Comments | mjdiem: Vlogbrothers, the Twitterverse and uses for potato chip shards

mjdiem

Vlogbrothers, the Twitterverse and uses for potato chip shards

Aug 31, 2013 14:00

I feel like a blog fraud. I promised, I didn't deliver. And then, due to family drama, gave up writing and crawled under a quilt - literally.

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vlogbrothers, ya, writing, middle grade

Comments 12

anonymous August 31 2013, 22:27:16 UTC

MJ!! Yes, get back to writing. I'm sorry to hear about the family drama but if you ever want writerly support, get it here, sister!

Kate Fall

mjdiem September 2 2013, 13:17:10 UTC

I came across the most awesome photos of you from Chautauqua last month. Did I ever send you a CD?? I can totally do that. And yes, I sure do need some writerly support - I'm looking at going to a conference this year besides the Wisconsin one in October - it's awesome, if you're looking for one. Which ones have you attended?

akamarykate September 2 2013, 01:39:32 UTC

I think you should...

...oops, sorry, totally distracted by the pretties....(you are so talented in so many areas!)

Anyway, Altar Girls is still my personal favorite, but I think you should work on the one that's bugging you the most. That wants to be written. And fwiw, my go-to trick for getting momentum back is to set a timer for 20 minutes at the beginning of each day's writing session. At the end of 20 minutes, I can stop, no matter what I have done. If I want to I can keep going, but I don't have to. Knowing it is "just 20 minutes" lets me feel like I have an out, that when that time is up I am free and I've fulfilled my obligation to the project. Anything else is gravy. And it often is more, but on days when it isn't working, that timer is my salvation.

I am SO GLAD TO SEE YOU HERE! Have missed you lots and lots. **HUGS**

mjdiem September 2 2013, 13:19:20 UTC

Thanks, it's good to be back. Okay, I'm not back, I'm edging in the door vair, vair gingerly. I luuuuurve the 20 minute timer idea! That's a little less scary.

HUGS right back atcha!

christine444 September 2 2013, 04:57:32 UTC

Hi, stranger! (Says fellow stranger...) At least you've been creative in other areas--I love the quilts and aprons. Have managed to avoid Candy Crush, because I waste too much time online as it is. :>)

I wish I had wise words to share, but I haven't exactly been writing volumes lately either. (I've been working on another time-waster, a fanfic story...Well, at least it's writing.)

Hope you get back in the groove, and start getting good news!

mjdiem September 2 2013, 13:24:46 UTC

Fanfic story - that's great! Isn't that how Cassandra Clare started out? I read that in HARRY: A HISTORY, by Melissa Anelli, webmistress of the Harry Potter website Leaky Cauldron. Sooooo...totally not time wasting.

Thanks so much!

christine444 September 2 2013, 18:26:40 UTC

Yeah, that's what I tell myself when I'm feeling self-conscious about it ("well, Cassandra did it..."). ;>) Actually, I joined a fan club for an actor, and told another fan that I used to make up "better" episodes for a lame '80s sitcom he was on. So she was all excited and said I should send something to the club website. (Maybe I'll get up the nerve.)

mjdiem November 14 2013, 19:30:35 UTC

Go for it!!!

Thread 5

onegrapeshy September 9 2013, 13:26:49 UTC

Candy Crush is SATAN!

mjdiem November 14 2013, 19:30:12 UTC

Yes, yes it is. But so shiny!

mountainmist December 4 2013, 13:31:05 UTC

I would read ATTACK OF THE ALTAR GIRLS in a heartbeat and ACCIDENTALLY AMISH. Heck any of them! I faced my own fears as of late your blog has encouraged me to talk about them. I do have a new MG called WEREWOLF HAMLET that I'm going to FINALLY send back to my agent by Friday or Monday. Thanks also for your sweet note MJ. So good to reconnect again. Thank you for writing about what we all need to be doing - writing. Oh, Ann Patchett's new book: THIS IS THE STORY OF A HAPPY MARRIAGE is really wonderful with lots of writing advice told with great storytelling. xxoo

Love
Kerry