tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034142332858737641.post4904558352035084484..comments2024-03-28T09:30:07.343-04:00Comments on I Think; Therefore, I Yam: Feeling GroovySusan Flett Swiderskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09425315552148200073noreply@blogger.comBlogger82125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034142332858737641.post-85626146353332518002013-08-17T16:10:46.874-04:002013-08-17T16:10:46.874-04:00HA! Me, too! Those toes crack me up.
Some of the ...HA! Me, too! Those toes crack me up.<br /><br />Some of the blog hops are fun, but they do take a lot of time. Awards are kinda fun sometimes, too, especially if you're having a bit of a block as to what to write about... the award "rules" usually TELL ya what to write about.Susan Flett Swiderskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09425315552148200073noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034142332858737641.post-60435566416439538522013-08-16T15:24:40.889-04:002013-08-16T15:24:40.889-04:00I love the creepy toes! I was all into the blog h...I love the creepy toes! I was all into the blog hops and awards and other hoo-ha when I first starting blogging. then, I realized, it doesn't really mean anything. They're fun and all, but do take time, and maybe get you some exposure, but i've decided good writing should do the same thing. There are as many types of blog as they are people. Marianne (Mare) Baker Ballhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03663143060069193124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034142332858737641.post-65425518545607113642013-08-12T09:25:40.264-04:002013-08-12T09:25:40.264-04:00Thanks! It's always a pleasure to see your smi...Thanks! It's always a pleasure to see your smiling face here. Susan Flett Swiderskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09425315552148200073noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034142332858737641.post-77255968527102491022013-08-12T00:03:19.282-04:002013-08-12T00:03:19.282-04:00I love coming to your blog to read! And the photos...I love coming to your blog to read! And the photos you share are sometimes a hoot!Nashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14984530648140460594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034142332858737641.post-79619175973742960902013-08-11T23:21:04.924-04:002013-08-11T23:21:04.924-04:00Thanks, Robyn! (But I, um, AM a smart ass. Always ...Thanks, Robyn! (But I, um, AM a smart ass. Always have been...)<br /><br />Well, sales maybe DO happen that way, or else so many people wouldn't do it. Just not my bag, but I am the world's WORST salesperson. For a very brief while... VERY brief while... I was an Amway salesperson in the early seventies. The thing was, I didn't want to impose on my friends by trying to sell them stuff, and I sure as heck wasn't going to go door to door. So I bought a couple things and sold some cans of spray-on shoe polish to my father. That was it. (The WORST ever!)<br /><br />I hope the hot flashes are enjoyable. (Much more fun to read about 'em than to FEEL 'em!)<br /><br />I read your book of poetry, and enjoyed it very much. Haven't written a review on it yet, but I will.Susan Flett Swiderskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09425315552148200073noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034142332858737641.post-603525315917393102013-08-11T23:14:09.090-04:002013-08-11T23:14:09.090-04:00Thanks. It's dandy to be tagged, but it's ...Thanks. It's dandy to be tagged, but it's even dandier to have a whole doggone blogfest named after ya! Something tells me a lot of people think you're one special dude. <br /><br />Of course you're not Cynical. You're Gary, silly.<br /><br />Seeya tomorrow... in a bunch of blogs, I'll betcha. Should be a real blast! Enjoy it.Susan Flett Swiderskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09425315552148200073noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034142332858737641.post-14245470268804874112013-08-11T22:53:55.279-04:002013-08-11T22:53:55.279-04:00Okay, Stephen, you were obviously writing a couple...Okay, Stephen, you were obviously writing a couple comments the same time as I was responding to DisConnected there So my last response was to HIM... this one's for you.<br /><br />Know what? I think we've all beaten this poor old horse long enough, don't you? Thanks for the clarification. I appreciate it. Now... let's just have a beer. Um, never mind. YOU have a beer; I think I'll stick with bourbon and ginger.<br /><br />It's all good. Really. Take care.Susan Flett Swiderskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09425315552148200073noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034142332858737641.post-66210183240828027102013-08-11T22:41:26.937-04:002013-08-11T22:41:26.937-04:00Oh yeah, I know all about that clock. That blasted...Oh yeah, I know all about that clock. That blasted ticking in my ear helped me decide to jump off the traditional merry-go-round and take matters into my own hands. Even with a contract, it can take two or more years before a publisher releases a book... IF the company doesn't change ownership, change its mind, or go belly up first, that is. I didn't want to wait that long. (Heck, who am I kidding? I might not HAVE that long!) <br /><br />You're absolutely right. How a book is published does NOT automatically dictate its worth. It's as foolish to assume a book produced by a big publisher is gonna be pure gold as it is to assume a self-pubbed piece is gonna stink. Especially nowadays, when writers have so many more viable options available to them. The landscape of publishing has changed so much, even some established authors are foregoing the traditional route now in favor of maintaining complete artistic control over their work... and their profits... by publishing themselves.<br /><br />A LOT of published, aspiring, and struggling writers blog, and all I can say to you and Stephen is, if their posts about writing annoy you... don't read 'em. There's plenty of other blogs out there that might be more to your liking. (Life's too darned short to be annoyed!)<br /><br />Thanks. Great comment, dude!Susan Flett Swiderskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09425315552148200073noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034142332858737641.post-56046033637136328952013-08-11T21:32:26.067-04:002013-08-11T21:32:26.067-04:00Part 2:
My Brother and I have had this same conve...Part 2:<br /><br />My Brother and I have had this same conversation a number of times: Joe Superstar gets scouted and then turned down by 10 major league baseball teams. Finally, the New Jersey Losers sign Joe Superstar to a contract and he goes on to become a... superstar (hitting .365, 40 home runs, 110 RBI). If I were the owner of any of the 10 teams that turned Joe down, I would find the professional scout who turned Joe down and fire him on the spot! It’s his job to RECOGNIZE TALENT when it’s right in front of him.<br /><br />The same goes for writers’ agents and publishers. If they can’t recognize a bestseller when it finds their desk (and very often they can’t), they should be fired.<br /><br />So... just because a publishing house hasn’t invested money in a manuscript does NOT mean that the manuscript is bad. An unpublished writer is not necessarily a bad writer. But... until a publishing house has decided that a writer’s work merits the risk of a million dollar investment (or whatever figure), I feel the writer should just... SHUT UP AND WRITE! (to bastardize an expression from Frank Zappa). They shouldn’t be dispensing writing advice until they’ve proven they have writing advice worth taking seriously. <br /><br />However, you, SUSAN, have never done this. Your blog is entertaining and informative, so I have never had an issue with you. But I did want to clear this matter up and emphasize that it was never unpublished or self-published writers I have a problem with, but only those who write about writing more than they WRITE!<br /><br />Alright, I’m plumb worn out on this topic now. I didn’t mean to insult you, and I was never really even addressing you or other writers like you. You blog and you write, but you DON’T blog about writing. The blogging about writing, THAT’S the “sore spot” I was referring to all along. <br /><br />~ D-FensDogg<br />‘Loyal American Underground’Stephen T. McCarthyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00249125637725791567noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034142332858737641.post-11777436311564812342013-08-11T21:31:51.712-04:002013-08-11T21:31:51.712-04:00Part 1:
I really wasn't intending to post ano...Part 1:<br /><br />I really wasn't intending to post another comment here, but I believe that the point I was making all along has been misunderstood, so I want to clarify it, but first...<br /><br />Thanks to my friend DiscConnected for the kind words. I do in fact recall that conversation in which I said I was no longer willing to do all the work that was necessary to get my carp published. However, the "work" I was referring to was not the actual writing aspect of it, but the post-writing groveling at the feet of stupid agents and publishers who would be writers themselves, instead of writers' agents and publishers of writers, if they had writing talent and/or the ability to consistently recognize writing talent. <br /><br />It's the post-writing nonsense that I objected to, but never the writing process itself. <br /><br />There are other factors that explain why I don’t write for real (e.g., I don’t believe “this world” wants to read what I have to say), but I’ll leave that alone here.<br /><br />SUSAN, you seem to have misunderstood me. Now I’ll take a few minutes to explain my position more clearly. The reason I would not have said anything here had I known your book was self-published is for fear that you might have taken me the wrong way (which you did). You wrote: <i>“Seriously, you shouldn't paint all self-published work with the same broad brush.”</i><br /><br />Actually, I never DID paint them with ANY brush – not in my comments here, nor in the blog bit I linked you too. You seem to think I was denigrating unpublished and self-published writers. I was not. I was denigrating unpublished and self-published writers who CONSTANTLY blog about the craft of writing. I got sick and tired of people who had not been published by a company that was willing to invest money in their writing, telling every other wannabe-writer how to improve various aspects of their writing. “Here’s how to... tighten your story, improve your dialogue, select more dynamic words, create believable and interesting characters, etc., and so on and so forth.<br /><br />I have nothing against wannabe-writers in general, nor against self-published writers. ‘BETTING ON MYSELF’ (to borrow Steven Crist’s book title) is what the self-publisher is doing, and I respect that. I have read a number of self-published books, some were quite good (like ‘DEMETRI AND THE BANANA FLAVORED ROCKETSHIP’ by Bryan Pedus of the blog <a href="http://www.abeerfortheshower.com/" rel="nofollow">A BEER FOR THE SHOWER</a>), others were fairly bad (so I won’t mention them). <br /><br />I remember reading about a guy who wrote a manuscript for a book about the Navajo Code Talkers. His manuscript was turned down countless times, so he self-published it. People began reading it and word-of-mouth advertising finally reached the ears of some publisher who then put the writer under contract and mass-produced the book for the market. Personally, I think everyone who turned the writer down originally should have been found and fired. If a person can’t do the job they were hired to do (i.e., spot talent when it comes crawling up to them) then they should be canned.<br /><br />Continued Below...Stephen T. McCarthyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00249125637725791567noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034142332858737641.post-39828075441488911632013-08-11T17:46:42.101-04:002013-08-11T17:46:42.101-04:00While I share Stephen's feelings about writing...While I share Stephen's feelings about writing about writing, I would not necessarily say that all self-published work is "bad" or all work published by a major publishing house is "good."<br /><br />Getting published involves determination and luck (and an agent), but first you have to have a finished piece of work.<br /><br />I agree with you Susan, that if you are willing to be the publishing entity, like the music business, there are avenues that exist today that did not a few decades ago. And if you're selling copies of the book and people are reading it, you go girl!<br /><br />Heck, even if they're not reading it, you got the cash!<br /><br />Having read some of Stephen's work, I would even challenge his contention that his work is "not good enough" but remind him of a conversation we once had where he admitted to just not wanting to do the work it would take to get the work out there.<br /><br />Having read many of the same blogs as Stephen, there are a lot of people out there who seem to have trouble finishing, or once finishing, do not seem to want to market the finished product.<br /><br />At the end of the day, people have to do what makes them happy. But if someone is going to write wistful blog posts about getting published, I'd encourage them to stop blogging and start writing, then find an agent and keep at it.<br /><br />One thing is constant in life-that clock keeps on ticking.<br /><br />If not now, when?<br /><br />LCDiscConnectedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07013919800637508392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034142332858737641.post-10888323575833909132013-08-11T16:29:39.353-04:002013-08-11T16:29:39.353-04:00Hey Susan,
Gosh and yay for getting tagged by Mar...Hey Susan,<br /><br />Gosh and yay for getting tagged by Mary Pax. I know how exciting it can be getting tagged. Toe you, I forward my sincerest congratulations. My "tag" has an alarm on it and if I break my commenting curfew, well, I better hurry. My tag is starting to glow.<br /><br />Who put the hop in the blog she blog she hop? <br /><br />Why are the creators of blogfests, blog hops, ridiculous alphabet challenges and heck, even anti-blogfests, referred to as it being their "brainchild"? Anyway, I'm very cynical about the whole blog hippety hoppety stuff. Not really, we know that those who set up blog hops are actually trying to have a whole bunch of positive interaction within the magical blogging community. If I really was cynical, I would say they are actually ego-trippers who are trying to accumulate followers. Not being cynical, you can ignore my last sentence. Or this entire comment, if you so wish.<br /><br />Let the irony of ironies commence, I say. The fun-filled, farcical, frivolous, funfest or anti-blogfest, funfest, I jest, will being rearing its bewildered head in a few hours time. Cool n'stuff!<br /><br />Your starstruck fan,<br /><br />Gary :) klahaniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08613505424843475639noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034142332858737641.post-50575137794088791422013-08-11T14:43:22.647-04:002013-08-11T14:43:22.647-04:00I like you for many of the reasons and thoughts yo...I like you for many of the reasons and thoughts you expressed in this post, Susan. You're not a smart ass. You just tell it like it is. I agree that a million posts about a book is repelling, not enticing. People need to mellow out. Sales do not happen that way. You, my dear, do it right. <br /><br />Thanks for promoting the Gary fest! It'll be fun.<br /><br />I'll have hot flashes any day now, in more ways than one, with emphasis on the cold lemonade. Can't wait.<br /><br />xoRobynRawknrobyn.blogspot.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15997241410192066577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034142332858737641.post-56662115471500286872013-08-11T08:10:30.558-04:002013-08-11T08:10:30.558-04:00Thank you. I'm glad to hear you enjoy reading ...Thank you. I'm glad to hear you enjoy reading my goofy posts. You may not think of yourself as much of a writer, but you sure know how to create art with that camera of yours.Susan Flett Swiderskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09425315552148200073noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034142332858737641.post-64980491330954626372013-08-11T06:18:53.316-04:002013-08-11T06:18:53.316-04:00Never much of a writer myself, I love reading othe...Never much of a writer myself, I love reading other's creations. The advent of ebook readers and now the blogosphere have opened up new avenues to satiate the need. Your is one of the blogs I love to read as the inherent humour in the posts makes them truly enjoyable.Ramakant Pradhanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15982765739245702488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034142332858737641.post-5632609642706637252013-08-10T21:28:17.156-04:002013-08-10T21:28:17.156-04:00Thanks, Rita! What a sweet thing to say. (Several ...Thanks, Rita! What a sweet thing to say. (Several sweet things, actually.) <br /><br />Take care. I hope the rest of your weekend is terrific.Susan Flett Swiderskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09425315552148200073noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034142332858737641.post-91659187248034960722013-08-10T21:08:15.961-04:002013-08-10T21:08:15.961-04:00Thanks, Julia. I'm glad you enjoyed them. And ...Thanks, Julia. I'm glad you enjoyed them. And I'm glad you want to link to that Landfill Harmonic post. Those kids are something else, and the more people who know about them, the better. <br /><br />Of course we're getting somewhere. May not be where we planned to go, but we're definitely going somewhere, and that's always good enough for me.<br /><br />You have a lovely weekend, too.Susan Flett Swiderskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09425315552148200073noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034142332858737641.post-86276974223845413592013-08-10T20:53:10.078-04:002013-08-10T20:53:10.078-04:00Serious chilling? Isn't that what weekends are...Serious chilling? Isn't that what weekends are for? Sounds like a plan. I'll look forward to seeing which questions you go for, and how you answer them. (Um, ya might wanta stick with the beer... the tequila stuff can bite you...)Susan Flett Swiderskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09425315552148200073noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034142332858737641.post-20027542358586322982013-08-10T19:56:41.723-04:002013-08-10T19:56:41.723-04:00I'm a new follower and I like you even better ...I'm a new follower and I like you even better already. ;) Some writer's blogs become one long commercial and that does turn me off. I never have the screen time to do a lot online in the first place. Have a hard enough time keeping up with reading the blogs I follow and writing on mine once in a while--LOL! You do tickle me, lady. ;) Ritahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02043285884495492598noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034142332858737641.post-85395438114746351302013-08-10T19:36:12.959-04:002013-08-10T19:36:12.959-04:00Susan, I really enjoyed all your answers. Nicely d...Susan, I really enjoyed all your answers. Nicely done, girl.<br />You reminded me that I do want to add a link to your blog on my blog, but on a different post. The one about music in the landfill in Paraguay. This post reminded me that I had the intention of doing that and never did it. LOL.<br /> The anti-blog fest, yes, but I'm going to listen to the Tree of Life soon. Gary is a lovely blogger and a gifted writer.<br /> I think I've changed all the plans but we are getting somewhere, right?<br /> Have a lovely weekend. <br /> Julia Honeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08497316179340178624noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034142332858737641.post-70159745317822641852013-08-10T17:05:21.181-04:002013-08-10T17:05:21.181-04:00Doing some serious chilling with some beer, chips,...Doing some serious chilling with some beer, chips, and salsa but I might actually give those nine questions a go tomorrow morning. That is if I don't dig out the tequila and margarita mix tonight. Commander Zaiushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11000824454124236774noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034142332858737641.post-78717556433399194442013-08-10T14:06:45.995-04:002013-08-10T14:06:45.995-04:00Thanks, Rick! Yeah, those toes ARE a scream. (Espe...Thanks, Rick! Yeah, those toes ARE a scream. (Especially the big one!)Susan Flett Swiderskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09425315552148200073noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034142332858737641.post-66491062320419459952013-08-10T13:38:20.794-04:002013-08-10T13:38:20.794-04:00Oh, I think you can do a lot more than a one-time ...Oh, I think you can do a lot more than a one-time mention of your book on your own blog. You want to be sure people are aware of it and interested, but ya don't wanta yell "Buy My Book!" on every single post. That just seems kinda tacky. Subtlety is classier, at least in my opinion. And some people who read your book and love it will want to feature it on their blog. (Like Janie) That kind of word-of-mouth recommendation entices MORE people to read, who may also love it and want to feature it on THEIR blog, etc, etc, etc. (Life is good.)<br /><br />Only you can answer as to whether or not you have a book in you. But trust me, if there is, it's a LOT of work to get it OUT and ready to publish. (Good luck!) Susan Flett Swiderskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09425315552148200073noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034142332858737641.post-47219070642417146192013-08-10T13:22:46.305-04:002013-08-10T13:22:46.305-04:00Thanks! Sweet of you to say. I'm not too bad f...Thanks! Sweet of you to say. I'm not too bad for an old broad.<br />Susan Flett Swiderskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09425315552148200073noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034142332858737641.post-89150145493527612412013-08-10T13:20:06.108-04:002013-08-10T13:20:06.108-04:00My goodness... just look at you back-pedaling! HA!...My goodness... just look at you back-pedaling! HA! No problem, Stephen. Really. A lot of people think all self-published stuff stinks. I used to think so, too, once upon a time. And then I took a good hard look at it and weighed my options. This was the best choice for me, and I'm glad I made it.<br /><br />No need to buy my book. It's women's lit, so it may not be your cup of tea. (Although, to my never-ending surprise, men HAVE been buying it, and they claim to like it. So, go figure.) At any rate, you're under no obligation to buy. My feelings aren't hurt. I know how you are. You've got an opinion, you're gonna express it. No offense intended, and no offense taken. (But I do appreciate the apology. Sweet.)Susan Flett Swiderskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09425315552148200073noreply@blogger.com