tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11997191.post2803799147800962517..comments2023-05-30T10:37:22.702-04:00Comments on Mary Stella's Postcards from Paradise: New BeginningMary Stellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02186261066656584772noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11997191.post-26644040824480465142010-08-12T16:37:01.034-04:002010-08-12T16:37:01.034-04:00Yay Mary! I'm so glad to hear you are writing....Yay Mary! I'm so glad to hear you are writing. My pom poms are available anytime. :>)<br /><br />Key of the Sea and All Keyed Up were awesome books. Definite place on my keeper shelf.Mechele Armstronghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02634624468197140712noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11997191.post-53448510880029195282010-08-09T17:48:18.343-04:002010-08-09T17:48:18.343-04:00I can't wait to read the latest! And remember,...I can't wait to read the latest! And remember, you got two books published. Most people don't get ANY books published. So that's impressive right there. :)Hopehttp://hoperoth.com/blognoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11997191.post-60897472983705843522010-08-09T06:59:15.628-04:002010-08-09T06:59:15.628-04:00I didn't know they were called beta readers an...I didn't know they were called beta readers and I thought they were necessary to the process! So many agent blogs I've read and articles on how to get published have said how necessary these readers are. <br /><br />I altered (not totally changed) the ending because of comments by "beta readers". The novel involves a love story, but is not a romance novel. <br /><br />What a relief to hear that my gut was right about the writing process. <br /><br />Think I'll pull that pile of paper out of the drawer and write the ending the right way this time!<br /><br />(no crap writing talk...all writing is heading in the correct direction and is therefore, necessary, useful, and the best so far!!)susanhttp://naturallylowcarb.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11997191.post-7679176848100847682010-08-09T01:19:55.194-04:002010-08-09T01:19:55.194-04:00Congrats, Mary Stella! I hope everything about th...Congrats, Mary Stella! I hope everything about this experience is different and better than the last one.Beckyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10142090423235200822noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11997191.post-6707258246964334672010-08-08T23:09:58.256-04:002010-08-08T23:09:58.256-04:00Thanks again everyone. I really appreciate the en...Thanks again everyone. I really appreciate the encouragement.<br /><br />Susan, I don't know if you're writing in romance or something close, but if so I'd like to suggest you look into the NJ RWA chapter. www.njromancewriters.org. I was a member for several years but now live in Florida. There are a lot of great members and you'll have access to tons of terrific info if you'd like to take the next step.<br /><br />It's where I met and formed friendships with incredible writers, including my critique partners. I work a little differently than beta readers, but appreciate your offer.<br /><br />I didn't finish the scene today but I made good progress. Yes, Lani, it's pretty much crap writing but it's still helpful and it's more than I had yesterday.<br /><br />I've heard Nora Roberts say several times that the only page she can't fix is the blank one. So true!Mary Stellahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02186261066656584772noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11997191.post-14000634166451030762010-08-08T16:20:50.925-04:002010-08-08T16:20:50.925-04:00I finished a novel a couple of years ago. And I ...I finished a novel a couple of years ago. And I threw it in a drawer. One friend read it and liked it. She shared it with someone I don't know and she liked it. They gave me a few questions they wanted answered. Another friend's reading group was going to read it. I printed out 10 copies and they all got too busy (apparently they've never read a book....!!! ever!!!) I gave it to my husband to read. And he did and he liked it. But. I threw it in a drawer and never looked at it again. <br /><br />I admire your commitment to starting new. I've talked about it. But have done nothing.<br /><br />A friend told me that I'll send it to someone when I'm ready. Perhaps. But maybe I'll never be ready (that's what I think now). <br /><br />Go for it! (and if you want some feed back on what you write, I'd be delighted....I'm a fifty something from New Jersey too....we might just work well together!)Susanhttp://naturallylowcarb.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11997191.post-9052063509196647842010-08-08T15:52:03.556-04:002010-08-08T15:52:03.556-04:00Yay! You can do it, Mary Stella! We'll be ro...Yay! You can do it, Mary Stella! We'll be rooting for you.Deliahttp://procrastinationrehabilitation.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11997191.post-11052578703177845392010-08-08T14:28:51.269-04:002010-08-08T14:28:51.269-04:00Yay, Mary Stella! I'm excited for you! It'...Yay, Mary Stella! I'm excited for you! It's always intimidating, getting those first few words down. The best advice I have about writing is that you MUST go into the rough with the intention of writing pure crap. Ironically, that's the quickest path to the best work. I know, I know, sounds counterintuitive but I swear by it.<br /><br />Good luck, my sweet!Lanihttp://www.lanidianerich.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11997191.post-8416651792303738012010-08-08T12:59:08.950-04:002010-08-08T12:59:08.950-04:00Congratulations, Mary-Stella! I am happy to hear t...Congratulations, Mary-Stella! I am happy to hear that you have found the happiness in writing. <br /><br />I am eleven thousand words in on my first novel and I have so much I want to say that this time I will finish. <br /><br />Lani's class was excellent and helped me so much. It was invigorating for me and my writing process. <br /><br />I'll be checking out your excerpts from your previous works.Karanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11997191.post-46757050052323082932010-08-08T12:41:55.300-04:002010-08-08T12:41:55.300-04:00Thanks so much for the kind comments and generous ...Thanks so much for the kind comments and generous inspiration.<br /><br />Chris, All Keyed Up and Key of Sea are currently out of print. You can probably find used copies somewhere, or you can purchase them inexpensively ($5.00 and $3.00 respectively) directly from me.<br /><br />My website is outdated, but if you'd like to read excerpts, go to www.mary-stella.com.<br /><br />Thanks again!Mary Stellahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02186261066656584772noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11997191.post-744802589037014202010-08-08T12:34:16.086-04:002010-08-08T12:34:16.086-04:00Sounds amazing. I'm so sorry your previous eff...Sounds amazing. I'm so sorry your previous efforts were met with discouraging reception. Let me tell you what I tell myself, what I tell my students:<br /><br />Fail brilliantly. Fail with flair. Fail like no one else could. Bring your self and your glory to the failure and watch it blaze in the sky.<br /><br /><br />Can't wait to read it, babe.lora96https://www.blogger.com/profile/08171062741089674769noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11997191.post-81812035258989209082010-08-08T12:19:07.012-04:002010-08-08T12:19:07.012-04:00Hi Mary Stella,
What were the books that you wro...Hi Mary Stella, <br /><br />What were the books that you wrote? I would be interested in reading them. Your blog and comments on Lucy are always brilliant. <br /><br />Good Job starting a new one. Good Luck. <br /><br />ChrisChrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10644954622677545058noreply@blogger.com