tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post3922951927651291471..comments2024-03-28T08:32:02.663-04:00Comments on Jungle Red Writers: What we're writing: Hallie Ephron on failed attemptsJungle Red Writershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16646429819267618412noreply@blogger.comBlogger50125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-82855992927292104692020-05-04T16:18:39.418-04:002020-05-04T16:18:39.418-04:00"Save everything. Trust me: today’s crap is t..."Save everything. Trust me: today’s crap is tomorrow’s compost." This is so very true, Hallie. Also, I love the beginning of your essay and can't wait to read the whole thing. This is definitely a collection a writer needs to have! <br />Jenn McKinlayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13589365995413467367noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-3851369745796885812020-05-04T16:14:09.232-04:002020-05-04T16:14:09.232-04:00A writer, I am not. I tend to get too wordy trying...A writer, I am not. I tend to get too wordy trying to come up with the alternate word for the one I can't spell. Of course those were the days before spell-check in computers. I was lucky enough to attend an elementary school that emphasized the written language. I may not have been able to spell, but I do write a decent descriptive paragraph.Deana Dalehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09093854261937772980noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-20450959368569802732020-05-04T15:31:35.893-04:002020-05-04T15:31:35.893-04:00He does - and I’ve saved every single one of them ...He does - and I’ve saved every single one of them Hallie Ephronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04759439029582054503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-12569110885497166442020-05-04T14:50:05.826-04:002020-05-04T14:50:05.826-04:00I make killer popcorn. The old fashioned way, in a...I make killer popcorn. The old fashioned way, in a pot on the stove. Fintahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17087809450585073206noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-39404457294282753522020-05-04T14:49:21.303-04:002020-05-04T14:49:21.303-04:00Hallie, I think that is why there are writing grou...Hallie, I think that is why there are writing groups so that other people can read the drafts and give feedback?<br /><br />DianaBibliophilehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07764234701385787238noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-38781220156053569992020-05-04T14:41:31.397-04:002020-05-04T14:41:31.397-04:00I agree, Hallie. I don't do spoilers in my re...I agree, Hallie. I don't do spoilers in my reviews. I try to tell enough of the story to whet the reader's appetite, but I want them to discover the story themselves, like I did. <br /><br />Didn't your husband draw or doodle in your letters. It seems I remember you saying that once. I love that he draws you something for your birthday card each year. That is so special.<br />Kathy Reelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17004247271452356577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-23529631529379600052020-05-04T14:24:25.434-04:002020-05-04T14:24:25.434-04:00I often regret that I am not a saver of old letter...I often regret that I am not a saver of old letters. You were so smart to hold onto them. It seems remarkable to me that the only person whose letters I saved were from my to-be husband.<br /><br />On reviewing, the thing I learned as I did more of it was NOT to retell the story. It pisses the writer AND readers off (especially if it's a mystery.) So writing a review of a crime novel is an art... how to convey what it's about without giving it away.Hallie Ephronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04759439029582054503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-26511591655068873512020-05-04T13:47:06.003-04:002020-05-04T13:47:06.003-04:00I suppose the "never give up" implies it...I suppose the "never give up" implies it's something you have the ability/want to do in the first place . . . at least, that's how I've always looked at it. Mother advice is sometimes open to interpretation . . . .Joan Emersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06810313925049108163noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-16931487911019408082020-05-04T13:33:49.257-04:002020-05-04T13:33:49.257-04:00Hallie, before I commented, I had to do two things...Hallie, before I commented, I had to do two things. First, I bought the hardback of Private Investigations, and I didn't read the rest of your piece because I want to savor it when the book arrives. Then, I bought a ticket for Love, Loss, and What I Wore. I can't wait to watch this play tonight. My husband will be spending the night at his mother's (she has to have someone 24/7 now), so the house will be mine to watch and not be interrupted. You've brightened my day considerably with these two creative products. Thanks.<br /><br />I haven't really tried fiction writing, but I might have a few jottings hanging around somewhere. I'll keep an eye out for them now. I do have early reviews I've written, before I jumped into seriously planning reviews and following authors. They are educational in a way, because I can see where my attention to detail has improved. I do like reading over older reviews from time to time, too, and reliving the thrill of a particular book, what grabbed me about it.<br /><br />But, one of the kinds of writing I like to imagine could be helpful in fiction writing are old letters I've saved. From the penned poems of a past boyfriend to the news from my mother of home. Then, I also have some notes from my mother as she and my father took a couple of trips, which I find interesting and capable of sparking story ideas. So, I hold onto these scraps and scribbles, not having given up yet on their possibilities.Kathy Reelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17004247271452356577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-72734700741491523802020-05-04T12:18:43.788-04:002020-05-04T12:18:43.788-04:00Anyone who can write "a soft breath on a tiny...Anyone who can write "a soft breath on a tiny ember" has me hooked. And then...?Hallie Ephronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04759439029582054503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-9430145488850137512020-05-04T12:18:12.624-04:002020-05-04T12:18:12.624-04:00I'll bet there are... a few choice sentences, ...I'll bet there are... a few choice sentences, to say the least.<br />Hallie Ephronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04759439029582054503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-69112442696360561422020-05-04T12:17:39.707-04:002020-05-04T12:17:39.707-04:00I went with a group of friends from college - we h...I went with a group of friends from college - we had a blast!Hallie Ephronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04759439029582054503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-16219675693714870552020-05-04T12:16:30.245-04:002020-05-04T12:16:30.245-04:00"The writing grabbed my attention and I finis..."The writing grabbed my attention and I finished these books." -- You've put your finger on the tightrope that every author has to walk.Hallie Ephronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04759439029582054503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-4994654611526120672020-05-04T12:15:04.422-04:002020-05-04T12:15:04.422-04:00Exactly - most persistent... and most open to maki...Exactly - most persistent... and most open to making changes but clear about their goalHallie Ephronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04759439029582054503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-20907320390059307332020-05-04T12:13:05.951-04:002020-05-04T12:13:05.951-04:00Ding ding ding! I hear a title hatching.Ding ding ding! I hear a title hatching.Hallie Ephronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04759439029582054503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-30788472413207510222020-05-04T12:12:45.942-04:002020-05-04T12:12:45.942-04:00Hallie,thanks for the info. I saw Love and Loss w...Hallie,thanks for the info. I saw Love and Loss when it was onstage, and liked it so much I took my mother-in-law (a serious clotheshorse) for her birthday. I'd love to watch it again. Trisshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08058396345946250313noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-77686447913764545782020-05-04T12:12:21.631-04:002020-05-04T12:12:21.631-04:00I don't know whether you can see it on TV... m...I don't know whether you can see it on TV... maybe if you can hook your computer to your TV? Beyond my pay grade.Hallie Ephronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04759439029582054503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-51224707316230821572020-05-04T12:10:41.717-04:002020-05-04T12:10:41.717-04:00I still have some stuff on CDs... hoping they don&...I still have some stuff on CDs... hoping they don't go the way of the floppy disk.Hallie Ephronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04759439029582054503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-70330414343227569372020-05-04T12:10:03.881-04:002020-05-04T12:10:03.881-04:00Have to second Deb on this. Everyone writes trash ...Have to second Deb on this. Everyone writes trash at first. But you learn by writing, And after awhile, you start to see that it's getting better.In one of the first writing classes I ever took, the very experience teacher said, "The students who succeed at writing are not necessarily the more talented.They are the ones who are most persistent."<br />Trisshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08058396345946250313noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-58305023794323816562020-05-04T11:59:01.744-04:002020-05-04T11:59:01.744-04:00The play sounds great, Hallie! What an unexpected ...The play sounds great, Hallie! What an unexpected treat.<br /><br />I have to admit that I haven't saved much in the way of failed attempts. I tend to delete as I revise. I do have notebooks full of jottings, however, and somewhere, some old stories and poetry that I never even attempted to get published. Maybe there are some ideas in there somewhere!Deborah Crombiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16988750789088153601noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-37861585140949002222020-05-04T11:56:36.372-04:002020-05-04T11:56:36.372-04:00Jay, I can tell from your posts that you do have a...Jay, I can tell from your posts that you do have a real talent for words! You should make a start on that novel, just for fun. Tell yourself that nobody ever has to see it, and that it doesn't have to be "perfect!"Deborah Crombiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16988750789088153601noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-75026757143857197112020-05-04T11:54:30.967-04:002020-05-04T11:54:30.967-04:00Ann, let's do jammies and popcorn!!Ann, let's do jammies and popcorn!!Deborah Crombiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16988750789088153601noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-75023454205925107372020-05-04T11:39:45.613-04:002020-05-04T11:39:45.613-04:00Oh, absolutely! And there's a giant inflated o...Oh, absolutely! And there's a giant inflated or otherwise padded landing pad behind the pole. In the old days it was probably a sand pit! I think I'd have had heart palpitations, if that had been the case! <br /><br />But remember, my middle daughter was a competitive climber for many years. Moms learn not to scream in panic watching their 110-pound daughter 100 feet in the air, clinging to a rope and toeholds. Come to think of it, that might have been great training for the pandemic. Karen in Ohiohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13846039203123720312noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-84133301382767985522020-05-04T11:11:26.119-04:002020-05-04T11:11:26.119-04:00Hallie, yes both good and bad news on the climate ...Hallie, yes both good and bad news on the climate change front. As someone who did applied research, I/our team realized early on that it is very hard to get people/communities to change their behaviour for a common good. <br /><br />The COVID-19 pandemic has shown how quickly a global slowdown can make an impact on air pollution/GHG emissions but I fear this will only be short-lived reduction. Once the lockdowns and businesses/industry are allowed to restart, we will go back to driving our cars everywhere and emissions will rise again.Grace Koshidahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05934603958949938617noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-46547682750300946682020-05-04T11:01:33.896-04:002020-05-04T11:01:33.896-04:00I presume we can send it to the TV? Or do we need...I presume we can send it to the TV? Or do we need to watch on laptops? Either way, I'll bring the wine and munchies.Annhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14187856103924954287noreply@blogger.com