Comments on: Writing Disability http://wellreadrabbit.wordpress.com/2009/01/14/smell-the-flowers/ A blog about writing and illustrating for children. And, of course, rabbits Sat, 07 Nov 2009 12:28:42 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Katherine Battersby http://wellreadrabbit.wordpress.com/2009/01/14/smell-the-flowers/#comment-71 Katherine Battersby Wed, 04 Feb 2009 02:36:34 +0000 http://wellreadrabbit.wordpress.com/?p=129#comment-71 Mady, am glad to hear you have supportive people around you. And it is strangely reassuring to hear other people go through the same self-doubt, isn't it? I have a few articles written by authors I admire, talking about their self-doubt, which I read when I'm feeling down. It helps to think even successful authors go through the same thing! Mady, am glad to hear you have supportive people around you. And it is strangely reassuring to hear other people go through the same self-doubt, isn’t it? I have a few articles written by authors I admire, talking about their self-doubt, which I read when I’m feeling down. It helps to think even successful authors go through the same thing!

]]> By: Madeline Stephenson http://wellreadrabbit.wordpress.com/2009/01/14/smell-the-flowers/#comment-64 Madeline Stephenson Tue, 03 Feb 2009 18:33:27 +0000 http://wellreadrabbit.wordpress.com/?p=129#comment-64 I have to admit that my self-esteem in writing is severely lacking. But fortunately, my husband and my full-time job are both very supportive. I have also found a couple writing groups/organizations which I am using to help push me along. I like this post. As much as I love you and want you to succeed, it is nice to know other writers have the same type of problems I have! Keep it up! I am proud of you! Madeline I have to admit that my self-esteem in writing is severely lacking. But fortunately, my husband and my full-time job are both very supportive. I have also found a couple writing groups/organizations which I am using to help push me along. I like this post. As much as I love you and want you to succeed, it is nice to know other writers have the same type of problems I have! Keep it up! I am proud of you!

Madeline

]]> By: Katherine Battersby http://wellreadrabbit.wordpress.com/2009/01/14/smell-the-flowers/#comment-41 Katherine Battersby Fri, 16 Jan 2009 01:50:34 +0000 http://wellreadrabbit.wordpress.com/?p=129#comment-41 Jules - I think that's worth a bottle. Couldn't have put it better myself :) Jules – I think that’s worth a bottle. Couldn’t have put it better myself :)

]]> By: Julie Nickerson http://wellreadrabbit.wordpress.com/2009/01/14/smell-the-flowers/#comment-40 Julie Nickerson Fri, 16 Jan 2009 00:54:35 +0000 http://wellreadrabbit.wordpress.com/?p=129#comment-40 Champagne? Celebrating? Yay! I'm all for celebrating the positives associated with writing, the biggest of all being that I have finally found something that I LOVE doing; that makes me stay up late at night despite my drooping eyeballs and bed and pyjamas beckoning; that makes me WANT to work rather than sit around watching TV; that allows me to express myself, discover myself and accept myself; that has opened up a whole new interest that has brought with it a new, wonderful set of friends and 'workmates'. Now, that's worth a sip or two of champers in my opinion :-) Champagne? Celebrating? Yay! I’m all for celebrating the positives associated with writing, the biggest of all being that I have finally found something that I LOVE doing; that makes me stay up late at night despite my drooping eyeballs and bed and pyjamas beckoning; that makes me WANT to work rather than sit around watching TV; that allows me to express myself, discover myself and accept myself; that has opened up a whole new interest that has brought with it a new, wonderful set of friends and ‘workmates’. Now, that’s worth a sip or two of champers in my opinion :-)

]]> By: Katherine Battersby http://wellreadrabbit.wordpress.com/2009/01/14/smell-the-flowers/#comment-38 Katherine Battersby Thu, 15 Jan 2009 01:39:23 +0000 http://wellreadrabbit.wordpress.com/?p=129#comment-38 I agree Sheryl. It certainly is hard having non-writing friends who feel that if you haven't had anything published recently, that it means you must not have written anything new. Because surely if you had written something it would be published immediately :) It is a hard industry to explain to others, and to be able to keep writing day-to-day without external encouragement or recognition takes a lot of guts and determination. That's why we need to have a deep love for writing and story telling to drive us on. But you do have things to celebrate - like some positive feedback on your current WIP, and a new industry contact for another novel! I agree Sheryl. It certainly is hard having non-writing friends who feel that if you haven’t had anything published recently, that it means you must not have written anything new. Because surely if you had written something it would be published immediately :) It is a hard industry to explain to others, and to be able to keep writing day-to-day without external encouragement or recognition takes a lot of guts and determination. That’s why we need to have a deep love for writing and story telling to drive us on.

But you do have things to celebrate – like some positive feedback on your current WIP, and a new industry contact for another novel!

]]> By: Sheryl Gwyther http://wellreadrabbit.wordpress.com/2009/01/14/smell-the-flowers/#comment-37 Sheryl Gwyther Wed, 14 Jan 2009 23:19:41 +0000 http://wellreadrabbit.wordpress.com/?p=129#comment-37 Kath, I know exactly what you're talking about! The writing business is tough and unless you live with a writer most people outside this business don't know just how tough it is with a record number of people wanting to write (and that's an excellent thing in this country of sports-mad people); and the economic pressures on publishers. But doesn't it drive you nuts when when someone says 'Hasn't your second novel been published yet?' And you say (like you have to justify the fact), 'No, but I've been writing non-stop since the first one, and I've finished two more children's novels, once of which a British agent loves and I've written 5 more short stories and I've got three more full length novels on the go and....' You don't stop even though their eyes have begun to glaze over - that's their punishment for asking in the first place! But I shouldn't be so cruel, I guess my O.W.(Outside Writing) friends are interested in my writing life. Writers keep going because we love what we do to bits; and there's nothing else that compares to a story pouring out of your head like a video playing behind the eyes, and characters that get hold of your inner being and who continue to surprise you. That's the writing life. Kath, I know exactly what you’re talking about! The writing business is tough and unless you live with a writer most people outside this business don’t know just how tough it is with a record number of people wanting to write (and that’s an excellent thing in this country of sports-mad people); and the economic pressures on publishers.
But doesn’t it drive you nuts when when someone says ‘Hasn’t your second novel been published yet?’ And you say (like you have to justify the fact), ‘No, but I’ve been writing non-stop since the first one, and I’ve finished two more children’s novels, once of which a British agent loves and I’ve written 5 more short stories and I’ve got three more full length novels on the go and….’ You don’t stop even though their eyes have begun to glaze over – that’s their punishment for asking in the first place!
But I shouldn’t be so cruel, I guess my O.W.(Outside Writing) friends are interested in my writing life.
Writers keep going because we love what we do to bits; and there’s nothing else that compares to a story pouring out of your head like a video playing behind the eyes, and characters that get hold of your inner being and who continue to surprise you.
That’s the writing life.

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