tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7570512522741409033.post3797948499783827420..comments2024-03-26T12:40:12.966-07:00Comments on Mirka Muse: Elliot’s Peculiar CrueltyMirka Breenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00653086859905415156noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7570512522741409033.post-34851333706913242562014-04-14T10:57:41.050-07:002014-04-14T10:57:41.050-07:00That cartoon makes me laugh! I, too, shudder at my...That cartoon makes me laugh! I, too, shudder at my early manuscripts; I can't bear to delete them, though. Even our earliest attempts can teach. I wrote a truly awful talking vegetable story that just makes me laugh now. But I remember writing with such confidence! It was a winner, I thought. I could use some of that fearlessness now. Maybe I would take MORE risks with my writing, instead of adhering to all of those 'rules' that I've learned in the last 10 years. Sometimes we just need to recalibrate, and April seems to be as good a month as any to reflect and shed as you mentioned. Hope you find your way in May, Mirka. D.E. Malonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10256696009575732721noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7570512522741409033.post-75925976397977431062014-04-13T17:11:30.437-07:002014-04-13T17:11:30.437-07:00Another thoughtful post. Your coming upon your old...Another thoughtful post. Your coming upon your old story reminded me of when L. M. Montgomery pulled Anne of Green Gables out of an old hat box and decided it wasn't so bad, after all. As I once mentioned in a blog post I did about her, lucky for us she rescued that story.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7570512522741409033.post-19627324448683272812014-04-11T07:36:09.187-07:002014-04-11T07:36:09.187-07:00I'm at a point in my writing career where I...I'm at a point in my writing career where I'm trying to find some of that original spark again, working on writing something true to myself and rules be damned. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this, Mirka. Helps to keep me on my path.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09816574953419131532noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7570512522741409033.post-14857501127017348602014-04-10T21:06:26.334-07:002014-04-10T21:06:26.334-07:00Sometimes when I read back on my earlier stories, ...Sometimes when I read back on my earlier stories, I cringe at the writing but am also quite proud of some of the ideas I had. The thing I remember most about The Waste Land is the chapter on thunder: that all good things are revived after the thunderstorm. <br /><br />April isn't my cruellest month (I do feel like removing one 'l' from that word), it's one of my busiest. I tend to get stuck dry in February instead. Yanting Guehhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04788603550626277974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7570512522741409033.post-15259245062835865212014-04-10T13:59:39.431-07:002014-04-10T13:59:39.431-07:00I usually end up breaking a bunch of rules even wh...I usually end up breaking a bunch of rules even when I don't realize I'm doing it and didn't plan to. I'm possibly incurable. However, I have to say that most of my writing from back when I knew nothing just plain reeks. Frankly, I was too much under the influence of symbolism and English profs. Marciahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10006966091789130047noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7570512522741409033.post-76444544541181944352014-04-10T13:56:04.908-07:002014-04-10T13:56:04.908-07:00I think there's a lot to be said for just thro...I think there's a lot to be said for just throwing yourself into it without knowing all the rules, finding your own voice, so to speak and then learning the tricks of the trade. Glad to hear this. I'm still working on one of the first ones I did, not that long ago, for a class I'm taking and wile I'm changing a lot, there's still some of the original that I like.Johnellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08042379175433349768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7570512522741409033.post-74020868645526129472014-04-10T13:32:10.661-07:002014-04-10T13:32:10.661-07:00You always make me think, Mirka. I understand exac...You always make me think, Mirka. I understand exactly what you are saying--as we "age" as writers, some of the "freshness" wears away. I think it is wonderful that you looked back on an early work and saw something beautiful! = ) Becky Shillingtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18185515854304384764noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7570512522741409033.post-13401347751621113872014-04-09T07:49:46.215-07:002014-04-09T07:49:46.215-07:00Barbara's new book, Antique Piano & Other ...Barbara's new book, Antique Piano & Other Sour Notes, is wholly original. Glad you chimed in, Barbara.<br />Maybe we should start an April Break the Rules Month thing... Only I'm not a movement type.<br />And come to think of it, I'm not a great rule-breaker, either. Innocence was a more organic reason for my early difference.Mirka Breenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00653086859905415156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7570512522741409033.post-44429269477033006462014-04-08T19:31:33.010-07:002014-04-08T19:31:33.010-07:00Yeah, I'd like to get some eggplant with my eg...Yeah, I'd like to get some eggplant with my eggs. ;-)<br /><br />I'd like to regain the innocence and freshness I once had, when I didn't know what I was doing, broke all the rules, and didn't know or care. I wrote some truly original, and, yes, weird things that still make me laugh when I pull them out of the drawer.<br /><br />I think I should put a sticky note on my desktop which says, BREAK A RULE TODAY! Barbara Etlinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07190731838738606727noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7570512522741409033.post-24772465983432877042014-04-08T11:35:42.529-07:002014-04-08T11:35:42.529-07:00I've broken a few rules myself, not just in wr...I've broken a few rules myself, not just in writing but in querying too. So far, it's worked out for me. I wonder when I'll push my luck. ;)Kelly Hashwayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13936313159809041986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7570512522741409033.post-24663324227188420212014-04-08T09:00:18.120-07:002014-04-08T09:00:18.120-07:00I stumble across my early writing efforts at times...I stumble across my early writing efforts at times and odd originality amuses me. I was writing just for myself back then ... and it's a window into my own weirdness. It's good that I wasn't aware of markets and such ... <br /><br />May you get back both your originality and market-savvy in May. But whilst it's April, play.Vijayahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07876606729146077830noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7570512522741409033.post-77034136105080445052014-04-08T08:16:33.541-07:002014-04-08T08:16:33.541-07:00Sometimes breaking the writing rules works. Other ...Sometimes breaking the writing rules works. Other times it can be a basis for a new story!Ann Herrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06041353495884375883noreply@blogger.com