Comments on: Finding the real me http://www.topofthemountains.net/2008/03/24/finding-the-real-me/ "Hitch your wagon to a star." —Ralph Waldo Emerson Tue, 07 Oct 2008 10:16:35 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0 by: Ben http://www.topofthemountains.net/2008/03/24/finding-the-real-me/#comment-70359 Mon, 14 Apr 2008 02:44:30 +0000 http://www.topofthemountains.net/2008/03/24/finding-the-real-me/#comment-70359 Thanks, e. :) Thanks, e. :)

]]> by: e http://www.topofthemountains.net/2008/03/24/finding-the-real-me/#comment-70076 Wed, 09 Apr 2008 16:06:18 +0000 http://www.topofthemountains.net/2008/03/24/finding-the-real-me/#comment-70076 Wow. A big step to be sure. Very brave of you, Ben. All my best! Wow. A big step to be sure. Very brave of you, Ben.

All my best!

]]> by: Ben http://www.topofthemountains.net/2008/03/24/finding-the-real-me/#comment-68987 Fri, 28 Mar 2008 13:57:41 +0000 http://www.topofthemountains.net/2008/03/24/finding-the-real-me/#comment-68987 Barney: Beginning to approach? We'll have to talk. :) And yes, I've been reading your blog, but I didn't know I could start commenting. I'll get on that soon. :) Joe: I know, I know. I read Julie Wright's post about the conference (and I think James Dashner covered it too, or maybe it was J. Scott Savage, I can't remember). Next year for sure. :) Wow, Sanderson got a $4 million deal on Alcatraz? That's intense. I've heard about his creative writing class and I think I'm going to see if I can sit in on it sometime... Bart: I've entertained the thought but I think I'll keep typesetting as my side profession, if any. But who knows? We'll see. :) Alli: Thanks! :) James the First: Yes, it'll be a great challenge. (And there <i>is</i> a challenge in librarianship, just of a different kind.) It'll stretch me. It'll be hard. There'll be times when I'll wonder what on earth I was thinking. But it's <i>so</i> worth it. I'll send you some of my stuff, for sure; in the meantime you can check out some of my stuff on <a href="blankslate.net/writing.php" rel="nofollow">Blank Slate</a>. James the Second: All too true. You know, I don't really know why I put that late at night bit -- I plan to go to bed early and wake up early, especially once I have kids. I can't wait. :) All I really meant, come to think of it, was that it's very flexible and can bend around the needs of my family. And that's nice. Connor: Cool -- good luck! :) Hilary: Oh, I don't expect <i>perfect</i> freedom. This isn't a perfect world. :) But writing <i>does</i> offer considerably more freedom than most other jobs. I should say, though, that the freedom isn't why I'm going into writing, it's just a nice perk. I'm going into writing because I love it and there's nothing else I'd rather be doing. :) (And yes, the organ was <i>awesome.)</i> Julie: All the jobs I've had since my mission have been the same way. And I don't think I could do a 9-5 job, frankly. That's not my style. Cathy: Thanks, sis. :) Steve: It really is a monumental moment. My whole life's been building up to it, actually, now that I look back on everything that's gone before. Thanks for the rejection stats, by the way (where'd you get them? :)) -- and I'm sure as heck going to persist until I get accepted. No fear of rejection here, just OCD. :P George: Cool, thanks! I'll check it out. :) Barney: Beginning to approach? We’ll have to talk. :) And yes, I’ve been reading your blog, but I didn’t know I could start commenting. I’ll get on that soon. :)

Joe: I know, I know. I read Julie Wright’s post about the conference (and I think James Dashner covered it too, or maybe it was J. Scott Savage, I can’t remember). Next year for sure. :) Wow, Sanderson got a $4 million deal on Alcatraz? That’s intense. I’ve heard about his creative writing class and I think I’m going to see if I can sit in on it sometime…

Bart: I’ve entertained the thought but I think I’ll keep typesetting as my side profession, if any. But who knows? We’ll see. :)

Alli: Thanks! :)

James the First: Yes, it’ll be a great challenge. (And there is a challenge in librarianship, just of a different kind.) It’ll stretch me. It’ll be hard. There’ll be times when I’ll wonder what on earth I was thinking. But it’s so worth it. I’ll send you some of my stuff, for sure; in the meantime you can check out some of my stuff on Blank Slate.

James the Second: All too true. You know, I don’t really know why I put that late at night bit — I plan to go to bed early and wake up early, especially once I have kids. I can’t wait. :) All I really meant, come to think of it, was that it’s very flexible and can bend around the needs of my family. And that’s nice.

Connor: Cool — good luck! :)

Hilary: Oh, I don’t expect perfect freedom. This isn’t a perfect world. :) But writing does offer considerably more freedom than most other jobs. I should say, though, that the freedom isn’t why I’m going into writing, it’s just a nice perk. I’m going into writing because I love it and there’s nothing else I’d rather be doing. :) (And yes, the organ was awesome.)

Julie: All the jobs I’ve had since my mission have been the same way. And I don’t think I could do a 9-5 job, frankly. That’s not my style.

Cathy: Thanks, sis. :)

Steve: It really is a monumental moment. My whole life’s been building up to it, actually, now that I look back on everything that’s gone before. Thanks for the rejection stats, by the way (where’d you get them? :)) — and I’m sure as heck going to persist until I get accepted. No fear of rejection here, just OCD. :P

George: Cool, thanks! I’ll check it out. :)

]]> by: George http://www.topofthemountains.net/2008/03/24/finding-the-real-me/#comment-68755 Wed, 26 Mar 2008 06:40:25 +0000 http://www.topofthemountains.net/2008/03/24/finding-the-real-me/#comment-68755 Ben, I highly reccomend a book by Stephen King called simply "On Writing". It's a fantastic book: half is his memiors or his story of what it was like starting out as a writer... being rejected over and over and over, and finally someone appreciated something you do and giving you a bit of money for it!! The second half is written to 'you' the reader as some of his thoughts on writing. Seeing as how he's called The Craft, his conception of writing is classic. I (as many people) have toyed with the idea of writing during my professional career and I submit it for your consideration. Ben, I highly reccomend a book by Stephen King called simply “On Writing”. It’s a fantastic book: half is his memiors or his story of what it was like starting out as a writer… being rejected over and over and over, and finally someone appreciated something you do and giving you a bit of money for it!! The second half is written to ‘you’ the reader as some of his thoughts on writing. Seeing as how he’s called The Craft, his conception of writing is classic. I (as many people) have toyed with the idea of writing during my professional career and I submit it for your consideration.

]]> by: Blank Slate » Finding the real me http://www.topofthemountains.net/2008/03/24/finding-the-real-me/#comment-68741 Wed, 26 Mar 2008 03:57:33 +0000 http://www.topofthemountains.net/2008/03/24/finding-the-real-me/#comment-68741 [...] [Cross-posted from Top of the Mountains.] [...] […] [Cross-posted from Top of the Mountains.] […]

]]> by: Steve G http://www.topofthemountains.net/2008/03/24/finding-the-real-me/#comment-68736 Wed, 26 Mar 2008 02:54:12 +0000 http://www.topofthemountains.net/2008/03/24/finding-the-real-me/#comment-68736 Don't you love those moments when you finally realize what you want to become? I think that this is a monumental moment, and I'm glad that you have a very feasible plan. Steve p.s. Brandon Sanderson wrote 13 books till he became big. p.p.s The British writer received 743 rejection slips before going on to publish 562 books in at least 5000 publications in 26 languages. p.p.p.s Samuel Beckett published his first novel "murphy" after receiving 42 rejections. p.p.p.p.s. Jack london received hundreds of rejections before having his first story be accepted. So my good friend Ben, I hope that in the words of Sir Winston Churchill (who consequently was defeated in every public election until he became prime minister at an age of 62) that you "Never give up, Never, Never give up." Don’t you love those moments when you finally realize what you want to become? I think that this is a monumental moment, and I’m glad that you have a very feasible plan.

Steve

p.s. Brandon Sanderson wrote 13 books till he became big.
p.p.s The British writer received 743 rejection slips before going on to publish 562 books in at least 5000 publications in 26 languages.
p.p.p.s Samuel Beckett published his first novel “murphy” after receiving 42 rejections.
p.p.p.p.s. Jack london received hundreds of rejections before having his first story be accepted.

So my good friend Ben, I hope that in the words of Sir Winston Churchill (who consequently was defeated in every public election until he became prime minister at an age of 62) that you “Never give up, Never, Never give up.”

]]> by: Cathy http://www.topofthemountains.net/2008/03/24/finding-the-real-me/#comment-68710 Tue, 25 Mar 2008 19:11:52 +0000 http://www.topofthemountains.net/2008/03/24/finding-the-real-me/#comment-68710 Just so Hilary knows, the organist is Mike Ohman, my old boss. Just so Hilary knows, the organist is Mike Ohman, my old boss.

]]> by: Julie http://www.topofthemountains.net/2008/03/24/finding-the-real-me/#comment-68701 Tue, 25 Mar 2008 17:19:05 +0000 http://www.topofthemountains.net/2008/03/24/finding-the-real-me/#comment-68701 I'm lucky that with my job on campus, I can go in whenever I want, but I'm supposed to have a certain schedule. Just knowing that I HAVE to go to work also makes me feel like a slave. Oh the joys of being self-employed that I'll never feel. I’m lucky that with my job on campus, I can go in whenever I want, but I’m supposed to have a certain schedule. Just knowing that I HAVE to go to work also makes me feel like a slave. Oh the joys of being self-employed that I’ll never feel.

]]> by: Hilary http://www.topofthemountains.net/2008/03/24/finding-the-real-me/#comment-68694 Tue, 25 Mar 2008 15:28:31 +0000 http://www.topofthemountains.net/2008/03/24/finding-the-real-me/#comment-68694 Last year, I followed the video blogs of YA author John Green and his brother Hank. For a few months surrounding his book release, John was on the road a ton, sometimes 5 days out of the week, promoting his book. He was also harassed by deadlines endlessly. He's a good-natured guy, so he took it in stride, but I wouldn't go into writing necessarily believing that your schedule will be your own... because once a publisher deems you worthy to be published, said publisher will also control your life and you will once again be "employed." I don't have first hand experience, but that's what I observed, and certainly what John Green presented as reality in his vlog. But... good luck? Sorry, I'm a downer sometimes. Also, I like the guy who does the organ accompaniment. I can't remember his name, but he was in my stake presidency last year. Those shows are so entertaining! Last year, I followed the video blogs of YA author John Green and his brother Hank. For a few months surrounding his book release, John was on the road a ton, sometimes 5 days out of the week, promoting his book. He was also harassed by deadlines endlessly. He’s a good-natured guy, so he took it in stride, but I wouldn’t go into writing necessarily believing that your schedule will be your own… because once a publisher deems you worthy to be published, said publisher will also control your life and you will once again be “employed.”

I don’t have first hand experience, but that’s what I observed, and certainly what John Green presented as reality in his vlog.

But… good luck? Sorry, I’m a downer sometimes.

Also, I like the guy who does the organ accompaniment. I can’t remember his name, but he was in my stake presidency last year. Those shows are so entertaining!

]]> by: Connor http://www.topofthemountains.net/2008/03/24/finding-the-real-me/#comment-68692 Tue, 25 Mar 2008 15:16:07 +0000 http://www.topofthemountains.net/2008/03/24/finding-the-real-me/#comment-68692 <em>Being an employee is swiftly starting to feel like the bonds of slavery. ;)</em> Ha! I'm exploring the possibiity of freelancing full time, so this rings true to my ears... Being an employee is swiftly starting to feel like the bonds of slavery. ;)

Ha! I’m exploring the possibiity of freelancing full time, so this rings true to my ears…

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