Comments on: Changes http://writerunboxed.com/2009/05/07/changes/ about the craft and business of fiction Wed, 23 May 2012 23:52:59 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Elizabeth http://writerunboxed.com/2009/05/07/changes/#comment-113240 Elizabeth Sun, 10 May 2009 23:44:50 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2009/05/07/changes/#comment-113240 Hello Juliet, Just wanted to say that as an aspiring writer and longtime admirer of your work, it's been really inspiring to be able to read your posts here. You address a lot of the concerns I have with entering the world of genre writing, and with devoting myself to writing full-time (I can't seem to write much when I have significant other obligations on my plate). You could say I'm young to be thinking about this (21!), but after a lifetime of hasty decisions that haven't paid off, I'm really starting to think about what I want to do in life. Your posts have really helped me take my first steps in a new direction. Anyway, I wish you the best with your treatment. Someone close to me was recently diagnosed with the same illness and it's actually been quite inspiring for both of us to reflect on what's most important and what brings us real joy (probably the same things, in most cases). I don't know anything about what it must be like to have cancer, but I hope there are some good things hidden in it, even if they are hidden a little too well. Your books really are some of the few stars in the generally murky void of fantasy, and I think you have broken more molds than you might think. I hope you'll keep up giving us your wonderful stories (and blog posts!) and that everything goes well for you. Liz Hello Juliet,

Just wanted to say that as an aspiring writer and longtime admirer of your work, it’s been really inspiring to be able to read your posts here. You address a lot of the concerns I have with entering the world of genre writing, and with devoting myself to writing full-time (I can’t seem to write much when I have significant other obligations on my plate). You could say I’m young to be thinking about this (21!), but after a lifetime of hasty decisions that haven’t paid off, I’m really starting to think about what I want to do in life. Your posts have really helped me take my first steps in a new direction.

Anyway, I wish you the best with your treatment. Someone close to me was recently diagnosed with the same illness and it’s actually been quite inspiring for both of us to reflect on what’s most important and what brings us real joy (probably the same things, in most cases). I don’t know anything about what it must be like to have cancer, but I hope there are some good things hidden in it, even if they are hidden a little too well.

Your books really are some of the few stars in the generally murky void of fantasy, and I think you have broken more molds than you might think. I hope you’ll keep up giving us your wonderful stories (and blog posts!) and that everything goes well for you.

Liz

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]]> By: Vic http://writerunboxed.com/2009/05/07/changes/#comment-113182 Vic Sun, 10 May 2009 12:14:06 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2009/05/07/changes/#comment-113182 Juliet, Your writing is inspiring to read and your thoughts on writing are equally as thought provoking. I'm widely read, but I can honestly say that few writers take me on such an emotional journey as you do with your novels. I've been looking for ideas on how to get better inside the head of my character and I think you may have just given me the key to that very heavy door, so thank you. For your personal journey, I wish all the good health in the world. I've brushed up against the c word three times now and made it through each time. I am sure you will do the same. Very best, Victoria. Juliet,

Your writing is inspiring to read and your thoughts on writing are equally as thought provoking. I’m widely read, but I can honestly say that few writers take me on such an emotional journey as you do with your novels.

I’ve been looking for ideas on how to get better inside the head of my character and I think you may have just given me the key to that very heavy door, so thank you.

For your personal journey, I wish all the good health in the world. I’ve brushed up against the c word three times now and made it through each time. I am sure you will do the same.

Very best,
Victoria.

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]]> By: Martin LaBar http://writerunboxed.com/2009/05/07/changes/#comment-113139 Martin LaBar Sun, 10 May 2009 02:17:39 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2009/05/07/changes/#comment-113139 God help you in this difficult time. Yes, your characters often go through _very_ trying times, but generally triumph. May you do so, also. God help you in this difficult time.

Yes, your characters often go through _very_ trying times, but generally triumph. May you do so, also.

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]]> By: Juliet http://writerunboxed.com/2009/05/07/changes/#comment-112976 Juliet Fri, 08 May 2009 07:08:17 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2009/05/07/changes/#comment-112976 Thanks everyone for your various comments, both on my personal journey and on characterisation. If I ever feel that fighting spirit lagging, I look at the beautiful photo illustrating my post, which to me exemplifies womanly strength, balance and wellness. Re character, it is worth thinking hard about getting under the skin of your less admirable characters as well as the heroic ones, of course - understanding the impulse to act in an evil or selfish way, understanding the factors that determine those choices that may not be the ones we ourselves would make in real life. That is one thing I like about fantasy writer Joe Abercrombie, whom I interviewed not so long ago on this blog - his capacity to take a group of deeply flawed central characters and make every one of them real from the inside out. I'm sure you can think of other examples of writers who do this equally well. It's not easy, it can be quite an uncomfortable journey. Thanks everyone for your various comments, both on my personal journey and on characterisation. If I ever feel that fighting spirit lagging, I look at the beautiful photo illustrating my post, which to me exemplifies womanly strength, balance and wellness.

Re character, it is worth thinking hard about getting under the skin of your less admirable characters as well as the heroic ones, of course – understanding the impulse to act in an evil or selfish way, understanding the factors that determine those choices that may not be the ones we ourselves would make in real life. That is one thing I like about fantasy writer Joe Abercrombie, whom I interviewed not so long ago on this blog – his capacity to take a group of deeply flawed central characters and make every one of them real from the inside out. I’m sure you can think of other examples of writers who do this equally well. It’s not easy, it can be quite an uncomfortable journey.

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]]> By: Ivy http://writerunboxed.com/2009/05/07/changes/#comment-112940 Ivy Fri, 08 May 2009 03:04:55 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2009/05/07/changes/#comment-112940 The topic of writing, emotion, and experience is something I was just discussing with someone. This person suggested that I'm adapt at hiding my emotions in the day to day, but that they manifest in my writing. It led to a debate as to how much of one's personal emotion emerges in one's writing. I was trying to argue the converse-that for myself, personal emotional experiences were quite different and seperate from any of my narratives, but the more I talked, the more I ended up realizing this wasn't true, and conceeding the point in a roundabout way. I called what happens when I write as "transference," which is vague, but I think it touches on what you're saying. As humans we have personal emotional touch stones which help us relate and understand one another--those experiences shape the way we view the world and color our writing. But and as writers we have to be able to experience other points of view, to transfer our emotions into a situation or character, else what we were capable of writing would be highly limited. Your entry was beautifully written. Thank you for sharing something so personal with the world; I've no doubt there are lots of people reading this who are going through cancer, or have loved ones who have it, and are heartened by your words and shared experiences. May the Lord grant you peace and strength in your recovery! The topic of writing, emotion, and experience is something I was just discussing with someone. This person suggested that I’m adapt at hiding my emotions in the day to day, but that they manifest in my writing. It led to a debate as to how much of one’s personal emotion emerges in one’s writing. I was trying to argue the converse-that for myself, personal emotional experiences were quite different and seperate from any of my narratives, but the more I talked, the more I ended up realizing this wasn’t true, and conceeding the point in a roundabout way. I called what happens when I write as “transference,” which is vague, but I think it touches on what you’re saying. As humans we have personal emotional touch stones which help us relate and understand one another–those experiences shape the way we view the world and color our writing. But and as writers we have to be able to experience other points of view, to transfer our emotions into a situation or character, else what we were capable of writing would be highly limited.

Your entry was beautifully written. Thank you for sharing something so personal with the world; I’ve no doubt there are lots of people reading this who are going through cancer, or have loved ones who have it, and are heartened by your words and shared experiences. May the Lord grant you peace and strength in your recovery!

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]]> By: Therese Walsh http://writerunboxed.com/2009/05/07/changes/#comment-112912 Therese Walsh Thu, 07 May 2009 23:06:28 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2009/05/07/changes/#comment-112912 Thanks for sharing this part of your journey with us, Juliet. Sending you lots of well wishes--that the chemo treatment doesn't hit you too hard and that you're stronger and healthier for everything in the end. Thanks, too, for these characterization exercises! Thanks for sharing this part of your journey with us, Juliet. Sending you lots of well wishes–that the chemo treatment doesn’t hit you too hard and that you’re stronger and healthier for everything in the end.

Thanks, too, for these characterization exercises!

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]]> By: Page Traynor http://writerunboxed.com/2009/05/07/changes/#comment-112889 Page Traynor Thu, 07 May 2009 19:43:57 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2009/05/07/changes/#comment-112889 Remember that cancer is a condition; it isn't you. I am sending you all the strength and hope and good wishes in the world. i am a surviver of late stage ovarian cancer. You can do it. I assume you have people to talk and write to about this, but if you need someone feel free to contact me. Best always, Remember that cancer is a condition; it isn’t you. I am sending you all the strength and hope and good wishes in the world. i am a surviver of late stage ovarian cancer. You can do it. I assume you have people to talk and write to about this, but if you need someone feel free to contact me.
Best always,

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]]> By: Lorna Suzuki http://writerunboxed.com/2009/05/07/changes/#comment-112865 Lorna Suzuki Thu, 07 May 2009 15:09:20 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2009/05/07/changes/#comment-112865 Thank you for sharing good, practical advice once again, Juliet! I look forward to hearing more from you, but at the same time, do take the time you need for yourself. No doubt, it will help facilitate a complete and speedy recovery for you! Good luck with the treatment. Thank you for sharing good, practical advice once again, Juliet! I look forward to hearing more from you, but at the same time, do take the time you need for yourself. No doubt, it will help facilitate a complete and speedy recovery for you! Good luck with the treatment.

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]]> By: Kathleen Bolton http://writerunboxed.com/2009/05/07/changes/#comment-112858 Kathleen Bolton Thu, 07 May 2009 13:48:23 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2009/05/07/changes/#comment-112858 I'm sending good vibes into the Universe for you, Juliet. You're showing incredible grace about this--truly an inspiration. And I get what you're saying about diving deep inside to figure out what makes a character tick. That's art in its highest form. I’m sending good vibes into the Universe for you, Juliet. You’re showing incredible grace about this–truly an inspiration.

And I get what you’re saying about diving deep inside to figure out what makes a character tick. That’s art in its highest form.

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]]> By: Kristan http://writerunboxed.com/2009/05/07/changes/#comment-112855 Kristan Thu, 07 May 2009 13:22:12 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2009/05/07/changes/#comment-112855 What a fabulously written post. I love how you use your own experience with the wigs as endcaps. The good advice in between doesn't hurt either. Thank you, and good luck with the chemo. What a fabulously written post. I love how you use your own experience with the wigs as endcaps. The good advice in between doesn’t hurt either.

Thank you, and good luck with the chemo.

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