Comments on: Guest Blogger: Maria V. Snyder

By: LaDonna

LaDonna — Sun, 02 Sep 2007 17:42:06 +0000

Liz, I read where Jennifer Cruise writes the same way…scenes all over the place! You’re in great company!

By: Liz Kreger

Liz Kreger — Sun, 02 Sep 2007 15:59:01 +0000

Great analogy, Marie. I generally liken my creative process to putting together a jigsaw puzzle. I’m not one of those who have to write a book in a strictly linear manner. I write scenes all over the place and then fit them together until I get a smooth, seamless story. Seems to work for me.

Great blog. Thanx for coming back to visit us, Maria.

By: LaDonna

LaDonna — Sun, 02 Sep 2007 15:25:45 +0000

Maria, I’m curious. Was there ever a time, maybe in the beginning, when you didn’t relish the decorating stage? It’s an art I’m learning to enjoy. Notice I didn’t say, Love. hehe. I’ll settle for enjoy.

By: Heidi Ruby Miller

Heidi Ruby Miller — Sun, 02 Sep 2007 14:21:40 +0000

Maria:

As always, your insights are entertaining as well as informative.

Patiently waiting for FIRE STUDY,
Heidi

By: Theresa

Theresa — Sun, 02 Sep 2007 11:59:34 +0000

Maria,

I’ve been out there looking for you! I just knew I had a twin out there somewhere. And see? I do know how to spell your name.

I always have such a strong image of what my book is going to turn out like, that it makes my first draft pure hell. I write and I write and I write and its nothing like that pure image in my mind. So frustrating.

In the early days I used to try to fix it the moment it came out on the page, but no matter how much I’d fiddle with it, it just never matched the vision I had of how it should be.

When I gave up and started letting myself write crap on that first draft, things finally clicked. It’s through those acres of crap that I find the core of the image. Once I’ve found the core, I can revise until it gleams as brightly as the version in my mind.

Needless to say, I’m a revision lover.

By: Diane Turnshek

Diane Turnshek — Sun, 02 Sep 2007 11:51:22 +0000

If that’s what it takes to produce the wonderful books you’ve written–well then, we should all adopt your philosophies. Great guest blog entry. Thanks for sharing!

By: Edie Ramer

Edie Ramer — Sun, 02 Sep 2007 11:14:43 +0000

I have my renovation consultants too, my CPs. My favorite revisions happen when something keeps niggling, it’s just not right and I don’tknow why, then the way to fix it suddenly comes to me. And I don’t just fix it, I make it so much better that I sometimes look at it and think, “Did that come out of me?”

By: Michelle

Michelle — Sun, 02 Sep 2007 06:58:01 +0000

I remember that scene too. Rebecca, you’re in for a treat. Actually, you’re in for a treat for the whole two book ride .

Maria, like Edie I used to hate the reworking, revision process. I consider it a huge stride forward in my writing that I finally ‘got’ that what I built first time round didn’t need to be perfect, in fact, it could never be. I needed to go in with a sledgehammer as well as a fine art brush and make some changes. It still isn’t perfect, but its a lot better .

By: Maria V. Snyder

Maria V. Snyder — Sat, 01 Sep 2007 23:47:37 +0000

Hello Everyone! Thanks for the great comments. Nice to know I’m not the only one who looks at writing as building a house – and I discovered a long lost twin – Theresa where have you been!! ;> Interesting how everyone’s method are just a little bit different.

I understand about trying to match the pretty little house in the magazine – I think the story will match when I start out, but by the time I’m a couple chapters in, the whole structure is taking on a new and unexpected shape!

Rebecca/Kate – I hope you enjoy the books. Let me know if you figured out the scene I mentioned

Thanks again for this opportunity!

By: Theresa

Theresa — Sat, 01 Sep 2007 18:47:46 +0000

Whoops, Sorry :blush:– I meant to say Maria. I hit send before I could change it.