tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post405976550435421687..comments2024-03-28T05:02:33.237-06:00Comments on Author Elana Johnson: Practice, Practice, PracticeElana Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05877856005992028912noreply@blogger.comBlogger64125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-17750114668869849132010-12-06T14:25:16.408-07:002010-12-06T14:25:16.408-07:00I once heard that to be a good writer you need to ...I once heard that to be a good writer you need to write 1,000,000 words. I'm filing you under proof of that.<br />On one hand, it's unfair to use a specific number; on the other hand, though, writing takes a hecca ton of practice.Kelsey (Dominique) Ridgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10646757546422013401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-70576384188101986652010-12-04T19:10:15.659-07:002010-12-04T19:10:15.659-07:00So glad I read this. I feel a lot better about the...So glad I read this. I feel a lot better about the horrific Nano novel I just wrote.The Damsel In Dis Dresshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05208040949986947201noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-37097900849940137212010-12-02T07:28:50.995-07:002010-12-02T07:28:50.995-07:00Congrats on your extensive word count. I think it ...Congrats on your extensive word count. I think it is a wonderful testimony to your commitment to writing. I believe most everything we write has a purpose in our big picture.Karen Langehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18177923284595298347noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-85900827751686447382010-12-02T03:48:04.390-07:002010-12-02T03:48:04.390-07:00It is now ... after just finishing drafting out my...It is now ... after just finishing drafting out my 2nd complete novel that I understand the benefits of the first 3 incomplete... shelved attempts.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-83753295064664526022010-12-02T00:09:39.528-07:002010-12-02T00:09:39.528-07:00Okay, since I've signed up to get your posts i...Okay, since I've signed up to get your posts in my email, I tend to read the post and never comment. Lame, right? I wish I could comment straight from my email. Anyway, I've been lame for so long now that I didn't realize you changed the design of your blog. I love it! I'm getting very excited for your book as well. <br /><br />Okay, I'm not sure how many words I've written overall in my life but I do know approximately how many words I've written since January of this year because my husband tallied it up while I was doing NaNo. He was wondering when I was going to take a break. Lol! He added up a little more than 300,000 this year.<br /><br />This is too long of a comment. I just wanted to let you know that you have at least one fan out there reading your posts everyday from her email and not commenting, but I'm still here, just not commenting. Hope you're having happy holidays.Patricia A. Timms-McGeheehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08989800584001861716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-3572391093063688912010-12-01T19:10:16.306-07:002010-12-01T19:10:16.306-07:00Any time we put words down on paper we are practic...Any time we put words down on paper we are practicing...whether it is your book(s) or blogs, or letters or essays or emails. It's all good!Lizahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16170701034715108039noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-32341713173584560632010-12-01T18:39:24.915-07:002010-12-01T18:39:24.915-07:00Awesome reminder! No, I don't think all those ...Awesome reminder! No, I don't think all those stories I wrote were a waste of time. NOW. <br />(At the time I finished them and couldn't sell them I thought that though) LOL<br />Now I see where I really needed to get better. And still need to get better. :)Jennifer Shirkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16970585847385511795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-59479984690848261442010-12-01T18:36:17.870-07:002010-12-01T18:36:17.870-07:00Over 1 million words?! You rock.
When I have tim...Over 1 million words?! You rock.<br /><br />When I have time, I'm going to count up all of mine too. And that won't be counting drafts because I don't save those.<br /><br />I heard about the 10k hours about a year ago, and I keep it in mind when I feel like I still have so much left to learn. Although I wish every manuscript had found a happy home, I know they've made me a better writer.Theresa Milsteinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03477761307315565259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-1457056031775030632010-12-01T17:41:07.888-07:002010-12-01T17:41:07.888-07:00I have nothing but gratitude for my practice novel...I have nothing but gratitude for my practice novels. <br />:)Lydia Kanghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00484415427764822386noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-65532273902485009362010-12-01T17:24:57.004-07:002010-12-01T17:24:57.004-07:00I always hate it when a novel I've been workin...I always hate it when a novel I've been working on turns into something that will never see the light of day, but I should remember that all practice is worth it. Thanks, Elana!Meredithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00462382909938737612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-41812025898973164332010-12-01T16:29:47.905-07:002010-12-01T16:29:47.905-07:00I love writing. I have no idea how many words I...I love writing. I have no idea how many words I've written. I know I've finished and re-written one particular novel to its death, and it still isn't publishable. I have three others I've started, and one I just wrote at full speed with NaNoWriMo. I loved writing all of it. Even the crummy bad stuff that few people will ever read. <br />I don't want to write practice novels, but I love writing and it certainly does take the pressure off to realize that I need to practice, and practice, and practice. <br />The thing is, even when I quit, I don't really quit. I come back to those plots and characters sometimes and play with them again, or find a new place for them in a totally new story. Maybe some of my ideas need practice too.<br /><br />Thanks for the great post!Tyrean Martinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15356604721537744361noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-48134828407442035132010-12-01T16:15:20.253-07:002010-12-01T16:15:20.253-07:00Oh, I need a lot more practice and I'm so glad...Oh, I need a lot more practice and I'm so glad I'm not the only "quitter". "Dear Teen Me" looks like a whole lotta wonderful.<br /><br />Thanks again, Elana, for telling me exactly what I needed to hear. (How do you DO that? Are you psychic?)Lisa Pottshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11676087488599338569noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-24582499031049814272010-12-01T15:27:57.083-07:002010-12-01T15:27:57.083-07:00I've only finished one novel so I don't re...I've only finished one novel so I don't really think I can answer you're questions today. <br /><br />But holy crow! Congratulations on having over a million words. That's insane!Melissahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12096764010151024050noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-72478036394268619402010-12-01T15:22:32.873-07:002010-12-01T15:22:32.873-07:00Sometimes it feels like a waste of time, but if it...Sometimes it feels like a waste of time, but if it's PRACTICE, well then... I'm glad all that random stuff I wrote in high school counts for something. :)Krispyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09492607213249874138noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-8422190407432947342010-12-01T14:50:33.401-07:002010-12-01T14:50:33.401-07:00Weronika says it takes a million words for writers...Weronika says it takes a million words for writers. You're there!!Sherrie Petersenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11670339498152684137noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-30929099391720612272010-12-01T14:05:37.540-07:002010-12-01T14:05:37.540-07:00I blogged about this very thing earlier this year:...I blogged about this very thing earlier this year: <br />http://writerropes.blogspot.com/2010/01/10000-hour-rule.html<br /><br />Outliers is an awesome book, one of my favorite non-fictions reads. <br /><br />I also think it's important to not only practice, but to practice well, and in writing terms to me that means hardcore revision of literary vomit. I tend to vomit a lot.Liesl Shurtliffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09064620851881036609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-56154569854806212402010-12-01T13:38:16.981-07:002010-12-01T13:38:16.981-07:00Wow Elana, that is a LOT of words! I'm really ...Wow Elana, that is a LOT of words! I'm really impressed! What an excellent post and a great reminder that all our work is helping us improve, even if it isn't published. I've never added up all of mine. You've got me curious. I'm off to do that!Heatherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05130733681254163610noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-22402120113236853552010-12-01T13:16:42.113-07:002010-12-01T13:16:42.113-07:00My first one was a waste! Glad I rewrote it though...My first one was a waste! Glad I rewrote it though.<br />However, I'm still short of few hours...Alex J. Cavanaughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09770065693345181702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-20940814279680624872010-12-01T13:10:46.800-07:002010-12-01T13:10:46.800-07:00You're a ROCKSTAR, E.
That is all.You're a ROCKSTAR, E.<br /><br />That is all.ali crosshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13023009704454279645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-55919621453494359252010-12-01T12:56:18.079-07:002010-12-01T12:56:18.079-07:00I recently added up all the words I'd written ...I recently added up all the words I'd written too. I didn't have quite as many as you (750,000 or so), but I'm getting there. I had to laugh at some of the earlier things. I totally agree--none of it was a waste of time.Susan R. Millshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09578747592345750650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-7865593555865059122010-12-01T12:20:36.279-07:002010-12-01T12:20:36.279-07:00Every failed attempt, every new attempt, every eve...Every failed attempt, every new attempt, every everything helps add a layer of wisdom and skill that wasn't there before. As a writer, no word is wasted. It was just a part of sharpening our skill blade. :-)<br /><br />BTW, I meant to say this yesterday:<br /><br />I LOVE THE NEW BLOG LOOK!!!! It's awesome, Elana.Shannon O'Donnellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17299313309059235876noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-75770035090845534562010-12-01T12:14:52.613-07:002010-12-01T12:14:52.613-07:00I love Malcom Gladwell.I love Malcom Gladwell.Caroline Starr Rosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04597510685273079757noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-57052680621029309572010-12-01T12:13:44.578-07:002010-12-01T12:13:44.578-07:00Interesting point--when it comes to writing, I agr...Interesting point--when it comes to writing, I agree. I think that words/novels are more important than the time you spend.Golden Eaglehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08721520451194318436noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-34371592443129706182010-12-01T12:05:10.531-07:002010-12-01T12:05:10.531-07:00Mary Kole at kidlit.com recently did a blog post a...Mary Kole at kidlit.com recently did a blog post about needing to write at least a million bad words in order to be publishable. So, yay! You've officially made it!!Jenilyn Collingshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13166139358513659892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-32305190317919257512010-12-01T11:48:54.610-07:002010-12-01T11:48:54.610-07:00Tiger Woods might regret a lot of things in his li...Tiger Woods might regret a lot of things in his life, but definitely not the amount of time he spent practicing his putting! :) Good post, Elana!Valerie Gearyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17165554338889917253noreply@blogger.com