tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7646134662936278718.post4663976806629607743..comments2024-03-28T18:09:43.267-06:00Comments on The Warrior Muse: Heinlein's Rules for Writing & Getting PublishedShannon Lawrencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00934641808195675935noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7646134662936278718.post-40416802776103672342016-09-07T09:11:22.274-06:002016-09-07T09:11:22.274-06:00I agree with all his rules except #3. Or maybe he ...I agree with all his rules except #3. Or maybe he means don't keep editing/revising until you suck the life out of the piece then never submit.Diane Burtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03754105332297068271noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7646134662936278718.post-40590504607153449082014-02-01T00:39:48.394-07:002014-02-01T00:39:48.394-07:00Alex, it struck me as being an important oversight...Alex, it struck me as being an important oversight.<br /><br />Madeline, I've pondered officially joining, but wasn't able to stick with it when I tried it unofficially first. I REALLY need to do it, though.<br /><br />Jan, trust, yes. Well put. I like your take on it.<br /><br />B&B, good point on #3 and editors. Professional editing and covers are two things I've seen mentioned as things to pay for if you can, but $2000 is certainly prohibitive if you don't have a good idea you'll sell more than that.<br /><br />Maurice, woo-hoo! But yes, I think it's important unless someone just wants to write one.<br /><br />Susan, I imagine there are very few who can write completely clean the first time through, and of those few, at least the majority would be serious plotters (IMO).<br /><br />Moody, I tend to write clean as has to do with language, grammar, etc., the first time through, but I usually discover a part of the plot or character I need to edit as I write.<br /><br />Andrew, good way to look at it. I guess I didn't realize there was no pantsing culture before.<br /><br />Shelley, aw, what do you like at the craft stores?<br /><br />Lisa, that's a good rule, too! And, yes, I have a collection of unfinished stories I'm slowly working my way through right now.<br /><br />Joy, yes, both of those are hard! I'm also easily distracted.<br /><br />Kimberly, Oo, I haven't gotten to that point yet, but I'm betting that is hard. I've seen a lot of people who keep wanting to edit even after it's published!<br /><br />Shannon Lawrencehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00934641808195675935noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7646134662936278718.post-12982530674415177302014-01-27T18:08:58.040-07:002014-01-27T18:08:58.040-07:00It is easy to want to keep editing.... even after ...It is easy to want to keep editing.... even after the editor does their work. :) Great points, great post. Kimberlyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17323788304469008867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7646134662936278718.post-70815559365956339662014-01-27T17:55:34.678-07:002014-01-27T17:55:34.678-07:00Hi, Shannon,
Good post. It's as you say. I k...Hi, Shannon, <br /><br />Good post. It's as you say. I keep getting distracted by other projects so it's that much harder to finish anything. Then too, there's the urge to edit things to death.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00081704224923965102noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7646134662936278718.post-54767822511984117262014-01-27T15:26:50.283-07:002014-01-27T15:26:50.283-07:00All good advice, especially finishing what we writ...All good advice, especially finishing what we write. (I have an awful lot of half-finished projects under the bed.) The best writing rule I know was dictated by author Cherry Adair: Finish the Damn Book! Lisa Ricard Clarohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15014582949326182166noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7646134662936278718.post-22795154294868715982014-01-27T15:07:20.844-07:002014-01-27T15:07:20.844-07:00Sometimes has to take a break and peruse craft sto...Sometimes has to take a break and peruse craft stores to find their muse.shellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09596621767297173021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7646134662936278718.post-42025121694882847232014-01-27T14:51:40.741-07:002014-01-27T14:51:40.741-07:00I think there are a few things to consider about #...I think there are a few things to consider about #3:<br />1. There was no pantsing culture at the time. Pantsing requires rigorous re-writing in almost all circumstances. I imagine that Heinlein had a good idea about what his story was going to be in total before he started it.<br />2. Re-writing is often caused by over-thinking and self-doubt. I think what's he's saying here is "don't second guess yourself." Write your story and hand it to your editor. Don't change anything unless the editor says, "Hey, this bit is unclear" or whatever.<br />3. With point two in mind, you'd have to have a story editor for that. Since most of us don't have those, we have to figure that stuff out on our own.<br /><br />So, yeah, I agree with him.Andrew Leonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13964775673414653644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7646134662936278718.post-392235981679311562014-01-27T11:50:46.248-07:002014-01-27T11:50:46.248-07:00I always found no.3 a bit baffling. I guess it hel...I always found no.3 a bit baffling. I guess it helps if you write good first drafts(unlike me).<br /><br />mood<br /><a href="http://moodywriting.blogspot.co.uk/" rel="nofollow">Moody Writing</a> <br />mooderinohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01523337588830695638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7646134662936278718.post-4611084885512291592014-01-27T11:50:34.201-07:002014-01-27T11:50:34.201-07:00I always found no.3 a bit baffling. I guess it hel...I always found no.3 a bit baffling. I guess it helps if you write good first drafts(unlike me).<br /><br />mood<br /><a href="http://moodywriting.blogspot.co.uk/" rel="nofollow">Moody Writing</a> <br />mooderinohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01523337588830695638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7646134662936278718.post-39444460734954445902014-01-27T10:24:41.407-07:002014-01-27T10:24:41.407-07:00Not sure about #3 either. I'll be doing some m...Not sure about #3 either. I'll be doing some major edits over the next few weeks.Susan Gourley/Kelleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02669793865290876168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7646134662936278718.post-34447278355998636582014-01-27T10:17:49.505-07:002014-01-27T10:17:49.505-07:00Shannon's rule is the most important one.Shannon's rule is the most important one.Maurice Mitchellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15338165486757095191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7646134662936278718.post-91889147627063596202014-01-27T09:52:50.924-07:002014-01-27T09:52:50.924-07:00I also disagree with #3 a little, and hope that th...I also disagree with #3 a little, and hope that they mean not to over edit. Because you definitely need to know when to remove something instead of being a "word hoarder" and keeping something in your story that really just needs an overhaul.<br /><br />Also, I would strongly discourage a self-published author from hiring a professional editor unless you have money falling out of your behind. Because unless you sell $1-2,000 worth of books, you're never going to recoup what you spent, which is typically $1-2,000. Like you suggested, just find someone who's very adept with spelling/grammar and buy them dinner if they comb it over for you. Much more cost effective.A Beer for the Showerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17029139745335325356noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7646134662936278718.post-55092081662074439162014-01-27T08:01:17.439-07:002014-01-27T08:01:17.439-07:00This is good advice I've heard in one form or ...This is good advice I've heard in one form or another all my writing life, and, yes, it's easier to give this advice than to follow it. Unfortunately. I'd interpret #3 as getting your story to a point where you are happy with it, then leaving it alone until a professional editor suggests changes before publication. That requires trust -- in yourself and your skills as a writer. It also suggests you practice those skills to the utmost of your ability.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16028635002644119824noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7646134662936278718.post-5921466405403274662014-01-27T07:45:40.661-07:002014-01-27T07:45:40.661-07:00I find being a member of Write 1 Sub 1 really help...I find being a member of Write 1 Sub 1 really helps me focus on finishing a piece and getting it out in the world. Otherwise, I'd dither with the story forever! :)Madeline Mora-Summontehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05529397293165046430noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7646134662936278718.post-3143242862048264152014-01-27T07:32:52.172-07:002014-01-27T07:32:52.172-07:00Smart to point out that you should continue writin...Smart to point out that you should continue writing new stories.<br />And over-editing can kill a good story.Alex J. Cavanaughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09770065693345181702noreply@blogger.com