tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2037419790609319671.post234220402290909228..comments2024-03-27T03:16:57.365-04:00Comments on Girlfriends Book Club: Threads between my toes, teeth and fingersWriter Wenchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16730769794553260336noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2037419790609319671.post-11267664647506690522011-09-07T17:46:28.677-04:002011-09-07T17:46:28.677-04:00Very cool book cover, Michelle - welcome to the gr...Very cool book cover, Michelle - welcome to the group!Lauren Baratz-Logstedhttp://www.laurenbaratzlogsted.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2037419790609319671.post-48464307600421093012011-09-07T16:59:11.064-04:002011-09-07T16:59:11.064-04:00Michele, just to clarify...I wasn't a high sch...Michele, just to clarify...I wasn't a high school dropout...I was a graduate school dropout! I loved high school and college--just didn't like grad school because I was already writing novels by then and didn't see the point. But I'm glad you hung in there through high school...and look at you now! :-)Susan McBridehttp://susanmcbride.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2037419790609319671.post-30501937171030497782011-09-07T11:55:31.125-04:002011-09-07T11:55:31.125-04:00Michele, this was wonderful, and very timely; I ne...Michele, this was wonderful, and very timely; I needed some inspiration right now! Revise, revise, revise indeed....xoJess Rileyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06987689969282168406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2037419790609319671.post-40251569493686693822011-09-07T10:21:57.684-04:002011-09-07T10:21:57.684-04:00I loved that you brought up how important the crit...I loved that you brought up how important the criticism was. I couldn't do anything without my critique group. Great post!Leslie Langtryhttp://www.leslielangtry.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2037419790609319671.post-52864376507800744742011-09-07T10:12:13.193-04:002011-09-07T10:12:13.193-04:00Thank you guys so much for reading. I really appr...Thank you guys so much for reading. I really appreciate it, and (I too was "nearly" a high school drop out, Susan). I barely got out. I missed sixty-three days my junior year and then took English and government in a different county to finish school early. I was actually one of those crazy stage-diving slam-dancing chics from A Visit from the Goon Squad. :-) "Then I 'growed' up." Sort of...Michele Young-Stonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08951960023052093900noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2037419790609319671.post-60507321854841059252011-09-07T09:28:29.485-04:002011-09-07T09:28:29.485-04:00Congrats Michele on the rewards of all your hard w...Congrats Michele on the rewards of all your hard work!sarah pekkanenhttp://www.sarahpekkanen.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2037419790609319671.post-4459674956372496672011-09-07T09:00:02.016-04:002011-09-07T09:00:02.016-04:00Awesome post, Michele! Your enthusiasm for writing...Awesome post, Michele! Your enthusiasm for writing is so contagious. So glad you pursued your dream. I'm sure you are an inspiration to others.Karin Gillespiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13526466399023966816noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2037419790609319671.post-9548112932114263832011-09-07T08:18:23.022-04:002011-09-07T08:18:23.022-04:00I took classes at SMU's Continuing Ed Creative...I took classes at SMU's Continuing Ed Creative Writing Program for several years as soon as my children were old enough for Mother's Day Out. When they were old enough to leave home with husband for a week, I went to Squaw Valley Writers' Conference, a dream. I agree, the act of writing is what makes me happy. Great post!Cindy Joneshttp://www.cindysjones.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2037419790609319671.post-67257856439635575492011-09-07T00:19:09.436-04:002011-09-07T00:19:09.436-04:00I love the sound of your novels, Michele, and am f...I love the sound of your novels, Michele, and am fascinated by your process. You described it so beautifully -- threads between your teeth, fingers, toes. That's lovely! I tend to work more chronologically on the page but, in my mind, there are lots of threads everywhere, too. As for an MFA -- no, I did my grad work in educational psychology -- but I also took some fiction workshops. The people involved were as interesting to me as the writing exercises :).Marilyn Branthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05303846770348840645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2037419790609319671.post-70440573973492367472011-09-06T22:21:37.963-04:002011-09-06T22:21:37.963-04:00Thanks for sharing this. I'm still teaching hi...Thanks for sharing this. I'm still teaching high school English. Year 23.5 and counting. During the school year, I feel like teaching and being "on" for six hours a day sap the creative energy right out of me. So, bravo for your decision.<br /><br />"No piece of writing is ever finished. It's just due." Not sure where I picked up that line, but it keeps me out of crazy-land.<br /><br />Congrats on your contracts, and I can't wait to read your novel. Great title.Christa Allanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12620389675433700944noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2037419790609319671.post-1565926132317934202011-09-06T21:19:24.993-04:002011-09-06T21:19:24.993-04:00Michele, I love how this post continues Maggie'...Michele, I love how this post continues Maggie's thread about the process of becoming a writer and the fact that it involves lots of writing (aka practice!). So fun to hear that you don't write linearly (which I do--mostly!). And I absolutely agree with this 100%: "If you don't love the act of writing for the sake of doing it, you should find a new line of work. The glory is in the act." Hear hear! Congrats on signing with S&S for your next two novels! The titles are wonderful, btw. Oh, and I'm a grad school drop-out. My hubby has his doctorate (in computer science so he's a doctor of computers), which I figure makes up for my bailing on my master's. ;-)Susan McBridehttp://susanmcbride.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2037419790609319671.post-3655094247910114502011-09-06T20:52:42.156-04:002011-09-06T20:52:42.156-04:00Wow! I went back to school to take English classes...Wow! I went back to school to take English classes because I'd never had a formal writing class past high school, and knew I needed the craft help. I got pregnant so I couldn't finish, but I did meet fellow like-minded writers to form a writing group, so I've been able to continue my study with their help and critique. :)Britni Pattersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06365039655461967795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2037419790609319671.post-77288356965476672032011-09-06T20:19:45.576-04:002011-09-06T20:19:45.576-04:00So exciting to hear about the path to your first b...So exciting to hear about the path to your first book, Michele! Congratulations. I didn't get an MFA (gawd, too many years logged in graduate school already) but I went through the learning curve you described. Best wishes for all of those books and many more!Lucy Burdettehttp://www.lucyburdette.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2037419790609319671.post-27309125861584093992011-09-06T19:55:52.244-04:002011-09-06T19:55:52.244-04:00Great guest post and very inspirational for fellow...Great guest post and very inspirational for fellow writers. Personally, I can't wait for your next two books.Julie P.https://www.blogger.com/profile/16008101127541997459noreply@blogger.com