Happy Friday!!!We made it another week. Can I get a Whoot! Whoot!
Wow...okay. Note to self. Don't write blog posts at midnight right after a crazy hard soccer game.
First...look to the left. 200 followers! Wow! That just kinda crept up on me and I am so, SO thankful for each and every one of you. Jen Morris over at Jenny's Imaginary World and I will be tag teaming our 200 followers party on Monday, so make sure you come on back around then. Because, yes, there will be prizes. :)
Now on to today's topic:
I like to think happy thoughts on Fridays. It seems to come easier, it being the start of the weekend and all.
I realized this week that I often focus on things I struggle with, things I'm not as good at when comparing myself to others. I think this is good, as long as we keep it in perspective and look at these areas as places we can improve.
But sometimes (often, I would argue) we need to sit back and think about all the things we're good at and remember that our strengths are most likely other's weaknesses. It's kinda cool how the world balances itself out like that.
Kinda fun, no?
Okay, probably not for most.
I've also been told I'm good at action scenes. And in the non writing world I'm pretty good at anything that includes chasing a ball around as well as singing.
The funny thing is, as I write this I'm very tempted to put the 'but' in there. I'm good at writing query letters but horrible at a writing synopsis. Its hard to come out and say you're good at something, because it feels like you're bragging.
But you know what, sometimes its good to brag. Especially when I'm asking you too.
So tell us:
What are you good at?
Writing, that's what I'm good at. Whether novels, stories or poetry. Unfortunately I suck at more physical stuff. It's great that you're really good at query letters. They're essential.
ReplyDeleteAnd I will be at the 200 follower party of course. *grins*
Sheena-kay, good for you! Doesn't it feel good to say that we're good at writing. We know it. No matter what anyone else says. :)
DeleteI like to think I'm good at writing, though others may disagree! :p
ReplyDeleteI do have a definite skill for making jewellery though, and I love it!
I've seen your jewelry on your blog! It IS beautiful. So jealous :)
DeleteI'm good at writing and art, but like Sheena, I'm rubbish at the physical stuff. Roller-skating is the one thing I've always wanted to do, but depsite trying as a kid, AND having lessons as an adult, I just have to face facts that it's one of those things I simply will never be able to do :(
ReplyDeleteOh :( I'd say 'never give up' but maybe if you've tried for awhile its good to try something else :)
DeleteI'm good at sleeping, drinking lots of coffee, daydreaming.... I'd like to say I'm good a writing, but I'm thinking that's not quite true.
ReplyDeleteI'm a good listener! YES, I can definitely say that's true.. which hey, it's a necessary skill to have when you're a therapist :)
I am SO good at sleeping. Like truly :)
DeleteAnd Christina, I'm sure you're good at writing. Or at least there are parts of it that you really excel at and others that perhaps need more work (I know that's where I'm at...)
I'm good at dialogue...eating doughnuts, drinking tea and acting.
ReplyDeleteAlso, you were one of the competition winners. Details of how to claim are on Wednesday's (21st) blog.
Yay! I won! Yippie!!
DeleteDialogue. That is great! I need to keep working on that.
Whoot! Whoot! :D
ReplyDeleteI think I´m very good at dialogues (and here I´m not going to put "but" I want to really, I do...However I´ll be strong and leave at that)
Don't do it...don't do it... :)
DeleteNo 'buts' here :)
'm good at singing & teaching =)
ReplyDeleteand creating story ideas - the writing it all out is the hard part!
Singing!! We should do a duet! That would be kinda fun to try over the internet :)
DeleteI used to be good at sports, but I haven't played in so long and I'm not sure if it's the same as riding a bike. I also like to think I'm good at writing the buildup to a romance.
ReplyDeleteAnd you definitely are awesome when it comes to query letters. I still love my last query I sent you. You wrote back basically, "I rewrote it.... ah! Don't be mad." Ha! How could I be it was amazing. I think I changed liked two words in the whole thing. You know how to get the voice in the query which I think is the hardest thing to pull off. So brag away!
Its the same as riding a bike. You get slightly frustrated when you first start out again, but it comes back. :)
DeleteAnd thanks Theresa! :)
So you're going to help me with my query, right? ; )
ReplyDeleteI enjoy writing synopses. Am I good at them? I think so, but who knows. The query is what really matters.
I'd LOVE to help you! My skills are usually best when I've read the story, so if you need a beta reader let me know :)
DeleteYou are a tiny bit insane for liking to write query letters but I'm not going to complain when I benefit from your ability.
ReplyDeleteI've been told that I write good dialogue and action sequences. I'm good at singing too.
Yay, for 200 follower parties!!
Haha. :)
DeleteYou write amazing Dialogue Jen. I totally agree. Wow. Lots of good singers! We should start a writing band. :)
I am the very best procrastinator. No one even comes close to matching my skills.
ReplyDelete*Okay, I'll be serious...I have a good sense of humor. :)
Nice! Well done Elizabeth! ;) haha
DeleteYou do have any awesome sense of humor. Thanks so much for sharing :)
Are you dropping something here? (hints that you want to critique query letters? :-p Just kidding.) I'm good at writing, and I am also good at playiing the clarinet. No joke! :) I think Squidward gives the clarinet a bad rap by making it sound so awful, but it really is a beautiful instrument. :D
ReplyDeleteIt is!! My sister used to play. She was first chair in our middle school band. It is a beautiful instrument :)
DeleteI'm good at writing description, dialogue and realistic characters :) In real life I can eat a giant bag of peanut butter cups without breathing!
ReplyDeleteOh man...I wish I had your mad skills :)
DeleteCongrats on your 200 followers. I just hit 100 yesterday. So exciting. I think I'm good at setting description and catching inconsistencies in stuff I critique. I'm also good at spending too much time writing first drafts. It consumes me and I can usually do nothing else in life until it's done. I'm a walking zombie right now. :)
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh. For my first draft of Fraction I was exactly the same way. I did nothing else but write for ten days.
DeleteMark of a good story?
I think so :)
I think I'm pretty good at revisions. At least, that's what I'm hoping! Have a wonderful weekend, Kelley!
ReplyDeleteGood for you Meredith! I like revisions. I find they're just as enjoyable as writing the first draft because you really get to add the meat to the story. Really dive into the characterization, etc.
DeleteYou have a good weekend too!
This quality of yours is invaluable because even after you have an agent and an editor, you still have to write pitches. I didn't realize this but IT NEVER ENDS. So hang on to this.
ReplyDeleteI'm good at editing. But it's my day job so I can cut lots of unnecessary words in manuscripts. Sadly, I can't always write the necessary ones.
Wow, good to know. Thanks Christa! :)
DeleteAwww, come now. No 'buts' today. :) I'm sure you find the necessary ones more often than not :)
LOL. This is great, Kell. Love it!
ReplyDeleteI'm good at creating moments... piecing together words to make a "feeling" come off the page...
And I think it's great to know you're good at something... it can totally be said in a way that doesn't come across as boastful ;)
That's awesome that you're good at getting those feelings. Very tough :) You're just so talented Morgan! :)
DeleteI think I'm good at writing first drafts. It's certainly the part I enjoy most. And I have a great talent for eating chocolate and totally not acting my age. I'm pretty good at singing and playing the piano too, and I excel at not making decisions.
ReplyDeleteHaha. Imogen, this is an awesome list! Love it!
DeleteCongrats on the big 200 - I think it was just yesterday you hit 100! I'll be looking for the celebration!
ReplyDeleteYeah, gosh. The 200 came much faster than the 100 :) haha. See you on Monday!
DeleteYou are the Query Queen! Amazing how skilled you are with this, I'm so impressed!!! What am I good at? Phew, not too sure yet, hmmm... making an agent spread sheet? Editing maybe? Oh, I'm too exhausted by Friday to even think ;)
ReplyDeleteOh Hope! You're so silly. You're good at many things I'm sure. Let's see, what do I know?
DeleteYou're awesome at descriptions. Have a superb vocabulary. And you're good at soccer :)
I like to think I am good at writing in general. I know I am good at writing descriptions. I am also good at organizing and just "keeping things together."
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on 200!!
Good for you E.D!
DeleteI could definitely try to be better at organizing :)
You are good at writing anything!
ReplyDeleteI'm good at making people laugh, but really I have no idea how I'm good at that. I'm really not that funny, lol.
You just have a natural talent girl :)
DeleteI think I'm good at dialogue. At least I like to think so. I am also an excellent daydreamer and I make a good barbecue chicken pizza.
ReplyDeleteOh, my, gosh. BBQ Chicken Pizza!?!?! That and Hawaiian are tied for my favorite pizza! Oh man I'm coming to visit you! :)
DeleteMan! This is not the week to ask me this! But... you are just the person to do it. You are also good at boosting others up and helping them realize their strengths. No "buts" at all!
ReplyDeleteHmmm...Okay, when I'm on my game - then I'm really on. And I think I do okay at action scenes too. :/ I hope! :)
HUGS! Have an awesome weekend!
Awww, thanks Leigh :)
DeleteYou do amazing at action scenes. And your imagination and creativity are so awesome. Great world building...I could go on and on :)
Thanks for the hugs! Right back at ya :)
are...are we the same person? Because i am also good at action scenes and queries, and TERRIBLE at synopses. (it makes no sense. I mean, why is it we can crush it all down to 2-3 paragraphs and rock it out, but 2-3 pages eludes us?! IT MAKES NO SENSE!)
ReplyDeletestupid synopses...
Haha. I know right?!?! I think because a synopsis is like a boring, short version of our story. Hitting all the main points but when you write it like that its like when you try to explain to someone the story you're working on. It just sounds so silly without all the cool 'little' parts sprinkled in :)
DeleteI'm jealous - I wish I wasn't horrible at BOTH the query and the synopses. I'm good at pitches though. :)
ReplyDeleteOoo, pitches! Awesome. Good for you. I'm not so good at pitches. Well, I guess it depends on the pitch actually.
DeleteI write, sing, make jewelry, listen to people, and a bunch of stuff. I don't know what I would exactly say I am GOOD at, though.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure you're good at all of the above! :)
DeleteI really enjoy writing action scenes... they are fun and fast paced... always have fun with them.
ReplyDeleteAh, me too! Love action scenes.
DeleteWell...you read my queries and we all know they aren't great BUT my strength, so I've been told is dialogue and description. :D
ReplyDeleteMy favorite is dialogue, mainly because my characters have such STRONG voices. I write EVERYTHING they say...even if it's stuff I'm not going to use. That kinda makes me sound crazy. lol.