tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post6415955596136896373..comments2024-03-17T07:55:51.361+00:00Comments on Help! I Need a Publisher!: SHORT STORIES - READ & LEARNNicola Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12189894289540344094noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-23140527523885907142009-11-30T20:51:04.116+00:002009-11-30T20:51:04.116+00:00Thanks for pointing your esteemed readers to Sally...Thanks for pointing your esteemed readers to Sally's blog post - its a r eally interesting exercise. A great thing as a writer to sit back and watch a piece of work out there, out of my control... and hearing reactions to it. fascinating.<br /><br />Re the reading as a necessity thing - can I add something? I agree 100%. To write, you must read. But for me (she said in a small voice) it'Vanessa Gebbiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00833187671441310234noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-89738196125280313182009-11-30T18:11:00.394+00:002009-11-30T18:11:00.394+00:00I'm also excited to see your post coming up, N...I'm also excited to see your post coming up, Nicola :). <br /><br />Thank you for the comments on reading contemporary short stories widely before trying to send a few out. I have to admit, I haven't done this as much as I should. I'm a huge fan of Ray Bradbury, but his stories are somewhat less than recent at this point... so yeah. Point well taken!Rebecca Knighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15214077952378770753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-73342590878700124332009-11-30T14:20:36.670+00:002009-11-30T14:20:36.670+00:00I've not doubt it will, Nicola. Crabbit old ba...I've not doubt it will, Nicola. Crabbit old bats tend to be rather persuasive:)Administratorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13894920115299109640noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-1386388625497797362009-11-30T11:40:09.982+00:002009-11-30T11:40:09.982+00:00Samantha - no, I'm abs sure not you, but som...Samantha - no, I'm abs sure not you, but some people who I come across who don't think necessary to read in genre. Sorry, v difficult to comment properly and hold everyone's comments in my head while on mobile device. Please be assured that I know and respect you well enough to assume you wouldn't be in that category.Didn't intend to imply otherwise. Will answer properly Nicola Morganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12189894289540344094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-32615545563313911532009-11-30T11:00:29.576+00:002009-11-30T11:00:29.576+00:00Arrogant? I hope not - that would assume i think s...Arrogant? I hope not - that would assume i think shifting genres and writing for young adults is easy, which i certainly don't.Administratorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13894920115299109640noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-71432361976053187382009-11-30T10:48:09.205+00:002009-11-30T10:48:09.205+00:00My mantle of niceness seems to have slipped. Apolo...My mantle of niceness seems to have slipped. Apologies.<br /><br />Nicola, what was the context of Rowling's remark?nonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00415222406280230021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-1023097267070445712009-11-30T09:32:10.182+00:002009-11-30T09:32:10.182+00:00Interesting debate to which I shall add my tuppenc...Interesting debate to which I shall add my tuppence worth.<br /><br />To the original point, I agree completely that if one is to write one must read. If one is to write YA, one must read YA. It is the most basic form of research. How else are you to understand what your readership appreciates?<br /><br />I am also in agreement with those who identify the short story as one of the harder forms toDOThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00719312854612984929noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-69131993019693890332009-11-29T23:55:55.060+00:002009-11-29T23:55:55.060+00:00No doubt, Donna, which--amazingly--is why I used t...No doubt, Donna, which--amazingly--is why I used the term 'core readership'.nonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00415222406280230021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-43834424656290012832009-11-29T23:08:56.092+00:002009-11-29T23:08:56.092+00:00Am back very briefly before going away again early...Am back very briefly before going away again early tomorrow. As I've said, i'll answer Samantha's question properly in a separate post but not for another week or so as I'm away for several days and then have some deadlines.<br /><br />Donna, the original post had no criticism of any published author and was not intended to start such a discussion about their merits.<br /><br />INicola Morganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12189894289540344094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-87725847669000382112009-11-29T11:34:05.704+00:002009-11-29T11:34:05.704+00:00Amanda - re-reading can itself be a joy.
I love...Amanda - re-reading can itself be a joy. <br /><br />I love to re-read old favourites and to find things in them that I missed first time out, or to recognise the significance of certain portions now that I know the ending...Catherine Hugheshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17540552933192453722noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-27231351858667943092009-11-29T10:59:17.697+00:002009-11-29T10:59:17.697+00:00I love reading, but keeping up to date with curren...I love reading, but keeping up to date with current books is increasingly difficult a) Finances (the world round can understand that one)<br />and b) Libraries in South Africa are really really old. The government doesn't give them a lot of funding and they can't afford to buy the new books.<br /><br />I find myself rereading the books in my shelves just to read something.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01140446303276064209noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-78514625631487705272009-11-29T04:04:11.609+00:002009-11-29T04:04:11.609+00:00Articulate post. It is a challenge to me as a Chi...Articulate post. It is a challenge to me as a Children's Librarian, writer and mother to keep up on current authors and writings in my field, but it's a necessary exercise all the same.<br /><br />As aspiring authors (namely me), writers cannot write in a bubble. Or, I suppose they can, but most likely to their detriment.<br /><br />{I'm going to visit the short story post now you *https://www.blogger.com/profile/06484208765656281917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-56646013455135197002009-11-28T23:31:07.430+00:002009-11-28T23:31:07.430+00:00Er, meant to say it's really *hard to comment*...Er, meant to say it's really *hard to comment* while away. <br /><br />People who write in any genre need to read and love the writing of that genre. Whether it's JKR or not is irrelevant but it must reflect the genre's intention and raisin d'ĂȘtre.Nicola Morganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12189894289540344094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-13820349427128853232009-11-28T23:26:27.840+00:002009-11-28T23:26:27.840+00:00Donna - JKR is a writer I hugely admire for many r...Donna - JKR is a writer I hugely admire for many reasons but she is not a YA author and doesn't claim to be! I have never criticised her! She is hugely widely read. I have some problems commenting while away and only with mobile phone so I need to check if one of my earlier comments didn't get through, but I had tried to emphasise that. You have missed my point - it was that a) because Nicola Morganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12189894289540344094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-50582875743833896172009-11-28T23:21:20.372+00:002009-11-28T23:21:20.372+00:00This comment has been removed by the author.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-91275072654289541362009-11-28T21:39:58.085+00:002009-11-28T21:39:58.085+00:00Donna, it is very difficult for any author to say ...Donna, it is very difficult for any author to say anything negative about a successful author because of that kind of comment. <br />People always seem to think it is a case of jealousy or you are bad-mouthing them just because they are successful. <br /><br />Writers are constantly reading and looking critically at their own and other writers' work, to make sure that what they write is goingLinda Strachanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04354324158228109351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-61176815623160323082009-11-28T20:24:21.559+00:002009-11-28T20:24:21.559+00:00Oh miaou! I really think that being able to write ...Oh miaou! I really think that being able to write good short stories is a very disciplined art indeed. I am always puzzled by the notion that you should begin to write by first writing short stories - because they are 'easier'. Easier?catdownunderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06959328192182156574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-3002146496233473162009-11-28T19:30:36.757+00:002009-11-28T19:30:36.757+00:00This comment has been removed by the author.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-80678380388960656482009-11-28T16:46:43.985+00:002009-11-28T16:46:43.985+00:00Not sure I'm that much of an expert, Nicola, ...Not sure I'm that much of an expert, Nicola, but thank you for linking to my blog. I'm delighted if I've encouraged others to 'discover' Vanessa for themselves. She is brilliant (and also works VERY hard at her craft.)<br /><br />I, too, have met people who say they want to write but don't read so have no idea where their writing fits. All I can say is that such people Sally Zigmondhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07520579251842006765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-31601313061711357492009-11-28T16:29:26.083+00:002009-11-28T16:29:26.083+00:00I think reading and writing go hand in hand. As f...I think reading and writing go hand in hand. As for YA stuff I admire... The Hunger Games. Speak. How to Take the Ex Out of Ex-boyfriend. Shiver. The Forest of Hands and Teeth. <br />I could go on and on, but I'll spare you!Bethany Wigginshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07345327120999157124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-26040358324581248032009-11-28T16:27:39.754+00:002009-11-28T16:27:39.754+00:00"First, nothing sensible or meaningful ever c..."First, nothing sensible or meaningful ever cones from using JK Rowling or Stephanie Meyer as an example."<br /><br />Amen to that.Jen Campbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14509363396300623342noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-34961012691780576042009-11-28T16:00:38.292+00:002009-11-28T16:00:38.292+00:00I am itching to do a long answer to all this and d...I am itching to do a long answer to all this and do a full post about it but have to wait till home. Bur two things: <br /><br />First, nothing sensible or meaningful ever cones from using jk Rowling or stephanie meyer as an example<br /><br />second, Jo Rowling is hugely widely read, including children's and fantasy. Her comment has been taken out of context.<br /><br />Let me tackle this Nicola Morganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12189894289540344094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-30073890028975318522009-11-28T15:14:07.558+00:002009-11-28T15:14:07.558+00:00No, Rowling isn't widely read--which is obviou...No, Rowling isn't widely read--which is obvious from her public statement that she 'didn't know' she was writing Fantasy, and of course from her books. Fortunately, her core readership isn't widely read, either.nonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00415222406280230021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-42816518737242480452009-11-28T13:31:01.598+00:002009-11-28T13:31:01.598+00:00I have to say, the idea of a writer not also being...I have to say, the idea of a writer not also being an avid reader strikes me as very odd. I've been devouring books since I read 'A Wrinkle in Time' as a five year old (I may have been a little younger - my mum taught me to read very early on and it quickly became clear that I couldn't get enough).<br /><br />I write for teenagers. Well, I think I do, but really, I just wrte Catherine Hugheshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17540552933192453722noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-30146509098235173792009-11-28T13:04:18.820+00:002009-11-28T13:04:18.820+00:00Great post! Short story writing is what I am doing...Great post! Short story writing is what I am doing right now and your advice and link is appreciated.Marisa Birnshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17945909737147497606noreply@blogger.com