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Hi again, everyone,
In keeping with my other thread, Writers' Pet Weaknesses, elsewhere in the Roundtable, I wanted to post a thread that discusses the things we've learned from each other.
In other threads, I've come out and said I was sick of so much advice, and I feel like perhaps you all might think that because of those words, I've somehow thrown out every piece of advice I've gotten here. This thread is intended to show that, though we might not agree with each other on everything, we still have learned valuable insights into our own writing styles, methods, and other important issues that make us better writers.
So basically, if you all want to add how you've improved at your Craft and who has helped you to do so, I'd be glad to hear what you all have to say.
So I'll start with myself. Here are some people I've learned from here at AW, followed by some of the things I've learned from them:
1. James D. Macdonald -- If it works for you, it's right. In other words, what works for Stephen King might not entirely work for me, and that's okay. It doesn't have to, so long as what I do works for me.
2. Robeaie -- Don't quote things as fact in a discussion, if a) you don't know it's a fact, and b) you don't have references to back you up.
3. Triceretops -- If an agent or an editor takes longer than expected to get back to you, there's a bigger chance they're seriously considering your work for acceptance. Also, I learned that if they give me a personalized rejection, or even a form with notes on how to improve your story, you've improved a lot as a writer.
4. Neurofizz -- Develop a thick skin. In other words, don't take a rejection as a personal insult.
5. Birol -- Don't worry about how terrible you think your work is when you're in the middle of a draft. Get it done, then think about how you can make it better.
6. DaveKuzminski -- Don't tell people how bad you think your work is. Tell them how good you think it is, and let them decide whether they think it's worth their time or not.
7. reph -- Don't give people empty praise. Your praise means a lot less if you do than if you don't.
Of course, I've not listed all the people who have told me these different things. This is only a partial list, because these are the people I remember most readily. Lots of people have been involved in teaching me the same things I've listed above, but these people, for some reason or another, stand out in my own mind. I do not intend through this post to leave anybody out.
In keeping with my other thread, Writers' Pet Weaknesses, elsewhere in the Roundtable, I wanted to post a thread that discusses the things we've learned from each other.
In other threads, I've come out and said I was sick of so much advice, and I feel like perhaps you all might think that because of those words, I've somehow thrown out every piece of advice I've gotten here. This thread is intended to show that, though we might not agree with each other on everything, we still have learned valuable insights into our own writing styles, methods, and other important issues that make us better writers.
So basically, if you all want to add how you've improved at your Craft and who has helped you to do so, I'd be glad to hear what you all have to say.
So I'll start with myself. Here are some people I've learned from here at AW, followed by some of the things I've learned from them:
1. James D. Macdonald -- If it works for you, it's right. In other words, what works for Stephen King might not entirely work for me, and that's okay. It doesn't have to, so long as what I do works for me.
2. Robeaie -- Don't quote things as fact in a discussion, if a) you don't know it's a fact, and b) you don't have references to back you up.
3. Triceretops -- If an agent or an editor takes longer than expected to get back to you, there's a bigger chance they're seriously considering your work for acceptance. Also, I learned that if they give me a personalized rejection, or even a form with notes on how to improve your story, you've improved a lot as a writer.
4. Neurofizz -- Develop a thick skin. In other words, don't take a rejection as a personal insult.
5. Birol -- Don't worry about how terrible you think your work is when you're in the middle of a draft. Get it done, then think about how you can make it better.
6. DaveKuzminski -- Don't tell people how bad you think your work is. Tell them how good you think it is, and let them decide whether they think it's worth their time or not.
7. reph -- Don't give people empty praise. Your praise means a lot less if you do than if you don't.
Of course, I've not listed all the people who have told me these different things. This is only a partial list, because these are the people I remember most readily. Lots of people have been involved in teaching me the same things I've listed above, but these people, for some reason or another, stand out in my own mind. I do not intend through this post to leave anybody out.