Comments on: What is Originality? http://writerunboxed.com/2009/04/01/what-is-originality/ 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: Carol Garvin http://writerunboxed.com/2009/04/01/what-is-originality/#comment-109237 Carol Garvin Sat, 11 Apr 2009 04:16:53 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2009/04/01/what-is-originality/#comment-109237 Donald Maass possesses the extraordinary ability to communicate exactly what writers need to know. Now if I can just hone my ability to apply what he conveys.... :) Donald Maass possesses the extraordinary ability to communicate exactly what writers need to know. Now if I can just hone my ability to apply what he conveys…. :)

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]]> By: Angela Greenman http://writerunboxed.com/2009/04/01/what-is-originality/#comment-108588 Angela Greenman Tue, 07 Apr 2009 13:40:24 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2009/04/01/what-is-originality/#comment-108588 I'm very happy that you have joined Writer Unboxed! I attended one of your workshops and it gave me everything I needed at that moment to progress in my writing. Reading your post was exactly what I needed now--to trust myself that I have something to give. I was struggling with my main character as she was written; I was afraid to come "out of the box" with her yet I knew within myself she needed to to be stronger. Writer Unboxed is a terrific source, as those interviewed are generous with their tips and stories. Your addition to the site is fantastic, as your guidance rouses my muse. I’m very happy that you have joined Writer Unboxed! I attended one of your workshops and it gave me everything I needed at that moment to progress in my writing. Reading your post was exactly what I needed now–to trust myself that I have something to give. I was struggling with my main character as she was written; I was afraid to come “out of the box” with her yet I knew within myself she needed to to be stronger. Writer Unboxed is a terrific source, as those interviewed are generous with their tips and stories. Your addition to the site is fantastic, as your guidance rouses my muse.

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]]> By: Diane Girard http://writerunboxed.com/2009/04/01/what-is-originality/#comment-108580 Diane Girard Tue, 07 Apr 2009 12:39:39 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2009/04/01/what-is-originality/#comment-108580 True and succinct. To the poster above. Some of us are not peddling what we hope will be the next big thing. Tell the story that means the most to you and tell it as well as you can. Get right down into it. Then polish and refine it. Cheers! True and succinct.

To the poster above. Some of us are not peddling what we hope will be the next big thing. Tell the story that means the most to you and tell it as well as you can. Get right down into it. Then polish and refine it.

Cheers!

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]]> By: Rebecca http://writerunboxed.com/2009/04/01/what-is-originality/#comment-108238 Rebecca Sun, 05 Apr 2009 02:50:18 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2009/04/01/what-is-originality/#comment-108238 We're all peddling what we hope will the Next Big Thing-whether we're the writers or the agents. Unfortunately, for the break-out novelists, being orignial is tantamount to risk. Agents have told me they don't know enough about the subject I've written about, or don't think my novel is a "good fit" or "match" for them. As a writer, I find the crippling conservatism with respect to Literary Agents disheartening. We’re all peddling what we hope will the Next Big Thing-whether we’re the writers or the agents. Unfortunately, for the break-out novelists, being orignial is tantamount to risk.

Agents have told me they don’t know enough about the subject I’ve written about, or don’t think my novel is a “good fit” or “match” for them. As a writer, I find the crippling conservatism with respect to Literary Agents disheartening.

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]]> By: Vic http://writerunboxed.com/2009/04/01/what-is-originality/#comment-107982 Vic Fri, 03 Apr 2009 01:28:13 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2009/04/01/what-is-originality/#comment-107982 What an inspiring post! Thank you for this, you've given me so much to ponder... what other depths can I embed into my manscript? Hm. Thank you. What an inspiring post! Thank you for this, you’ve given me so much to ponder… what other depths can I embed into my manscript? Hm. Thank you.

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]]> By: Liz L http://writerunboxed.com/2009/04/01/what-is-originality/#comment-107883 Liz L Wed, 01 Apr 2009 23:03:38 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2009/04/01/what-is-originality/#comment-107883 Okay, I remember sitting in one of your workshops and you told us to throw up a bunch of pages from our manuscript and pick one off the floor at random to see if there was conflict. Do I have to do this again?? I ended up throwing OUT 125 pages. I have to admit, it did make it stronger. Seriously, like the other commentators, I will have to definitely dig deeper. And like them, I will add this new book to my craft shelf. Thanks for sharing your expertise. Okay, I remember sitting in one of your workshops and you told us to throw up a bunch of pages from our manuscript and pick one off the floor at random to see if there was conflict. Do I have to do this again?? I ended up throwing OUT 125 pages. I have to admit, it did make it stronger.

Seriously, like the other commentators, I will have to definitely dig deeper. And like them, I will add this new book to my craft shelf.

Thanks for sharing your expertise.

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]]> By: Lorna Suzuki http://writerunboxed.com/2009/04/01/what-is-originality/#comment-107858 Lorna Suzuki Wed, 01 Apr 2009 19:06:34 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2009/04/01/what-is-originality/#comment-107858 Welcome! And a wonderful post that definitely gives us all something to think about. I've had the good fortune of attending a number of your workshops over the years at the Surrey International Writers Conference, so if your latest book is as insightful as your seminars, it'll definitely be worth picking up! Looking forward to reading future posts from you. Thank you! Welcome! And a wonderful post that definitely gives us all something to think about. I’ve had the good fortune of attending a number of your workshops over the years at the Surrey International Writers Conference, so if your latest book is as insightful as your seminars, it’ll definitely be worth picking up!
Looking forward to reading future posts from you. Thank you!

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]]> By: Kathleen Bolton http://writerunboxed.com/2009/04/01/what-is-originality/#comment-107849 Kathleen Bolton Wed, 01 Apr 2009 18:01:56 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2009/04/01/what-is-originality/#comment-107849 Welcome Donald! What a great post. I think we'll all be pondering our WIP's tonight. C.S. You can never say it enough for us. :-) Welcome Donald!

What a great post. I think we’ll all be pondering our WIP’s tonight.

C.S. You can never say it enough for us. :-)

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]]> By: Melanie http://writerunboxed.com/2009/04/01/what-is-originality/#comment-107847 Melanie Wed, 01 Apr 2009 17:42:46 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2009/04/01/what-is-originality/#comment-107847 Welcome Donald! I'm so excited that we'll get to read your wisdom on a regular basis. Welcome Donald! I’m so excited that we’ll get to read your wisdom on a regular basis.

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]]> By: Kristan http://writerunboxed.com/2009/04/01/what-is-originality/#comment-107846 Kristan Wed, 01 Apr 2009 17:39:31 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2009/04/01/what-is-originality/#comment-107846 Wow, thank you and welcome to WU! This reminds me of a few questions I formulated for myself last week: Am I writing "the story I want to tell" or "the story people want to read"? Which should I be writing? (Isn't there a middle ground?) Without intending to, I think you've given me some answers. Thanks! Wow, thank you and welcome to WU!

This reminds me of a few questions I formulated for myself last week:

Am I writing “the story I want to tell” or “the story people want to read”? Which should I be writing? (Isn’t there a middle ground?)

Without intending to, I think you’ve given me some answers. Thanks!

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