tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-777696128109001964.post1784456579761835090..comments2024-02-02T11:26:54.154-08:00Comments on Heidi Rice: New Voices... And How to Adopt the Pollyanna ApproachHeidi Ricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14925778214874519424noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-777696128109001964.post-54635506329594493342011-09-23T01:50:07.929-07:002011-09-23T01:50:07.929-07:00Hi Heidi, I have actually read the review you refe...Hi Heidi, I have actually read the review you referred to on Goodreads so I salute your toughness! And I read the review before I read your book and wanted to read it anyway so perhaps reviewer is telling us more about herself. As someone polishing Chapter 1, I really appreciate your advice on comments.Laura Russellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04853245627578360220noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-777696128109001964.post-14586168481906512902011-09-21T11:28:37.949-07:002011-09-21T11:28:37.949-07:00Lovely photo Heidi. And thanks for the advice. I...Lovely photo Heidi. And thanks for the advice. I'm still chewing fingernails before I sub! Caroline xCarolinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00005714506570642538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-777696128109001964.post-65525016672249710962011-09-21T02:25:19.318-07:002011-09-21T02:25:19.318-07:00Gorgeous photo, Heidi. I think it captures your f...Gorgeous photo, Heidi. I think it captures your fabulousness (is so a word!) perfectly.<br /><br />LOL to "and I certainly hope she doesn't take the trouble to read any more of my books!" I hope so too :-)<br /><br />Thanks for the link to your comments. I learnt so much last year just from comments on other entries. I'm sure your comentees are beyond thrilled with your generous time and detail.Lacey Devlinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05716109142743069204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-777696128109001964.post-70932192489109766722011-09-20T12:28:06.161-07:002011-09-20T12:28:06.161-07:00Lovely photo Heidi :-)
I am trying to adopt a pos...Lovely photo Heidi :-)<br /><br />I am trying to adopt a positive Pollyanna approach this year, i.e. will try not to let anything wind me up!<br />Hope the workshop goes well, sorry I couldn't be there this year.Lorrainehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10619384647331952483noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-777696128109001964.post-65450746307121127382011-09-20T10:41:27.562-07:002011-09-20T10:41:27.562-07:00Wise words, Heidi! Well put. And you look fabulo...Wise words, Heidi! Well put. And you look fabulous in the photo. :-)<br /><br />I SO wish I was at your workshop right now! <br /><br />xAnna Garnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07812306606425286218noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-777696128109001964.post-32639182919324512492011-09-20T06:34:14.078-07:002011-09-20T06:34:14.078-07:00Thanks, Heidi :) Hopefully some more workshops wil...Thanks, Heidi :) Hopefully some more workshops will crop up in future when I can afford it! xVoodoo Spicehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18128313140249739419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-777696128109001964.post-1644391379540480292011-09-20T06:17:58.105-07:002011-09-20T06:17:58.105-07:00Rachel, you sweetheart! Thanx very much.
And Lisa...Rachel, you sweetheart! Thanx very much.<br /><br />And Lisa, thanks for your input. First off congratulations for getting your chapter up there. Sounds like you're taking the comments in a really professional and sensible way. Yes, definitely discard anything that would make you change the whole story. Sometimes when I'm commenting on another's work I make suggestions that may well be completely wrong for the story (cos of course these are just first chapters, we can't know what they're replanning to do next), but I hope will still help unlock a fresh idea or solution that could be useful. <br /><br />What a shame you couldn't make it to Basingstoke, I think that was Sharon Kendrick and she's a real romance star!Heidi Ricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14925778214874519424noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-777696128109001964.post-77806408923792006342011-09-20T05:38:56.885-07:002011-09-20T05:38:56.885-07:00I'm taking note of all my constructive comment...I'm taking note of all my constructive comments - only have a few to go on so far, to do with suggesting my story be done as a suspense based on the prologue, when I'm actually writing a Warm & Cosy 'rom-com' - which would change the story completely. However, I've seen some really good entries on the site which do have 'crossover' elements (suspense, contemporary, romantic comedy etc) - I tend to start with the genre the writer has picked when reading in mind, because that's what you see on the cover in the store. Nothing has seemed out of place that I've read so far, so the authors are putting that research into their category, and obviously have some idea how they want their book's image to appear on the shelf - as well as the reader-expected outcomes of the book in mind.<br /><br />One funny comment I had, regarded my 'spelling/grammar' - as I'd checked it, I could only guess the reader was from the US and didn't notice that I was in the UK... I felt compelled to highlight that (in a nice way!) in case other readers looked at my comments before reading my chapter, and assumed I was unable to string a sentence together...<br /><br />Great advice! My usual defence is to use humour, if anything, but I also heartily recommend the 'smile and move on' attitude in the face of creative conflict - one man's art is another man's chaos :)<br /><br />Best of luck to all, and enjoy the workshops - nearest one to me was Basingstoke, but I still can't afford to get there :(<br /><br />Lisa, aka Voodoo Spice (New Voices entry: Neptune's Island) http://www.romanceisnotdead.com/Entries/78-Neptunes-Island/Chapter-OneVoodoo Spicehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18128313140249739419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-777696128109001964.post-33596036790929430642011-09-20T04:34:43.151-07:002011-09-20T04:34:43.151-07:00Fabulous advice as usual Heidi and can I just say....Fabulous advice as usual Heidi and can I just say... you look absolutely STUNNING!Rachael Johnshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12162767571439344710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-777696128109001964.post-80938397033008610362011-09-20T03:31:28.835-07:002011-09-20T03:31:28.835-07:00Sorry, that's Susie not Susan... God, I think ...Sorry, that's Susie not Susan... God, I think I've lost the ability to read and write today.Heidi Ricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14925778214874519424noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-777696128109001964.post-70424332480698566602011-09-20T03:30:35.920-07:002011-09-20T03:30:35.920-07:00Hi Susan so glad you've had positive feedback,...Hi Susan so glad you've had positive feedback, always so useful... And glad you like the pic!<br /><br />Yes, Doris, had my glamour-puss socks on that day!!<br /><br />Hi Alexandra, I absolutely agree it makes as all stronger as writers giving others positive feedback, so it's a win-win really. Best of luck with your chapter... I won't tell you about the book I started five times, in five different places then, before I finally got it right! Arghh, sometimes it just goes like that, don't give up on it. Will try and post some informative comments tomorrow. re: the workshop.Heidi Ricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14925778214874519424noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-777696128109001964.post-65722478819913634342011-09-20T02:15:58.007-07:002011-09-20T02:15:58.007-07:00Over the year since the last New Voices competitio...Over the year since the last New Voices competition I've found that critiquing work has helped me be a little more objective about my own writing - it's still not easy to hit the right note when critiquing, though. I've not entered this year's comp yet but hope to - if I ever get this chapter sorted. At the moment it has been scrapped and it's back to the drawing board. <br /><br />I live in north east Scotland and quite far from even our nearest workshop so it will be great to read your notes on your own workshop.<br /><br />Great photo. Love the colour of the dress!Alexandrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04383311853875982439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-777696128109001964.post-87188416377402472682011-09-20T02:04:05.617-07:002011-09-20T02:04:05.617-07:00Sound advice for the entrants there, as always, fr...Sound advice for the entrants there, as always, from you, Heidi!<br /><br />Love, love that picture. Very glamorous look, I have to say. :-)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-777696128109001964.post-69395214782802778842011-09-20T02:02:30.961-07:002011-09-20T02:02:30.961-07:00lol. It's a weird way to spell it!
I've ha...lol. It's a weird way to spell it!<br />I've had some lovely and helpful comments too. I'll have a look at yours later Susie xAimee Duffyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05710628023230404907noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-777696128109001964.post-44218780555652338442011-09-20T01:48:21.598-07:002011-09-20T01:48:21.598-07:00Oh, and lovely photo!Oh, and lovely photo!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06150396615203179461noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-777696128109001964.post-26236428259753586292011-09-20T01:47:26.387-07:002011-09-20T01:47:26.387-07:00Thanks for this post, it's great advice. I'...Thanks for this post, it's great advice. I've been lucky enough to get some really constructive comments on my entry - which is what I was hoping for when I entered.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06150396615203179461noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-777696128109001964.post-75938657360833487442011-09-20T01:45:44.836-07:002011-09-20T01:45:44.836-07:00Oops Sorry Aimee, spelt your name wrong... And I c...Oops Sorry Aimee, spelt your name wrong... And I call myself a writer!Heidi Ricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14925778214874519424noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-777696128109001964.post-84971754195391979142011-09-20T01:45:03.598-07:002011-09-20T01:45:03.598-07:00I haven't noticed any either, and I hope there...I haven't noticed any either, and I hope there won't be too, Amy. But even if there are they'll be in a tiny minority, and no one should be worried about them... And so glad you liked the photo (not that I was fishing for a complement or anything!! LOL!)<br /><br />Cool Kavya, can't wait to meet you too. Should be fun at the workshop. Hopefully they'll be a fair few NV entrants there, always nice to have peeps attending who know what I'm waffling on about!Heidi Ricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14925778214874519424noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-777696128109001964.post-35274646540445049502011-09-20T01:34:09.083-07:002011-09-20T01:34:09.083-07:00Great post. And your photograph is lovely :) I hav...Great post. And your photograph is lovely :) I haven't posted my chapter on New Voices yet, but when I do I'll be taking your advice about the comments. I'm not attending tonight's workshop, but I'm booked for the Fulham one. Looking forward to meeting you!Kavya Rizwanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14992115687171008587noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-777696128109001964.post-11041386432491539102011-09-20T01:33:10.053-07:002011-09-20T01:33:10.053-07:00Thanks for posting this. I've been trying my b...Thanks for posting this. I've been trying my best to help others with my comments but wasn't completely sure how to be helpful. Not noticed any nasty comments yet and I hope there won't be. <br />The photo is lovely, you really do look like a romance author :)Aimee Duffyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05710628023230404907noreply@blogger.com