tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12150605.post8991038840294352714..comments2024-03-27T02:56:19.634-06:00Comments on Melissa Amateis: Make the CommitmentUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12150605.post-52021487082081319422007-03-08T08:01:00.000-07:002007-03-08T08:01:00.000-07:00Toni - You're right. Lack of confidence is a big i...Toni - You're right. Lack of confidence is a big issue in writing and we ALL suffer from it. :-)Melissa Amateishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16086267508858187716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12150605.post-74593177892814741572007-03-07T17:12:00.000-07:002007-03-07T17:12:00.000-07:00I think many people also flounder because of a lac...I think many people also flounder because of a lack of confidence, not realising we all suffer from that same lack of confidence. Or a rejection puts them off and they curl up like a snail and hide away, unwilling to be poked again. Man I have been poked big time ;)<BR/><BR/>LOL. Great post Melissa. I think if a writer commits, it also makes it easier for family and friends to take them more seriously.Toni Andersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08348843511453338339noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12150605.post-53721772782872688972007-03-07T12:04:00.000-07:002007-03-07T12:04:00.000-07:00Meretta - I'm glad you made the commitment. I stru...Meretta - I'm glad you made the commitment. I struggled for awhile, too. Maybe it's just the path some of us need to take.Melissa Amateishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16086267508858187716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12150605.post-54800602763440562872007-03-07T12:02:00.000-07:002007-03-07T12:02:00.000-07:00Thanks for sharing, Melissa. I took a long time st...Thanks for sharing, Melissa. I took a long time struggling to make the commitment as well, but now that I have, I feel so much more hopeful about being published.Merettahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03860086164332852221noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12150605.post-39689158009039626882007-03-07T10:50:00.000-07:002007-03-07T10:50:00.000-07:00Nienke - I'm so glad you rediscovered the joy of w...Nienke - I'm so glad you rediscovered the joy of writing! It tends to get lost in the whole eagerness to get published, I think. :)Melissa Amateishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16086267508858187716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12150605.post-66194543494946116492007-03-07T10:32:00.000-07:002007-03-07T10:32:00.000-07:00Fabulous post Melissa! You are absolutely right. I...Fabulous post Melissa! You are absolutely right. In the past year, I've cut down on blogging, surfing, and trying too hard to be perfect and returned to the joy of writing.. which is why I ever started in the first place - the joy of it!Nienke Hintonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17006405722858209012noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12150605.post-2475735316563767942007-03-07T10:01:00.000-07:002007-03-07T10:01:00.000-07:00Devon - Yes, that's another way to look at it. I t...Devon - Yes, that's another way to look at it. I think over the years, I didn't want it badly enough. Now I definitely do. :)<BR/><BR/>Betty - Absolutely. The writing process and the publishing process are two different worlds. But focusing on the writing process is the most important, IMO.<BR/><BR/>Anissa - YES. Writing is for me, too. Even if I never get published, I cannot imagine doing anything else.Melissa Amateishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16086267508858187716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12150605.post-38833180253897965232007-03-07T08:09:00.000-07:002007-03-07T08:09:00.000-07:00Great post, Melissa! I absolutely agree. Goals a...Great post, Melissa! I absolutely agree. <BR/><BR/>Goals are crucial for me. I need that motivation and accountability. When I get discouraged, I just remind myself why I write. It's for me. Publication is a goal, but it's not the reason I sit down every morning and tap away at the keyboard. <BR/><BR/>Thanks for the motivation!Anissahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02773384041569563564noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12150605.post-22440180449267394832007-03-07T07:49:00.000-07:002007-03-07T07:49:00.000-07:00Melissa, great post again. You are on a roll!I thi...Melissa, great post again. You are on a roll!<BR/><BR/>I think it's important to keep in mind that (1) writing and (2) publishing (including marketing and promotion) are two completely different processes. Writers write, it's as simple as that. With that commitment, we can all have a great writing life, before we sell, in between sales, whatever else is going on.Elizabeth Parkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08467967171406206358noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12150605.post-40969512561333182182007-03-07T07:28:00.000-07:002007-03-07T07:28:00.000-07:00Diane - if that system works for you, all the bett...Diane - if that system works for you, all the better! I find that I have to have to at least be editing the rest of the manuscript while I start working on the next novel.<BR/><BR/>Tess - Blogging can be another time waster, that's for sure, but since I've cut out lots of other things, it's the one thing I decided that I can stick with and it won't cut into my writing time. I usually don't blog on the weekends and that helps me considerably.<BR/><BR/>Kelly - Once you make that commitment, it just makes everything fall into place, doesn't it? :-)Melissa Amateishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16086267508858187716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12150605.post-15307904810871574632007-03-07T07:22:00.000-07:002007-03-07T07:22:00.000-07:00I've always wanted to be a writer, to be published...I've always wanted to be a writer, to be published, but I can't honestly say I was dedicated and committed to my writing until about 4-5 years ago when I made the decision to give it top priority. Since then, I've never looked back and I've never been happier.Kelly Boycehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15459592836145655997noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12150605.post-42616119407156303182007-03-07T05:35:00.000-07:002007-03-07T05:35:00.000-07:00I'm committed. Which is why I'm actually consideri...I'm committed. Which is why I'm actually considering cutting my blogging/commenting down to once a week. Or twice at the most. We've so many outside things going on right now that I can't drop, so I think the blogosphere is going to have to be it - that way I can seriously work on my writing. Hopefully once we're in the house, I'll be able to blog more frequently again.Tesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15636189059910920978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12150605.post-65321907579632061702007-03-07T02:21:00.000-07:002007-03-07T02:21:00.000-07:00One piece of advice I've always held onto was from...One piece of advice I've always held onto was from me mate, Shirley. She said get the synopsis and the first 3 chapters polished until they shine and get the partial out working while you start the next brand new project (this is because I have so many ideas at once). Then, she said, if someone asks for a full, you work on that, polish it till it shines, send it off, and pick up something else while you wait. And so on. Not brilliant for someone who needs to finish one job before starting the next, but a good way to see what's of interest out there and what people would be interested in considering.Dianehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06430125606844410229noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12150605.post-78390467078790966152007-03-06T19:30:00.000-07:002007-03-06T19:30:00.000-07:00Robin - It's making those small goals - like resol...Robin - It's making those small goals - like resolving to get a novel finished after your daughter was born - that help keep us committed. And yes - you're still a writer even though you're not yet published. IMO, you don't need to be published to be validated as a writer. :-)<BR/><BR/>Kacey - It does make a difference, doesn't it? When we make that commitment, things change - priorities change, the way we look at life changes, and our writing definitely changes. :-)Melissa Amateishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16086267508858187716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12150605.post-27185478753802546032007-03-06T19:16:00.000-07:002007-03-06T19:16:00.000-07:00THIS was an excellent post. The whole make a commi...THIS was an excellent post. The whole make a commitment to your writing. I've really done that the last few years. It does make a big difference. No, I'm not published yet. But I'm committed to really REALLY trying. Not just walk the walk and talk the talk. Great post.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12150605.post-70899497318801893922007-03-06T18:51:00.000-07:002007-03-06T18:51:00.000-07:00Yep, this was me for a while. My big issue was tha...Yep, this was me for a while. My big issue was that if it didn't sound like Jane Austen as it rolled off my pen, I thought I was horrible and would throw it out. The concept of rewriting didn't occur to me, I guess! Then, after I had my (2nd) daughter I resolved to get a novel done that year no matter what! The rewrites are taking a little longer than I'd like, but I've resolved to actually plan out the plot of the next novel beforehand. ;)<BR/><BR/>I really feel like last year I made the jump from wannabe writer to actual writer, even though I'm not published yet. :)Robin L.https://www.blogger.com/profile/00801990168336545886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12150605.post-90338213760387595212007-03-06T17:08:00.000-07:002007-03-06T17:08:00.000-07:00Amy - I'm so glad it was helpful! Sometimes I need...Amy - I'm so glad it was helpful! Sometimes I need to reaffirm my commitment to myself and my blog is the perfect place to do that - nice and public! ;-)Melissa Amateishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16086267508858187716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12150605.post-56515637961078491182007-03-06T16:42:00.000-07:002007-03-06T16:42:00.000-07:00Melissa, this is a powerful post, and just the kic...Melissa, this is a powerful post, and just the kick I needed to shift into high gear. Thank you for this exceptionally timely reminder. I'm off to write.<BR/><BR/>AmyLynne Griffin and Amy MacKinnonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11107479565926998943noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12150605.post-38327306414226135642007-03-06T13:48:00.000-07:002007-03-06T13:48:00.000-07:00Rene - Motivation is the kicker. And believe me, t...Rene - Motivation is the kicker. And believe me, there are days I succumb to the pull of the couch and a good book over the writing. <BR/><BR/>Sue - exactly. Enjoy the writing process and wait when that time is "right" for you - it's different for us all. You have the right attitude, girl!!! :)Melissa Amateishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16086267508858187716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12150605.post-33561516327806538602007-03-06T13:45:00.000-07:002007-03-06T13:45:00.000-07:00Since 2006 I've become fully committed too - the w...Since 2006 I've become fully committed too - the weirdest change I'm noticing is that although my ultimate goal is still to be published, I'm not as desperate. <BR/><BR/>I've now become committed to the whole writing process, rather than just the end result - I <I>know</I> that one day I'll get there, but not until the time is *right* for me. In the meantime I'm going to enjoy every minute of the writing process.<BR/><BR/>Sue :-)Susan Rixhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14886401948164523860noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12150605.post-37850562499026193812007-03-06T10:54:00.000-07:002007-03-06T10:54:00.000-07:00Boy, you really are on a roll with the good posts....Boy, you really are on a roll with the good posts.<BR/><BR/>My commitment wavers as you know. How many times do I tell you I've quit writing? Then boom, I'm back at it. I'd like to be more committed and less reliant on motivation. <BR/><BR/>You typed on notebook paper? My mom would have choked me if I put notebook paper in her typewriter.Renehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14966956368329586135noreply@blogger.com