tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post6440621728367684619..comments2023-06-10T22:42:19.087+10:00Comments on Australasian Christian Writers: So, You Write?Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-8656718749173878702014-10-08T15:21:05.202+11:002014-10-08T15:21:05.202+11:00Thanks for the post Jeanette. It brought back some...Thanks for the post Jeanette. It brought back some memories of difficult conversations about writing but gave me a smile too.Dalehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14217918666756258037noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-53885311511117759702014-10-01T21:59:44.201+10:002014-10-01T21:59:44.201+10:00Thanks Narelle. Deflection is a great way of putti...Thanks Narelle. Deflection is a great way of putting it :)Jeanette O'Haganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11057798704247611224noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-62832615605239597312014-10-01T20:12:57.210+10:002014-10-01T20:12:57.210+10:00Jeanette, great post! Perseverance is key, and the...Jeanette, great post! Perseverance is key, and the ability to deflect inappropriate questions. Thanks for sharing your poem with us. Narellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07665380446283721576noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-60976362874020079182014-10-01T19:38:34.428+10:002014-10-01T19:38:34.428+10:00Thanks Dotti. I'm sure most of us would relate...Thanks Dotti. I'm sure most of us would relate to that sad experience - just as well there are some great up-sides to this writing endeavour as well or we would all have given up long ago. :)Jeanette O'Haganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11057798704247611224noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-80881511499423036932014-10-01T18:31:47.963+10:002014-10-01T18:31:47.963+10:00Poignant words, Jeanette. Thanks for sharing your ...Poignant words, Jeanette. Thanks for sharing your heart and encouraging us.<br /><br />What seemed brilliant<br />yesterday<br />now frays<br />and drifts away. <br /><br />Loved these heartbreaking words from your poem. Which writer amongst us would not relate to such an affliction? <br />Dorothyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13622521834128746217noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-74756331026052268202014-10-01T18:12:51.064+10:002014-10-01T18:12:51.064+10:00Thanks Ian. Good plan to take each days success as...Thanks Ian. Good plan to take each days success as they come. Thanks for sharing Ann Lamott's bon mots :)Jeanette O'Haganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11057798704247611224noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-70785422277313900372014-10-01T18:10:10.511+10:002014-10-01T18:10:10.511+10:00Thanks Raelene - agreed, it is a marathon or maybe...Thanks Raelene - agreed, it is a marathon or maybe more like a lifelong pilgrimage. Faith, resilience, perseverance and a thick skin go a long way :)Jeanette O'Haganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11057798704247611224noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-44691609771361968652014-10-01T17:52:55.468+10:002014-10-01T17:52:55.468+10:00Hi Jenny, Great post. So true. It's a marath...Hi Jenny, Great post. So true. It's a marathon isn't it, this writing journey. We need faith, resilience, perseverance, and thick skin. Raelene Purtillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09316816228739648286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-58783761453528005692014-10-01T13:28:33.179+10:002014-10-01T13:28:33.179+10:00Great post, Jeanette.
Ann Lamott tweeted these ye...Great post, Jeanette.<br /><br />Ann Lamott tweeted these yesterday which made me chuckle (and give myself a pat on the back having achieved my word goal):<br /><br />"So why write, if it's hard, weird, no one cares if you do, or supplies enough praise & respect? Well, what wd you rather do? Falconry?"<br /><br />"One thing I liked about writing; such a great feeling when I was done for the day, even if it'd gone poorly. I'd DONE it--stuck it out. Wow."<br /><br />Hang in there - keep writing & keep holding onto Jesus.<br /><br />Thanks for sharing with us all.Ian Ahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00192687613923596829noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-20382585515733593062014-10-01T12:37:37.259+10:002014-10-01T12:37:37.259+10:00It can seem that way at times, Catriona. I'm g...It can seem that way at times, Catriona. I'm glad you loved the poem :)Jeanette O'Haganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11057798704247611224noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-64715041761690914112014-10-01T12:33:06.877+10:002014-10-01T12:33:06.877+10:00Writing sure does seem to be a roller coaster ride...Writing sure does seem to be a roller coaster ride (and to be honest, it feels like there are more dips than heights). <br />Jeanette, your poem at the end is divine.Catriona McKeownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01755816934717121501noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-17754770999136643762014-10-01T11:22:28.944+10:002014-10-01T11:22:28.944+10:00Hi Paula,
Yes, I guess that's it, that people ...Hi Paula,<br />Yes, I guess that's it, that people often assume writing is a hobby at best or an unprofitable indulgence at worst and are waiting for us to come to our senses. But as another author said (on one of the blogs I perused) someone wrote the books people buy and enjoy, they don't appear out of thin air. I'm sure we all could come up with a list of 'you got to laugh or you would cry' type of questions we've fielded. I must say that I'm stoked that you are still writing and hope you continue to do so for a long time yet (no pressure 'grin').Jeanette O'Haganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11057798704247611224noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-15932631035096127522014-10-01T11:16:46.355+10:002014-10-01T11:16:46.355+10:00Thanks Jo-Anne. Yes, I'm sure the deflating re...Thanks Jo-Anne. Yes, I'm sure the deflating reactions and questions keep coming whatever stage we along the journey though I think most of the time people don't intend that effect. I've experienced the same sort of mismatch with the questions people ask adoptive parents or kids without realising how insulting and/or invasive some of those questions are. When we lived in Africa people often assumed we lived in a village of mud huts - not a modern city - but the Africans would assume that kangaroos bounded down the main street of Sydney. It's easy to get offended yet perhaps it helps to realize that it's not about us really - and to look to why the person we are talking to is asking that question. Thanks for the encouragement :)Jeanette O'Haganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11057798704247611224noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-69671266527786467932014-10-01T11:08:41.236+10:002014-10-01T11:08:41.236+10:00Hi Jenny,
Good on you (and good on all of us) for ...Hi Jenny,<br />Good on you (and good on all of us) for sticking with it. Many of us certainly know what you're talking about. A gentleman whose book I've been reading reminded of another question we often hear. 'Are you still writing?' As he pointed out, others don't tend get asked if they're still fixing cars, seeing patients, cutting hair or whatever. It's as if people assume it's more of a flash in the pan than anything else. Then when we say that indeed we are, the question you mentioned about whether or not we are published comes next :)Paula Vincehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02079952414990463270noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-16055478199299609202014-10-01T11:06:56.447+10:002014-10-01T11:06:56.447+10:00Hi Rita, That's a lovely verse, thanks for sha...Hi Rita, That's a lovely verse, thanks for sharing it. It does help to keep the right perspective and, as you say, 'keep writing and honing our craft in faith.' :)Jeanette O'Haganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11057798704247611224noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-9630310371291320152014-10-01T10:31:22.894+10:002014-10-01T10:31:22.894+10:00Thanks, Jeanette, for sharing from your heart in t...Thanks, Jeanette, for sharing from your heart in this blog. Yes, I know that conversation you have included well from past years. And even when you ARE a published author (whatever that means these days!), the conversation often continues: 'Oh ... so who is your publisher?' (sometimes said in a slightly disbelieving tone!) Then when I tell them the two different publishers I have had, that's when the glazed look can appear because ... well, after all, I don't say Penguin or Allen and Unwin or Hachette or PanMacmillan or any names of big publishers they know, so ... hmmm. <br /><br />All that aside though, I loved the way you turned the conversation to the person asking the questions, Jeanette. And I loved your poem too. Keep going!Jo-Anne Berthelsenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09775045057529728396noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-11157831070058223152014-10-01T10:16:39.531+10:002014-10-01T10:16:39.531+10:00Oh Jeanette, so true...every word. Who of writers...Oh Jeanette, so true...every word. Who of writers everywhere has not experienced the misunderstanding of the general public about the tough road into publishing? Even as you let it be known you are writing a novel, they ask when is it going to be published? Ah, if only WE knew! When I first began I truly believed publishers were just waiting for my book. How naive was I? <br /><br />I found an unlikely verse which really helps me in those waiting times. "The God who gives life to the dead calls things that are not as though they were." (Rom. 4:17) So it's His time we're waiting upon, not ours. We just keep writing and honing our craft by faith!Rita Galiehhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14586506137798711397noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-77052105580517910152014-10-01T09:17:20.498+10:002014-10-01T09:17:20.498+10:00Thanks Nola. The poem was one of my MOP efforts :)...Thanks Nola. The poem was one of my MOP efforts :) And I've been putting more effort into short pieces (not just the full length novels) lately. Love to catch up again for coffee and some GF cake :)Jeanette O'Haganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11057798704247611224noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-10753124089366282852014-10-01T09:05:42.068+10:002014-10-01T09:05:42.068+10:00Great post Jenny. I can relate to what you say as...Great post Jenny. I can relate to what you say as I'm still only at the 28 000-word mark of the novel and haven't progressed it for a few weeks now (because I'm up to the stage where I need to do more research - at least that's what I tell myself). It does take a lot of perseverance. Let's keep cheering each other on. I also write a lot of short pieces and I find that getting the odd publication with those helps keep the momentum and encouragement going. It's a long road without any nibbles along the way. I really like your poem too. Will have to catch up again soon and keep spurring each other on :) Take care :)Nola Passmorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08425394685430146759noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-16068550163366603362014-10-01T08:17:01.164+10:002014-10-01T08:17:01.164+10:00Thanks Melissa :) Ouch. And sometimes its a 'r...Thanks Melissa :) Ouch. And sometimes its a 'real' book meaning non-fiction rather than fiction, or a book that's not romance or fantasy or YA. I guess we can't fault people for not having the 'insider' knowledge that we have acquired in the process of becoming a writer. As you say, many people don't realize the time and effort that goes into a book whether its for adults, YA or kids but it can be deflating. Jeanette O'Haganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11057798704247611224noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-515660504291275491.post-64516238030927512432014-10-01T08:03:58.721+10:002014-10-01T08:03:58.721+10:00Great post. It's so easy to get discouraged, e...Great post. It's so easy to get discouraged, especially when people around you don't understand how much time and effort goes into a book.<br /><br />As a children's author, I get asked when I'll write a "real" book (ie a novel for adults)!Melissa Gijsbershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15027810729828362064noreply@blogger.com