The Sweet Escape - Latest Comments

Re: Writing Wednesday – the invisible brick wall and the confidence suck

Sarah Allen — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 13:12:38 -0000

I've just finished my first novel, and now I'm all bleh and meh about both it and the second one I should be brainstorming. No motivation or ideas. Well, very little. But you're right, just keep going, right?
Sarah Allen: http://fromsarahwithjoy.blogsp...

Re: Writing Wednesday – the invisible brick wall and the confidence suck

Melinda Jones — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 19:21:47 -0000

Thank you do much for your comment!!! It was great advice that I will heed!

Re: Writing Wednesday – the invisible brick wall and the confidence suck

Nick Rolynd — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 19:10:20 -0000

At least you've written something down. I've gone back and forth between three different stories and still haven't starting writing one. Wrote all 3 first chapters and prologues on my blog to try and help me decide. That only made it worse.

If you're really burned out, try writing something else in between writing sessions of this particular story. Preferably short work. Try poetry or short stories or flash fiction. Things that don't take up much of your time but keep you writing and keep your brain from focusing too much on one thing.

I personally have a HUGE problem when it comes to burning out my interests. I get really into something, do everything possible with it in the shortest amount of time, and then end up completely indifferent about it in the end. Well, there's one more dropped story....

So, moral of this comment: don't be me. Write shorter work to keep yourself fresh and thinking. (Doesn't even have to be fiction, really. Could be blog posts. Anything!) And, by the way, it's OKAY to take breaks. It's actually quite good for you AND the work most of the time. If you take a break and come back to something later, you can usually look at it from a new perspective, which will help you come up with new ideas.

Okay, I'm done now. I promise.

- Nick

Re: Writing Wednesday- On Writing & Tools of the Trade

Stephanie Haefner — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 09:38:27 -0000

I can't live without the internet!!! LOL! It's an invaluable tool for writing. Anything I want to know is right at my finger tips. And I'm pretty attached to my smartphone (I have a Droid).

Re: Writing Wednesday- On Writing & Tools of the Trade

Melinda Jones — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 12:43:28 -0000

Not at all! In not a note-taker, so it took me awhile to get into it. I had to find a way to make it work for me.

Re: Writing Wednesday- On Writing & Tools of the Trade

Sarah Allen — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 12:32:51 -0000

It's probably ridiculous, but I'm not familiar with Evernote. Looks like something I need to look in to :)
Sarah Allen: http://fromsarahwithjoy.blogsp...

Re: You know you’ll never love that way again…

Sarah Allen — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 13:00:15 -0000

She will be missed, that's for sure. One of the truly great voices of our time.
Sarah Allen: http://fromsarahwithjoy.blogsp...

Re: Monday Morning Warm-Up: This Weekend….

Melinda Jones — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 09:38:39 -0000

Sounds like an excellent weekend!

Re: Monday Morning Warm-Up: This Weekend….

Eric — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 09:36:30 -0000

8000 words! Whoa. I gotta quit slacking. I did my first 6 Sentence Sunday and loved it. I queried a total stranger librarian and her son about YA reading habits and preferences. I nearly decided the "short story" I've begun will probably become a novella instead. And I made Tikka Masala with lamb, andoullie sausage, and ground pork :-)

Re: #FridayReads, the OMG YOU READ A LOT edition

Satia Renee — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 14:25:42 -0000

Have you considered picking up a graphic memoir? I've read some really wonderful ones and am amazed with how well some people have managed to tell their personal stories in a medium that is traditionally not taken seriously. I can't say that these are light reading but you can easily knock one out in a couple of hours and get back to Steinbeck. I recently reviewed one in my blog.

http://satiasreviews.blogspot....

I also reviewed the sequel and I recommend you just go ahead and grab both because you'll want to read them together. I also recommend:

Stitches by David Small for its surreal imagery and powerful story telling.
http://satia.blogspot.com/2009...

and

Funhome by Alison Bechdel a wonderfully literary and strong story about a young woman's grief and discovery.

Re: That “OMG! THIS!!!” Moment

Melinda Jones — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 20:58:50 -0000

HA!! Yes, that's so normal! As is talking out scenes while I'm in the car and yelling, PEN! PEN! when I get an idea I KNOW I won't remember later and have to write it down.

I promise you're only a little schizophrenic.

Re: That “OMG! THIS!!!” Moment

LizzB — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 20:56:34 -0000

I can't wait to look at this survey doo-hickey. I have 3 characters running around in my head. Good grief. Sometimes they are loud. I have even had DREAMS about them. Is that normal? I don't write fiction (as you know) so these people coming to me, naming themselves, revealing glimpses of their lives without solicitation is weirding me out. Maybe it's not a novel. Maybe I'm schizophrenic.

Re: The Backup Plan

LizzB — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 20:50:28 -0000

I don't know about self publishing. I think that it's sort of like low cal/low fat/low carb ice cream. It's not what you really want and isn't nearly as satisfying. I don't have a Plan A, let alone a Plan B. Or maybe I'm ignoring my Plan A and Playing around in my Plan B.

Re: That “OMG! THIS!!!” Moment

Manon Eileen — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 11:00:34 -0000

I'm so glad you found my survey of use! :D Good luck and have fun with it!

Re: My Anti-Resolutions: The Search for Life After Planning

Melinda Jones — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 08:42:14 -0000

*Waves* Hi LizzB! Welcome back to the blogosphere!

Re: My Anti-Resolutions: The Search for Life After Planning

LizzB — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 00:46:51 -0000

My resolutions also include NOT dieting. Nope. Not gon' do it. I love your list. It really struck a chord in me. Most of them I could have written. Read more. MOAR WRITING. I just published my first blog post in over a year. I need to not live in fear of failure too and just write to practice, to keep my mind moving, to stay high. Minor resolutions are to take my damn pills (since I'm 100 years old apparently), to buy 90% of my clothing and accessories second hand, and there was another one but I can't remember :/ I bet it was the most life-changing one though.

Re: Happy Holidays!

Sarah Allen — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 14:23:15 -0000

Thanks so much! Hope you had as wonderful a Christmas as I did :)
Sarah Allen: http://fromsarahwithjoy.blogsp...

Re: Snip! It’s Sunday! 11/20

Melinda Jones — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 22:22:03 -0000

So sorry for the late reply! Thanks for the comment. It's much different than I am used to writing and slowly coming together, but it's fun!

Re: 30 Days of Books – Day 12: A Book I used to love

Melinda Jones — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 13:07:37 -0000

BECKY!!!
On Nov 25, 2011 9:11 AM, "Disqus" <>

Re: 30 Days of Books – Day 12: A Book I used to love

Becky Abbott Miller — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 09:11:17 -0000

I just read a JP book, Salem Falls (then watched the horrendous Lifetime Movie!) and now I'm reading Handle With Care. She's not my favorite, and I can't even say that I like her, but I keep reading anyway. I hate how the POV jumps around and around to every character in the book and of course, there's the dead kid thing. But, I did like The Pact. I'm sure Lifetime screwed up that movie, too.

Re: 30 Days of Books – Day 12: A Book I used to love

Melinda Jones — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 17:41:46 -0000

I have actually never read the book, nor have I seen more than a few minutes of the film. I'm sure I'll be flogged any moment now, but I'll plead that I'm not originally from the south, therefore it's not a requirement, LOL!

Re: 30 Days of Books – Day 12: A Book I used to love

Satia — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 14:39:54 -0000

I recently reread Gone With the Wind and I was so heartbroken because I had loved this novel but, upon rereading it, I found myself disgusted. Rhett Butler, far from being a romantic hero, is anything but and while I could tolerate the over racism of the characters (which, contextually, makes perfect sense) it was the racism in the exposition of Mitchell, herself, that made me cringe.

I don't even think I can watch the movie now as a result.

Re: Snip! It’s Sunday! 11/20

Roni Loren — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 11:48:01 -0000

Sounds like a great start to a story. I love stories about musicians. : )

Re: Greetings from my bed…

Brazz — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 13:21:08 -0000

Rest up and ingest lots of garlicky, soupy things. Sounds like a long date with the Nook :-) Get better, then write.

Re: Rooted Nook Color- I feel like it’s brand new again!

Sarah Allen — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 11:59:21 -0000

Ooh, that sounds fun :) I need to use my kindle more...

Sarah Allen: http://fromsarahwithjoy.blogsp...