tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6360410252358941163.post3319504958010851965..comments2023-12-09T00:33:24.572-08:00Comments on Novel Matters: More on Naturally Beautiful Novels: A Roundtable DiscussionBonnie Grovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11377519561074174038noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6360410252358941163.post-6124476178668813812011-06-30T08:42:08.471-07:002011-06-30T08:42:08.471-07:00Oh, Karen, so much of what you said is absolutely ...Oh, Karen, so much of what you said is absolutely right on. Even the best writers slog and struggle -- I love that phrase -- and not just at the beginning. It's always a struggle, and I imagine they feel like they'll never measure up. And it's true that some things can't be taught. But excellent writing is the result of exercising the craft within us. It's like building muscle. Practice does lead to perfection -- though we'll always fall short of that. Keep at it, keep striving, because you are on the right path!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6360410252358941163.post-68737702553710339762011-06-29T23:33:29.587-07:002011-06-29T23:33:29.587-07:00Sharon, I loved this: "It happens when a writ...Sharon, I loved this: "It happens when a writer is careful about every idea, every scene, and every word; the macro and the micro of the work." <br /><br />Such a powerful concept.<br /><br />I've thought a lot about what Bonnie said, too. How the idea of the gifting to write beautifully can be defeating to those who think they may not have it. It made me ponder because I guess a part of me has always believed that, as Athol said, there is a certain gifting that can't be taught. On the other hand, I also believe in growth and learning the craft and the constant struggle to improve. <br /><br />So I've been weighing up the balance of these ideas and wondering where I fit between them. I think I've reached a sort of conclusion. I think it's about seeing. As far as I can tell, few writers start out penning golden words without some sort of slog and struggle. In that sense, it's about developing what we already have. But the best writers can see the beauty in the literature of those ahead of them. They have an appreciation for the nuance of language and the song of story. <br /><br />That sort of seeing can't easily be taught. If you have it, you know that what you write will forever fall slightly short. You'll spend your life trying to reconcile your vision with the reality of your words. Still, your work will be better than the work of those whose craft is excellent but whose vision is near-sighted.<br /><br />To create Beauty, you first must be able to see it.Karen @ a house full of sunshinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17787916466155321686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6360410252358941163.post-34679410022155578772011-06-29T14:49:56.515-07:002011-06-29T14:49:56.515-07:00Wendy, Susie, Megan, we always appreciate your com...Wendy, Susie, Megan, we always appreciate your comments. They add so much to the discussions here. Megan, I did the same thing with the article. Kept going back to it. I'm glad you enjoyed it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6360410252358941163.post-80212444224726234742011-06-29T13:28:00.953-07:002011-06-29T13:28:00.953-07:00I've benefited greatly from your "unpacki...I've benefited greatly from your "unpacking" here. <br /><br />I re-read Monday's post a handful of times and keep going back to it. Feels kind of like a teenage girl reading a teenage-girl magazine and then looking in the mirror to see if she is actually beautiful. Right now my WIP feels awkward and gangly and is turning around in its mother's too-big skirt, but here I can reassure it that it is still growing, it's not finished yet. Whether or not it will ever be called Beautiful is not for me to say, but I can tell it that it is honest, and truthful, and human, and that's all that matters at this stage. <br /><br />I don't know if that makes sense to anyone else, but there you go anyway. Thankyou for your discussion.Megan Sayerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15410068162701570057noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6360410252358941163.post-35051277061377001162011-06-29T11:46:58.808-07:002011-06-29T11:46:58.808-07:00I loved how he wrote about rhythm. It was like mus...I loved how he wrote about rhythm. It was like music and I felt it in my body. That is something I'm trying to do in a script I'm writing. It amplifies the meaning of words.<br /><br />I love the round tables, ladies! I'm learning so much from all of you. Thank you.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6360410252358941163.post-14769498462495253442011-06-29T05:45:22.974-07:002011-06-29T05:45:22.974-07:00Patti, I loved all three of those books. I think y...Patti, I loved all three of those books. I think you ladies will like The Outside Boy too. Just a hunch.<br /><br />I'm thinking of kicking one to the curb I picked up recently. It's sitting odd with me. I'll keep you posted.<br /><br />This may sound so strange, but the way you capture how I feel and describe things...I swear, I feel like it would be a joy to bathe in your words.<br /><br />Working on the rhythm thing in my edits. Reading it out loud truly helps.<br /><br />I don't know how I missed the Monday post but I'm glad I got a taste in this roundtable.<br /><br />~ WendyWendy Paine Millerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15136235074351188350noreply@blogger.com