tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7125214612971306615.post8280072810061724112..comments2023-11-06T12:28:13.575-05:00Comments on A Million Monkeys: Happy Birthday MeJon VanZilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14026643422328853037noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7125214612971306615.post-71813055899648796512009-01-31T20:00:00.000-05:002009-01-31T20:00:00.000-05:00Happy Birthday. Don't eat too much cake and don't...Happy Birthday. Don't eat too much cake and don't eat the yellow snow.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7125214612971306615.post-38233460836748614462009-01-29T16:00:00.000-05:002009-01-29T16:00:00.000-05:00Happy birthday, Jon.My new mantra: If you think yo...Happy birthday, Jon.<BR/><BR/>My new mantra: If you think you're above average, then you haven't set the bar high enough.Jude Hardinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09994813046526310594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7125214612971306615.post-90025432867428628852009-01-29T14:05:00.000-05:002009-01-29T14:05:00.000-05:00Mark said:"And I hesitate to say it, but in a lot ...Mark said:<BR/><BR/>"And I hesitate to say it, but in a lot of ways it just plain gets harder."<BR/><BR/>This is a question I've wondered about many, many times. I've also wondered about "leveling off," as you said. I think there are plenty of examples of best-selling writers who have essentially leveled off. Who have perfected a template and just write to it again and again. I wouldn't want to be one of them necessarily, because I enjoy learning so much, but then again ... it's probably hard to know how we'd react until we were there.<BR/><BR/>A side note: I'm not a Grisham fan, but I've got to give the guy some props for stretching himself after his incredibly string of legal thrillers.Jon VanZilehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14026643422328853037noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7125214612971306615.post-66053812754772081712009-01-29T14:01:00.000-05:002009-01-29T14:01:00.000-05:00L.C.Stings is right. That first criticism that rea...L.C.<BR/><BR/>Stings is right. That first criticism that really sinks home is a bit like a barbed hook ... but I guess growing always hurts.Jon VanZilehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14026643422328853037noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7125214612971306615.post-32787109276476081082009-01-29T13:59:00.000-05:002009-01-29T13:59:00.000-05:00E:You are one of my people. Of course. Thanks. I h...E:<BR/><BR/>You are one of my people. Of course. Thanks. <BR/>I hope I can repay the favor ...Jon VanZilehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14026643422328853037noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7125214612971306615.post-86169609589223102682009-01-29T13:58:00.000-05:002009-01-29T13:58:00.000-05:00Spy,Me too. Also incredibly grateful ... I just ca...Spy,<BR/><BR/>Me too. Also incredibly grateful ... I just can't imagine another path as satisfying as this one.Jon VanZilehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14026643422328853037noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7125214612971306615.post-23596021050698738602009-01-29T13:10:00.000-05:002009-01-29T13:10:00.000-05:00Happy Birthday! And I hesitate to say it, but in a...Happy Birthday! And I hesitate to say it, but in a lot of ways it just plain gets harder. I think I've gotten to a point in my writing where I've leveled off and in order to improve beyond it I have to really put some energy into it--and it's hard!<BR/><BR/>So good luck.Mark Terryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09410424046477699059noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7125214612971306615.post-13822089576464122492009-01-29T13:08:00.000-05:002009-01-29T13:08:00.000-05:00Happy birthday! You're so right about learning and...Happy birthday! You're so right about learning and writing. I'm going through that humbling process as well right now! It stings sometimes, but it's so necessary. Very well said. I wish you many more years of wonderful writerly insight!L.C. Ganthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11079008223326433494noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7125214612971306615.post-67526717127992903332009-01-29T11:44:00.000-05:002009-01-29T11:44:00.000-05:00Happy Birthday, Monkey Man.It's been amazing being...Happy Birthday, Monkey Man.<BR/><BR/>It's been amazing being a tiny part of the journey. It's been amazing having you in my writerly and life journey.<BR/>EErica Orloffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16415925758466527671noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7125214612971306615.post-65009653739282394222009-01-29T11:15:00.000-05:002009-01-29T11:15:00.000-05:00Happy Birthday, Jon! I totally relate! It thrills ...Happy Birthday, Jon! I totally relate! It thrills me to no end that it never really gets easier, that every time I go "up a level," there's a whole new world of stuff to think about, a whole new world of ways to look at story, and a whole new perspective on writing.<BR/><BR/>This whole writing deal is really a blast, even when I'm tearing my hair out or driving myself mad. Every single day, I'm grateful I get to do it.Spy Scribblerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14299551957327543491noreply@blogger.com