Reviews from

Dysfunctional Marriage

Work your words or cut them loose

35 total reviews 
Comment from robyn corum
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

Liz,

That is awesome advice. As is Stephen King's wonderful words advising writers to be willing to, 'kill your babies.' It's a scary world out there and we should do whatever it takes to make our writing stand out. Good stuff!

 Comment Written 06-Oct-2021


reply by the author on 12-Oct-2021
    Check out Karenina's stupendous review--I'm not referring to the stars but to her brilliant segue to the theme! She's a wonderful person to boot--she always boosts fellow writers--the only person she criticizes is herself!
reply by robyn corum on 12-Oct-2021
    I already did AND have her a source to consider for submission off-site. You did good!
Comment from judiverse
Excellent
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I belonged to a writer's group several years ago, but most of the members had the effrontery to die, and I have not found another one. They can be helpful. Len's words are so true, we are not wedded to our words. However, he gets to make the decision. Was the passage really that tedious, or did it just strike a particular reader that way? Before taking such an action as to strike it all, he should go back over it and determine what needs to be cut. judi

 Comment Written 06-Oct-2021


reply by the author on 12-Oct-2021
    I'm don't know to what extent he reworked the passage.

    Check out Karenina's stupendous review--I'm not referring to the stars but to her brilliant segue to the theme! She's a wonderful person to boot--she always boosts fellow writers--the only person she criticizes is herself!
Comment from Robert Zimmerman
Excellent
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I find myself agreeing with Len and his comments about not being married to his words. I have actually come to enjoy the self-editing process. I allow myself 24 hours between sessions to let the work cool off.

Robert

 Comment Written 06-Oct-2021


reply by the author on 12-Oct-2021
    Check out Karenina's stupendous review--I'm not referring to the stars but to her brilliant segue to the theme! She's a wonderful person to boot--she always boosts fellow writers--the only person she criticizes is herself!
Comment from Mary Shifman
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This is an excellent post as usual but more applicable to out work on FanStory. When I first started writing all those hears ago, I was "wedded to my words" as Len said. Maturity and experience have changed my perception. There are many good things about being at FanStory. I like the fact that we are often given a sparse number of words to work with so being locked in is counter productive. Well done.

 Comment Written 06-Oct-2021


reply by the author on 12-Oct-2021
    Check out Karenina's stupendous review--I'm not referring to the stars but to her brilliant segue to the theme! She's a wonderful person to boot--she always boosts fellow writers--the only person she criticizes is herself!

    Nice to see you Mary--stop by anytime!
Comment from Ric Myworld
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Yes, we all should probably cut a large portion of what we write. But if we keep doing that: how will we ever get finished. And no, that's a statement, not a question. LOL. Yes, I'm just being my silly self. Thanks for sharing.

 Comment Written 06-Oct-2021


reply by the author on 12-Oct-2021
    Check out Karenina's stupendous review--I'm not referring to the stars but to her brilliant segue to the theme! She's a wonderful person to boot--she always boosts fellow writers--the only person she criticizes is herself!
reply by Ric Myworld on 12-Oct-2021
    Yes, Liz, Karenina is a special person. I guess, it's true that "bird's of a feather flock together." LOL.
Comment from Begin Again
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Oh, Liz, I doubt that you are alone when it comes to extending mercy to our words when others feel they have no value and should be whacked. We fall in love with our characters and live vicariously through them; thus, we tremble at the thought of simply deleting a portion of their life. Oh the woes of a fictional writer. LOL

Hugs, Carol

 Comment Written 06-Oct-2021


reply by the author on 12-Oct-2021
    Check out Karenina's stupendous review--I'm not referring to the stars but to her brilliant segue to the theme! She's a wonderful person to boot--she always boosts fellow writers--the only person she criticizes is herself!
Comment from BethShelby
Excellent
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I think some writers are wedded to thier words. I don't mind switching out a few ill-chosen words, but I'd have a problem giving up several pages. My daughter like to write poetry once in a while. A couple of them go a little nuts if I suggest that a different word or line would be better changed.

 Comment Written 06-Oct-2021


reply by the author on 12-Oct-2021
    Check out Karenina's stupendous review--I'm not referring to the stars but to her brilliant segue to the theme! She's a wonderful person to boot--she always boosts fellow writers--the only person she criticizes is herself!
Comment from Sanku
Excellent
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write from your heart and then readwith your brain.I don't know whose quote is that. You have to ruthlessly use your brain and chop chop chop.....Work your words and cut them loose..These words did not mislead me in spite of the title... I liked Len. It is difficult to be objective with your own work...

 Comment Written 06-Oct-2021


reply by the author on 12-Oct-2021
    Check out Karenina's stupendous review--I'm not referring to the stars but to her brilliant segue to the theme! She's a wonderful person to boot--she always boosts fellow writers--the only person she criticizes is herself!
reply by Sanku on 12-Oct-2021
    I did.And yes you were saying the same thing weren't you
Comment from royowen
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It's best not to be married to whatever we write, as if it's our baby, I discovered that when recording albums, we act as though we don't own them, I'm not a fan of copyright, perhaps it's because I haven't earned much, beautifully written blessings Roy

 Comment Written 06-Oct-2021


reply by the author on 12-Oct-2021
    Check out Karenina's stupendous review--I'm not referring to the stars but to her brilliant segue to the theme! She's a wonderful person to boot--she always boosts fellow writers--the only person she criticizes is herself!
reply by royowen on 12-Oct-2021
    That?s right she does, some folk are like that, humility doesn?t mean being critical of oneself.
Comment from karenina
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

I have to give this a six. It is well deserving. Not only that it is something I often have to repeat like some golden years yoga zen meditation mantra...

I get we ought not be wedded to our words. (Ouch)

So I agree.

Still, they are so like our children! We laboriously birth them, we tuck them in nicely with appropriate sentence structure, a bit of punctuation (we hope is right)--we settle back and adore our creation.

For about a minute.

Then we start paring a little here, padding a little there, considering how it will "read" to a perfect stranger half our age or (if it's even possible) thirty years senior to us (okay, ME).

I absolutely appreciate any and all insight and all higher power knows I need editorial help critically! Urgently! STAT!

It is a bit like admitting maybe our newborn isn't actually a perfect human... Actually looks like a wrinkled grape at first...

I'm laughing. When I peruse my OWN portfolio I cringe at some of the stuff I thought (at the time) merited posting.

It's a double edge sword this writing compulsion, isn't it? We love to write, we love to read...

The process! Ah, that can be elating or tortuous!

I have nightmares about red pencils!

YOU hit the nail on the head here Liz.

Karenina


 Comment Written 06-Oct-2021


reply by the author on 06-Oct-2021
    Thankssssss!

    POST THAT! Brilliant--it's far superior to my tidbit.
reply by karenina on 06-Oct-2021
    I felt happy got it. YOU are my muse!

    Hah!

    Karenina
reply by the author on 06-Oct-2021
    I referred other reviewers to your brilliant review--check out their replies. POST IT!