tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124298039392938540.post1855385540003084452..comments2023-04-13T10:45:46.763-04:00Comments on My Brain on Books: On Writing and LearningJoanne R. Fritzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08076959910493197255noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124298039392938540.post-65592904641418584822013-03-24T23:16:54.557-04:002013-03-24T23:16:54.557-04:00Hi Jennifer! Thanks for weighing in. And I know wh...Hi Jennifer! Thanks for weighing in. And I know what you mean. I've done the same thing with several craft books. Joanne R. Fritzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08076959910493197255noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124298039392938540.post-77324318798419225372013-03-24T21:28:36.718-04:002013-03-24T21:28:36.718-04:00Great post, Joanne. I enjoy reading craft books, ...Great post, Joanne. I enjoy reading craft books, but I have a hard time finishing them. I start out strong, but then end of stopping and picking up a middle grade novel instead. Sometimes, I feel like I can get too much advice from too many people. It does pay to simplify at times, I think. Just my two cents.Jennifer Rhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02219388997277330690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124298039392938540.post-17657840775407155012013-03-23T16:52:36.992-04:002013-03-23T16:52:36.992-04:00Yes, it sounds like a lot, but I'm getting the...Yes, it sounds like a lot, but I'm getting there! I'm sure you are too.Joanne R. Fritzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08076959910493197255noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124298039392938540.post-66861627530752940122013-03-23T15:57:37.716-04:002013-03-23T15:57:37.716-04:00Oh goodness! 10 years! reading it like that makes ...Oh goodness! 10 years! reading it like that makes it very daunting but I totally see the point. :)<br /><br />~AkossAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124298039392938540.post-90131163094285976722013-03-20T19:34:18.150-04:002013-03-20T19:34:18.150-04:00Yes. That's the title.Yes. That's the title.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124298039392938540.post-688972924972887482013-03-19T22:59:55.044-04:002013-03-19T22:59:55.044-04:00That's one thing we all seem to have in common...That's one thing we all seem to have in common, Andrea. Reading lots of books! Thanks for stopping by.Joanne R. Fritzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08076959910493197255noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124298039392938540.post-74348289809656652352013-03-19T22:52:22.629-04:002013-03-19T22:52:22.629-04:00I enjoy reading craft books,especially when I have...I enjoy reading craft books,especially when I have some aspect of writing that I especially want to improve, such as plotting. But my writing has grown the most through reading lots and lots of books.Andrea Mackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15250681746122381149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124298039392938540.post-69224709746472770802013-03-19T21:36:27.149-04:002013-03-19T21:36:27.149-04:00Oh, that would be a good book for me, Medeia. Was ...Oh, that would be a good book for me, Medeia. Was it Rivet Your Readers with Deep Point of View by Jill Elizabeth Nelson?Joanne R. Fritzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08076959910493197255noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124298039392938540.post-45654068087499576652013-03-19T18:23:11.279-04:002013-03-19T18:23:11.279-04:00The last craft book I read was more inspiration th...The last craft book I read was more inspiration than anything. There was one I read last year, about deep POV, that was really good, but I forgot the title.<br /><br />I have other craft books on my TBR list that I really need to get to.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124298039392938540.post-41323696572104969382013-03-19T12:31:10.836-04:002013-03-19T12:31:10.836-04:00Oh yes, Stina! You read more craft books than anyo...Oh yes, Stina! You read more craft books than anyone I know. But it's great that you've learned so much from them.Joanne R. Fritzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08076959910493197255noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124298039392938540.post-33036124360442149162013-03-19T12:02:09.373-04:002013-03-19T12:02:09.373-04:00I love writing conferences, Gina! If they weren...I love writing conferences, Gina! If they weren't so expensive I'd attend several every year.<br /><br />That's a wonderful goal for your crit group.Joanne R. Fritzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08076959910493197255noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124298039392938540.post-49196621415643169692013-03-19T12:01:06.384-04:002013-03-19T12:01:06.384-04:00Thanks, Erik!Thanks, Erik!Joanne R. Fritzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08076959910493197255noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124298039392938540.post-12249373645162259052013-03-19T11:48:14.456-04:002013-03-19T11:48:14.456-04:00One of the reasons I'm so addicted to conferen...One of the reasons I'm so addicted to conferences. The ways I can improve as a writer are never ending, it seems! Thanks for the reminder... My crit group is focusing on writing more beautifully this year :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124298039392938540.post-79457648045420757812013-03-19T08:51:01.382-04:002013-03-19T08:51:01.382-04:00GREAT analogy!GREAT analogy!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124298039392938540.post-40956759570385502422013-03-18T22:15:38.327-04:002013-03-18T22:15:38.327-04:00lol I think you know the answer for me. I'm a ...lol I think you know the answer for me. I'm a writing craft book junkie. But I've learned so much from them, you can't blame me for being an addict. :DStinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11415189347501942340noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124298039392938540.post-47586887344448562022013-03-18T21:13:30.332-04:002013-03-18T21:13:30.332-04:00Hi Jess! Yes, there's definitely something to ...Hi Jess! Yes, there's definitely something to be said for letting it all stew awhile.Joanne R. Fritzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08076959910493197255noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124298039392938540.post-50093493707210224982013-03-18T18:59:21.682-04:002013-03-18T18:59:21.682-04:00The quote is awesome and works on so many levels! ...The quote is awesome and works on so many levels! I had forgotten about it- but it came back to me as soon as I read the post. I do enjoy reading craft books and find them helpful- but I agree that after a while it is necessary to just let the information swell inside of us. :)<br />~JessDMShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04202502753961748992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124298039392938540.post-63644703351963626502013-03-18T18:41:42.437-04:002013-03-18T18:41:42.437-04:00Excellent point, Akoss. Bird by Bird is as much ab...Excellent point, Akoss. Bird by Bird is as much about living as it is about writing.<br /><br />And I've only read two advice/craft books all the way to the end. I've skimmed a few more!<br /><br />As for learning by writing, one of my favorite quotes is one mentioned by mystery writer Joe Gores. When he asked a Notre Dame professor how to become a writer, the prof said: "It’s very easy to be a writer. Go to a big city and get a little room with a table and a chair in it. Put your typewriter on the table and your backside on the chair. Start writing. When you stand up ten years later, you’ll be a writer."<br /><br />I always thought Hemingway said that but when I Googled it, this is what came up. I would argue with the big city part of it, but I love the rest!Joanne R. Fritzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08076959910493197255noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124298039392938540.post-22745877097531366922013-03-18T18:06:14.530-04:002013-03-18T18:06:14.530-04:00To me Bird by Bird is more of a guidance book. I u...To me Bird by Bird is more of a guidance book. I used to rely a lot on craft books when I decided to get serious about my writing. But I've only read one from beginning to end. Usually I skim or go to a specific chapter for reference.<br />I do have to agree with Barbara that I learned more by trial and error and also through a lot of MG fiction reading.<br /><br />~AkossAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124298039392938540.post-48029592085427203652013-03-18T15:56:29.187-04:002013-03-18T15:56:29.187-04:00I have that book, too, Natalie, but I haven't ...I have that book, too, Natalie, but I haven't read it yet! When I revised my first novel, I dipped into Self-Editing for Fiction Writers by Browne & King.Joanne R. Fritzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08076959910493197255noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124298039392938540.post-11564715676955961752013-03-18T15:54:10.251-04:002013-03-18T15:54:10.251-04:00And you've clearly done the right thing, Kate,...And you've clearly done the right thing, Kate, since you now have two published books under your belt!<br /><br />Both of those books are as much memoir as how-to. Haven't read Stephen King's yet, but one of the things I love about BIRD BY BIRD is that you feel the author is talking to you and revealing herself along with all this wisdom. There are no writing exercises. Her best advice is simply to keep writing!Joanne R. Fritzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08076959910493197255noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124298039392938540.post-72324294873598533192013-03-18T15:48:42.036-04:002013-03-18T15:48:42.036-04:00Thanks for stopping by, Caroline!Thanks for stopping by, Caroline!Joanne R. Fritzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08076959910493197255noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124298039392938540.post-7080089843473243332013-03-18T15:48:25.975-04:002013-03-18T15:48:25.975-04:00Barbara, I appreciate your honesty. I trudged alon...Barbara, I appreciate your honesty. I trudged along on my own for four years before I relented and purchased a couple of craft books. But I have to admit, I don't use them much. I've read thousands of MG and YA books, and I write. And that is more useful to me.<br /><br /><br />Two important things I learned from Anne Lamott, though: one is that rough drafts are meant to be crappy (she didn't use that word, but you can figure it out!) and the other is to carry an index card and pen everywhere you go, in case an idea hits you. You could, of course, do the same thing with a smart phone.<br /><br />Joanne R. Fritzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08076959910493197255noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124298039392938540.post-62613231739374535722013-03-18T10:48:10.745-04:002013-03-18T10:48:10.745-04:00Plot and Structure is one of my favorite craft boo...Plot and Structure is one of my favorite craft books. I want to read his newer book on revising.Natalie Aguirrehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03756087804171246660noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9124298039392938540.post-72979084188607437172013-03-18T10:45:20.541-04:002013-03-18T10:45:20.541-04:00I love that quote, Joanne. It's so very true.
...I love that quote, Joanne. It's so very true.<br /><br />BIRD BY BIRD is one of my favorites, so is ON WRITING by Stephen King. Even though I've read them both multiple times, I learned the most about writing by actually writing.K. M. Waltonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07167022736028223997noreply@blogger.com