tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7981315063491687057.post3269811494494625688..comments2023-05-12T06:37:48.238-04:00Comments on Manuscript Mavens: Sometimes, You Have to Admit You're Beaten to Defeat DefeatismErica Ridleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05511276393455961757noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7981315063491687057.post-74706719701603740512007-12-08T23:47:00.000-05:002007-12-08T23:47:00.000-05:00I'm wavering on consigning one of my unfinished ma...I'm wavering on consigning one of my unfinished manuscripts to the MMP. I started out gangbusters, and I know if I sit down to write on it again, it'll still come, but I'm beginning to think the premise to too far out there to ever see publication. *shrug* I haven't let it go yet. I have a hard time letting stories go. I'm still hoping someday I'll get my first book published. Maybe one of the ones I'm editing will open the door for it. <BR/><BR/>LOL See? Can't let it go.B.E. Sandersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04336115135400388268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7981315063491687057.post-61988449474089830242007-12-07T23:42:00.000-05:002007-12-07T23:42:00.000-05:00Awww, farewell "Unbridled". May it mulch in peace...Awww, farewell "Unbridled". May it mulch in peace.<BR/><BR/>That must have taken a lot of courage, Jacqueline. I'm glad it's freeing you to write new and fabulous things! And you never know - something from it may prove useful in the future.Tessa Darehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10495576426757281297noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7981315063491687057.post-74018309844251687442007-12-07T12:20:00.000-05:002007-12-07T12:20:00.000-05:00Christine: In my lifetime, I've abandoned far more...<I>Christine</I>: In my lifetime, I've abandoned far more stories than I ever finished, which is a big part of the reason I had trouble letting this one go. You're right, though, the unfinished stories are a potential gold mine for the future.<BR/><BR/><I>Marnee Jo</I>: Although I haven't given up on historicals, I have also been working on contemporaries lately. I always believed I'd never have a story idea for a contemporary, but lo and behold, over the past 9 months or so, I have acquired not one, but six of them :).<BR/><BR/><I>Gillian</I>: No, not even if I got a request :)! I only have 35 good pages and after that, I'm totally stuck. I think I'd try to convince the editor/agent I have something else that's better for them instead.<BR/><BR/><I>Bill</I>: Just because the *story's* in the rubbish heap doesn't mean the *title* can't be used :).<BR/><BR/><I>Erica and Bill</I>: Stop making me laugh so hard I spit tea on my monitor.<BR/><BR/><I>Lacey</I>: I promise to get back to CY after the new, super-secret project (NSSP) is in the can. NSSP grew a bit on me, word-count wise, this week, so I probably won't have it done until next week sometime, but it's coming along very nicely.Jackie Barbosahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02904049760374126059noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7981315063491687057.post-67132301365262637212007-12-07T11:30:00.000-05:002007-12-07T11:30:00.000-05:00I am sooooooo happy to hear you are letting your b...I am sooooooo happy to hear you are letting your brain rest! I can't wait for more CY. And this secret project of yours...lacey kayehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04748864831060027009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7981315063491687057.post-11633098483259559632007-12-07T10:54:00.000-05:002007-12-07T10:54:00.000-05:00OMG Bill, I forgot about that.For those not around...OMG Bill, I forgot about that.<BR/><BR/>For those not around in those days, <A HREF="http://jacquelinebarbour.blogspot.com/2007/07/name-that-book.html" REL="nofollow">here's the link to Jacq's "Name That Book" request</A>.<BR/><BR/>I had a whole mess of suggestions (none of which she took) but my three faves were:<BR/><BR/>Can She or Canter She?<BR/>Smoky Mountain Reins<BR/>...and...<BR/>Trots of PassionErica Ridleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05511276393455961757noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7981315063491687057.post-80469900079256558682007-12-07T10:52:00.000-05:002007-12-07T10:52:00.000-05:00the sub-plots were taking over like kudzuheheheheh...<I>the sub-plots were taking over like kudzu</I><BR/><BR/>hehehehehehehehehhe<BR/><BR/>I have 2 stories firmly in the MMP, and one I'm three quarters of the way through revising that teetered on the edge of the MMP for over a year. As written, that story sucked, but as revised... I'm kinda liking it. Am I tempted to revise those other two? Hell no. I'm tempted to torch them.<BR/><BR/>I agree... you gotta know when to say when and move on. Moving on is often the best thing you can do, because time and distance bring the objectivity necessary to determine whether or not a project is a waste of your time or a potential Good Deal.Erica Ridleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05511276393455961757noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7981315063491687057.post-16391665491038606622007-12-07T10:41:00.000-05:002007-12-07T10:41:00.000-05:00C'mon, Jacq, the whole point of the Magical Mulch ...C'mon, Jacq, the whole point of the Magical Mulch Pile is that it's magical! Let time and composting do their work, and the leaves of your ms. will turn into black gold. (Meaning spendable gold for you, of course!)<BR/><BR/>It's OK to let things mulch for a while. But, to quote Churchill's famous WW II speech at Harrow School, "Never give up. Never, never, never, never, never give up!"<BR/><BR/>Besides, "Unbridled" is almost like a godchild to me - didn't I help to christen it? (Also hardly a day goes by when I don't remember Maven Erica's suggestion, "Ridden Hard and Put Away Wet", and chortle out loud.) :-)Bill Clarkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01828998021246511869noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7981315063491687057.post-29749894309088134382007-12-07T10:02:00.000-05:002007-12-07T10:02:00.000-05:00Even if you got a request???Now come on.... :)Even if you got a request???<BR/><BR/>Now come on.... :)Gillian Laynehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15772849187702478349noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7981315063491687057.post-47396468569406549852007-12-07T09:26:00.000-05:002007-12-07T09:26:00.000-05:00I'm sorely tempted to put my current WIP in the Ma...I'm sorely tempted to put my current WIP in the Magical Mulch Pile. I'm not loving the conflict, feeling like I keep going over and over the same internal conflicts and that said internal conflicts aren't strong enough to push my story.<BR/><BR/>For now, I've just put it down to let it marinade in my brain, thinking I'll come back in a month or so.<BR/><BR/>I thought I'd try my hand at a contemporary, so that's what I'm attempting to plot now.Marnee Baileyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01533816213473440342noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7981315063491687057.post-28631673095576884142007-12-07T08:47:00.000-05:002007-12-07T08:47:00.000-05:00I have more stories in the MMP than I care to admi...I have more stories in the MMP than I care to admit. Some are finished (in that beginning writers stage and need <B>serious</B> rewriting) some are 1 or 2 chapters that I never thought out and have no where to go after.<BR/><BR/>Admitting defeat isn't as hard as it sounds, actually. It's amazing how many stories are waiting in the recesses for a chance.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com