Comments on: Quitting and the Publishing Dream: When Quitting Might be a Good Plan http://www.quietrebelwriter.com/2008/05/14/quitting-and-the-publishing-dream-when-quitting-might-be-a-good-plan/ Writing and Creative Success Through Righteous, Rockin' Rebellion Wed, 20 Aug 2008 16:03:04 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.1 By: Evelyn http://www.quietrebelwriter.com/2008/05/14/quitting-and-the-publishing-dream-when-quitting-might-be-a-good-plan/#comment-3067 Evelyn Thu, 15 May 2008 15:38:55 +0000 http://www.quietrebelwriter.com/2008/05/14/quitting-and-the-publishing-dream-when-quitting-might-be-a-good-plan/#comment-3067 I found your blog through a post on Sharon Hurley Hall's GPTW blog & I like it. Thanks I found your blog through a post on Sharon Hurley Hall’s GPTW blog & I like it.

Thanks

]]> By: Charlie Gilkey | Productive Flourishing http://www.quietrebelwriter.com/2008/05/14/quitting-and-the-publishing-dream-when-quitting-might-be-a-good-plan/#comment-3069 Charlie Gilkey | Productive Flourishing Thu, 15 May 2008 16:21:58 +0000 http://www.quietrebelwriter.com/2008/05/14/quitting-and-the-publishing-dream-when-quitting-might-be-a-good-plan/#comment-3069 Somewhat of a wayward comment here (but that's normal for me). As Tolkien was working on the tales of Middle Earth, he shared the story with some of his friends. At the time, people weren't really interested in what he was doing, but they were really interesting in...hobbits. So Tolkien completed The Hobbit and made a name for himself there. But then people wanted to hear more of the Tales of Middle Earth - so LOTR emerged. But LOTR was just a piece of the Silmirralion, which was actually Tolkien's crown jewel and what he had been working on the whole time. And Nerd reality was changed forever... (I cannot verify the accuracy of this story - I remember reading it from J.R.T., but I know not where and I may be fuzzy on the details.) My point: sometimes it's better to quit actively working on one thing and start actively working on another. Just because you're not actively working on something doesn't mean you've quit working on it, especially when you're dealing with creative work. At least that's what I tell Angela when I have 14 projects strewn all over the house that are all percolating at once. But, on the other hand, sometimes we do just need to quit a project, pack it up, and move on. Especially since it's the process in so many creative endeavors that is important and not the product, and projects that need to be nixed are taking up the time that could be devoted to the process of creating other things. Sorry for the long comment. It got caught somewhere between too short for a one-liner but not enough for a trackback post. Somewhat of a wayward comment here (but that’s normal for me). As Tolkien was working on the tales of Middle Earth, he shared the story with some of his friends. At the time, people weren’t really interested in what he was doing, but they were really interesting in…hobbits. So Tolkien completed The Hobbit and made a name for himself there. But then people wanted to hear more of the Tales of Middle Earth - so LOTR emerged.

But LOTR was just a piece of the Silmirralion, which was actually Tolkien’s crown jewel and what he had been working on the whole time. And Nerd reality was changed forever…

(I cannot verify the accuracy of this story - I remember reading it from J.R.T., but I know not where and I may be fuzzy on the details.)

My point: sometimes it’s better to quit actively working on one thing and start actively working on another. Just because you’re not actively working on something doesn’t mean you’ve quit working on it, especially when you’re dealing with creative work. At least that’s what I tell Angela when I have 14 projects strewn all over the house that are all percolating at once.

But, on the other hand, sometimes we do just need to quit a project, pack it up, and move on. Especially since it’s the process in so many creative endeavors that is important and not the product, and projects that need to be nixed are taking up the time that could be devoted to the process of creating other things.

Sorry for the long comment. It got caught somewhere between too short for a one-liner but not enough for a trackback post.

]]> By: Sherree Geyer http://www.quietrebelwriter.com/2008/05/14/quitting-and-the-publishing-dream-when-quitting-might-be-a-good-plan/#comment-3083 Sherree Geyer Thu, 15 May 2008 21:51:23 +0000 http://www.quietrebelwriter.com/2008/05/14/quitting-and-the-publishing-dream-when-quitting-might-be-a-good-plan/#comment-3083 Perhaps, "hiatus" not "quit" is more appropo here. On a completely different note: I'd love to hear your thoughts on per-word article fees. A colleague just gave my name to an editor he works with who typically pays $400 for 2,000 words on technical topics. To add insult to injury, said editor typically pays between 30-60 days after invoicing. Hmm, 60 days for .20/word. It might make more economic sense to sling burgers at Micky D's, but what do you think? How low will you go? If you've addressed this before, please feel free to direct me to that blog. If not, this may be fodder for another "rant" blog. Perhaps, “hiatus” not “quit” is more appropo here.

On a completely different note: I’d love to hear your thoughts on per-word article fees. A colleague just gave my name to an editor he works with who typically pays $400 for 2,000 words on technical topics. To add insult to injury, said editor typically pays between 30-60 days after invoicing. Hmm, 60 days for .20/word. It might make more economic sense to sling burgers at Micky D’s, but what do you think? How low will you go?

If you’ve addressed this before, please feel free to direct me to that blog. If not, this may be fodder for another “rant” blog.

]]> By: Amy http://www.quietrebelwriter.com/2008/05/14/quitting-and-the-publishing-dream-when-quitting-might-be-a-good-plan/#comment-3091 Amy Fri, 16 May 2008 00:17:56 +0000 http://www.quietrebelwriter.com/2008/05/14/quitting-and-the-publishing-dream-when-quitting-might-be-a-good-plan/#comment-3091 @Evelyn - thanks, and welcome! @Charlie - I love it. "Nerd reality was changed forever." I think I heard something similar about LOTR. Nice distinction too - quitting for a time, and fully quitting. I agree there are times when its necessary for both. In my case, I'm quitting for a time. @Sherree - ah ha! That's the word I'm looking for. I'm on a "hiatus." Gracias! And regarding per-word article fees - terrific topic for a post. Generally, I will go low on the fees if the legwork is less than other assignments, if I think I will get repeat business/client relationship out of it, or I'm, ahem, desperate. I do my best to stay away from that latter state. I'll think about this a bit more and get a post going! @Evelyn - thanks, and welcome!

@Charlie - I love it. “Nerd reality was changed forever.” I think I heard something similar about LOTR. Nice distinction too - quitting for a time, and fully quitting. I agree there are times when its necessary for both. In my case, I’m quitting for a time.

@Sherree - ah ha! That’s the word I’m looking for. I’m on a “hiatus.” Gracias! And regarding per-word article fees - terrific topic for a post. Generally, I will go low on the fees if the legwork is less than other assignments, if I think I will get repeat business/client relationship out of it, or I’m, ahem, desperate. I do my best to stay away from that latter state. I’ll think about this a bit more and get a post going!

]]> By: Elizabeth McQuern http://www.quietrebelwriter.com/2008/05/14/quitting-and-the-publishing-dream-when-quitting-might-be-a-good-plan/#comment-3097 Elizabeth McQuern Fri, 16 May 2008 02:46:50 +0000 http://www.quietrebelwriter.com/2008/05/14/quitting-and-the-publishing-dream-when-quitting-might-be-a-good-plan/#comment-3097 An insufficient comment to such a dense post: that's an amazing accompanying image. Where did you find it? An insufficient comment to such a dense post: that’s an amazing accompanying image. Where did you find it?

]]> By: Amy http://www.quietrebelwriter.com/2008/05/14/quitting-and-the-publishing-dream-when-quitting-might-be-a-good-plan/#comment-3106 Amy Fri, 16 May 2008 14:56:16 +0000 http://www.quietrebelwriter.com/2008/05/14/quitting-and-the-publishing-dream-when-quitting-might-be-a-good-plan/#comment-3106 @Elizabeth - I know! I found it on flickr by searching for writing and rejection. It's a public image. @Elizabeth - I know! I found it on flickr by searching for writing and rejection. It’s a public image.

]]> By: Roger http://www.quietrebelwriter.com/2008/05/14/quitting-and-the-publishing-dream-when-quitting-might-be-a-good-plan/#comment-3229 Roger Tue, 20 May 2008 14:19:00 +0000 http://www.quietrebelwriter.com/2008/05/14/quitting-and-the-publishing-dream-when-quitting-might-be-a-good-plan/#comment-3229 Don't stop, keep going right away with the next one. I wrote a novel that was *almost* accepted thirty years ago and I stopped because of so many rejections (the bad news meant more than the good news of course) and could never summon up the courage to write, starting from nothing, again. Don't stop - hiatuses can last years. Don’t stop, keep going right away with the next one.
I wrote a novel that was *almost* accepted thirty years ago and I stopped because of so many rejections (the bad news meant more than the good news of course) and could never summon up the courage to write, starting from nothing, again. Don’t stop - hiatuses can last years.

]]> By: Amy http://www.quietrebelwriter.com/2008/05/14/quitting-and-the-publishing-dream-when-quitting-might-be-a-good-plan/#comment-3252 Amy Wed, 21 May 2008 17:15:34 +0000 http://www.quietrebelwriter.com/2008/05/14/quitting-and-the-publishing-dream-when-quitting-might-be-a-good-plan/#comment-3252 @Roger - great point, and thanks for the encouragement. @Roger - great point, and thanks for the encouragement.

]]> By: Editor, The SciTech Journal http://www.quietrebelwriter.com/2008/05/14/quitting-and-the-publishing-dream-when-quitting-might-be-a-good-plan/#comment-3267 Editor, The SciTech Journal Thu, 22 May 2008 05:26:55 +0000 http://www.quietrebelwriter.com/2008/05/14/quitting-and-the-publishing-dream-when-quitting-might-be-a-good-plan/#comment-3267 NICE ARTICLE. THANKS FOR SHARING. THOROUGHLY ENJOYED READING. GOOD LUCK :) Thumbs Up to you :) NICE ARTICLE. THANKS FOR SHARING. THOROUGHLY ENJOYED READING. GOOD LUCK :) Thumbs Up to you :)

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