tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21997604.post3354547448933532401..comments2024-03-28T08:22:41.115-07:00Comments on Grow Wings -- the Journal of Laini Taylor: Lentil in calabash, or: my brain as a still lifeLaini Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14064837312936707024noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21997604.post-61711083334128584622008-06-30T11:15:00.000-07:002008-06-30T11:15:00.000-07:00I finished the third draft of a novel manuscript a...I finished the third draft of a novel manuscript a year ago --- the third manuscript I've written, and the first I genuinely feel might be worth sending out to agents or publishers, and then I reread it and compare to other books already published, and my self confindence --- already a small thing --- just wanes. I just don't feel smart enough or skilled enough to have written a novel. I get like this even with blog posts. Am I really even smart enough to have blog?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21997604.post-39845425629525976402008-06-26T10:09:00.000-07:002008-06-26T10:09:00.000-07:00It is the weather. REALLY. TRULY. 50 degree mor...It is the weather. REALLY. TRULY. 50 degree mornings, with a chance of rain and clouds all day does not make for an inspirational June. I,too, in the depths of this NW despair prepared to abandon all my writing yesterday. It was clearly too challenging for me, the plot MUCH beyond my intellect, and I was only going to write an unworthy piece of fluff. Oh, but the light (albeit grey light) of morning! My get-the-pollen-OFF-my-body morning shower showed me the way back into the MS. And it is supposed to be sunny and 80 degrees all weekend!<BR/><BR/>Live with the anger . . . great fodder for those angsty, moody characters.<BR/><BR/>So nice to know we are ALL insecure messes. I like the idea of a literary therapist . . .Elise Murphyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14205799699628024211noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21997604.post-66277849056248741212008-06-26T01:11:00.000-07:002008-06-26T01:11:00.000-07:00I guess you need to "let it go" for a moment (like...I guess you need to "let it go" for a moment (like do a real hike or go swimming -a pool will do) and then come back refreshed and calmer.<BR/><BR/>All the stories will continue be written "inside" like sleeping there and then will go out more "happily" <BR/><BR/>I haven't written books but scientific papers and I tell you it is the same frustration at some point....without the fun of reading it later and enjoying it... <BR/><BR/>Your "technique" may be developed (skills you say you don't have) but without your creativity you would not be writing those wonderful books.Catalinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00477230079178796682noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21997604.post-52485025971083312982008-06-25T13:45:00.000-07:002008-06-25T13:45:00.000-07:00It's the reason I have never finished anything - I...It's the reason I have never finished anything - I feel too dumb to continue with it, no matter how much I love the story idea. It's my biggest stumbling block and I hate it.<BR/><BR/>I need a literary therapist!Heatherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09492950209121399762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21997604.post-9888318026448226982008-06-25T11:50:00.000-07:002008-06-25T11:50:00.000-07:00Alexandra-- LMAO! So something I would say to my b...Alexandra-- LMAO! So something I would say to my bff. haha<BR/><BR/>Laini-- Thanks for always sharing the good and the evil. It makes the rest of us not feel so hopeless. If even you struggle, then we might not suck so much after all. :)<BR/><BR/>Ps: Georgie just went ape**** over the pink haired girls on your banner. "pink HAAAAIR, mommmy? Pink HAIR? Can I have PINK HAIR???" lol<BR/>:)Amberhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04680903854519503303noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21997604.post-30267808998612093192008-06-25T08:37:00.000-07:002008-06-25T08:37:00.000-07:00Fatty, you sooooooooo, so, SO don't need to worry ...Fatty, you sooooooooo, so, SO don't need to worry about this! You should have called me if this was of concern to you. Your writing is <B>SO</B> much smarter than you. Oh my gosh, sooooo much smarter.You tie your shoes together in the morning and then are flabbergasted as to why you can't walk right. You regularly bite into watermelons like apples and then punch them in anger for not being "biteable," as you say. No, Fatty, your writing runs LAPS around your "daily brain." fattyfattyfattyAlex Shttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02109059018269508607noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21997604.post-3245585136280634852008-06-25T08:20:00.000-07:002008-06-25T08:20:00.000-07:00I'm not a writer but I knew exactly what you meant...I'm not a writer but I knew exactly what you meant by having an idea drifting for a while and then it collides with another idea and that's when I begin to have an art anxiety attack. It happened to me this morning and now I can not concentrate on real work (insurance of all things). I enjoy your post.Sharon Tomlinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07502692144363548970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21997604.post-13395575559343362542008-06-24T17:53:00.000-07:002008-06-24T17:53:00.000-07:00Toni Morrison has admitted when she sees her books...Toni Morrison has admitted when she sees her books in a bookstore she wants to open each one and mark it up. Not sure if that's encouraging or discouraging! Maybe it just says even the perfect writers among us consider themselves imperfect. Allow your writing to be imperfect, too. Just allowing it to exist is a huge leap of faith. Hugs from Denver, K.Sustenance Scouthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12980573661955592633noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21997604.post-43619447074816692032008-06-24T17:23:00.000-07:002008-06-24T17:23:00.000-07:00One of my favorite songwriters is Robert Pollard f...One of my favorite songwriters is Robert Pollard from the group Guided by Voices. He's notorious for just blasting out songs by the hundreds and recording them as quickly as possible. Some sound rough and unfinished, some are "half an idea", and some are truly amazing masterpieces. When he's tried to create more polished sounding records, they just haven't worked as well (at least for me).<BR/><BR/>There's something to be said for raw spontaneity. Just for fun, next time you get that great idea in the shower, dry off, put on some Guided by Voices and just bang it out on the computer. You might strike gold.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21997604.post-90575019552292038842008-06-24T13:59:00.000-07:002008-06-24T13:59:00.000-07:00I have no idea what you are talking about.I am Ver...I have no idea what you are talking about.<BR/><BR/>I am Very Smart and write Perfect First Drafts with Ease and Enjoyment.<BR/><BR/>(HA HA HA HA HA!!)<BR/><BR/>Love this bit: "and then decide I need to learn ancient Greek in order to do it justice..." YES!! Sob! Oh my god, yes!Stephanie Perkinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01327218987542530574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21997604.post-47046966490367836362008-06-24T13:18:00.000-07:002008-06-24T13:18:00.000-07:00Hey, Laini. I tear my hair out too, and it's not n...Hey, Laini. I tear my hair out too, and it's not nearly as cute as yours.<BR/><BR/>The quote came to me via Kelly Fineman's weekly <A HREF="http://kellyrfineman.livejournal.com/311810.html" REL="nofollow">Quoteskimming</A>. From Barb Daniels, in a workshop Kelly attended, I believe. <BR/><BR/>Strive on. Let there be soup. Yummy, yummy lentil soup.Sarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12225998457253574928noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21997604.post-60202348109118182622008-06-24T12:14:00.000-07:002008-06-24T12:14:00.000-07:00*sends virtual chocolate*I'm sure you can work it ...*sends virtual chocolate*<BR/><BR/>I'm sure you can work it out. Even though I totally know what you mean. You're not sure whether or not it's actually good as it is or whether you should change it and maybe adding that paragraph here makes sense but shouldn't that scene over there go right HERE and wait I just FORGOT THAT SUBPLOT oh no how am I going to fix this???Qhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08756447854917857756noreply@blogger.com