Comments on: On Improvement http://writerunboxed.com/2008/02/14/on-improvement/ About the craft and business of genre fiction Fri, 21 Nov 2008 09:26:10 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.4 by: Kim http://writerunboxed.com/2008/02/14/on-improvement/#comment-61026 Tue, 19 Feb 2008 01:02:54 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2008/02/14/on-improvement/#comment-61026 Allison, Just wanted to say that even though I haven't read either of your books, I can tell from your article that I already like your writing style. You have a very fresh, crisp way of putting things that is both empathetic and thought provoking--and I really enjoyed reading what you had to say. Thanks for sharing...and I wish you the best on books number 2, 3...and beyond! Allison,

Just wanted to say that even though I haven’t read either of your books, I can tell from your article that I already like your writing style. You have a very fresh, crisp way of putting things that is both empathetic and thought provoking–and I really enjoyed reading what you had to say. Thanks for sharing…and I wish you the best on books number 2, 3…and beyond!

]]> by: Eric http://writerunboxed.com/2008/02/14/on-improvement/#comment-60839 Sun, 17 Feb 2008 18:14:38 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2008/02/14/on-improvement/#comment-60839 I threw away my first novel. Entirely right out of the gate. After taking a couple weeks to distance myself, I went back to try and edit and I was crossing out entire pages. After doing this through about half the manuscript I realized others would be even harsher than I'm being, and if I've already gutted more than half then that's about the same as starting over? I think it's important to do that in your early work. Despite your enthusiasm, your first works are never ready for the world. Part of this is also learning how to be objective about your work too, instead of just seeing it as this subjectively great thing that you love because you made it. I threw away my first novel. Entirely right out of the gate. After taking a couple weeks to distance myself, I went back to try and edit and I was crossing out entire pages.

After doing this through about half the manuscript I realized others would be even harsher than I’m being, and if I’ve already gutted more than half then that’s about the same as starting over?

I think it’s important to do that in your early work. Despite your enthusiasm, your first works are never ready for the world.

Part of this is also learning how to be objective about your work too, instead of just seeing it as this subjectively great thing that you love because you made it.

]]> by: Jen Miller http://writerunboxed.com/2008/02/14/on-improvement/#comment-60809 Sun, 17 Feb 2008 13:45:13 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2008/02/14/on-improvement/#comment-60809 I've interviewed a lot of novelists, and most of them have that first novel they shoved into a drawer. Even though they thought it was a work of art at the time, going onto their second book showed them why that first attempt should stay in a drawer. I don't write fiction, so I can only imagine how frustrating that can be. Nice to know it can still work out after that! I’ve interviewed a lot of novelists, and most of them have that first novel they shoved into a drawer. Even though they thought it was a work of art at the time, going onto their second book showed them why that first attempt should stay in a drawer. I don’t write fiction, so I can only imagine how frustrating that can be. Nice to know it can still work out after that!

]]> by: Suzanne http://writerunboxed.com/2008/02/14/on-improvement/#comment-60548 Sat, 16 Feb 2008 01:51:51 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2008/02/14/on-improvement/#comment-60548 Allison, I really appreciated your candor about your growth as a writer from The Department to Time of My Life. I don't think I've ever heard a published author actually discuss their growth after becoming published, and yet it makes perfect sense if instead of just being pleased with being published you are also committed to growing as a writer...that's admirable, and probably the hallmark of a long and healthy writing career! -Suzanne. Allison,
I really appreciated your candor about your growth as a writer from The Department to Time of My Life.

I don’t think I’ve ever heard a published author actually discuss their growth after becoming published, and yet it makes perfect sense if instead of just being pleased with being published you are also committed to growing as a writer…that’s admirable, and probably the hallmark of a long and healthy writing career!

-Suzanne.

]]> by: Paulita http://writerunboxed.com/2008/02/14/on-improvement/#comment-60475 Fri, 15 Feb 2008 15:52:54 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2008/02/14/on-improvement/#comment-60475 Allison, Thanks for the encouragement. I'm currently starting on a third revision of my second novel. I agree that this one is better, but still not good enough. I'm encouraged that maybe the next ones will need less work. It gets discouraging to keep slogging along. Thanks for the inspiration. Allison, Thanks for the encouragement. I’m currently starting on a third revision of my second novel. I agree that this one is better, but still not good enough. I’m encouraged that maybe the next ones will need less work. It gets discouraging to keep slogging along. Thanks for the inspiration.

]]> by: Caryn http://writerunboxed.com/2008/02/14/on-improvement/#comment-60358 Fri, 15 Feb 2008 00:34:40 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2008/02/14/on-improvement/#comment-60358 I didn't even bother to submit my first book. I had no idea what I was doing, so I just tried everything to figure out my style. I could probably whip my second book into shape if I cared to, but I doubt I ever will. I've simply learned too much both from them and since them. And you know what? I don't regret the time at all, because I learned so much while writing them, so it definitely wasn't time wasted. I didn’t even bother to submit my first book. I had no idea what I was doing, so I just tried everything to figure out my style. I could probably whip my second book into shape if I cared to, but I doubt I ever will. I’ve simply learned too much both from them and since them. And you know what? I don’t regret the time at all, because I learned so much while writing them, so it definitely wasn’t time wasted.

]]> by: Lyle http://writerunboxed.com/2008/02/14/on-improvement/#comment-60341 Thu, 14 Feb 2008 22:42:05 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2008/02/14/on-improvement/#comment-60341 I keep seeing articles like this (it really echoes the interview you all posted here on WU with Jasper Fforde). It gives me a lot of hope, as one of those who gets a lot of enthusiasm (but so far no agent), and just keeps on keeping on. Surely at some point, I'll have to be good enough to be successful. It's hard when you see 21 year olds writing critically acclaimed bestsellers. But I try to keep my eye on all the "late bloomers" like Fforde, Philip Pullman, etc. Some of us get better with practice. I keep seeing articles like this (it really echoes the interview you all posted here on WU with Jasper Fforde). It gives me a lot of hope, as one of those who gets a lot of enthusiasm (but so far no agent), and just keeps on keeping on. Surely at some point, I’ll have to be good enough to be successful. It’s hard when you see 21 year olds writing critically acclaimed bestsellers. But I try to keep my eye on all the “late bloomers” like Fforde, Philip Pullman, etc. Some of us get better with practice.

]]> by: Allison Winn Scotch http://writerunboxed.com/2008/02/14/on-improvement/#comment-60291 Thu, 14 Feb 2008 16:42:49 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2008/02/14/on-improvement/#comment-60291 Trish - I love that: even when you're in the big leagues, you still have work to do. So true. Kathleen - I'm glad you came out on the other side! Trish - I love that: even when you’re in the big leagues, you still have work to do. So true.

Kathleen - I’m glad you came out on the other side!

]]> by: Kathleen Bolton http://writerunboxed.com/2008/02/14/on-improvement/#comment-60273 Thu, 14 Feb 2008 14:51:35 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2008/02/14/on-improvement/#comment-60273 Yes, I'm much familiar with the feeling of having an agent fall in love with my book, but no editors. For about a year, I was bummed, and now I echo your sentiments, Allison: "These days? Er, I’m embarrassed to have even written it, much less have had anyone read it and associate it with my name." Which goes to show that everything happens for a reason. Even failure. :-) Yes, I’m much familiar with the feeling of having an agent fall in love with my book, but no editors. For about a year, I was bummed, and now I echo your sentiments, Allison:

“These days? Er, I’m embarrassed to have even written it, much less have had anyone read it and associate it with my name.”

Which goes to show that everything happens for a reason. Even failure. :-)

]]> by: Trish Ryan http://writerunboxed.com/2008/02/14/on-improvement/#comment-60266 Thu, 14 Feb 2008 14:17:09 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2008/02/14/on-improvement/#comment-60266 What a great point. The possibility of reinvention (and improvement) is one of the many gifts of this challenging profession. I love your comparison to stepping up to the plate--I try to remember that even in major-league baseball, the players go to bat knowing that the odds are they won't get a hit. But they keep working on their swing, perfecting their stance, striving to get better. They keep swinging. What a great point. The possibility of reinvention (and improvement) is one of the many gifts of this challenging profession. I love your comparison to stepping up to the plate–I try to remember that even in major-league baseball, the players go to bat knowing that the odds are they won’t get a hit. But they keep working on their swing, perfecting their stance, striving to get better. They keep swinging.

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