tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4098049071459822748.post290204181729860420..comments2024-02-18T00:24:05.514-08:00Comments on The Zoë-Trope: I SUCKZoë Marriotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01275368005359548134noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4098049071459822748.post-46172922496268947692012-09-03T04:22:56.718-07:002012-09-03T04:22:56.718-07:00Thank you, Alex. It's still my favourite first...Thank you, Alex. It's still my favourite first line, actually - although I'm very fond of the first line of FrostFire, too.Zoë Marriotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01275368005359548134noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4098049071459822748.post-55394460081652992412012-09-03T04:21:25.818-07:002012-09-03T04:21:25.818-07:00You are very wise. I do feel the quality of your w...You are very wise. I do feel the quality of your work has improved overall... but, no first sentence has ever struck me as being as beautiful as the first line of the Swan Kingdom. I don't think anything will ever change that. :)Alex Mullarkyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12385523523229124157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4098049071459822748.post-24934501577285078832012-08-26T23:13:33.870-07:002012-08-26T23:13:33.870-07:00Isabel: Yay! Thanks :)Isabel: Yay! Thanks :)Zoë Marriotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01275368005359548134noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4098049071459822748.post-32370904024559227742012-08-26T14:34:48.760-07:002012-08-26T14:34:48.760-07:00Zoe: I finished it and it was amazing, hopefully I...Zoe: I finished it and it was amazing, hopefully I'll write a review for it soon :)Isabelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11342147057396470743noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4098049071459822748.post-9826385199955393632012-08-24T10:26:22.095-07:002012-08-24T10:26:22.095-07:00Isabel: Eeee! That's really great, thanks so m...Isabel: Eeee! That's really great, thanks so much :)<br /><br />Bonnie: Trust me, you are the last one to see your own work clearly. I usually hate everything I write from 1st revision right through to final pass pages! Let others judge. You're too close to know if it's special or not.Zoë Marriotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01275368005359548134noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4098049071459822748.post-21655026126407331002012-08-24T10:19:57.845-07:002012-08-24T10:19:57.845-07:00This is part of what has me so anxious over the WI...This is part of what has me so anxious over the WIP I've mentioned I'm working on. I know the story and writing aren't as "solid" as other ideas I want to work on. I know it won't make people step back and take notice. And I feel like that's something that's important for a first novel. I like what I'm doing, don't get me wrong, but it's not...special. Or maybe it's just that to a girl like me with a fantasy brain, I can't see contemporary clearly. IDK!Bonnie @ A Backwards Storyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02988547424004889874noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4098049071459822748.post-83096332860320888292012-08-24T10:08:27.472-07:002012-08-24T10:08:27.472-07:00Don't worry. Things aren't that bad. There...Don't worry. Things aren't that bad. There are people who also genuiinely enjoy that novel I didn't like so much either--just wasn't really my taste.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4098049071459822748.post-78452152138628928752012-08-24T07:51:43.374-07:002012-08-24T07:51:43.374-07:00Btw Zoe I started FrostFire a couple of days ago a...Btw Zoe I started FrostFire a couple of days ago and I stayed up till midnight last night because I didn't want to put it down! Loving it so far!Isabelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11342147057396470743noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4098049071459822748.post-81496842670513223002012-08-23T23:40:50.006-07:002012-08-23T23:40:50.006-07:00Lesley: Well, I hope things aren't quite as ba...Lesley: Well, I hope things aren't quite as bad as that - there are still a lot of people who sincerely seem to love TSK and DotF and I hope they will continue to do so. But yeah, when you look at a whole career, I suppose changes to skill and style are inevitable no matter how great the debut is.<br /><br />Emma: That's so right - when I start getting ideas for a new story I actually sit there and ask myself 'What's different about this? What's challenging? Is this scary' and if it's a no then my enthusiasm dies. I always want to be writing something that stretches me, even if that means I fail sometimes. Otherwise what's the point?<br /><br />Isabel: Thank you :)<br /><br />Megha: LOL. Very true!<br /><br />Suzanne: Damn! I should have realised that Maureen Johnson would have gotten there before me! Oh, well. There's no such thing as true originality either, I suppose...Zoë Marriotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01275368005359548134noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4098049071459822748.post-71947652277367690442012-08-23T16:07:48.346-07:002012-08-23T16:07:48.346-07:00This is an amazing post! These are wise words, Zoe...This is an amazing post! These are wise words, Zoe. Very wise. A lot of truth was said here. Reminded me of a vlog Maureen Johnson once did called 'Dare to Suck'. <br /><br />When I was 16, I read a published book which was written by a 16 year old girl when she was 14 ('Mirror Dreams' by Catherine Webb). I was horribly jealous and wanted that. <br /><br />Thankfully, I never chased the dream at 16 'cause my first novel attempt was horrific. My 9th attempt (at age 25) is now being editted and it much MUCH better. Sorry, 16 year old me. Suzannehttp://spilthotchocolate.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4098049071459822748.post-36293277610309272592012-08-23T14:54:48.101-07:002012-08-23T14:54:48.101-07:00SO TRUE. Thanks for this! :)SO TRUE. Thanks for this! :)Isabelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11342147057396470743noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4098049071459822748.post-70251361689120168482012-08-23T12:08:11.731-07:002012-08-23T12:08:11.731-07:00Really inspirational post, Zoe :) And the person y...Really inspirational post, Zoe :) And the person you are today is the best, awesomest person you've been so far in your life, and awesomeest writer too, so I guess that's something to celebrate before the future kicks in :PMeghahttp://meghaz.blog.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4098049071459822748.post-14373331551483427602012-08-23T10:37:44.897-07:002012-08-23T10:37:44.897-07:00When I wrote my first YA novel (which didn't m...When I wrote my first YA novel (which didn't make it through the querying stage), I was really proud of it and excited to have written it. Today, if it *had* been published, I'd die of embarrassment to see my name on the cover. But it was a start – the start I needed after coming very close to giving up on writing altogether – and I learned so much from it that I will never regret the time I spent on it (even if now, I do regret inflicting it on publishers and agents!). <br /><br />I've always thought that the moment you assume you have nothing left to learn – that you think you're the best at what you do – is moment you need to stop, because you're never going to get any better. My insecurities are what keep me going, because I know with each book that I CAN do better and push myself a little bit harder. <br /><br />Thanks for such a great post!Emma Passhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18209194238119830841noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4098049071459822748.post-37452889490647372142012-08-23T10:22:41.261-07:002012-08-23T10:22:41.261-07:00There are authors out there I like whose work make...There are authors out there I like whose work makes me go "Wow!" Sometimes I read their past works, and they're simply just not as good as the books they write these days. In fact there's one author (I've read twelve of her books, and there's a movie about one of them) whose first book is probably one of the worst things I've ever read, so don't stress.Lesleynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4098049071459822748.post-72386511253596730232012-08-23T10:22:14.089-07:002012-08-23T10:22:14.089-07:00There are authors out there I like whose work make...There are authors out there I like whose work makes me go "Wow!" Sometimes I read their past works, and they're simply just not as good as the books they write these days. In fact there's one author (I've read twelve of her books, and there's a movie about one of them) whose first book is probably one of the worst things I've ever read, so don't stress.Lesleynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4098049071459822748.post-33105324633345642772012-08-23T09:18:05.230-07:002012-08-23T09:18:05.230-07:00Artax: Well, thank you very much :) I suppose I co...Artax: Well, thank you very much :) I suppose I could try to recycle the story like RM did with Rose Daughter, but unless this amaaaaazing new idea about it appeared in my head I'd be reluctant to go back, because I've got so many other fairytales that I'd love to retell and so many other stories queueing up in my head ready to be told. I'm waiting for the muse on that one, basically!Zoë Marriotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01275368005359548134noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4098049071459822748.post-3270957566625305812012-08-23T07:23:20.533-07:002012-08-23T07:23:20.533-07:00(You know, you *could* write them again. Robin Mc...(You know, you *could* write them again. Robin McKinley did it. I love love love The Swan Kingdom and I would love reading your new vision for that story, from where you are now. Not that you don't have other important things to do and all....)<br />Artaxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13841147515999189957noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4098049071459822748.post-32170451822838372612012-08-23T02:30:26.052-07:002012-08-23T02:30:26.052-07:00Liz: Aw, thanks hun. *Hugs* The fact that there ar...Liz: Aw, thanks hun. *Hugs* The fact that there are people out there who really do love those early books makes me realise that obsessing about the (inevitable) flaws is pointless. So thanks again :)Zoë Marriotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01275368005359548134noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4098049071459822748.post-32614268519507655512012-08-23T02:24:57.642-07:002012-08-23T02:24:57.642-07:00Well now, I was ready to get all feisty here becau...Well now, I was ready to get all feisty here because I loved DotF and TSK but then I read the rest of the blogpost and I know where you're coming from. <br /><br />I also whole heartedly agree with Tamsyn: <br /><br />I feel I should point out that Today-You is the best You you have ever been. <br /><br />I've told you this before Zolah, you are wise beyond your years and I for one celebrate the fact that I can read books by a writer from the get go and literally see them grow in scope in confidence. It gives me hope for the future.Lizhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11505919558970094338noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4098049071459822748.post-32800237538710615842012-08-23T01:56:06.759-07:002012-08-23T01:56:06.759-07:00Jazmin: Exactly! Although hopefully authors are sl...Jazmin: Exactly! Although hopefully authors are slightly less stinky ;p<br /><br />Tam: Yes, exactly. So long as you're working hard you're moving in the right direction, and there's nothing to feel regretful about in that.<br /><br />Rebecca: Isn't it strange how an insult like 'You suck!' can suddenly become something to celebrate when you look at it the right way? And thank you. I am proud of DotF, and I set a lot of my worries about it to rest when I explored the themes I wanted to in FrostFire.Zoë Marriotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01275368005359548134noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4098049071459822748.post-40084233791370518892012-08-23T01:49:58.707-07:002012-08-23T01:49:58.707-07:00What a really inspirational post! And you're r...What a really inspirational post! And you're right, we all suck! :)<br />I still love Daughter of the Flames, exactly the way it is :)Rebecca Lindsayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14971640548147042108noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4098049071459822748.post-67775003539917470542012-08-23T01:43:54.227-07:002012-08-23T01:43:54.227-07:00I feel I should point out that Today-You is the be...I feel I should point out that Today-You is the best You you have ever been. And that's worth celebrating too :)Tamsyn Murrayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08041502244181924265noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4098049071459822748.post-64287094808709411652012-08-23T01:21:56.843-07:002012-08-23T01:21:56.843-07:00So inspirational zoe!!! To be honest, I've onl...So inspirational zoe!!! To be honest, I've only read Daughter of the Flames and I'm madly in love with it. I do agree we all suck in comparison to our future selves, but for me, that's the fun part. I'm only 15 but I have written manuscripts that have gotten better because of time and knowledge. Also, author's books are like cheese. They get better with age parallel to the author! <3Jazminhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00501723187133250400noreply@blogger.com