http://www.flickr.com/photos/terribleminds/ 7335643838/sizes/h/in/photostream/
In Tuesday’s post, everyone shared their fave writing advice and teachers in the comments. The picture above summarizes what Chuck Wendig had to say (thanks to Patrick Thunstrom for telling me about that graphic on Flickr!).
I learned tons just reading what y’all wrote but the winner of the Cowbell Prize was Kathy Owen with Dare To Suck by Maureen Johnson.
In direct contrast to Chuck’s graphic above, Maureen explains the importance of suckitude for a writer. You get this bonus Friday post because I think both messages need to be heard. (At least I needed them both.)
How’s that for an uplifting pep talk to get you all perkified for the weekend?
What’s that? Not enough for you?!!
Fine. Why not mosey on over to Writers In The Storm for a whiff of Margie Lawson’s wisdom? (Pssssst! She’s giving away an online course to one lucky commenter!!)
See? I just keep on giving when no one else does…
Happy Weekend, y’all!
Jenny
p.s. Ingrid Schaffenburg and I are thinking of starting a new round of Fast Draft next Friday. Who’s in? Let me know down in the comments!!
Jenny Hansen's Blog 
ARGH! There is one writer (of sorts) in my household that embraces Dare to Suck, and that is my laptop. Huey P ACKard still does the freeze-frame routine on videos until I give him the (re)boot.
I’m commenting because I (1) will put this in my Blogs Commented folder as a reminder to check when I’m at SBUX and can borrow Barista/Writer Sam’s Mac, and…
(2) will be “in” for a fast draft (either this one or one in future). I hesitate on this go-’round because I’ll still be house and grand-kids watching next Friday and Saturday while my stepson and DIL are on vacation. “Just wear yesterday’s inside out. I’ll do a load of undies when I finish my word count.”
I’ll get back to you on that one. Have a great weekend!
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You are so funny with your Huey, Gloria. Y’all sound like an old married couple. 🙂
Hope you had a good weekend. Just let me know on Fast Draft.
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“I give myself permission to suck….” Maureen’s message was a good one. Thanks for the post Jenny.
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I’m trying to do that about once a day right now, Zack. 🙂
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Wow, Jenny, you are giving me some FAB internet love this week! First the handedness post and now this one. So glad you liked Maureen Johnson’s video! I’ve watched it several times (usually when I’m frozen in fear). I especially like her comment: “you haven’t sucked long enough or hard enough…did I just say that?” – LOL!
As I keep reminding myself, suckiness can always be fixed!
Have a great weekend,
Kathy
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I agree Kathy, that part had me laughing out loud. Y’all have a great weekend!
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I forgot to actually say “thank you”! *smacks forehead*
THANK YOU!! 😉
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You were just full of WOWZER Inspiration last week, Kathy. I don’t know why. 🙂
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I couldn’t read past “computer” and “freeze.” I’m sure the rest of the post was very good. 😉
It is still very hard for me to follow Chuck’s simple advice. I am a painfully slow typist. I type with three fingers, and — a perfectionist by nature, I read and re-read. I’ve been setting timers and only allowing myself 1 hour to blog each day. Otherwise it eats up my entire day — all other projects and even my lunch! 😉
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Oh man!!! I hope you get to listen to the video later, Renee. It has nothing whatsoever to do with Chuck’s message. I think it’s smart that you set time limits on social media. It’s a great thing to do.
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Good advise, manically given…:-)
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ROFL. I agree.
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Could you send me an email with the deets on the fast draft and how you guys run it? I might be able to join this round, so I’d like a little more info. (And a private forum to ask you a couple questions before I’m ready to go.)
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I haven’t forgotten about you, Marcy! I’ll send this email in the next few days. If you just want the rules, go down a bit in the comments – I linked to a post I did before that lays them out well. 🙂
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Thanks 🙂 I’ll watch for your email. I’m actually mostly interested in how you guys set it up. I heard talk of a Yahoo loop and a few other details from past sessions.
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Oh, well I can tweet you that! But I’ll email, just to make your life easy. 🙂
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Oh, I might join this next fastdraft round. I need to WRITE!
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Coolness!!! You’re in the loop – just let me know. 🙂
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that is awesome! even after 13 books, I still have to remind myself that first drafts and fourth drafts and sometimes even tenth drafts can suck! but i can MB (make better)! Good reminder before I face the beast.
I wish I could do a fast draft, but my process does not lend itself to fast draft. I read a post somewhere, maybe from mywana? about a gal who does what I do and I was so relieved to not be the only one. I kind of go in sprints and stops. And I pace a lot. But I will cheer you all on!
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Good got you, Pauline. In the end, it’s all about knowing your process. I didn’t realize you were on book 14. Bravo, girlfriend!!!
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LOVE LOVE LOVE this! My life is filled with suck-isity so this really makes me feel all warm and fuzzy. And for me, as you know, I’m already pretty much fuzzed and korn-fuzzled, so that’s saying some. Right now I’m procrastinating the launch of the next suck-tastical adventure (sequel to LOST AND FOUND). EEEEEK!
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Your life is totally NOT filled with Suck-isity! But it’s good that this video helps us embrace it when it is. Suckitude is difficult….
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That was so cute! I think that video goes very well with Fast Draft, don’t you? I’d play it again Sam before y’all start next week. Dare to Suck. I feel like I should be taking some kind of oath or something. “I solomnly swear to Dare to Suck!” Now that I’ve said it out loud, it’s making me giggle. 🙂
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I think so too, Karen – on the Fast Draft front and the Oath to SUCK. LOL.
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Loved Maureen’s post. I know I suck, but in time I won’t. At least until I start the next thing.
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LOL, Tom. I’m sure that, like the rest of us, you only suck in your own mind. 🙂
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Ok…here’s a dumb question…what’s Fast Draft?
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That’s not a dumb question at all, Lara! The rules are in this post:
We usually just set our own personal goal (mine is usually 2,500 words per day), but you must be accountable to it. Go read the rules, and tell me what you think. 🙂
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Fun post, Jenny.
This comment sucks, but apparently – that’s okay! Hopefully next time it’ll be better, more clever, witty, longer.
Patricia Rickrode
w/a Jansen Schmidt
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ROFL. I loved this comment, Patricia!
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I’ve learned to embrace that my first drafts suck. Thanks for sharing these great reminders. As for Fast Draft, I so need to do it sometime. In the meantime, I’ll keep plugging along, sucking, at a slower pace.
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LOL. You suck in whatever method works best for you, Diana. That’s all any of us can do, right?
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I adore Maureen Johnson and her Dare to Suck video always makes me laugh. And remember to suck. Maureen is hilarious on Twitter, too, if you aren’t already following her.
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I’d never come across her before, Tami. I followed her in all her places after seeing this. 🙂
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If that doesn’t perk me up, at least it will inspire me to suck it up. Hehe! Love your posts!
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LOL, Amberr! And thanks for stopping by and leaving this sweet comment. 🙂
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OMG LUV!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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