tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-857180574575421857.post1545413714301013493..comments2023-10-31T07:48:03.919-04:00Comments on Vintage Vonnie : Change Your Clock and Your Batteries by Vonnie DavisVonnie Davis ~ Romance Authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07360480832587538895noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-857180574575421857.post-12815786159690738752013-11-03T21:59:39.306-05:002013-11-03T21:59:39.306-05:00Thanks Maureen. I'm thrilled you like my revam...Thanks Maureen. I'm thrilled you like my revamped blog.Vonnie Davis ~ Romance Authorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07360480832587538895noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-857180574575421857.post-38452545744399424642013-11-03T17:51:04.400-05:002013-11-03T17:51:04.400-05:00Really nice post, Vonnie. Your page here is very ...Really nice post, Vonnie. Your page here is very impressive! <br />MaureenMaureenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03785560971517152290noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-857180574575421857.post-25914670769424208912013-11-03T11:26:30.076-05:002013-11-03T11:26:30.076-05:00Awwl, thanks AJ. I don't feel I create magic. ...Awwl, thanks AJ. I don't feel I create magic. In fact I feel as if my writing is getting worse. Self-doubt? Oh yeah, I've got a ton of it...and I think I keep it around my hips. (snort) Let's keep pushing each other, shall we? Vonnie Davis ~ Romance Authorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07360480832587538895noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-857180574575421857.post-386974034298376142013-11-03T09:48:10.361-05:002013-11-03T09:48:10.361-05:00I was just able to get over to read your post and ...I was just able to get over to read your post and I loved it, V! You've hit the nail on the head for so many of my writing foibles. The insecurities can be crippling, as can the excuses not to write and distractions of life. At the least, I try to get in 500 words a day, but I don't always reach my goal. Thank you for these great reminders and for supplying the ever needed kick in the pants I need to keep going. And I agree with many of the comments here. Yours is one of those voices I read and become so envious. Calvin is right. You do create magic. xoAJ Nuesthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16010557416505335378noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-857180574575421857.post-49958340284715760542013-11-03T09:35:48.065-05:002013-11-03T09:35:48.065-05:00Sweet, talented Dixie, I think the learning curve ...Sweet, talented Dixie, I think the learning curve of a GOOD writer is continual. There are so many nuances to our craft. So many things change like editors' preferences and readers' likes and dislikes. To keep from getting stagnant, we have to keep studying our craft. Vonnie Davis ~ Romance Authorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07360480832587538895noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-857180574575421857.post-24240151946172989302013-11-03T01:35:09.865-05:002013-11-03T01:35:09.865-05:00Vonnie, I have huge problems with every one of the...Vonnie, I have huge problems with every one of these, and several more besides. But I'm learning...always learning, and that's what makes it all worthwhile for me. Listen to Calvin and make magic happen, my friend. You're so good at it!<br /><br />Great post!Dixie Lee Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08357931648168292632noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-857180574575421857.post-28683292597654253032013-11-02T20:09:36.173-04:002013-11-02T20:09:36.173-04:00I understand, Sarah. Our characters don't alwa...I understand, Sarah. Our characters don't always turn out the way we expect but, then again, sometimes they turn out better. Allow them to be who they are.Vonnie Davis ~ Romance Authorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07360480832587538895noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-857180574575421857.post-16679279656662948432013-11-02T18:46:12.399-04:002013-11-02T18:46:12.399-04:00Great advice, Vonnie! I have a problem with #2 - ...Great advice, Vonnie! I have a problem with #2 - sometimes I just can't seem to get my butt in the chair! It doesn't help that I need silence when I write, and silence is rare in this house. <br /><br />Oh, and the dreaded #5...yeah, that one gets me. Right now it's not whether I can write another, but whether my current hero will still have that 'something' that made readers love him when he was a just a secondary character in the previous book. ACK!Sarah Grimmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03737049126767567901noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-857180574575421857.post-74371191741797302902013-11-02T17:27:34.004-04:002013-11-02T17:27:34.004-04:00Maybe if you can't allow yourself to write a c...Maybe if you can't allow yourself to write a complete crappy first drive, aim for a chapter. Then go back and tweak and polish and pick those stronger words. I'm aiming for a chapter, a crappy scene at a time. Maybe...maybe I'll eventually reach a complete book.Vonnie Davis ~ Romance Authorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07360480832587538895noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-857180574575421857.post-2802357044628529742013-11-02T17:24:06.393-04:002013-11-02T17:24:06.393-04:00Susan, you must start developing this new series. ...Susan, you must start developing this new series. Think how happy your readers will be to start reading it...hint, hint. I do love a good historical. *coughs and winks*Vonnie Davis ~ Romance Authorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07360480832587538895noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-857180574575421857.post-63662865310346531792013-11-02T17:19:42.460-04:002013-11-02T17:19:42.460-04:00Oh,LaVerne, self-doubt can be a bitch, can't s...Oh,LaVerne, self-doubt can be a bitch, can't she? Every time I finish a book, she comes knocking at my door with a 3-pc. set of luggage, figuring to move in. You know what's wild? She asks me the same questions as yours does!! What if you can't write another? What if that contract was just a fluke? ACK! It doesn't matter if she hails from Virginia or New Zealand, Ms. Self-Doubt knows how to play on our weaknesses. I say kick her to the curb and keep on writing.Vonnie Davis ~ Romance Authorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07360480832587538895noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-857180574575421857.post-84610456561802983222013-11-02T16:51:58.722-04:002013-11-02T16:51:58.722-04:00I love every one of these. Even if I've heard ...I love every one of these. Even if I've heard them before, they bear repeating. I always need a jump start at the beginning (of a book, of a chapter, of a writing session), and I spend WAY too much time searching for the perfect word. I've never been able to convince myself of the value of a shitty first draft no matter who recommends it. There's always so much to learn.Alison Hendersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12725250883303287946noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-857180574575421857.post-24880397759197143502013-11-02T16:29:21.385-04:002013-11-02T16:29:21.385-04:00Going through a slump myself, Vonnie. And it is al...Going through a slump myself, Vonnie. And it is all because I hadn't started something new before I finished up with my latest book. I do have a premise for a new series, but have to kick myself in the butt to get to work on it. Thanks for the inspiration!Susan Macateehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07476340887041053638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-857180574575421857.post-57058427845429776652013-11-02T15:44:26.112-04:002013-11-02T15:44:26.112-04:00Oh, that crippling self-doubt. I've been strug...Oh, that crippling self-doubt. I've been struggling ever since my last book went through its final edits. You know - that horrible feeling of, 'am I capable of writing another?' and 'was it just a fluke?' I KNOW it is that evil internal editor clucking her tongue and shaking her head at me. She is truly evil and must be destroyed. So I'm taking part in NaNoWriMo again this year to do just that, and so far, its working.<br /><br />Oh, and I'm SO with you on number 5. Every time I read a new book, I sigh and wail, 'this writer is so good! Why can't I write like that?' I'm going to work on overcoming your half-dozen too, shrug off the doubts and just write, darn it all. I'm going to change those batteries right now! :)<br /><br />Good luck to us all!LaVerne Clarkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10418742073687153863noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-857180574575421857.post-43237155907281468752013-11-02T15:31:44.792-04:002013-11-02T15:31:44.792-04:00R.E. there's much to be said for the perfect w...R.E. there's much to be said for the perfect word, the more powerful word, but the time for pulling it out is during edits once the complete story is penned or on the computer. This is an issue I struggle with, too. I think a chapter has to be perfect before I can move onto the next one. Sometimes I find I edit the spirit right out of the story. Thanks for stopping by.Vonnie Davis ~ Romance Authorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07360480832587538895noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-857180574575421857.post-84256409530928915032013-11-02T15:05:49.102-04:002013-11-02T15:05:49.102-04:00This is so me. I stare out the window trying to ca...This is so me. I stare out the window trying to capture that elusive but perfect word. I will take your advice to heart and try to power through.<br /><br />R.E. Mullinsremullinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02803012686654154333noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-857180574575421857.post-25145630154729845172013-11-02T14:50:48.385-04:002013-11-02T14:50:48.385-04:00Joanne, I like either quiet or the low drone of sp...Joanne, I like either quiet or the low drone of sporting events while I write. Turn the TV volume down to wear I can almost hear it and I can slip into the zone. Calvin, though, likes to blare the stereo in the den, in the garage and the CD player in the kitchen--all on different CD's and all at the same time. Drives me bonkers!!! I slip in earplugs. LOL <br /><br />I think our insecurities are part and parcel of our creative souls. We feel things deeper and in a different way than non-writers. On one hand, it's a blessing for it takes us deep into our craft. On the other hand, it can be crippling for it ramps up the self-doubt. Working through the maze of not feeling good enough can often have us teetering on the line of reason.Vonnie Davis ~ Romance Authorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07360480832587538895noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-857180574575421857.post-31571983038469391672013-11-02T14:26:25.436-04:002013-11-02T14:26:25.436-04:00Mary, I am so with you. I'm wondering what'...Mary, I am so with you. I'm wondering what's wrong with my drive. I used to turn out a book every 3-4 months. I haven't finished anything in 5 months. I'm writing...kinda. But can't get in the groove again. I need discipline. I truly do.Vonnie Davis ~ Romance Authorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07360480832587538895noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-857180574575421857.post-13403774814480821122013-11-02T14:25:46.859-04:002013-11-02T14:25:46.859-04:00I would agree with all of these. I can't entir...I would agree with all of these. I can't entirely call this work, though, except maybe to my husband and kids. That sucks the fun out of it for me, puts my head in a head space that's not very conducive to creative writing. Though, I do treat it like a job. I get up every morning and sit down at my computer. <br /><br />#5 and 6 are the banes of my existence. My self doubt can be a killer. I have to tell myself every single time I hear my doubt start to creep in that it's only my fear, or that fear cripples me. My inner editor is a harsh witch and shutting her up is difficult. I tend to need to be in the mood to write or I sit there staring at a blank page. The words refuse to come. But sometimes, getting into the game is as simple as forcing myself to start writing crap. <br /><br />I cannot, however, no matter how hard I try, write in a noisy house. Which is what I'm currently trying to do. I'm having so much trouble finishing this bleeping chapter, because everybody got up for the day. lol <br /><br />Oh, #5. You know what's funny about that, Vonnie? I do the same thing every single time I read one of yours. ;) <br /><br />Great advice, my friend. Great advice. Joanne Stewarthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17708364499624604625noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-857180574575421857.post-50219490275948291562013-11-02T14:21:00.721-04:002013-11-02T14:21:00.721-04:00Vonnie you are so insightful. Now if I can only ge...Vonnie you are so insightful. Now if I can only get myself back into the groove. I seem to be floating off in nowhereville, wondering what is stopping me from finishing that last third of a story. I am floundering...But, I'll get there!Mary Ricksenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12676306822821614446noreply@blogger.com