tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092805684169371138.post8443153894861474760..comments2023-08-27T04:22:55.468-07:00Comments on The Literary Lab: When Do You Let Go of a Story?Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092805684169371138.post-30249728820520053122012-03-07T15:15:09.106-08:002012-03-07T15:15:09.106-08:00Welcome to not letting go...lol. I think the more ...Welcome to not letting go...lol. I think the more you write and edit and revise, the more you'll be able to move on. But if you're like me, I can't completely let go and start a new book until the other one is pretty much completed and finalized.Michelle D. Argylehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09696465137285587646noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092805684169371138.post-27079246188887409262012-03-07T15:14:11.217-08:002012-03-07T15:14:11.217-08:00Oh, see that's great about letting go after th...Oh, see that's great about letting go after the first draft! Because it really does help with needed distance for effective edits and revisions. Good luck with that six-book series!Michelle D. Argylehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09696465137285587646noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092805684169371138.post-12224987013248827192012-03-07T15:12:44.210-08:002012-03-07T15:12:44.210-08:00That could work too...maybe. ;)That could work too...maybe. ;)Michelle D. Argylehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09696465137285587646noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092805684169371138.post-20946090005954594342012-03-07T15:12:29.644-08:002012-03-07T15:12:29.644-08:00I don't think it's possible to let go of t...I don't think it's possible to let go of the leash completely, and I don't think we should, but what a great story to illustrate my point! We should always be proud of our work, but loosening that leash is essential to move on and keep going - and show trust in ourselves.Michelle D. Argylehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09696465137285587646noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092805684169371138.post-6208554372577097762012-03-07T15:10:53.026-08:002012-03-07T15:10:53.026-08:00I hope you don't run into what I did with Mona...I hope you don't run into what I did with Monarch, and still not let go of it even after it's out of your hands. That made for a not-so-fun ride. But yeah, letting go is important if you want to keep writing books!Michelle D. Argylehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09696465137285587646noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092805684169371138.post-35819430280377924782012-03-07T15:08:09.679-08:002012-03-07T15:08:09.679-08:00I hope you find the right path for that book! Hard...I hope you find the right path for that book! Hard decisions can make for really great results, so I say take your time. :)Michelle D. Argylehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09696465137285587646noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092805684169371138.post-19847060548956764302012-03-07T14:57:59.748-08:002012-03-07T14:57:59.748-08:00When I let my first draft sit for two months, my f...When I let my first draft sit for two months, my friends kept telling me to use that time to begin a new book. I totally couldn't! Maybe I could've tried harder, but mainly it came down to feeling like I was betraying my other story. Craziness!Kathryn Purdiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18337488365098780737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092805684169371138.post-76070801980957894332012-03-07T13:03:23.827-08:002012-03-07T13:03:23.827-08:00Letting go is extraordinarily difficult. The firs...Letting go is extraordinarily difficult. The first book I ever wrote (which turned into a six book series) is not likely to make its way into the world any time soon. It has gotten easier with successive stories - I seem to release a book the moment the first draft is written (which makes it easier to accept particularly harsh edits, as well)...<br /><br />Well, every book except one (or six)...<br /><br />There really isn't much advice to offer someone struggling to let go except 'bite the bullet, baby!'S.M. Carrièrehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08568011755497760300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092805684169371138.post-42884695211935996172012-03-07T11:38:39.080-08:002012-03-07T11:38:39.080-08:00I don't know that I ever totally let go, I hav...I don't know that I ever totally let go, I have a very crowded back burner. I just resort to extended procrastination.Rick Daleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05173516899130463413noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092805684169371138.post-37856939060300718272012-03-07T10:24:34.992-08:002012-03-07T10:24:34.992-08:00I have my own weird view of letting go. Describing...I have my own weird view of letting go. Describing it is a little easier now that I have a dog. A dog that barks at about one in ten dogs. A dog that growls and lunges at about one in 15 dogs. At first, when I was walking him after his first sign of aggression, I was worried all the time. I held onto his leash tightly, and I wouldn't let him get close to anyone else. Then, some guy in the street told me I had to loosen up because my own fears were translating to the dog. He stayed with me for about 10 minutes on the curb at about 10 at night while my dog barked at his two very patient dogs. Finally, Peanut calmed down and I was able to loosen up on the leash and gain some confidence in him. I didn't let go of the leash completely. I still kept my eye on him. But I also had to trust that he would be okay because my trust in him helped to ensure that he was okay. I view letting go of books the same way. I have to have confidence that they will do their job. And then I send them out. But I never let go of the leash completely.Davin Malasarnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09385823575081492949noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092805684169371138.post-30402109611538539592012-03-07T10:03:40.903-08:002012-03-07T10:03:40.903-08:00My first novel--unprintable, awful, unreadable--st...My first novel--unprintable, awful, unreadable--still nags at the back of my mind. I wish I could completely forget it. My most recent novel, the detective story, is something I've already left behind. I have no feelings about it at all. The one before that (Cocke & Bull) I think is a beautiful book and I'd love it to be published but because of the dark tone and subject matter I'll probably be disappointed there, but I do keep it in mind too much. The one before that, the Shakespeare one that Rhemalda is publishing, ate away at me and no matter how much time or how many other books I put between me and it, I could not leave it alone. Even now, since I have a couple of months before the final MS is due to the editor, I have plans to go over it once more and work on the prose and maybe do some other things, just because I can't keep my damned hands off of it. It will be a great relief to have it officially taken away from me. <br /><br />The book I'm working on now is something I'm really putting a lot of myself into, really digging deep into my own memories and emotions to write, but I know that when I'm done with it I'll easily move on to the next book. Which is all to say that, you know, I think you're right about this letting go stuff!scott g.f.baileyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05726743149139510832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092805684169371138.post-92057026027486297782012-03-07T10:00:55.846-08:002012-03-07T10:00:55.846-08:00I definitely had one (my second novel manuscript) ...I definitely had one (my second novel manuscript) that I had to just let go of. I knew it would need a complete rewrite and since it was basically written as a gift for someone and they loved it as it was, I gave up ever doing anything else with it. It served its purpose as intended- it reached its audience.<br /><br />It's funny, now that I've finally finished the third novel (the one I've had to work longest on because of being ill for periods when I couldn't write) I'm ready to let it go- to send it off into the world and let it be what it will. I'm trying to decide how best to do that now, but I find in my head I'm already thinking "What's next?"<br /><br />Great post.<br /><br />~bruFebruary Gracehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01078037856070486022noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092805684169371138.post-10500870252745245222012-03-07T09:49:28.289-08:002012-03-07T09:49:28.289-08:00Cynthia, it can be a real hindrance! Tweaking is a...Cynthia, it can be a real hindrance! Tweaking is a real downfall for me, but I think I'm getting better and letting things stay where they are. It also helps that I have an editor now, though. I'll admit that has made things a little more streamlined. <br /><br />I'm happy you found a good place for your first book!Michelle D. Argylehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09696465137285587646noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092805684169371138.post-78386134793436645552012-03-07T09:15:23.571-08:002012-03-07T09:15:23.571-08:00I had trouble ending revisions on my first book. ...I had trouble ending revisions on my first book. I just kept tweaking the hell out of it. I couldn't stop! <br /><br />Then I told myself that I was being crazy and I believed myself and I just stopped. :)Cynthia Leehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14595677706434920552noreply@blogger.com