tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post4092164205774300652..comments2023-11-02T02:40:48.410-07:00Comments on Crime Fiction Collective: Be AfraidL.J. Sellershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10213491074676394406noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-32637365883545776102014-01-23T06:21:54.264-08:002014-01-23T06:21:54.264-08:00Ahhhh, that is an amazing quote, Linda. Love that....Ahhhh, that is an amazing quote, Linda. Love that.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16207498752793135706noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-73082513019595079842014-01-22T21:59:15.405-08:002014-01-22T21:59:15.405-08:00How true that is, Linda. It's all about what y...How true that is, Linda. It's all about what you do with fear or, for that matter, every other emotion.ANDREW E. KAUFMANhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08835920472268730244noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-44633276995283289372014-01-22T21:14:58.370-08:002014-01-22T21:14:58.370-08:00Andrew, you and everyone said it so well. It remi...Andrew, you and everyone said it so well. It reminds me of a quote my psychologist gave me once...a quote from Osho in his book, Courage, The Joy of Living Dangerously: "Courage is not the absence of fear. It is, rather, the total presence of fear, with the courage to face it." <br />Linda Pendletonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04333787752335329007noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-35335743495730459092014-01-22T20:40:48.454-08:002014-01-22T20:40:48.454-08:00I'm not so sure you're naive, Peg. Sounds ...I'm not so sure you're naive, Peg. Sounds to me like you've got some pretty key things figured out.ANDREW E. KAUFMANhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08835920472268730244noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-36368220914361012792014-01-22T19:29:58.889-08:002014-01-22T19:29:58.889-08:00I've been thinking about this all day. Trying ...I've been thinking about this all day. Trying to find the right words. Jessica's comment helped.<br /><br />My life is pretty much predicated on the idea that we make either love-based or fear-based decisions. Obviously, love-based is the smarter choice. Those decisions tend to be the best ones. And that's the environment I choose to hang out in when given the choice.<br /><br />I'm naive about a lot of things. But put me in a dark alley at night and I'm right with everyone else. Full of fear.<br /><br />But, on a normal day? Put me on a street in downtown Denver, I'm gonna feel safe even while I imagine what could happen... fit for a crime novel.<br /><br />So, I guess what I'm saying is that I want to provide fear for my readers because I can relate to those fears and because I love them. But I want to prove, in the end, that our fears never win.<br />Peg Brantleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04906858123466177508noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-71993035288686837352014-01-22T19:23:56.497-08:002014-01-22T19:23:56.497-08:00So true, Jessica. Every joy has its price...and fo...So true, Jessica. Every joy has its price...and for writers, payback can be a bitch. But when it's good? Man, is it ever good.ANDREW E. KAUFMANhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08835920472268730244noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-61920974356725342572014-01-22T19:18:55.121-08:002014-01-22T19:18:55.121-08:00Thanks, Teresa. I think this is something that, we...Thanks, Teresa. I think this is something that, we as writers, all have in common. And when you think about it, this is something all people in general have in common.ANDREW E. KAUFMANhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08835920472268730244noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-90969426955638813972014-01-22T19:15:25.705-08:002014-01-22T19:15:25.705-08:00Thanks, LJ, and I know you feel the fear much like...Thanks, LJ, and I know you feel the fear much like I do. We are cut from similar cloths--you know...the P word (perfectionists). And you're right, fear can be a blessing or a curse, or both. It all depends what yo do with it. Either we make it work, or it works us over.ANDREW E. KAUFMANhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08835920472268730244noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-91381439905412574142014-01-22T19:05:48.005-08:002014-01-22T19:05:48.005-08:00I really love this post because it's so honest...I really love this post because it's so honest. I hear so many writers talk about how they write simply because of the joy, the creative surge that overtakes them, the artistry... Yeah, that's great. And I have those moments, but the reality is that we can often run a gamut of emotions when writing and go from strong self-confidence to equally harsh self-doubt. And fear... I hear you on the fear. Fear that what we're writing won't resonate with any reader, that we won't have a future... It's endless. And every stage has its own distinct area to be terrified of! Waiting for a book idea to hit, writing the actual book, anticipating editorial feedback and that some huge logistical plot error will be found.... Reading reviews, watching those damn sales numbers and ranks. And when things are good? When good reviews come in and sales are good? That's when we get afraid about how long that will last. Ugh. Why do we do this to ourselves? Oh. I know. Because the good times, the brilliantly wonderful times, make it so worth it. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16207498752793135706noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-41031856621859034572014-01-22T19:05:46.224-08:002014-01-22T19:05:46.224-08:00Congrats, Drew! I'm sure it will be great.
I ...Congrats, Drew! I'm sure it will be great. <br />I loved your description of the writing process. It hit very close to home for me. Great job.Teresa Burrell, Author, Attorney, Advocatehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00008721460499855699noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-28693021671640911712014-01-22T06:13:30.295-08:002014-01-22T06:13:30.295-08:00Creative types seemed to be cursed, and blessed, w...Creative types seemed to be cursed, and blessed, with fear. We fear failure. We fear mediocrity and obscurity. We fear being outed as an imposter. I think we even fear peace of mind, because we need busy brains to create our stories. Crime writers must even fear the world around them to harness that distress and bring it to the page. But as you said, fear motivates us. And if you're not afraid, you're not paying attention. <br /><br />PS: I have every confidence your new story is as great as the effort you put into it. I admire your dedication to excellence. L.J. Sellershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10213491074676394406noreply@blogger.com