tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303240770763546035.post6180713110708530245..comments2024-03-17T09:14:10.329-07:00Comments on Laini Taylor's blog: Book Beginnings, and Finding the StoryLaini Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14064837312936707024noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303240770763546035.post-4350015826488409932012-12-06T16:32:42.553-08:002012-12-06T16:32:42.553-08:00What happened to your puppy's tail? Poor thing...What happened to your puppy's tail? Poor thing... I'm guessing it's a rescue or aged doggie... or both?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04661363056386569822noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303240770763546035.post-47902450971165361872011-09-22T16:39:36.987-07:002011-09-22T16:39:36.987-07:00I just want you to know, I *keep* coming back to t...I just want you to know, I *keep* coming back to this, even months later. I'm dragging myself through a beginning right now, and your words-- just knowing they're here to find-- help immensely. Thank you. I want to make cheery signs of the questions you listed and hang them up around my work space (also known as the living room). :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02708904894566620939noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303240770763546035.post-43599002337774164662011-04-11T00:02:59.659-07:002011-04-11T00:02:59.659-07:00Oh Laini, you have saved me once again! Only this ...Oh Laini, you have saved me once again! Only this time, I actually followed your advice before I read about it! Does that make sense? Does that make me psychic, or just so damn happy that I am beginning to think like you?<br />Anyways, I was going nowhere with a novel and lost enthusiasm, so in an effort to kickstart some brainstorming, I changed my characters from adults to highschool kids, and wow, did it make such a difference! Their motivations changed because their circumstances were different, and voila! I am now full of enthusiasm and ready to climb that mountain, kicking over gravestones as I go!Melaniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18220002100234484355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303240770763546035.post-50209307058858196392011-04-01T19:23:30.708-07:002011-04-01T19:23:30.708-07:00Coming a little late to this, but I LOVE it. As a ...Coming a little late to this, but I LOVE it. As a mystery writer, I'm usually thinking "What will make things worse?" but I think I'm going to start playing around with the "cool" thing.April Henryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01193292966301864407noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303240770763546035.post-6369139125003486722011-03-17T08:24:31.294-07:002011-03-17T08:24:31.294-07:00Your post was so helpful. Thanks for sharing it. ...Your post was so helpful. Thanks for sharing it. Clementine is such a sweetheart, I love seeing her.Kate Robertsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08369818854597534304noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303240770763546035.post-91833573030312513112011-03-16T19:55:10.877-07:002011-03-16T19:55:10.877-07:00Always, always, always greatfulllll when you go he...Always, always, always greatfulllll when you go here.<br /><br />Thanks! Something you said here really helped me feel better about when I skip around, just going with an idea and not sure where or if I will use it.<br /><br />:)Amberhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04680903854519503303noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303240770763546035.post-11944130359609011002011-03-14T16:02:26.077-07:002011-03-14T16:02:26.077-07:00Thank you for encouraging writers and sharing your...Thank you for encouraging writers and sharing your methods. What a blessing that is!Carolyn Dietrichnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303240770763546035.post-23263515987462375782011-03-14T09:08:31.906-07:002011-03-14T09:08:31.906-07:00New projects always terrify me, and it often takes...New projects always terrify me, and it often takes me a while to get going. <br /><br />I've always thought about the hopes, wants, and fears of the protagonist but never the reader. This is fabulous!Caroline Starr Rosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04597510685273079757noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303240770763546035.post-16768968745775065722011-03-14T04:05:43.179-07:002011-03-14T04:05:43.179-07:00Hi Laini,
I loved your post. Thank you for taking ...Hi Laini,<br />I loved your post. Thank you for taking the time to share with us all. I'd be really interested to hear more about what a 'scene' means to you. Is there a framework in your brain that helps provide any structure when you're exploring and creating? I sometimes feel like I just have a 1000 fragments left once I'm done editing out what I don't like. I have read lots of posts about 'goals' and 'obstacles', but you're so great at explaining things in very human and creative terms that I'd be massively grateful if you could talk about this. Many thanks. xAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303240770763546035.post-85426607548487192292011-03-12T21:42:45.378-08:002011-03-12T21:42:45.378-08:00Sigh. Although I loved the majority of the post, t...Sigh. Although I loved the majority of the post, there are a few things I must disagree with: <br /><br />"... process is not the point. The finished manuscript is the point."<br /><br />But Laini, without process, how will be get there? Sometimes we must focus on the little steps to reach the big ones. The more we focus on process, the better our final result will be. And we'll have more fun getting there, because the pressure will be off us to produce a perfect result the first time. <br /><br />"...you need to have removed all traces of yourself and vanished, leaving only the words. You want your reader to sink into the story and forget all about authors."<br /><br />Although a popular and modern p.o.v., I'm not sure this is always the best approach. Sometimes, as a reader, I like to have the feeling that there is an interaction going on between me and the author--a secret, special relationship. It doesn't take me out of the story--quite the contrary. It's as if I have an friendly and omnipotent guide while I'm there.<br /><br />Anyway, that's just my opinion. Thanks for doing another post on the art of writing! :-)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303240770763546035.post-21612978273513821472011-03-12T20:53:44.645-08:002011-03-12T20:53:44.645-08:00Thank you for more brilliant words on writing! I a...Thank you for more brilliant words on writing! I am bookmark-ing this post so I can come back to it when I need a good dose of Novel Boost. Thank you for so graciously sharing your process with us.Faith Prayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09711135740295281493noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303240770763546035.post-73429133092523694452011-03-12T19:43:02.862-08:002011-03-12T19:43:02.862-08:00Oh Laini, this post is literally a Godsend! I just...Oh Laini, this post is literally a Godsend! I just found out my first book did not sell. But, by the grace of God, I am okay. Better than expected. And so here I sit, feeling a bit like I've gone back to square one, but hoping simply to be able to finish another book. So why is it so scary?<br /><br />I've done it before I've told myself. I can do it again. That's why your post is so encouraging! It affirms to me the fact that beginning a new book is hard. And confusing. And feels like your brain might explode with the promise of the big idea that you can't quite grasp yet.<br /><br />So, thanks. And please continue to shed wisdom on this topic as only you can.Katie Andersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08067504634291164972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303240770763546035.post-73499187357744501842011-03-12T19:33:51.796-08:002011-03-12T19:33:51.796-08:00Wow, your series of questions about the readers...Wow, your series of questions about the readers' experience are BRILLIANT! Thank you so much for sharing them!Robin Lhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02960833482145500665noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303240770763546035.post-45834445831367260992011-03-12T17:00:59.027-08:002011-03-12T17:00:59.027-08:00Would you believe me if I told you I had just writ...Would you believe me if I told you I had just written an e-mail to you requesting a post on this <i>exact</i> information? I kid you not. <br /><br />Thank you!!!!! So much here to digest. Must. Come. Back. For. More.Msbhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00603485735930378064noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303240770763546035.post-38353112497060993452011-03-12T16:27:45.336-08:002011-03-12T16:27:45.336-08:00Excellent as always. I love your posts on craft. ...Excellent as always. I love your posts on craft. :)<br /><br />*ponders the coolness factor of her current draft*Shvetahttp://shveta-thakrar.livejournal.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303240770763546035.post-36453423070960576162011-03-12T14:06:57.331-08:002011-03-12T14:06:57.331-08:00Uh, just wanted to add that the thigs that appear ...Uh, just wanted to add that the thigs that appear in the snow were supposed to be things, not thighs. Because that would make a different kind of pattern.tone almhjellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05213144552658031984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303240770763546035.post-32918268783041884322011-03-12T13:29:37.810-08:002011-03-12T13:29:37.810-08:00I admire how limber you are, how willing to do new...I admire how limber you are, how willing to do new things, to write alternative chapters, to come up with not just new, but completely different ideas. <br /><br />That's not how I roll. I start with an idea, but it's like a streak of light across a snowy field. I begin to scrape at the snow, trying to dig exactly where the light falls, failing and blundering a little (it's hard to be precise with mittens on), but mostly staying within the boundaries I set myself. It's just a shallow graze at first, but then I keep digging deeper, trying to even out the bottom of my hole, and all sort of thigs start to appear, stuff that's hidden in the snow, that I didn't really know about. I uncover treasures and horrors, and in the end I hit level, frozen ground and that's as far as I can go. Sure, I can widen the walls of the hole. But I can never start a truly different pattern, not without completely starting over.<br /><br />Yeah, I wish I were as limber as you.tone almhjellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05213144552658031984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303240770763546035.post-80925513552693421672011-03-12T10:56:58.156-08:002011-03-12T10:56:58.156-08:00I'm glad what you're after is "cool&q...I'm glad what you're after is "cool" because your books are definitely cool while also being brilliant, original, refreshing, and just plain <i>WOW</i>. <br /><br />I feel better now, knowing that all my written <i>pieces</i> are actually me discovering my story.Lizhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14462326493697656060noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303240770763546035.post-69384865982947532442011-03-12T10:03:29.399-08:002011-03-12T10:03:29.399-08:00Thanks so much for that look into your process, an...Thanks so much for that look into your process, and the encouragement. <br /><br />Clementine is a cutie! Do not despair, polka dot doggie, the white kitty at our house has survived much worse. :)Paula@Reading Larkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13734071289437623098noreply@blogger.com