tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8056815460076050228.post7900926869834243356..comments2023-11-22T06:35:25.251-05:00Comments on POE'S DEADLY DAUGHTERS: What makes you a "real" writer?Julia Buckleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10270211923343731659noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8056815460076050228.post-72260038245855982212011-01-27T21:44:02.114-05:002011-01-27T21:44:02.114-05:00Chiming in very late, here--but in my mind, you ar...Chiming in very late, here--but in my mind, you are indeed a writer. It's the hard work, the desire to do the best we can, that earns the title.Kathleen Ernsthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07009876100214388898noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8056815460076050228.post-3024783544824844282011-01-14T17:30:49.627-05:002011-01-14T17:30:49.627-05:00Well said, Sandy! It's hard work, and somethin...Well said, Sandy! It's hard work, and something compels us to give it our best. But it's certainly not the money. I'd be out on the street in a week if I had to support myself with my fiction. Still, I can't quit. And I sincerely hope you don't either. I'm also a reader!Ellis Vidlerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11918353154644739285noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8056815460076050228.post-50604113097226170852011-01-14T15:36:16.148-05:002011-01-14T15:36:16.148-05:00What a great post, Sandra. It's so refreshing...What a great post, Sandra. It's so refreshing to hear someone say that they're fine with their current success.<br /><br />Congratulations on all your kudos: book sales, library "rentals", awards, & good reviews.<br /><br />AlyxAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8056815460076050228.post-41382011937138526122011-01-14T01:43:37.396-05:002011-01-14T01:43:37.396-05:00Hi Sandra. This is the only blog I had time to re...Hi Sandra. This is the only blog I had time to read today but it was well worth my time. After working all day on my sequel, I was questioning my new "non-profit" career when I received one of those surprise emails from a new fan who loved my book. That's all it takes to keep me going. Of course I still have to keep clipping coupons but I'm not going to stop writing. <br /><br cindy samplehttp://www.cindysamplebooks.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8056815460076050228.post-76091855908922698362011-01-13T21:29:04.514-05:002011-01-13T21:29:04.514-05:00Thanks for such an honest, thought-provoking post,...Thanks for such an honest, thought-provoking post, Sandra. <br /><br />I love this quote from Richard Bausch: "I don't teach writing. I teach patience. Toughness. Stubbornness. The willingness to fail. I teach the life... When you feel global doubt about your talent, that is your talent. People who have no talent don't have any doubt. And it's figuring that out and learning how Kathleen A. Ryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02067969207174384793noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8056815460076050228.post-72061561474797528202011-01-13T20:15:59.588-05:002011-01-13T20:15:59.588-05:00Of course you're a real writer. Your publisher...Of course you're a real writer. Your publisher is real, the advances and your earnings are real (have any cashiers at your local supermarket refused your money because i's not real enough?), your Agatha is real (as far as I know, you didn't buy a teapot at Target and stick on a label proclaiming yourself the winner), and those readers who write you letters and buy your books, are,I Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8056815460076050228.post-28712550321176162772011-01-13T18:48:38.193-05:002011-01-13T18:48:38.193-05:00Hi, Sandy. You've obviously touched a nerve he...Hi, Sandy. You've obviously touched a nerve here with all the comments. Having been published by two different small presses, I know exactly how you feel. I had a brief thought the other day about whether I really wanted to keep spending my time writing at this stage in my life (I recently passed 85), but then I sat at my laptop and pounded out a few more pages. It's what I've always Chester Campbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07155257451021065218noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8056815460076050228.post-8150300305542157522011-01-13T10:57:24.774-05:002011-01-13T10:57:24.774-05:00Hi Sandy,
You're a real writer/author, make ...Hi Sandy, <br /><br />You're a real writer/author, make no mistake about THAT. <br /><br />I'm going through the same thing. In fact I've been on a two year hiatus because I hated the marketing part so much. The skills involved are like apples and oranges. Very different. Personally, I think it sucks that publishers can't make an effort to promote their writers. I've heard Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15435928827370589951noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8056815460076050228.post-36144878329130897632011-01-13T10:43:42.116-05:002011-01-13T10:43:42.116-05:00I'm a swimmer. I swim several times a week, a...I'm a swimmer. I swim several times a week, and it's become a big part of who I am. Am I fast enough to compete? Graceful enough to be on a synchronized team? No way. My goals are different from those kinds of swimmers. My needs are different, too. (I like the dopey-looking goggles that don't gouge big circles under my eyes. I have big enough circles already, thank you!) I'mNancyMnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8056815460076050228.post-89202864203049544882011-01-13T08:05:55.854-05:002011-01-13T08:05:55.854-05:00Thank you all for your comments -- and for clappin...Thank you all for your comments -- and for clapping. :-) Yes, many artists have labored in obscurity, making little or no money from their work. Even our honorary dad, Edgar Allan Poe, lived in poverty. The world is too much focused on money these days.Sandra Parshallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17403144248962124138noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8056815460076050228.post-60959554727467944672011-01-13T02:00:44.264-05:002011-01-13T02:00:44.264-05:00Sandra, Please keep writing. I love your books. Yo...Sandra, Please keep writing. I love your books. You kindly sent me an ARC of Broken Places, and it was a wonderful read. I know it is difficult to write and to not get the financial return, especially in these hard times. As a reader, I try to buy as many books as I can, but I also ask my library to order all the books I would like to read. In recent years, the library has ordered mysteries from Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10369644879158081857noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8056815460076050228.post-75043920103506033272011-01-13T01:47:20.734-05:002011-01-13T01:47:20.734-05:00I'm not only clapping, I'm counted as what...I'm not only clapping, I'm counted as what you call one of the relatively few. I'll never not buy a Sandra Parshall book!<br /><br />But, as a small press author, yet to make my debut, I can tell you that, at least at some, it's required to sell a certain number of books before they'll consider publishing a second one. The pressure is everywhere.<br /><br />I think my highest Kaye Georgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05596677617002735674noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8056815460076050228.post-28809869428346135302011-01-13T00:12:47.954-05:002011-01-13T00:12:47.954-05:00Yes, Sandra, you are a writer. I know I look forwa...Yes, Sandra, you are a writer. I know I look forward to your next book. Someone mentioned the Kindle. Well, I bought mine so I can continue to read the authors I like, and respect, without being dependent on the bean counters( to use someone else's word) that seem to run the show these days. I wish you all luck.lil Glucksternhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09288522126331817172noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8056815460076050228.post-37681832328788517572011-01-12T21:43:08.549-05:002011-01-12T21:43:08.549-05:00Hey, was Van Gogh an artist? Money is not the meas...Hey, was Van Gogh an artist? Money is not the measure though of course we want and need it.<br /><br />Please don't give up writing unless you hate doing it. Lots of us readers depend on you wonderful writers. Hang in there!Marthahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00976845403961701822noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8056815460076050228.post-83746423658744979022011-01-12T20:33:07.845-05:002011-01-12T20:33:07.845-05:00Yes, Norma, that's you! And I'll bet that ...Yes, Norma, that's you! And I'll bet that reader didn't ask you whether you can pay your mortgage out of your royalties. Hearing from people who have actually read my books and liked them is what keeps me going. I wonder if the average reader has any idea how much a kind word means to a writer.Sandra Parshallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17403144248962124138noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8056815460076050228.post-89745462284656407762011-01-12T20:22:26.114-05:002011-01-12T20:22:26.114-05:00Sandra, I'm clapping! I know exactly how you ...Sandra, I'm clapping! I know exactly how you feel. But.... a couple of weeks ago a neighbor's daughter brought a copy of my book over for me to sign and was thrilled to actually meet a real writer! (That's me?)Norma Husshttp://www.normahuss.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8056815460076050228.post-59663664851354637702011-01-12T19:44:01.001-05:002011-01-12T19:44:01.001-05:00Donis, I'm sure you and I will be presenting m...Donis, I'm sure you and I will be presenting more manuscripts to our shared editor for a while yet. <br /><br />Dru, thank you. :-)Sandra Parshallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17403144248962124138noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8056815460076050228.post-43475741048886021952011-01-12T19:18:48.397-05:002011-01-12T19:18:48.397-05:00::Clap, clap, clap::
Every book I buy, I thank ...::Clap, clap, clap:: <br /><br />Every book I buy, I thank the author because they gave me pleasure with the stories they presented to me.<br /><br />Keep on writing and you are all authors/writers to me.Druhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07978384022143035332noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8056815460076050228.post-60045467629832766372011-01-12T19:10:11.528-05:002011-01-12T19:10:11.528-05:00I'm going through the exact same thing right n...I'm going through the exact same thing right now. Do I want to put myself through that once again? And yet when the fever comes over you, you've gotta write, don't you? I think the drive to create is sacred. It's just discouraging that it doesn't pay.Donis Caseyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15207228706777377242noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8056815460076050228.post-70890997549796994622011-01-12T16:14:34.391-05:002011-01-12T16:14:34.391-05:00Sally C. says, Regarding a writer's output, is...Sally C. says, Regarding a writer's output, is Margaret Mitchell (Gone With the Wind) not a writer because she only had one book? It's quality, not quantity, that counts. IMHO, a handful of high-quality work is better than piles of poorly-written fluff.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8056815460076050228.post-39881633579964831032011-01-12T15:03:53.781-05:002011-01-12T15:03:53.781-05:00Sandra: you're most welcome. (It's always...Sandra: you're most welcome. (It's always nice when speaking the truth is also encouraging. [grin])<br /><br />Diane: self-publication, e.g. via the Kindle, looks like it will be the only real refuge for a growing group of good writers who are independent through no fault of their own. The most obvious problem will be self-promotion. I love seeing things like the blog-tours, and JJMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13404985455733545060noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8056815460076050228.post-17186804595557407602011-01-12T14:52:24.532-05:002011-01-12T14:52:24.532-05:00Sandra, you are a writer/author. Period. And a v...Sandra, you are a writer/author. Period. And a very good one. Rich or not. <br /><br />The market today - maybe the last decade? - is really publisher oriented instead of writer oriented. Reminds me of tv today vs, say, the 1970s. Many good shows were given a chance to get an audience and grow. Mash, Barney Miller - examples of shows that didn't balloon the first two weeks, but became Dianehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14500345360900905162noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8056815460076050228.post-38273367706519242132011-01-12T14:14:28.283-05:002011-01-12T14:14:28.283-05:00Thanks for the encouragement, Mario. :-)Thanks for the encouragement, Mario. :-)Sandra Parshallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17403144248962124138noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8056815460076050228.post-79061480372076018182011-01-12T14:07:09.805-05:002011-01-12T14:07:09.805-05:00You're a writer if you'd continue writing ...You're a writer if you'd continue writing even if you knew the book won't get published. You're a writer if writing is as necessary to you as breathing, and eating, and sleeping. You're a writer if everything you see and hear and do is filed away, formally in a notebook or simply subconsciously in your mind, for later reference and inclusion in a story. You're a writer JJMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13404985455733545060noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8056815460076050228.post-75827222463634407662011-01-12T12:31:37.462-05:002011-01-12T12:31:37.462-05:00Real writerhood is defined by your attitude toward...Real writerhood is defined by your attitude toward your writing (as Gigi suggests), not by anyone else's reactions to your writing or your income. Do you file a Schedule C? I'm betting you do. If so, even the IRS considers you a "real" writer. Keep on writing your excellent books!Laura DiSilverionoreply@blogger.com