Comments on: Why We Should be Thankful We Are Writers

By: Pegg Thomas

Pegg Thomas — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 11:17:39 +0000

Life can be a roller coaster, eh?!

By: Sandra

Sandra — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 16:42:43 +0000

I’m sorry you got ripped into but glad that something quickly came along to lift you up again. You have a good message – keep “preaching” and blogging about story architecture!

Sandra

By: hillary

hillary — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 18:52:34 +0000

I really appreciated this post today. It’s poignant and complete. I have seen two popular bloggers personally attacked this in the past few months and it actually turned crazy. The internet can provide a disconnect allows people to say things they might not when confronted face to face with a real person.

I enjoyed watching your process evolve through the piece.

By: Adam

Adam — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 17:54:51 +0000

i’m starting to think it is human nature to hear what you want to, mainly just in order to be able to twist things back to comfortable arguments when the speaker challenges your views (there are more sinister ways to look at the scenario). some are able to venture forward into new knowledge, while others have difficulty leaving the comfort of their entrenched philosophy.

all there is to do is make your point and move on.

i’m glad that you found renewed vigor for your craft through everything, and i appreciate the wisdom that you are doling out on blogs to assist those of us who are just getting our feet wet.

By: V.J. Wilcox

V.J. Wilcox — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 17:17:57 +0000

The whole point of reading writing blogs is to learn something useful. To state the obvious, what is useful to me might not be useful to you. Like the sometimes contradictory criticism received in a writing group or class, you get to decide what is helpful and what is not. If helpful, act on it and discard the rest. It’s a waste of time to argue about it or call anyone names for their opposing point of view. I’ve had the thrill of seeing three of my novels published and I can tell you, Larry’s insights are spot on. I always prefer to learn from those who’ve actually accomplished what I aspire to do rather than those who’re still trying to get it done. I suspect the lady in question that Larry has run up against is still trying. Hopefully, she’ll drop the attitude and start learning.

By: Lori

Lori — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 15:33:37 +0000

I witnessed the unfolding events at the “Big Deal” writing site.

Not pretty.

As I sat disgusted, I unsubscribed to stop the madness.

Coming to your site today gave me a bolt of inspiration and hope, Larry. That’s what it’s all about.

Thank you.

Inspiration ignited.

By: Mary E. Ulrich

Mary E. Ulrich — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 15:13:31 +0000

I am thankful YOU are a writer. I have referred many people to your site and think you offer us amazing content.

(Beware: semantic lexicon going wild.) When we were visiting the desert of New Mexico, we learned some of the many uses of the prickly cactus. The Native Americans used parts of the plant for everything from making needles to sew, to recipes for jelly and sauces to eat. Moral: Prickly doesn’t have to be a bad thing, be happy with who you are.

By: poch

poch — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 14:35:25 +0000

I wonder if you ever felt that you were ‘forced’ to be a writer as in my case.
If that’s the case, do you think you can be whole-heartedly be grateful that you’re a writer.
I may not be thankful that I’m a writer but I’m sure glad to be one.

By: JV

JV — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 11:45:09 +0000

Larry:
I’m realitively new to your site and wanted to extend my gratitude for your hard earned skills. I’ve written three novels, got stuck on a 120K beast and struck gold at storyfix. I so needed your clear thinking, your pegging the parts — their job descriptions, your honesty to the craft.
RE: Your post today, you might consider two things. 1) Jealousy is a different ache in our body than anger or love. Jealousy brings out our worst. The woman mentioned sounds green with it. So no worries there. Think of it as a minor test of the hero in a novel, no more than a lightening flash. 2) Self honesty is Mt. Everest or the Iger for some of us. We expend all our energy climbing over it only to discover it is a pebble in our path. Combine the lack of self honesty with jealousy and you have an attacking gorilla behind bars filled with self anger. You moved away and watch from a distance. Right on. You’re a master at focus.
An England educated American told me I’d never become a real writer years ago when computers were knew. He’d had an attack of arrogance. Something possessed me. I told him we’d live to see the day when everyone wrote stories, even children. Luckily I got that part right.
JV

By: Patrick Sullivan

Patrick Sullivan — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 06:21:52 +0000

It never ceases to amaze me the way the internet makes people act. I would almost be willing to bet that the same woman who was acting so vile on a blog in replied would not act the same way if you were having a face to face discussion. Most who act that way in this powerful medium seem to think the ability to be an anonymous pile of snark is a wonderful, freeing thing.

Sad, really. A tool that lets us share ideas, the way you do here, a tool that lets us change each others lives through writing, through podcast, or any number of other ways, without the gatekeepers of old media, and some people only see it as a way to let out their inner hatred without real reprise.

Glad to hear you got such a powerful reminder of why writing is such a wonderful thing to do and be a part of came to you after that painful experience. It’s also a great reminder to the rest of us who are reading why we want to share what we do with the world, our words and ideas.

Keep it up, and thanks again.