Comments on: Writing the Big Story http://writerunboxed.com/2006/10/23/writing-the-big-story/ about the craft and business of fiction Sat, 11 Feb 2012 02:26:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Therese Walsh http://writerunboxed.com/2006/10/23/writing-the-big-story/#comment-1255 Therese Walsh Thu, 26 Oct 2006 16:37:45 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2006/10/23/writing-the-big-story/#comment-1255 Yours is one of my favorite success stories, Marsha. I want to try something simple next time, too. If this story doesn't burn the life out of me that is. ;) Yours is one of my favorite success stories, Marsha.

I want to try something simple next time, too. If this story doesn’t burn the life out of me that is. ;)

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]]> By: Marsha http://writerunboxed.com/2006/10/23/writing-the-big-story/#comment-1234 Marsha Wed, 25 Oct 2006 20:06:34 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2006/10/23/writing-the-big-story/#comment-1234 My big story ended up getting split into two books, and eventually evolved into four. I never could have envisioned it that way when I started. By the time I've finished, I will have spent 8 years with it. Am very much looking forward to trying something "smaller" (no ambiguous endings or recurring characters) next time. Congrats on the diploma, T. My big story ended up getting split into two books, and eventually evolved into four. I never could have envisioned it that way when I started. By the time I’ve finished, I will have spent 8 years with it. Am very much looking forward to trying something “smaller” (no ambiguous endings or recurring characters) next time.

Congrats on the diploma, T.

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]]> By: Therese Walsh http://writerunboxed.com/2006/10/23/writing-the-big-story/#comment-1201 Therese Walsh Mon, 23 Oct 2006 20:13:58 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2006/10/23/writing-the-big-story/#comment-1201 Elena, Melissa, Patty, good luck with your Big Stories. Working on them daily is a great way to conquer them--they "shrink" a little with each additional word typed. :) Thanks so much for the WuWus, everyone! Elena, Melissa, Patty, good luck with your Big Stories. Working on them daily is a great way to conquer them–they “shrink” a little with each additional word typed. :)

Thanks so much for the WuWus, everyone!

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]]> By: Patty http://writerunboxed.com/2006/10/23/writing-the-big-story/#comment-1200 Patty Mon, 23 Oct 2006 19:56:34 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2006/10/23/writing-the-big-story/#comment-1200 This post really touched me, made me think. (congrats on the degree, btw!) My first story has that feel to me, of being too big for me, and it's only grown as I work on it. It's overwhelming sometimes. I just do a little at a time while my abilities improve, and work on other things when I just don't know what else to do on it. But this is the story that got me into novel-writing, and even if it's never published, it's been more than worth it. This post really touched me, made me think. (congrats on the degree, btw!)

My first story has that feel to me, of being too big for me, and it’s only grown as I work on it. It’s overwhelming sometimes. I just do a little at a time while my abilities improve, and work on other things when I just don’t know what else to do on it.

But this is the story that got me into novel-writing, and even if it’s never published, it’s been more than worth it.

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]]> By: Melissa Marsh http://writerunboxed.com/2006/10/23/writing-the-big-story/#comment-1199 Melissa Marsh Mon, 23 Oct 2006 18:47:26 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2006/10/23/writing-the-big-story/#comment-1199 CONGRATS on your graduate degree!!! Doesn't it feel great? ;) I have a big story idea, too, that I really want to do, but it terrifies me at the same time because I just don't know if I can pull it off. I'd like to try, though. CONGRATS on your graduate degree!!! Doesn’t it feel great? ;)

I have a big story idea, too, that I really want to do, but it terrifies me at the same time because I just don’t know if I can pull it off. I’d like to try, though.

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]]> By: Cathy J http://writerunboxed.com/2006/10/23/writing-the-big-story/#comment-1198 Cathy J Mon, 23 Oct 2006 17:34:05 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2006/10/23/writing-the-big-story/#comment-1198 YOU ROCK, TERI! Congrats on the degree! I'm so proud of you!!!! YOU ROCK, TERI! Congrats on the degree! I’m so proud of you!!!!

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]]> By: Kathleen Bolton http://writerunboxed.com/2006/10/23/writing-the-big-story/#comment-1197 Kathleen Bolton Mon, 23 Oct 2006 17:24:56 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2006/10/23/writing-the-big-story/#comment-1197 WHOO HOO on the degree, Teri! Though I wouldn't compare my scratchings to Michelangelo, I do feel like every day at the keyboard is like chipping away at stone to reveal . . . something. Each word is a tap of a chisel. At least, that's how I envision it. So at the end of the day it's either an ashtray or the Pieta. Unfortunately, I've written a lot of ashtrays. WHOO HOO on the degree, Teri!

Though I wouldn’t compare my scratchings to Michelangelo, I do feel like every day at the keyboard is like chipping away at stone to reveal . . . something. Each word is a tap of a chisel. At least, that’s how I envision it. So at the end of the day it’s either an ashtray or the Pieta.

Unfortunately, I’ve written a lot of ashtrays.

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]]> By: Elena Greene http://writerunboxed.com/2006/10/23/writing-the-big-story/#comment-1196 Elena Greene Mon, 23 Oct 2006 16:43:46 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2006/10/23/writing-the-big-story/#comment-1196 Congratulations on the degree, Therese! I think your advice was spot-on. Every big story was written in doable (for its author) chunks. I have a "big" story on the back burner at present. It not only seems like a very special idea but it also is calling out to be in first person, which I've never done before. But it's mine to write. When I feel overwhelmed I sometimes read Steven Pressfield's THE WAR OF ART. At the end he says "Creative work is not a selfish act or a bid for attention on the part of the actor. It's a gift to the world and every being in it. Don't cheat us of your contribution. Give us what you've got." Congratulations on the degree, Therese!

I think your advice was spot-on. Every big story was written in doable (for its author) chunks.

I have a “big” story on the back burner at present. It not only seems like a very special idea but it also is calling out to be in first person, which I’ve never done before. But it’s mine to write.

When I feel overwhelmed I sometimes read Steven Pressfield’s THE WAR OF ART. At the end he says “Creative work is not a selfish act or a bid for attention on the part of the actor. It’s a gift to the world and every being in it. Don’t cheat us of your contribution. Give us what you’ve got.”

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]]> By: Therese Walsh http://writerunboxed.com/2006/10/23/writing-the-big-story/#comment-1195 Therese Walsh Mon, 23 Oct 2006 15:38:52 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2006/10/23/writing-the-big-story/#comment-1195 I'm being braggadocious posting my diploma, I know, but it's just so purty and it's going to be full of dust sitting here in my office soon enough. Besides, if you can't be braggadocious on your own blog, where can you be? Thanks for humoring me. :) Eric, my story started as a trilogy concept, too. I was halfway through story #2 when the comments came in for story #1. I had to stop and think through what I really wanted. I decided to give story #1 an Extreme Makeover. Once that's finished, I may go back and see if I can save the trilogy concept, but for now this single story is keeping me busy. Arthur, flash and short-story experimentation can be a great way to hone your writerly skills while still working on the Big One. I do think working up a story outline is a good way to see the bones of your story before investing too much time on it - to be sure everything is working as it should. Just my 2 cents. I’m being braggadocious posting my diploma, I know, but it’s just so purty and it’s going to be full of dust sitting here in my office soon enough. Besides, if you can’t be braggadocious on your own blog, where can you be? Thanks for humoring me. :)

Eric, my story started as a trilogy concept, too. I was halfway through story #2 when the comments came in for story #1. I had to stop and think through what I really wanted. I decided to give story #1 an Extreme Makeover. Once that’s finished, I may go back and see if I can save the trilogy concept, but for now this single story is keeping me busy.

Arthur, flash and short-story experimentation can be a great way to hone your writerly skills while still working on the Big One. I do think working up a story outline is a good way to see the bones of your story before investing too much time on it – to be sure everything is working as it should. Just my 2 cents.

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]]> By: thea mcginnis http://writerunboxed.com/2006/10/23/writing-the-big-story/#comment-1193 thea mcginnis Mon, 23 Oct 2006 15:10:45 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2006/10/23/writing-the-big-story/#comment-1193 ter, beautiful essay - your analogy to one's big story and michaelangelo was spot on. ter, beautiful essay – your analogy to one’s big story and michaelangelo was spot on.

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