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Teaching Writing
Author: bob04.29.2008
Back from my long Jeep trip. It was interesting and both conferences were well worth attending.
One thing that happened was meeting people I’d worked with years ago. Either via Writer’s Digest or my own writing courses. A woman in Las Vegas showed me her published book that she was very happy with. I just got an email from a member of Orange County RWA about some information for the workshops I’m giving the weekend after this and she mentioned that a book I had given her a little help on had sold to Berkley for a 2009 publication (www.deannacameron.com) I’ve had a couple of other people this past year that I worked with tell me they got published.
I’m not saying it was my teaching or help that got them published. They did that on their own. But it’s nice to know that the assistance actually helps because teaching writing is often very frustrating. In Who Dares Wins I talk about the Five Percent rule and I think it’s true in teaching writing: about five percent of the people I’ve worked with really apply the material and change what they are doing. But those who do get so much better it’s amazing. So it’s really about them and there own initiative.
I’ll be in OK City this weekend for the Oklahoma Federation of Writers Conference. Then LA next weekend for the Orange County Romance Writers monthly workshop. Then back here for my Advanced Writers Workshop for which there are two slots still available, but it will close soon as I have to get the material disseminated early in May.
Then no trips for a while. Well three weeks which is a long time for me. I have to get Jefferson turned in to my agent after rewriting based on feedback.
Nothing but good times ahead.
April 29th, 2008 at 12:24 pm
Congratulations on the good feedback. Well, it is good feedback. Those people mentioned your advice because they believe it helped them. Everybody wins.
And I agree with the 5 percent rule when it comes to life in general. Anyone can change, but most people don’t. Which doesn’t apply to you, of course, because we all know you were perfect to begin with.
April 29th, 2008 at 2:23 pm
Well, dang it Bob. I don’t check your blog for a while and miss out on an opportunity to do a meet and greet. I only live 30 mins from the Springs and actually commute there 5 days a week. Are you going to join us at Mary’s in June?
April 29th, 2008 at 3:21 pm
Five percent? FIVE?! That’s just wrong. I guess that means I’m a member of a small select group of sensible people. Who knew.
Too bad I’m not advanced enough for the Advanced Retreat, or I’d sign up to
take another beatingbask in the sunshiny rays of your perfect golden advice. You have too damn many rules and requirements for admission, you know that? I suppose you also make attendees promise to stay on topic and not be disruptive in class. [sigh] Probably just as well I don’t qualify. Besides, I’ve already put away all my winter clothes.April 29th, 2008 at 4:53 pm
I have many of your “Bobisms” typed up and taped to the edge of my computer.
I especially like “no chuckling, too much chuckling, chuckling again.” All originally written in red in the margins of one of my first attempts at writing romance.
I’d figured the hero was in a romance novel so he should be a happy guy. Wrong. So … nobody has ever chuckled in my manuscripts since, not once, I swear. I have given my guys wary glances, grunts, perplexed or baffled looks, macho stare-offs, lopsided grins, and an occasional but VERY rare laugh, and only if something is really funny, which in my stories is also rare. Just figured you should know that, and feel proud.
Seriously, you are an excellent teacher.
April 29th, 2008 at 10:11 pm
Yeah, no chuckling ever. Unless the guy is a schmuck. But wary glances, grunts, perplexed or baffled looks, macho stare-offs . . . sounds like you’re writing Bob.
April 30th, 2008 at 9:43 am
Oh dear, “no chuckling” ever. Oops, I’ve already broken the rule–chuckling over Robena’s message. Guilty of chuckling.
But now, with Jenny’s message, I’m also guilty of “chuckling again.”
Keep it up and I’ll have “3-strikes” against me! What’s the penalty for that?
April 30th, 2008 at 12:14 pm
Maybe a visit from Chuckles the Clown, Jade?
Well today, Robert, just FYI I got an honorable mention from the Bookends Literary contest, First 100 words, and my entry was in Romantic Suspense. While it wasn’t a win, I was really tickled. And Jessica Faust said she’d like to see more. So that’s cool.
The manuscript wasn’t the one we worked on at your retreat (that one has now been requested by both an agent and an editor and I’m waiting to see.) This one is my brand spanking new baby. But, I did use all of the advice from the lessons in the HWSW course and from your retreat. And of course nobody chuckled.
So thanks, youse guys, you’re gonna make a writer out of me yet.
May 1st, 2008 at 6:30 pm
See, I spoke too soon and I was clowning around. I got a rejection today from the editor I mentioned yesterday. One day a pat on the back the next a kick in the pants, I tell you it’s a rollercoaster ride. But, I’m not giving up. Not yet.
May 2nd, 2008 at 9:57 am
Hey Robena,
Persistence pays! Many authors go through a number of rejections, then later when they’re bestselling novelists, the public is surprised to hear that their first novel was rejected how-many-times.
As for Bob’s May workshop, I’d like to participate, but my novel isn’t finished. So another time. (And I’ll be sure to keep the “chuckling” to a minimum!)
May 4th, 2008 at 3:47 pm
Those road trips must be fabulous. The U.S. has some fantastic scenery! And all that open road .. ..
The new Joke about the high gas prices:
Drink don’t drive… because beer is now cheaper than gas.