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James Marinero

On the interminable subject of Writer's Block

  • James Marinero
  • Replies: 7
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Happy Birthday, Lawal.

  • LitBot
  • Replies: 4
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Yes, you are. :)

Actually, I'd be pleased to have as many submissions as people want to throw at me. And I'll try to make it as painless as poss... honest...
 
Hah! I jest, but in truth, I am way past the need to be liked. I have confidence in my work, but I know it requires...well...work, so I am open for any and all criticism. Looking forward to Sunday!

EDIT: Brain caught up with eyes. When you say "as many submissions as people want to throw" do you mean I could submit two things? Greedy, I know, but really want the feedback.
 
You won't be alone, Howard, I sent in the first 20 pages of my work in progress (I assumed double-line spacing rather than single, though I couldn't see any instruction on that.) Hopefully it made it through okay. Feeling very nervous, but will appreciate the professional feedback.
 
This is a fantastic opportunity.I was fortunate enough to receive feedback from Peter in Litopia's previous incarnation and it was invaluable! I strongly recommend it!
 
Oouhh, yes. Definitely in! But will submit in the last two weeks when we are back from the Cotswolds (Cirencester) . Will be listening in on the other submissions though. What a great opportunity!
 
Thanks Howard! Got on to hear the end of your first ms being discussed. Useful commentary, don't you think? Most people would pay to get this kind of feedback. :)
 
Not sure if Pete saw all the comments, so wanted to say again Thank you – that was an interesting and very helpful two hours. Thanks for giving up your time on a Sunday evening, agent Pete! Much appreciated. I'm going to go and change the end of that chapter! :)
 
Very happy to do it, and looking forward to the next one, this Sunday!
 
Took me a while to reply to this after last night, not because I was licking my wounds, but rather because Pete lit a fire in me.
With the chat completed, I spent 5 hours heavily rewriting Dara, and have continued to do so for another 6 hours today.

Pete, your words last night have been more help to me than any other thing in the last 10 years of writing. I don't know why, exactly, for you didn't really say anything I have not heard before, but simply seeing the process applied to my work just made something click in my head. The draft I now have of the early chapters of Dara is far more streamlined, far more exciting and moves to engage the reader much more quickly.

I genuinely cannot thank you enough!:D

That being said (there is always a but!;)), I am afraid we shall have to differ about Sonnet & Calhoone. Clearly, it was just not for you, and that is absolutely cool, but if I were to begin to take on board your criticism of it, and change it accordingly, I think it would lose all its current charm and disappear into being "yet another pulp fiction".

I look forward to future sessions like this and, if I can get it back into a "ready to show state", would be fascinated and grateful to see what you think of the new Dara!
 
Thanks, Howard, this mean a lot!

S&C… actually, I could absolutely see its appeal. The problem with “doing submissions”, as one publisher said to me once, is that “you’re always looking for a reason to say no”. This does tend to make the process a bit negative, I’m afraid, and I do try to guard against that.

Anyhow, so pleased the Dara feedback was useful! :)
 
I totally forgot about this!! rats and slithers! Is there any way that I can read it or listen to it?
 
Quillwitch said:
I totally forgot about this!! rats and slithers! Is there any way that I can read it or listen to it?
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I think Pete said it wouldn't be taped, so no I don't think so, Quillwitch. Sorry. It was very interesting having prose directed in front of our eyes – lots of great pointers. But there's another one next Sunday and I'm sure that'll be just as good. Not sure of time differential where you are. I hope you don't have to get up in the middle of the night for it! :)
 
Nope, it's live, and live only! Be there, or be... er, something that rhymes with "there" and has a literary significance. Maybe there's no such word... :)
 
Ancora Imparo said:
I think Pete said it wouldn't be taped, so no I don't think so, Quillwitch. Sorry. It was very interesting having prose directed in front of our eyes – lots of great pointers. But there's another one next Sunday and I'm sure that'll be just as good. Not sure of time differential where you are. I hope you don't have to get up in the middle of the night for it! :)
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Sorry – that should have read very interesting having prose dissected in front of our eyes ... oops.
 
Ancora Imparo said:
I think Pete said it wouldn't be taped, so no I don't think so, Quillwitch. Sorry. It was very interesting having prose directed in front of our eyes – lots of great pointers. But there's another one next Sunday and I'm sure that'll be just as good. Not sure of time differential where you are. I hope you don't have to get up in the middle of the night for it! :)
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Sounds great. I hope I can make it next time. I´m behind London about 7 hours, so I don´t think so. It´s usually New Zealand that get´s the midnight shift.
 
For NZ, it's 5 am Monday. Not too bad, actually, though that's my morning chores hour. Would have been there this week, but completely forgot about it.
 
Sounds brilliant. I hope to join in on 13th or 20th, French forest fires permitting.
 
Robinne Weiss said:
For NZ, it's 5 am Monday. Not too bad, actually, though that's my morning chores hour. Would have been there this week, but completely forgot about it.
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You mean you deliberately get up at 5 am every day to do work no one is forcing you to do? I can barely get up at 8 to get to work.
 
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Quillwitch said:
You mean you deliberately get up at 5 am every day to do work no one is forcing you to do? I can barely get up at 8 to get to work.
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I'm afraid I do, at least most of the year. It's midwinter now, and the garden requires less work, and the animals don't stir until 7 or later, so I often sleep in until 5.45. But the key is, I have to get it all done before 7.15, when it's time to get the kids to school. Even on days when my husband takes them, I try to be at work by 7.15, so I can get a full work day in before I have to pick the kids up at the end of the day. I've always been a morning person. I can count on one hand the number of days in my entire life that I've slept past 7 am (and they were all when I was sick). But please don't ask me to function rationally after 9 pm!
 
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James Marinero

On the interminable subject of Writer's Block

  • James Marinero
  • Replies: 7
L

Happy Birthday, Lawal.

  • LitBot
  • Replies: 4
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