcome!I know it was a rather long post, but sometimes those can't be helped. I agree with you, critiques are very important. What I've learned, is for me, premature critques, however, can stop me in my tracks. So I really hope this writing buddy system will work.<BR/><BR/>I will keep you all informed as my new Writing Buddy and I go through this new experience.Sheri Perl-Oshinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08025716805041579831noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3971808675697780700.post-14631165367909276722008-06-11T23:32:00.000-04:002008-06-11T23:32:00.000-04:00Interesting about "Writing Buddies". I'm in a grou...Interesting about "Writing Buddies". I'm in a group with 4 other writers that e-mails every Sunday with goals, progress (even if it's zero progress), brilliant ideas and those that failed. I think it's important to communicate it that sort of context. (It goes without saying critiques are also important.)<BR/><BR/>Great post.<BR/><BR/>Jim DJim Danielsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12823505566059392116noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3971808675697780700.post-86240400795046770472008-06-09T13:33:00.000-04:002008-06-09T13:33:00.000-04:00PJ, Thanks! I agree and sometimes you just don't k...PJ, Thanks! I agree and sometimes you just don't know what works for you until you try. Now I know. I thought submitting three chapters at a time would cut out some of that revision process later. Who knows maybe it does, but it sure makes it very confusing and overwhelming.<BR/><BR/>Hey Cathy, or should I say writing buddy! I am very excited about our new commitment to helping each other finish our novels. And hey, sometimes just having a friend to cry on is the best thing. You offered immense help and support all weekend! (not to mention the tear-streaming-laughter Friday night!) I do know we were meant to meet and definitely for you to be there the Aha! moment struck me. <BR/><BR/>Thanks both for all your support and encouragement!Sheri Perl-Oshinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08025716805041579831noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3971808675697780700.post-4153420102856933612008-06-09T12:49:00.000-04:002008-06-09T12:49:00.000-04:00Great post Sheri. Its actually been rather amazing...Great post Sheri. Its actually been rather amazing for me to have been a viewer on the sidelines as this all unfolded. I felt so inadequate Saturday night trying to find something positive to say to help you off the ledge! I know the feeling well and it was hard to watch you in the low part of your process. I kept wanting to fix it for you. You are cementing for me the necessity of sitting back and letting people follow their trail to their own conclusions, healing and growth. I see now that a hard won truth is so much more powerful then any words of support I could offer to 'fix it'.<BR/><BR/>You are so right about listening to ourselves. Your experience answered my own angst and desire to sit down over the summer & beyond and just finish my book without anymore feedback until it's done. It was an important revelation for you and I think I was meant to be standing around through out it, learning from it as well.<BR/>I am so very glad I met you,<BR/>Cathy :) XOAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3971808675697780700.post-19108540173455631402008-06-09T11:16:00.000-04:002008-06-09T11:16:00.000-04:00Hey Sheri! Great post! All writers are different. ...Hey Sheri! Great post! All writers are different. I NEVER show anything to anyone until I'm done with a first draft (and probably at least another revision). I know my first drafts need way too much work and that I'll change a gazillion things in them right away. But other writers are different. They write three chapters and submit them for critique. Not my style, but if it works form them, then so be it.<BR/>You just have to know what works for you.PJ Hooverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02602205868934777662noreply@blogger.com