Friday, June 15, 2012

The Most Interesting Thing: Even the Best Among Us Struggle


Have you read these books? Despite the fact they are neither contemporary nor historical realistic fiction, I devoured them. Before I dove into Bitterblue this past weekend, I'd read this PW article about Kristin Cashore's three year struggle to get the first draft written and the subsequent feedback she received from her editor.

This particular "birthing a book" story made the struggle I'm having with my WIPs pale in comparison. People always say that being published doesn't make things any easier and this tale of woe exemplifies that truth. But in the end, persistence paid off. And so I persist. Will you?

Are you struggling with your writing? Take courage. Even the best among us struggle. Don't give up!

32 comments:

  1. I haven't read Bitterblue yet, but those first two.....oh yum, yum, yummy. I also read that story about her drafts and how long it took her to get to the story. It is hopeful. It takes a village to make perfection.

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    1. And in my case, a steady supply of Pepto-Bismol.

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  2. No, I haven't read them yet. Why? I'm not sure! Look forward to reading the PW article about Cashhore. I could use the encouraging words at the moment. Thanks for the nudge, I've been meaning to pick Graceling up.

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  3. Thank you, Angelina.

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  4. That's where I am right now. Slugging through. Got feedback from my agent, and I'm tearing down, rebuilding, and pumping it up. I guess I don't feel quite so bad that I've been at this over a year now. (nearly 2). I need to get these off my "to-be-read" list! Thanks, Angelina!

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    1. It's comforting to be living parallel writing lives, Mary Ann. Thanks for all your encouragement.

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  5. I just finished Graceling and am waiting on the other two from the library. I am unabashedly in love with Po. :)

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  6. I so need to read this series. Comforting to know that even authors who've made it have to work their tushies off.

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    1. Talent + really hard work= success, right?

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  7. I'm not a fan of the Graceling series (I know! Shock and horror!) but I get the struggle. Right now, the struggle is with revisions. Making a few little fixes early in Part One has led to ripples and even waves for Part Two. And it's got me frozen like a deer caught in headlights. It could just be exhaustion and the end of the week ... and I'm about to tackle it with a rant soon. (Yes, sometimes anger *is* the solution. When I'm ranting to myself. In a blank Word document. Yes, I *am* silly like that.) I can do this. Technically, I've been working on this story since November 2005 (though it mostly got a respite for a little while). I am *going* to get this right.

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    1. Sometimes when we're exhausted it's good to step away and clear our heads for a bit. I love the rant idea. ^_^

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  8. Thanks for the link -- heading over to check it out. I could definitely use a persistence-paying-off story right about now....

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    1. I think a lot of us are there right now. . .

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  9. I love that series! I haven't read BitterBlue yet, but it's on my must-read list! I'm close to finishing my first draft of my first manuscript, so it's good to see all the possibilites and challenges ahead. It doesn't really scare me, but it is helpful to have a more realistic perspective before I jump in. Perhaps that will help with the 'just keep swimming' thing necessary to actually get published... Thanks for sharing!

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    1. You're welcome and congratulations on getting close. Can't wait to hear when you've reached THE END. I appreciate your level-headed approach. It will serve you well. ^_^

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  10. That's one of my favorite Fantasy trilogies of all-time. :)

    Thanks for the link!

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  11. Thanks so much for the Monday morning inspiration! Back into the fray!

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  12. Thanks for this encouragement, Angelina. I'm clicking over to read Kristin's story now.

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  13. I love those persistence pays off stories.

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  14. I read Graceling and totally loved it. I haven't read the others yet. I think every piece I write is a struggle, but it always pays off if I don't give up.

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  15. What a great story! Thank you so much for sharing this! (Wow, I can't imagine writing a 800 page novel!)

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  16. Thanks, Angelina! Your encouragement, blog-buckshot though it may be, hit me right where it counts. I needed that :D *Hus*

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