tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5779183012658025206.post8927499650352961397..comments2024-03-09T02:15:11.120-08:00Comments on Eric W. Trant: Some Random ThoughtsEric W. Tranthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13842968931062056407noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5779183012658025206.post-12509708870088920282010-08-02T12:44:54.373-07:002010-08-02T12:44:54.373-07:00Why do you skip rants? Sometimes those are a blogg...Why do you skip rants? Sometimes those are a blogger's best posts. I enjoyed yours, although the Death Scene Blogfest was even more interesting. I burst out laughing when I read the P.S.Patricia Stolteyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17192369425956406122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5779183012658025206.post-37900823568694091022010-07-14T17:58:30.063-07:002010-07-14T17:58:30.063-07:00We seem to be going through the same thing. Today,...We seem to be going through the same thing. Today, my WIP sent me in another direction. I did not want to go there! If I do, too much has to be revised. So, I printed up what I have, and shoved IT into a cave. I'm going to work on some other things and when I pull it out again, hopefully I'll know which way to go.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5779183012658025206.post-3514855075199454602010-07-14T11:15:46.896-07:002010-07-14T11:15:46.896-07:00Eric, I have too many rants to share, but I think ...Eric, I have too many rants to share, but I think most of your rant applies to the rest of us at some point or another. Ranting is okay, let's say it together now, "ranting is okay!" That's the spirit.About Mehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10011023963327391019noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5779183012658025206.post-15848002492553545952010-07-14T09:01:40.209-07:002010-07-14T09:01:40.209-07:00Nah, no rant here. I'm kinda out of rants at t...Nah, no rant here. I'm kinda out of rants at the moment. And everything I've touched recently in terms of writing seems kinda dead, and the voices are quiet, so no worries there. I'm thinking I'll just hang out in my own little corner and enjoy the solitude.sarahjayne smythehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02589820347348973092noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5779183012658025206.post-32187265593348396882010-07-14T08:25:54.116-07:002010-07-14T08:25:54.116-07:00Christine: What a great experiment on the NB site!...Christine: What a great experiment on the NB site! I will say this: The critiques I've gotten online, what few I've solicited, were far more brutal than I've received from professional editors.<br /><br />The thing is that readers forgive things like head-skipping POV. I just finished a Robert McCammon book full of head-skipping, and am reading Neil Gaiman's <i>Anansi Boys</i>. Mr. Gaiman skips and skips and skips. He summarizes, slips into narrative omni, into one character, omni, another character, and then BAM! he shuts that chapter with an omni story-time about Anansi the Spider.<br /><br />It's wonderful stuff and not the least bit confusing. His online crit group might've strung up and skinned him for it.<br /><br />Indeed, your fellow writers -- and yea verily, your inner voice -- are by far your worst critics.<br /><br /> - EricEric W. Tranthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13842968931062056407noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5779183012658025206.post-15990671806509167192010-07-14T07:41:28.452-07:002010-07-14T07:41:28.452-07:00Correction: the queries were submitted by people p...Correction: the queries were submitted by people participating in the contest, with a few from the slushpile and a few that had actually been chosen by real agents for publication. The goal of the contest was to pick the "real life winners" from the hundreds of other entries.Nighfalahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01745824744507928211noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5779183012658025206.post-26675745628161968912010-07-14T07:40:19.767-07:002010-07-14T07:40:19.767-07:00Hey, Eric... I think I'm like you in that I ne...Hey, Eric... I think I'm like you in that I need a cool idea, but not too constricted. I'm trying to suppress my internal critic and just write. I also look back at things I've changed and think perhaps I shouldn't have changed them.<br /><br />I recall a contest on Nathan Bransford's blog where everyone was asked to be an agent for a day and respond to queries he put up from his slushpile. It was very eye-opening. The conclusion, after all the results were in, was that writers are much harder on each other than agents are on them.<br /><br />Contrary to popular belief.Nighfalahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01745824744507928211noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5779183012658025206.post-43204512632401278232010-07-14T07:13:22.032-07:002010-07-14T07:13:22.032-07:00Cat: I feel you. Blogging and over-thinking has a ...Cat: I feel you. Blogging and over-thinking has a way of stifling my creativity. It's so addictive, though!<br /><br />Donna: Perzactly what you said. A "what-if" thinker. That's me. I constantly think "what if" as I'm writing. If I like the answer, off I go in that direction. It's half proactive and half reactive. Thanks for the encouragement!<br /><br />Olivia: I've been holding off on the blogging a bit. I got carried away with it. I'll still post, but probably not as voraciously. I have a close-knit group of friends I like to visit, now, so it makes it easier to get to the blogs you feel are meaningful to you both personally and professionally.<br /><br />Raquel: This is why you are my sworn nemesis. You are my polar opposite. Not really, but it's a funny thought to go thinking.<br /><br /> - EricEric W. Tranthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13842968931062056407noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5779183012658025206.post-79749469423127037722010-07-13T21:15:05.635-07:002010-07-13T21:15:05.635-07:00Uh oh, I'm starting to feel self conscious now...Uh oh, I'm starting to feel self conscious now. Maybe I don't analyze enough? <br /><br />I get the feeling I have the opposite problem...hmmm.Raquel Byrneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12870113745683162915noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5779183012658025206.post-18674567715043725762010-07-13T19:31:47.141-07:002010-07-13T19:31:47.141-07:00Eric, I LOVE your writing. If you need to do it in...Eric, I LOVE your writing. If you need to do it in a cave, hey man, go for it! Just stick your head out every now and then so we know you're alive.<br /><br />I could've SWORN when you came back from that brink-of-death camping trip you were done with revise-as-you-go writing. What happened?? (asked the woman whose slammed against the wall again...)<br /><br />Chill dude. Write your way. If you don't, who will? No one. No one else can.<br /><br />BTW, no one's getting their pretty hands on my ms till it's done, done I tell you!<br /><br />~<a href="http://www.thatrebelwithablog.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow">Olivia</a>Olivia J. Herrell, writing as O.J. Barréhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01107021392937169669noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5779183012658025206.post-78436820188496110972010-07-13T19:17:07.689-07:002010-07-13T19:17:07.689-07:00I've been on a personal rant for weeks now Eri...I've been on a personal rant for weeks now Eric. At least it seems that way. Its summer; what do you expect? We're all a little cranky.<br /><br />I've sort of been having the same issue, though. Dragging my WIP out for others to crit as I work along just isn't working well for me. Don't get me wrong, I love my writers group, -they've really been a big help in developing my writing - but I just can't seem to write anything knowing I need to share it before the idea is fully crafted.<br /><br />Maybe I'm just stubborn; but I don't want to listen to anybody else's style preferences - yet. I don't want to think about the rules at all until its been revised and edited at least three times by me alone.<br /><br />Does that sound like where you're coming from? I like the idea of hiding in a cave with the worms and letting them crawl around my brain for a while. I pretty much wrote my first novel that way - not as pantser or plotter, just a "what if" thinker.<br /><br />Perhaps you are over-analyzing. Don't change things just to satisfy some rule - unless its a rule you want to follow. I enjoy your writings. I'd be willing to bet you a Texas Steak you'll go straight to best seller list with your first published novel.<br /><br />Roll over Stephen King; Eric Trant is on his way. :)dolorahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08715849844092553699noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5779183012658025206.post-77935502661330396212010-07-13T18:13:17.273-07:002010-07-13T18:13:17.273-07:00I have a manuscript in ICU right now from over-ana...I have a manuscript in ICU right now from over-analyzing and over-editing. <br /><br />I'm not quite ready for a funeral yet, but I fear that if I dare to tinker with it even a little, it won't be strong enough to survive the airlift. <br /><br />And yet, I'm not sure if it's worth trying CPR...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5779183012658025206.post-65238075909578817122010-07-13T17:17:09.229-07:002010-07-13T17:17:09.229-07:00Diane: Glad to help. It's always nice to look ...Diane: Glad to help. It's always nice to look around and someone else is more miserable than you. ;)<br /><br />Jemi: Over-editing, no doubt about it. For me, it's a process. I invent all these new curse words and them blammo! Out comes the best one yet and it's the one I stick with.<br /><br />Hannah: Practice makes permanent (not perfect). That's a golf saying. Be careful how you practice. I think I've been practicing a-wrong and it's throwing off my game, hard. This blogging and over-thinking sure hasn't helped!<br /><br />Tracy: I miss my cave. I think I've discovered this year, in 2010, after writing in the cave for ~20 years, that I'm no good in the light. I have to hand over a finished piece. I'm just one of those types.<br /><br />As for your rant, ditto verbatim. My old boss was like that. He wound up doing a lot of his own actions himself b/c I'd just up and say, "Have at," and drop the project.<br /><br />I mean, he's just a boss, right.<br /><br /> - EricEric W. Tranthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13842968931062056407noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5779183012658025206.post-68138161802238378372010-07-13T16:46:48.051-07:002010-07-13T16:46:48.051-07:00Yeah... I do the same thing. Over-analyze, over-an...Yeah... I do the same thing. Over-analyze, over-analyze... I even physically over-water my plants. I just can't let it go and trust in myself...<br /><br />This isn't to say your piece is killed and dead and gone. I don't think there's anything that can't be resurrected (hey, we've all seen Pet Cemetery). <br /><br />Sometimes I think it is better though, to stay in that cave until we're damn sure, and then we don't let anyone else influence us too heavily. <br /><br />Best of luck - I'm sure your piece will turn out fine if you set it aside for a few days/weeks. I wouldn't worry too much :)<br /><br />PS my current rant in life has nothing to do with yours, but it's about people who refuse to do things themselves but insist on telling others how to do it and then watching over and micro-managing. Drives.Me.Insane. Either do it yourself or leave me the hell alone! ;)Phoenixhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07477498671080132176noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5779183012658025206.post-89883129885546654932010-07-13T15:26:16.590-07:002010-07-13T15:26:16.590-07:00wow, way to stress me out. I think I do the same t...wow, way to stress me out. I think I do the same things when writing therefore I edit poorly. I'm getting better though. Practice practice practice...but hopefully only 15 times and not 18. :PHannahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16915603693944523761noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5779183012658025206.post-29780148872517257352010-07-13T15:06:17.111-07:002010-07-13T15:06:17.111-07:00I agree with Diane! :)
I do worry that over-editi...I agree with Diane! :)<br /><br />I do worry that over-editing takes the voice out of my work though. It's always so hard to tell.Jemi Fraserhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02214408467456320167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5779183012658025206.post-70820839250512242362010-07-13T13:49:19.988-07:002010-07-13T13:49:19.988-07:00No, actually I feel pretty stress free after readi...No, actually I feel pretty stress free after reading yours - LOL!L. Diane Wolfehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06425864276166334896noreply@blogger.com