Comments on The Eyesore Times: Ramblings and Additional Nonsense from K. Allen Wood: Of Mullets, Microphones and Manuscripts

If you hesitate to put yourself out there too much...

2010-02-18T02:32:37.719-05:00

If you hesitate to put yourself out there too much - you may never find your audience and without an audience - your words die with you.

This is a flash piece in an anthology with many of your friends. There's no need to get all stressed out. Trust Aaron Polson's judgment and relax. Enjoy this opportunity to share your work with others.

I heard about a writer who threw a manuscript away, because he didn't feel he knew enough about teen girls to do the main character in the story justice, but his wife dug that manuscript out of the trash and talked him into submitting it. That story ended up being a HUGE hit.

I suspect you need someone to sift through your trashcan.

Besides, confidence is sexy; it's a bonafide magnet. Come on...roar - just a little bit.

Thanks, guys. Not trying to be a buzzkill here, y...

2010-02-16T12:15:53.833-05:00

Thanks, guys.

Not trying to be a buzzkill here, you know. I just don't want to be so confident that I can't see a turd for a turd. There's plenty of confident writers out there peddling poorly written tales.

I don't want to be one of them.

So I kindly ask for honest feedback when the story goes live, even if it's negative. And if there's no need for negative feedback...well, I'll smile.

A bit.

I don't think you jumped too soon. I feel lik...

2010-02-16T10:08:10.224-05:00

I don't think you jumped too soon. I feel like you're standing on the diving board and we're all trying to coax you into the water. Take the plunge, already! You can polish, polish, and polish until you have worn away everything raw and wild away from your story. You are awesome. This is going to scare you to death, certainly. But you've worked on this piece, it's a good, solid story and you have earned your place in 52 Stitches. So stop being a buzz kill, already. ;)

-M

Oh, I always feel that way and have to stop myself...

2010-02-16T02:54:40.507-05:00

Oh, I always feel that way and have to stop myself from apologising on my blog for the turd I'm inflicting on people. I think it's a basic-writer reaction.

Oh, and Aaron knows his stuff (and hates that word so I'm in trouble if he reads this) and I'm sure he wouldn't have bought your story if it wasn't ready for the world.

I've felt that way sometimes. I know some peop...

2010-02-16T01:28:31.911-05:00

I've felt that way sometimes. I know some people who have like 30 submissions out in limbo and I usually can manage one at a time. Still makes me a bit nervous, but I'm starting to come out of my shell. I'm sure you will too. Just keep at it.

Hey there, I think that we have all felt that way...

2010-02-15T17:18:12.839-05:00

Hey there, I think that we have all felt that way. The doubting yourself part that is. But what you have to start trusting are those that tell you that you are good enough. If you got accepted, then yes you are. If you can't trust yourself, then trust them. They are the slushpile readers for goodness sakes. They know that golden nugget from a p.o.s. any day!