Comments on: Weekly Wrap: Our Unfinished Brilliance http://litpark.com/2006/11/24/weekly-wrap-our-unfinished-scraps-of-brilliance/ where writers come to play Fri, 08 Aug 2008 20:04:07 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2 By: Susan Henderson http://litpark.com/2006/11/24/weekly-wrap-our-unfinished-scraps-of-brilliance/#comment-1557 Susan Henderson Fri, 01 Dec 2006 14:10:34 +0000 http://litpark.com/2006/11/24/weekly-wrap-our-unfinished-scraps-of-brilliance/#comment-1557 You're sweet, Mary. Thank you. You’re sweet, Mary. Thank you.

]]> By: Mary Akers http://litpark.com/2006/11/24/weekly-wrap-our-unfinished-scraps-of-brilliance/#comment-1541 Mary Akers Thu, 30 Nov 2006 21:57:50 +0000 http://litpark.com/2006/11/24/weekly-wrap-our-unfinished-scraps-of-brilliance/#comment-1541 Ah, what a wonderful piece of writing. When did I stop living my life so I could write about it? Indeed. I think this is my favorite piece, too. Touched me, totally. Ah, what a wonderful piece of writing. When did I stop living my life so I could write about it? Indeed. I think this is my favorite piece, too. Touched me, totally.

]]> By: Susan Henderson http://litpark.com/2006/11/24/weekly-wrap-our-unfinished-scraps-of-brilliance/#comment-1390 Susan Henderson Sat, 25 Nov 2006 15:43:26 +0000 http://litpark.com/2006/11/24/weekly-wrap-our-unfinished-scraps-of-brilliance/#comment-1390 Robin - I was writing on Thanksgiving, too. Can you send me a reminder about Cameron? I'll get you two in touch later today. Lance - Ha! Wondertwins, we are. I always prefer yearning for something than having it. Except the book deal thing. The yearning got old. Julie - You describe well all the various pots cooking on the stove at the same time. Maybe you agree with this, but I suspect if we weren't all busy with our relationships and our lives and had 100% of each day to write, we wouldn't have any of those great ideas. I think there's something about having our mind focused elsewhere that sparks the ideas in the first place. Carolyn - Don't worry, I'm like a maniac about finishing this current novel. It's so close I can see the finish line. Sarah - I'm really sorry to know your comments are disappearing. Every now and then comments get stuck in the spam filter, but I checked for yours there and couldn't find any. Let me know if this happens again and I can talk to my amazing webmaster and see if he knows how to fix the problem. Gail - I think you're right about who crashes. I always think of my writing as a heroin addiction. It has more control of me than I have of it. Robin - I was writing on Thanksgiving, too. Can you send me a reminder about Cameron? I’ll get you two in touch later today.

Lance - Ha! Wondertwins, we are. I always prefer yearning for something than having it. Except the book deal thing. The yearning got old.

Julie - You describe well all the various pots cooking on the stove at the same time. Maybe you agree with this, but I suspect if we weren’t all busy with our relationships and our lives and had 100% of each day to write, we wouldn’t have any of those great ideas. I think there’s something about having our mind focused elsewhere that sparks the ideas in the first place.

Carolyn - Don’t worry, I’m like a maniac about finishing this current novel. It’s so close I can see the finish line.

Sarah - I’m really sorry to know your comments are disappearing. Every now and then comments get stuck in the spam filter, but I checked for yours there and couldn’t find any. Let me know if this happens again and I can talk to my amazing webmaster and see if he knows how to fix the problem.

Gail - I think you’re right about who crashes. I always think of my writing as a heroin addiction. It has more control of me than I have of it.

]]> By: Gail http://litpark.com/2006/11/24/weekly-wrap-our-unfinished-scraps-of-brilliance/#comment-1385 Gail Sat, 25 Nov 2006 14:50:48 +0000 http://litpark.com/2006/11/24/weekly-wrap-our-unfinished-scraps-of-brilliance/#comment-1385 This is a very touching piece - essay if you like. I loved reading it, recognizing the familiar and appreciating the unique of who you are. Stories worth crashing the car for, I guess that's what we all want, though we often end up crashing the family, or into people, instead. This is a very touching piece - essay if you like. I loved reading it, recognizing the familiar and appreciating the unique of who you are.

Stories worth crashing the car for, I guess that’s what we all want, though we often end up crashing the family, or into people, instead.

]]> By: Sarah Roundell http://litpark.com/2006/11/24/weekly-wrap-our-unfinished-scraps-of-brilliance/#comment-1366 Sarah Roundell Fri, 24 Nov 2006 20:48:29 +0000 http://litpark.com/2006/11/24/weekly-wrap-our-unfinished-scraps-of-brilliance/#comment-1366 Excellent writing, Susan, and as per usual the weekly wrap ties us all together in such a nice package despite our differences. I'm amazed at those at the park who use fancy notebooks for their writing as I have a beautiful sun notebook, an Andy Warhol journal, and a handmade sketchbook and I just can't bring myself to spoil them with my random thoughts. The interview with Cameron was excellent and I really enjoyed Ellen's interview with her daughter. For some reason the comments I posted disappeared into the internet somewhere. Looking forward to Lance tomorrow! Excellent writing, Susan, and as per usual the weekly wrap ties us all together in such a nice package despite our differences. I’m amazed at those at the park who use fancy notebooks for their writing as I have a beautiful sun notebook, an Andy Warhol journal, and a handmade sketchbook and I just can’t bring myself to spoil them with my random thoughts. The interview with Cameron was excellent and I really enjoyed Ellen’s interview with her daughter. For some reason the comments I posted disappeared into the internet somewhere. Looking forward to Lance tomorrow!

]]> By: Carolyn http://litpark.com/2006/11/24/weekly-wrap-our-unfinished-scraps-of-brilliance/#comment-1365 Carolyn Fri, 24 Nov 2006 18:55:39 +0000 http://litpark.com/2006/11/24/weekly-wrap-our-unfinished-scraps-of-brilliance/#comment-1365 Ah, Susan. The honesty in this column makes you so transparent I can see all the way to your heart. I am with Robin on this line: “I promise myself not to miss his growing up, not to let this writing make me distracted and self-centered.” My kids are 17 & 19 and I remember well those days when I'd tuck my little son into bed and run my fingers across his cheek, musing that one day it would have whiskers just like his daddy. And the day my daughter started her period at school and called me to bring her some feminine protection. These are all scraps of my memory, whether they're written in my PC folder or cherished in my heart. They are unforgetable moment. It's these and other memories of our combined lives that surprise me when I'm writing. Lance, too, got it right in saying this column could be your breakout novel. But finish your current work first. Ah, Susan. The honesty in this column makes you so transparent I can see all the way to your heart.

I am with Robin on this line:

“I promise myself not to miss his growing up, not to let this writing make me distracted and self-centered.”

My kids are 17 & 19 and I remember well those days when I’d tuck my little son into bed and run my fingers across his cheek, musing that one day it would have whiskers just like his daddy. And the day my daughter started her period at school and called me to bring her some feminine protection.

These are all scraps of my memory, whether they’re written in my PC folder or cherished in my heart. They are unforgetable moment. It’s these and other memories of our combined lives that surprise me when I’m writing.

Lance, too, got it right in saying this column could be your breakout novel. But finish your current work first.

]]> By: Julie Ann Shapiro http://litpark.com/2006/11/24/weekly-wrap-our-unfinished-scraps-of-brilliance/#comment-1363 Julie Ann Shapiro Fri, 24 Nov 2006 18:48:18 +0000 http://litpark.com/2006/11/24/weekly-wrap-our-unfinished-scraps-of-brilliance/#comment-1363 Hi Susan, What a beautiful post. I read this and want to jump up and applaud and cry and salute you and all us writing in between everything else that is trying to distract us. I don't know how you do it with an adorable family. I just have my husband and the job and some social things that compete and know that I couldn't possibly do it all with kids. I barely feel like I do it all now. As it I want more and more writing time. Somehow I manage to write most days two or three hours and find little bits of time to dash away ideas for future writing sessions. Like when I'm working on my publisher's book now...no I didn't get some big book deal not yet...it's just a cool job working for a publisher. When I get a great story idea at work I log off a few minutes and write down the idea afraid I'll lose it if I don't. And while I work I'll be thinking about that idea in the back of my mind until I return again to that feverish time to just write and write and forget about the clock, the world around me where everything else trickles away but the story, the story that must be written. Hi Susan,
What a beautiful post. I read this and want to jump up and applaud and cry and salute you and all us writing in between everything else that is trying to distract us. I don’t know how you do it with an adorable family. I just have my husband and the job and some social things that compete and know that I couldn’t possibly do it all with kids. I barely feel like I do it all now. As it I want more and more writing time. Somehow I manage to write most days two or three hours and find little bits of time to dash away ideas for future writing sessions. Like when I’m working on my publisher’s book now…no I didn’t get some big book deal not yet…it’s just a cool job working for a publisher. When I get a great story idea at work I log off a few minutes and write down the idea afraid I’ll lose it if I don’t. And while I work I’ll be thinking about that idea in the back of my mind until I return again to that feverish time to just write and write and forget about the clock, the world around me where everything else trickles away but the story, the story that must be written.

]]> By: Julie Ann Shapiro http://litpark.com/2006/11/24/weekly-wrap-our-unfinished-scraps-of-brilliance/#comment-1362 Julie Ann Shapiro Fri, 24 Nov 2006 18:48:17 +0000 http://litpark.com/2006/11/24/weekly-wrap-our-unfinished-scraps-of-brilliance/#comment-1362 Hi Susan, What a beautiful post. I read this and want to jump up and applaud and cry and salute you and all us writing in between everything else that is trying to distract us. I don't know how you do it with an adorable family. I just have my husband and the job and some social things that compete and know that I couldn't possibly do it all with kids. I barely feel like I do it all now. As it I want more and more writing time. Somehow I manage to write most days two or three hours and find little bits of time to dash away ideas for future writing sessions. Like when I'm working on my publisher's book now...no I didn't get some big book deal not yet...it's just a cool job working for a publisher. When I get a great story idea at work I log off a few minutes and write down the idea afraid I'll lose it if I don't. And while I work I'll be thinking about that idea in the back of my mind until I return again to that feverish time to just write and write and forget about the clock, the world around me where everything else trickles away but the story, the story that must be written. Hi Susan,
What a beautiful post. I read this and want to jump up and applaud and cry and salute you and all us writing in between everything else that is trying to distract us. I don’t know how you do it with an adorable family. I just have my husband and the job and some social things that compete and know that I couldn’t possibly do it all with kids. I barely feel like I do it all now. As it I want more and more writing time. Somehow I manage to write most days two or three hours and find little bits of time to dash away ideas for future writing sessions. Like when I’m working on my publisher’s book now…no I didn’t get some big book deal not yet…it’s just a cool job working for a publisher. When I get a great story idea at work I log off a few minutes and write down the idea afraid I’ll lose it if I don’t. And while I work I’ll be thinking about that idea in the back of my mind until I return again to that feverish time to just write and write and forget about the clock, the world around me where everything else trickles away but the story, the story that must be written.

]]> By: Lance Reynald http://litpark.com/2006/11/24/weekly-wrap-our-unfinished-scraps-of-brilliance/#comment-1361 Lance Reynald Fri, 24 Nov 2006 16:07:54 +0000 http://litpark.com/2006/11/24/weekly-wrap-our-unfinished-scraps-of-brilliance/#comment-1361 ;) that column looks like a breakoout novel!! love this snippet, no need to dig into why. proof positive that you are indeed a writer. (though I am fascinated that you're still even considering getting to have sex; Sex is for rockstars...yearning is for writers) ;) ;)
that column looks like a breakoout novel!!

love this snippet, no need to dig into why.

proof positive that you are indeed a writer. (though I am fascinated that you’re still even considering getting to have sex; Sex is for rockstars…yearning is for writers) ;)

]]> By: Robin Slick http://litpark.com/2006/11/24/weekly-wrap-our-unfinished-scraps-of-brilliance/#comment-1360 Robin Slick Fri, 24 Nov 2006 15:01:34 +0000 http://litpark.com/2006/11/24/weekly-wrap-our-unfinished-scraps-of-brilliance/#comment-1360 Sue, this is my all time favorite of your Lit Park columns. Maybe because it's because of how much I relate -- I especially love this line: "I promise myself not to miss his growing up, not to let this writing make me distracted and self-centered." Oh, how I struggle with that still, and my kids are 19 and 20. I printed out a chapter yesterday -- on Thanksgiving! -- and as I was reading it over and pulling my hair out over errors, my kids were talking to me and I had to stop myself from snarling, "Can't you see I'm busy?" In all fairness, Eric was text messaging for like an hour and Julie was cooking so I thought I had down time...but still...it was Thanksgiving and later that night, I wept at the thought that hey, this could be our last Thanksgiving together, you never know...next year they could be in Japan or LA or who knows where...and I've already outlived my own mother by many years...I need to treasure every moment with my family and be alert and not living in fantasy land writing in my head on the now rare occasions we are all at home together. Anyway, what a beautiful, moving piece of writing. And I especially liked knowing that I've read stories of yours containing some of the phrases you've almost gotten in car crashes over...your story about the student with the pennies in her mouth will stay with me forever. You should post links! Happy Black Friday... xo Rob Sue, this is my all time favorite of your Lit Park columns. Maybe because it’s because of how much I relate — I especially love this line:

“I promise myself not to miss his growing up, not to let this writing make me distracted and self-centered.”

Oh, how I struggle with that still, and my kids are 19 and 20. I printed out a chapter yesterday — on Thanksgiving! — and as I was reading it over and pulling my hair out over errors, my kids were talking to me and I had to stop myself from snarling, “Can’t you see I’m busy?”

In all fairness, Eric was text messaging for like an hour and Julie was cooking so I thought I had down time…but still…it was Thanksgiving and later that night, I wept at the thought that hey, this could be our last Thanksgiving together, you never know…next year they could be in Japan or LA or who knows where…and I’ve already outlived my own mother by many years…I need to treasure every moment with my family and be alert and not living in fantasy land writing in my head on the now rare occasions we are all at home together.

Anyway, what a beautiful, moving piece of writing.

And I especially liked knowing that I’ve read stories of yours containing some of the phrases you’ve almost gotten in car crashes over…your story about the student with the pennies in her mouth will stay with me forever. You should post links!

Happy Black Friday…

xo
Rob

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