Guest Post: When I started…

When I reached out for guests posts this time, I had a theme in mind. (Quelle surprise, non?)

What was the question?The questions are available from the hat if you would like to play along. Shoot an email to the SIB for more details.

Laurie picked a question which will give you some insight into writing a book.

When I started writing my book, I had no idea…”

When I started writing my book, I had no idea that I once I began typing what I had written I would lose the file multiple times. Little did I know that I would write myself into corners, and every time a solution was reached a new problem would arise.

I wasn’t prepared for the final attempt at recovery to fail completely and to have to start over entirely. The starting over wasn’t the most aggravating part of the process. There were the hours spent wondering if what I had put in the book, which had turned into a book of poetry instead of the original fictional novel, was what I actually wanted to put into it.

I was rather surprised that when I finished the book and it hit the stage of published that there would be those that thought something in it was specifically about them. Given that the poem in question was entitled “Gold Digger” I was prone to wonder if they were so sure it was about them because, though it may not have been the intention, it actually described what they were perfectly. After all, who admits to thinking something like that is about them?

IMG02166-20121102-0952A poem about someone being lazy and living off someone else, while enjoying things even a kindergartner can count well enough to know they cannot afford payments on much less purchasing out right, and it automatically makes you think of yourself. Hmm, methinks it’s time to get off your ass, man up… er, stop being so full of yourself and get a clue.

I had no idea that the book would make those that don’t have a clue think they did. I had no idea that I would begin to wonder if the readers were seeing people close to them in the writing, and if any of them saw anything other than people in it. I began to wonder if people (other than those that write poetry) knew that it was not all about the writer all the time.


When you read poetry, do you see yourself or others in it? Should good poetry be easy to put people into? Do you have experience losing work to the machine you use to help?

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Take a moment to see what Laurie has going on at Odds and Ends of a Wondering Mind. Her books are available individually and as a set at RedmundPro.

If you would like to guest post, drop a line.

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21 Comments

  1. Carbonite Carbonite Carbonite. I am horrible at remembering to back up my work so this has been a lifesaver on a few occasions.
    Bearman recently posted..BatfleckMy Profile

    Reply
  2. You can never have too many backups! I have mine on at three different hard drives. Many files on CDs and DVDs. And Google Drive is free for a few gig I think it is. And I update the file name of most things as they goes through changes, so that I have many versions of the same thing (text-01, text-02, etc.)
    Binky recently posted..Sidewalk ClaimMy Profile

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  3. I use drop box and ubantu 1 to put my work in the cloud. They are free and you create a password and save in folders. It does not matter if your computer is destroyed. The stuff will always be in the sky and you do not need other back ups. My tech friend says the tech is there now wherein all you need is a keyboard and monitor and your tower and all its components will be in the sky but there is too much money to be made keeping the present computer equipment. Re poetry: once you publish a poem you have no control over nor should worry about interpretations. Poems and all art speak to different people in different ways . That keeps them living and vibrant.

    Reply
  4. If I thought something you wrote called GoldDigger was about me, I don’t think I’d brag about it!
    Nice job, Laurie!!!

    🙂
    BuddhaKat recently posted..Killing Us Softly – A Profound Emotional Experience…My Profile

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  5. It is always a success when one believes the story, or piece of poetry is directed straight at the reader, after all I guess that everything that we as writers can think of can be seen in this way.

    In short, this is a fine example of your writing, and through the creativity of fiction and of realism in the same instance, you have managed to connect with the reader on every level.

    Well done my friend…

    Andro xx

    Reply
  6. Just as Carl mentioned, the Cloud is a great place to keep your files. I bought an external drive recently but later became aware of the Cloud. Drat. I could have saved $100.00.

    Except for the angst of my teen years and terribly scribbled poetry, I don’t know a lot about it but it strikes me it involves emotions and feeling. Sure, if a universal subject is written about, a lot of readers might feel the poetry is about them or their lives.
    Tess Kann recently posted..Flash in the Pan – EgressMy Profile

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    • Laurie

       /  September 10, 2013

      I’m far to cheap to spend that much on backup. Of course that could be part of the problem.

      Universal huh? Interesting theme.

      Reply
  7. Laurie, I enjoyed your guest post. I’m always interested to hear how a writer manages to get to the finish line.

    Excellent question and first-rate answer.
    Tess Kann recently posted..Flash in the Pan – EgressMy Profile

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  8. I lose files constantly, well I should say I use to lose files. Now I back up to the Cloud in addition to maintaining three external drives for different causes and reasons. Now, I lose files but it is because I forget what I named them. 🙂

    Seeing people in poetry? Yes, sometimes. Sometimes I see life, mine or others. Sometimes I see people I know or shouldn’t know. Sometimes I see reminders to do better, make better choices or love better, or not love at all. I think good poetry can be either very esoteric or can simply be slices of life. We can read into it the life of the poet or our own.

    This was good.
    Valentine Logar recently posted..Fall Flash 7My Profile

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  9. Hi Laurie,

    I enjoyed your post and regarding poetry, I have to agree with Carl’s insight…once we post it, there can be many different interpretations. I seem to be in agreement with Tess, too…if a poem is written about emotions and feelings that are universal, then I’m sure many can pertain the words to themselves and their lives. And regarding the Golddigger…I also agree that it’s not something to brag about! 🙂

    Reply
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