tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2300387287801526070.post6310702098874186687..comments2023-05-30T20:44:13.731+09:30Comments on Musings of an Aussie Writer: QueryBThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15170193722932454605noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2300387287801526070.post-659475521187307062009-06-19T17:32:58.860+09:302009-06-19T17:32:58.860+09:30I've junked more stories than I've ever ad...I've junked more stories than I've ever admitted to writing. Sometimes, you have to dump 'em in order to move in a progressive way.<br /><br />And sometimes, stories are worth putting an extra effort into. If there is any inkling that you may want to develop it later on, save it in a separate folder, and don't delete.<br /><br />Now how's that for wishy-washy? LOL ;)Jodi Lee (Morrighan)https://www.blogger.com/profile/11255981908084653157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2300387287801526070.post-62667673985186364712009-06-19T09:28:55.114+09:302009-06-19T09:28:55.114+09:30When I first absorbed this advice, I felt exactly ...When I first absorbed this advice, I felt exactly the same way :-)<br /><br />"Are you SERIOUS?" I said. "I'm a genius, and the world needs to see my stories NOW."<br /><br />blah blah hubris etc :-)<br /><br />But once I started sitting on pieces for a while, I found it easier to find homes for them. Distance and perspective are absolutely essential to a good edit.<br /Jason Fischerhttp://jasonfischer.livejournal.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2300387287801526070.post-20120611219113609302009-06-18T22:53:03.515+09:302009-06-18T22:53:03.515+09:30It's probably not as bad as you think. You mig...It's probably not as bad as you think. You might set it aside for a while until you've got some time to look it over without a specific market in mind. At that point, you can revise it if you think it's worth the effort. But I don't think you did the wrong thing at all; if you're not happy with the story, there's no point in sending it out anyway.K.C. Shawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12467201304235217944noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2300387287801526070.post-66154727904490639872009-06-18T18:51:32.425+09:302009-06-18T18:51:32.425+09:30Jamie - If I love the work (like Too late the rain...Jamie - If I love the work (like Too late the rain) I will persevere. It's almost becoming a personal challenge with pieces like that. I know they're good, i just need to fin d the right home so everyone else can read it.<br /><br />Cate - their loss.<br /><br />katey - lazy and vain and very unprofessional.<br /><br />Nat - I was writing huge chunks of it and that led to a need to BThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15170193722932454605noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2300387287801526070.post-67352124476516529122009-06-18T10:55:47.857+09:302009-06-18T10:55:47.857+09:30For what it's worth, you did the right thing. ...For what it's worth, you did the right thing. If you consider a piece to be substandard, you should either fix it or trunk it. <br /><br />The best advice I was ever given was this: sit on a first draft of a short story for at least 3-6 months before polishing it and getting it ready to submit. This will give you a proper perspective on the piece, dilute the fragile artiste ego we all Jason Fischerhttp://jasonfischer.livejournal.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2300387287801526070.post-56143157052414745762009-06-18T08:05:43.464+09:302009-06-18T08:05:43.464+09:30I go with my gut feeling and if its not sitting ri...I go with my gut feeling and if its not sitting right, its not sitting right.Danielle Birchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11796467053451208102noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2300387287801526070.post-6288533633824773332009-06-18T02:54:09.932+09:302009-06-18T02:54:09.932+09:30Not nuts at all. Although there might still be a f...Not nuts at all. Although there might still be a few salvageable bits... I think there's something in every story that's worth saving.Carrie Harrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14893023777471521703noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2300387287801526070.post-41851174580326399042009-06-18T02:49:53.478+09:302009-06-18T02:49:53.478+09:30Having not read the story, I can't say. For me...Having not read the story, I can't say. For me, a story has to be a dead end before I'll retire it. Or so much time/attention to fix that its not practical to do so.Fox Leehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05487359877190292039noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2300387287801526070.post-72661639816527738922009-06-18T02:13:54.888+09:302009-06-18T02:13:54.888+09:30For what my opinion is worth, I think you did the ...For what my opinion is worth, I think you did the right thing. Resubmitting because something wasn't right for a given market is one thing. Shopping around something you don't think is up to snuff is... I'm not sure if it's lazy or vain. Burt it's not good! <br /><br />Well done!Kateyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05727622678452936037noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2300387287801526070.post-8404257833290483982009-06-18T01:52:30.856+09:302009-06-18T01:52:30.856+09:30I queried 'The New Yorker' this week - the...I queried 'The New Yorker' this week - they've probably deleted me.Cate Gardnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05634397106201021055noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2300387287801526070.post-22791753608283387772009-06-18T00:05:15.087+09:302009-06-18T00:05:15.087+09:30Not harsh at all. the subjectivity of ones own wo...Not harsh at all. the subjectivity of ones own work is very important to the submission process. However, some works that I loved immensely have had horrid times finding a place to live and those I thought were technically okay, but only okay stories, had no problem finding a home. Go figure. Sometimes we are our own worst critic.Jamie Eyberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05875759697016701358noreply@blogger.com