Comments for States of Mind

Comment on The effects of writers’ preoccupations with constant marketing by Mr. Ng

Mr. Ng — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 17:33:42 +0000

God damn! I can’t agree more. Steve Chandler who used to be a song writer said that networking for success was a myth. He found that it’s the best songs that found their way into people’s hands. If you build it, he will come. Jimmy from 7thProvince.com

Comment on Interview: Dan Baum on Freelancing by Jim Travisano

Jim Travisano — Mon, 18 May 2009 22:26:37 +0000

As someone who has made his living as a writer and editor for the past 22 years, I applaud this piece. It’s spot on.

Comment on Interview: Dan Baum on Freelancing by Timing is everything . . . and nothing « Finding Your Voice

Timing is everything . . . and nothing « Finding Your Voice — Mon, 18 May 2009 17:41:02 +0000

[...] I get to today’s post, read this interview with Dan Baum, former staffer for The New Yorker, now a freelancer. I agree with everything he [...]

Comment on Interview: Dan Baum on Freelancing by quirkyalone

quirkyalone — Mon, 18 May 2009 14:33:39 +0000

Thank you, this was a very interesting read.

Comment on Doctor Mustard, In the Consulting Room, With Words by The social intelligence of TV shrinks « Enhancing Your Social IQ

The social intelligence of TV shrinks « Enhancing Your Social IQ — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 15:25:39 +0000

[...] related post on my other blog: Doctor Mustard, In the Consulting Room, With Words] Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)On feeling useful and being a nurse….Prejudice [...]

Comment on Doctor Mustard, In the Consulting Room, With Words by Paul F.

Paul F. — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 19:24:00 +0000

Whether it’s Westerners giving blind credence to their “analysts” or Buddhists to their “teachers” (the “Buddha in the Road”), it’s dangerous to fully externalize authority. You’re right; you swallow your own tongue. What an important theme!

Comment on Competition and writers by gregkorgeski

gregkorgeski — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 15:57:36 +0000

Love that phrase, being the last one standing. Though I suspect that neither that nor the “piranahs and meatballs” analogies are the whole story. I mean really, the key to success as a writer generally seems to be creating a unique story, world, characters, universe, or something nonfiction that nobody else has quite come up with, because it’s you, who you are, what you know that nobody else knows. What the marketers call a ‘unique value proposition’ or something stupid and market-y like that. The trick, I think, for a writer is learning to tap that vein.

But you learn to do that mainly by writing, trying new things, finding new things in your experience or self that you realize need to be written, that nobody else has written them. I guess…

Comment on Competition and writers by Jennifer Lawler

Jennifer Lawler — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 15:52:44 +0000

Tickled to see you mention my tweet on your blog, Greg. I knew there was a reason I’m obsessed with Twitter.

The principle of being the last one standing is something I’ve tried to communicate to the writers I’ve worked with over the years, to varying degrees of success. This post is one of the best arguments I’ve seen about getting through the tough slog. It’s hard to keep the faith. That’s why I think we need to care as much/more about process than about results. If I’m learning and growing as a writer, then that should be rewarding and satisfying to me irrespective of whatever the publishing gods decide about my fate.

Comment on A daily workflow for novel-writing by gregkorgeski

gregkorgeski — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 17:14:38 +0000

Glad it helps. Good luck to you in your work! greg

Comment on A daily workflow for novel-writing by Kikiyome

Kikiyome — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 15:42:27 +0000

This is really helpful! As an aspiring writer I do find that I need to organize somewhat, thanks for the tips!