tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post3407798788983383116..comments2023-10-30T07:08:09.860-07:00Comments on It's a Mystery: Making it CountElspeth Futcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10330102545384369360noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-14185865619840740972010-01-08T10:07:08.101-08:002010-01-08T10:07:08.101-08:00Achievements are achievements and they all should ...Achievements are achievements and they all should count. It’s great that something you enjoy comes easily. Those who play the games don’t care how hard they were to create, they simply enjoy the pleasure they bring them.Jane Kennedy Suttonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12519340747761460017noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-34272591644015926672010-01-08T09:54:16.609-08:002010-01-08T09:54:16.609-08:00Congrats on the your good game sales. Of course yo...Congrats on the your good game sales. Of course you must give yourself a pat on the back. All accomplishments count. In this writing world we get so many rejections we really must hold tightly to the points in our favour.Laurihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11112458658109887868noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-77776194812620712212010-01-08T05:29:04.070-08:002010-01-08T05:29:04.070-08:00Hi Elspeth! Thanks so much for stopping by my blog...Hi Elspeth! Thanks so much for stopping by my blog! I'm loving yours!<br /><br />This post is dead on...sadly I completely understand your situation and fear I would be the same way. Victories without much effort are hard to celebrate but I fear it's something we all need to try to "unlearn". You deserve celebration and just because it came easily to you shouldn't matter.Kristihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08188460633615049191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-79119319619654810312010-01-07T17:24:54.752-08:002010-01-07T17:24:54.752-08:00We got frustrated for our kids in their sporting a...We got frustrated for our kids in their sporting activities wehn they were younger. Every time they turned around it seemed someone was giving them a medal or a trophy or at the very least a certificate. When they won something they had really, really worked hard for it was ... "Meh, another trophy". It wasn't anything special. <br /><br />Congrats on the mystery game sales btw - Jemi Fraserhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02214408467456320167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-41561939325619465802010-01-07T17:14:45.680-08:002010-01-07T17:14:45.680-08:00Hmmm...I think that we need to celebrate achieveme...Hmmm...I think that we need to celebrate achievements early and often. If we don't then our inner chickens get pissy and don't want to play anymore. On the other hand, there are achievements and there are achievements. You know which ones count for you and which ones seem easy AND others may not. So, if people give me strokes for something that isn't a big deal to me, I just say thankJan Morrisonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01771180344305042855noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-38221993098942296702010-01-07T16:30:51.477-08:002010-01-07T16:30:51.477-08:00Elizabeth; I can't remember the last time I h...Elizabeth; I can't remember the last time I had a party here that wasn't a child's birthday party. What does that say?<br /><br />Carol; That's a very good question. Could it be because the negative reverberates within us longer?<br /><br />JW; Thank you for your kind words. It's true, I've always been a harsh self-judge.<br /><br />Michele;If you're interested Elspeth Futcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10330102545384369360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-88357306855999797962010-01-07T15:54:27.540-08:002010-01-07T15:54:27.540-08:00It's the blessed challenge, Elspeth. It's ...It's the blessed challenge, Elspeth. It's why I can't stick with mysteries but need to experiment with historical YA and standalone suspense and want to try a script. For others, it's running a marathon instead of a race or preparing a first cheese souffle instead of the same old macaroni dish. We love to take it up a notch!Patricia Stolteyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17192369425956406122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-4684827449069307972010-01-07T15:31:01.671-08:002010-01-07T15:31:01.671-08:00Hmmm... as writers, how do we really define "...Hmmm... as writers, how do we really define "achievement"? Is it completing the MS? Is it getting a publishing contract? Is it getting the first review? Or maybe an award? Or perhaps hearing that the book is now in its 2nd (3rd, 4th, 16th) printing. <br /><br />At times, it feels like I am running a relay race by myself! I think I've met the goal and find there is another. Jillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05152599507268946811noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-91827777267292716122010-01-07T15:12:16.470-08:002010-01-07T15:12:16.470-08:00My mother-in-law always tells me, "When you c...My mother-in-law always tells me, "When you complete a household chore, tell someone." She means that even the littlest accomplishments should come with some form of compliment or feeling of achievement.<br /><br />And yet I find myself raising my children in the very way you describe early in this post! I don't discount winning a board game, but I cheer them on when they try JournoMichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11170364981958685438noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-31294325095180234922010-01-07T15:11:18.935-08:002010-01-07T15:11:18.935-08:00Your game achievements do count, even if they are ...Your game achievements do count, even if they are easy for you to create. You should be proud. :) I think we are just harder on ourselves than others are on us.T. Powell Coltrinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02160774009926623671noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-85713630707616661002010-01-07T14:28:10.180-08:002010-01-07T14:28:10.180-08:00I think all achievements count. But why is it one ...I think all achievements count. But why is it one negative comment undoes all the rest?Carol Kilgorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15168273312704732896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-30758067042918792272010-01-07T13:59:04.855-08:002010-01-07T13:59:04.855-08:00I tend to celebrate non-writing accomplishments a ...I tend to celebrate non-writing accomplishments a lot. This is because I'm not good at anything but writing. :) <br /><br />If it came easily to me (like writing), I tend to be blase about any success that comes with it. But if I host a party of some kind (which is REALLY rare), then I'll bask in the glory of a successful evening for months.<br /><br />Elizabeth<br /><a href="http://Elizabeth Spann Craighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15625595247828274405noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-64518814899700464802010-01-07T13:49:22.734-08:002010-01-07T13:49:22.734-08:00Alan; I feel exactly the same. What a relief I&#...Alan; I feel exactly the same. What a relief I'm not the only one who feels this way!Elspeth Futcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10330102545384369360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-57142419000859035112010-01-07T13:33:07.285-08:002010-01-07T13:33:07.285-08:00Another great post, Elspeth.
I think I'm goin...Another great post, Elspeth.<br /><br />I think I'm going to go a little against the popular opinion here. Easy achievements may technically "count," but they're certainly not as satisfying as achievements that are more difficult. It's all in the challenge, don't you know.<br /><br />I think I'd rather fail trying to achieve something very difficult than "Alan Orloffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03695574442723430347noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-15520389236448365312010-01-07T12:38:37.641-08:002010-01-07T12:38:37.641-08:00Elizabeth; What is industrial theatre? I always ...Elizabeth; What is industrial theatre? I always pat myself on the back when I complete a housekeeping task, mainly because I hate doing them!Elspeth Futcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10330102545384369360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-36075585645417511822010-01-07T12:37:16.000-08:002010-01-07T12:37:16.000-08:00I get jazzed over achievements, even something as ...I get jazzed over achievements, even something as basic as standing to admire a room I just straightened up, vacuumed, and dusted. And I tried to teach my children to live for those moments, big or small. I think it's important to pat ourselves on the back. That said, I do agree with you, I want to do what I do to the best of my abilities, and the idea of falling down on the job mortifies me.Elizabeth Bradleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03150221675618198674noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-39856210959716446412010-01-07T12:34:18.766-08:002010-01-07T12:34:18.766-08:00Elisa; I do try to remember this, and thank you f...Elisa; I do try to remember this, and thank you for saying such kind things. What a pal you are!<br /><br />Deb; Thanks for the congratulations. I've heard they are fun to play. Thank heavens!Elspeth Futcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10330102545384369360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-4606932046506785912010-01-07T12:30:24.185-08:002010-01-07T12:30:24.185-08:00Achievements that come after a lot of hard work ar...Achievements that come after a lot of hard work are more satisifying in some ways but the small ones are important too. <br /><br />Congrats on your games doing well! I'm living like a hermit these days but used to host a lot of murder mystery parties complete with costumes and props. Great fun! There are times when I miss having a population around me.. Debhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01603891627784763004noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-61310179438832176332010-01-07T12:20:44.533-08:002010-01-07T12:20:44.533-08:00Just remember this: It may come easy to *you*, but...Just remember this: It may come easy to *you*, but not to others! I could never write anything in the mystery genre. Or fantasy, or literary science fiction, for that matter (although I came up w/ one good idea that my wombmate really liked -- high prase indeed!).<br /><br />The achievements from the hard things feel more intrinsically rewarding, but do not discount the so-called easy things. Elisahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08399296868934652020noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-5048146087093406822010-01-07T12:01:11.849-08:002010-01-07T12:01:11.849-08:00Karen; I need to bottle you and have you around e...Karen; I need to bottle you and have you around every time I need a pep talk. Thank you!Elspeth Futcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10330102545384369360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-88794477391197534062010-01-07T11:24:14.071-08:002010-01-07T11:24:14.071-08:00Helen; I do try and remember writing games wouldn...Helen; I do try and remember writing games wouldn't come easily to everyone, and I am truly grateful I find it so easy. It's true, they've been marvelous stepping stones to writing novels.<br /><br />Margot; I like your idea of 'easy wins' sitting in the bank for when times are tough. I like the idea of anything sitting in the bank. I'm shallow. But honest.Elspeth Futcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10330102545384369360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-1999938267731345832010-01-07T10:51:18.273-08:002010-01-07T10:51:18.273-08:00Easy achievements definitely count. When you accom...Easy achievements definitely count. When you accomplish something, that give you a sense of pride that one should savor. That said, though, I think things that are harder and take longer give one a deeper sense of accomplishment. To my way of thinking, we need both. We need those "easy wins" to keep us motivated and confident, and to "put in the bank" when the going gets toughAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-72242699836444594242010-01-07T10:45:29.789-08:002010-01-07T10:45:29.789-08:00Yes, easy achievements count. They are achievement...Yes, easy achievements count. They are achievements, after all. One thing to remember is that writing games may be easy for you, but, although I've never written one, I know that would be very hard for me. Plus, my guess is that writing games makes writing novels a bit less daunting, so you can think of them as a step toward making writing other things easier.<br /><br />Helen<br /><a href="Helen Gingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09794759602654727110noreply@blogger.com