Waiting and watching

I'm still enough of a new writer that I'm intense in my interest in feedback to Waters of March. So, yeah, write away! I am trying to separate the "liked my story" from the "liked me". I'm old enough that I'm mostly successful.

Funny enough, when I reread my own story, I frequently get feelings of "where did that come from?" It seems like I was channeling, rather than inventing. I don't think I'm alone in this. But then, I look at my kids the same way - where the heck did they get their personalities? Not like either parent. Cool.

Comments I received make me think, a lot, about the writing process, but for the most part I just think the story is what it is. One reader would have liked it darker; I don't think I could have done this right now. My real life has enough angst -- this year had a lot of illness and death around me. Maybe later.

One unexpected thing: the use of the song, Waters of March, really attracted a lot of comments and readers. It was a totally self-indulgent inclusion, and I didn't expect it to resonate like it has.

Oh, and I stupidly forgot to include the link to the rest of the lyrics, so here are two good links:

http://www.emory.edu/EDUCATION/mfp/waters.html

http://www.brazzil.com/p08sep01.htm


So thanks to everyone who sent feedback. I do read and learn from it.

Viki

Edit addition: Here's a terrific quote from my favorite blogger/columnist James Lileks (www.lileks.com) If you don't know him, check him out; he's got a wonderful way with words. Read the Bleat.

"Sometimes writing is like sucking on a stick of butter; sometimes it’s like whittling steel."