tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post3218105829327179114..comments2024-03-28T15:01:21.285-04:00Comments on SleuthSayers: Seeing Eye To EarLeigh Lundinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07921276795499571578noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-16383282001657861572018-05-15T21:35:34.054-04:002018-05-15T21:35:34.054-04:00You may (or may not) know that Mason Williams wrot...You may (or may not) know that Mason Williams wrote a song titled "$13 Stella," which was about HIS first guitar (also a Stella), which he held for the cover photo of his second LP<br />(https://www.amazon.com/Mason-Williams-Ear-Show/dp/B00CB7ULWW)Don Coffinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07198988872512792834noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-63341414125392790872018-05-14T23:12:13.855-04:002018-05-14T23:12:13.855-04:00I agree with Elizabeth, sometimes making a T S Eli...I agree with Elizabeth, sometimes making a T S Eliot cut is the best way to save a gasping manuscript. I rarely like reading present tense, but I could see it as a valid way to bring an immediacy to a problem child.Leigh Lundinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07921276795499571578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-78161367176439716352018-05-14T11:08:47.328-04:002018-05-14T11:08:47.328-04:00Sometimes making a short story even shorter helps ...Sometimes making a short story even shorter helps the most. I just sold two reprints of flash pieces which were slightly over 100 words when published the first time around. I cut them to drabble length, 100 words. I'll even get paid!<br /><br />I'm afraid music doesn't agree with me except as a fan. I wanted to play piano as a child but my mother vetoed that idea, probably because she was made to learn it herself & she has a tin ear. So I took violin from 3rd - 7th grade, after which I was able to create a schedule conflict & didn't take violin any more. I've forgotten everything I ever knew about the violin.<br /><br />Elizabethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00239163766419735693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-22800352281783790062018-05-14T10:12:58.520-04:002018-05-14T10:12:58.520-04:00R.T, "The Girl in the Red Bandanna" is o...R.T, "The Girl in the Red Bandanna" is one of the very few stories that came to me pretty much as a whole. I may have changed the name of the protagonist, but I think I wrote the first draft in about two days and went back to tighten it up once or twice over the next month, but that's all. Most of my stories go through a lot more changes. <br /><br />Thanks for the kind words.Steve Liskowhttp://www.steveliskow.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-68652279214325944442018-05-14T09:56:14.690-04:002018-05-14T09:56:14.690-04:00Steve, I too love the analogy between writing and ...Steve, I too love the analogy between writing and music. And picking the right instrument is very important, and finding a good video even more so. I'm going to have to keep an eye out for recorder instructions.<br /><br />And, Michael, I just ran into that switcheroo LAST NIGHT with a story I'm working on. Started in 1st person, now I realize, it's gotta go third. Back to the drawing board.<br /><br /><br /><br />Eve Fisherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03015761600962360110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-39967773979593415912018-05-14T09:04:30.688-04:002018-05-14T09:04:30.688-04:00Steve, I really liked "The Girl in the Red Ba...Steve, I really liked "The Girl in the Red Bandanna," AHMM May/June 2018. Did it write straight through or did it require a different look before finishing?R.T. Lawtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15523486296396710227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-9473744328209093012018-05-14T08:58:06.258-04:002018-05-14T08:58:06.258-04:00Interesting post, Steve! I've never given muc...Interesting post, Steve! I've never given much thought to the writing/music connection, but it makes sense! I too play the piano and guitar--both for my own enjoyment only.<br /><br />Not that it matters, but my first guitar was a Sears Silvertone acoustic. (My first electric guitar was a Silvertone also.) I still have 'em both.John Floydhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04001712728130488485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-82411276814575658062018-05-14T08:33:29.048-04:002018-05-14T08:33:29.048-04:00Janice, my piano playing can only get better. At t...Janice, my piano playing can only get better. At this point, I define "rock bottom." Paul, flexibility is something I still have to work at, and it's hard to teach, but it's priceless. <br /><br />And Michael, if first person works for you (and your track record proves that it certainly does), that strikes me as a legitimate reason. When we write, I think we all vacillate between a legitimate reason (which may or not be true) and pure gut. And both can be right, but not all the time. That's why it's so hard. And so rewarding.Steve Liskowhttp://www.steveliskow.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-81936761947037606852018-05-14T08:16:52.799-04:002018-05-14T08:16:52.799-04:00I rarely make the kind of dramatic changes to a WI...I rarely make the kind of dramatic changes to a WIP that you discuss. I have a tendency to write in first person*, and every so often I get partway through a ms. and realize the story is better told in third person.<br /><br />*There's a legitimate reason, but maybe that's a post of my own sometime in the future.Michael Brackenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01072019804281421944noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-4031923374513979492018-05-14T07:59:39.320-04:002018-05-14T07:59:39.320-04:00Absolutely right on- and how nice your revisions h...Absolutely right on- and how nice your revisions have turned out to be so profitable. I hope your piano playing is progressing, too.janice lawnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-64167500681642962192018-05-14T07:15:10.465-04:002018-05-14T07:15:10.465-04:00Great analogy between music and writing, Steve. I&...Great analogy between music and writing, Steve. I've used a similar analogy when teaching/talking writing. And, you're totally right when you say "Looking at your writing from a different perspective can have the same effect." It really does help if we can see things from a different angle.Paul D. Markshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15466234708772287399noreply@blogger.com