tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-551608342749773751.post7463051019458299880..comments2024-03-08T20:41:23.825-08:00Comments on Author Heather McCorkle: Painful LevelsHeatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05130733681254163610noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-551608342749773751.post-60035384872250365242010-03-11T12:20:51.886-08:002010-03-11T12:20:51.886-08:00It really is a path without an end. I like what yo...It really is a path without an end. I like what you said about your response to your old boss though, how it struck you. That's a great point, we need to ask ourselves, beyond improvement, what else do we want out of our writing?Heatherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05130733681254163610noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-551608342749773751.post-75285439441279251412010-03-10T17:09:31.494-08:002010-03-10T17:09:31.494-08:00This is so true! And eventually it gets easier to ...This is so true! And eventually it gets easier to look at critiques as the tool to a better manuscript. It reminds me of a conversation I once had with my editor/boss at the publishing company I used to work at. She asked me what my goals were. I said I wanted to be a better editor. She said, "We all do. Every editor is learning every day, every year. That should always be one of your goals, but what *else* do you want to do?" That really struck me. even the editors I admired were still learning. It's a path without an end, isn't it?Portiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13435815819572442582noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-551608342749773751.post-66116616451955379732010-03-10T11:19:31.176-08:002010-03-10T11:19:31.176-08:00I did the same thing Samantha! Thought my first cr...I did the same thing Samantha! Thought my first critique was from a NY Times bestselling author. I thought, he doesn't write my genre, he doesn't know. Turned out, he did and there was a LOT of room for improvement in my work. I never would have made that improvement if I wouldn't have moved beyond my ego and opened myself up to those wonderful critiques. When we raise our swords up they'll be unbreakable!Heatherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05130733681254163610noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-551608342749773751.post-13026823895593073602010-03-10T11:16:14.436-08:002010-03-10T11:16:14.436-08:00I know huh Karlene? I thought my writing was fine ...I know huh Karlene? I thought my writing was fine until I attended that first retreat. What an eye opener!Heatherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05130733681254163610noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-551608342749773751.post-56527379259080321132010-03-10T11:07:19.257-08:002010-03-10T11:07:19.257-08:00Yup, I still remember coming home from my first cr...Yup, I still remember coming home from my first critique. Talk about deflated. I pouted, poured over my manuscript, and declared my critique group incompetent. Then I got over myself. Like you said, constructive criticism is crucial. I want my sword to hold up!Samantha Bennetthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15712749844855298929noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-551608342749773751.post-13897043766174984892010-03-10T09:32:00.152-08:002010-03-10T09:32:00.152-08:00This is absolutely true! I cannot emphasis the im...This is absolutely true! I cannot emphasis the importance of a conference, and a retreat, to take your writing to the next level. <br /><br />When we met at the Hawaii writers retreat, my first thought was, “holy cow, I know nothing!” Yet, before I attended, I too thought I could get my novel published, no problem. And then, after a week with you, our co-retreaters, and William Bernhardt as my guiding star, I realized that I could learn this.<br /><br />I left the retreat and the conference with the realization, and confidence that I will get published. Not because I have great ideas and could write… the first part of that equation is true, I do have great ideas, but the second part was only true if the writing was technical, and or academic in nature. <br /><br />The retreat taught me what I needed to know, but never knew that I needed to know it, and would not have known, had I not attended. And then, working with you and our scribe sisters, has opened my eyes to how beneficial working together is to improvement. <br /><br />Critiques are wonderful. Discussions are better. If you are open to discuss and listen and work with others… everybody wins. We all learn from each other. Heather, when I say I am going to be published, I have no doubt I will. But it will be attributed to my foundation with William Bernhardt at the retreat, and the work that I am doing with you and the scribes. http://scribesisters.blogspot.com/ <br /><br />Everyone who desires to become published must be a retreater and conference addict!Karlene Petitthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17910702587514001827noreply@blogger.com