Written For the Friends of Fanny
A Word about the Struggles and Rewards of Writing the Play31 total reviews
Comment from Shirley McLain
Jay, I'm not into reading play scripts at all. I find them disruptive to read, but I fell in love with your story. I have to admit her dialect bothered me, but I struggled through. You have done a great job. Enjoy your day. Shirley
reply by the author on 08-Aug-2022
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Jay, I'm not into reading play scripts at all. I find them disruptive to read, but I fell in love with your story. I have to admit her dialect bothered me, but I struggled through. You have done a great job. Enjoy your day. Shirley
Comment Written 08-Aug-2022
reply by the author on 08-Aug-2022
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Thank you, Shirley, both for reading it and for your kind words here. Bless you!
Jay
Comment from lyenochka
So this is the post BEFORE the actual end of the play? Will you give us the end tomorrow or the next week?
I like all your deep thoughts about the organic nature of writing -- revisiting what could or should have been depending on the motivation of the characters whom you know so intimately by now. Thanks for sharing that important part of writing!
reply by the author on 07-Aug-2022
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So this is the post BEFORE the actual end of the play? Will you give us the end tomorrow or the next week?
I like all your deep thoughts about the organic nature of writing -- revisiting what could or should have been depending on the motivation of the characters whom you know so intimately by now. Thanks for sharing that important part of writing!
Comment Written 07-Aug-2022
reply by the author on 07-Aug-2022
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No, Helen, this was the result of a random thought about the nature of writing serializations. I kept getting so frustrated when I realized I should have done something drastically different in an earlier chapter and then I wouldn't have the problems I was having now. As I see it there will be one (ohhhh, possibly two) scenes with an after final curtain epilogue. Nothing more this week. Now it's off to reviewland to earn my next week's promotion. Thanks for the review and kind words, Helen.
Comment from GARY MACLEAN
I think we all will always look at what we write/wrote and wish we would have said something different. Even though what we did publish works just great. It's sort of like time travel. We would all like to go back and give it another try but would the end result be any better?
I have to admit, though a late comer to the party and even though Fanny is a son of a gun to understand, the story is still so interesting that I keep coming back even if I miss an installment.
So, keep growing that tail.
reply by the author on 08-Aug-2022
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I think we all will always look at what we write/wrote and wish we would have said something different. Even though what we did publish works just great. It's sort of like time travel. We would all like to go back and give it another try but would the end result be any better?
I have to admit, though a late comer to the party and even though Fanny is a son of a gun to understand, the story is still so interesting that I keep coming back even if I miss an installment.
So, keep growing that tail.
Comment Written 07-Aug-2022
reply by the author on 08-Aug-2022
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Oh, and I'm sooooo pleased you do come back and wrestle your way through until you find the plot. You are truly appreciated, Gary!
Comment from Carol Hillebrenner
This is a good explanation of what self-editing is. Changes are necessary one draft after another. Starward Trail has been through more changes than I can count in more than forty years. Please, keep on giving us Fanny until the finale.
reply by the author on 08-Aug-2022
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This is a good explanation of what self-editing is. Changes are necessary one draft after another. Starward Trail has been through more changes than I can count in more than forty years. Please, keep on giving us Fanny until the finale.
Comment Written 07-Aug-2022
reply by the author on 08-Aug-2022
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That just blows my mind that you would be working on one project for forty years. That would put Cat at close to sixty -- even before her forced sleep! That explains why I approach each new chapter with a feeling of reverence.
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It took me a long time to get past telling instead of showing, and raising 7 kids kind of slowed things down.
Comment from barbara.wilkey
I find a similar problem with my prose because I post only once a week. If it was all put together and read as a novel, it would work better. I start with an outline and a calendar. My novel is all mapped out, but unfortunately my characters have a mind of their own and often take me in ways I never thought of. Hmm. I follow their lead.
reply by the author on 08-Aug-2022
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I find a similar problem with my prose because I post only once a week. If it was all put together and read as a novel, it would work better. I start with an outline and a calendar. My novel is all mapped out, but unfortunately my characters have a mind of their own and often take me in ways I never thought of. Hmm. I follow their lead.
Comment Written 07-Aug-2022
reply by the author on 08-Aug-2022
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Starting with an outline and a calendar makes perfect sense (unfortunately not when I'm first struck with an idea and immediately sit down to write). Especially the calendar. So many minor tweaks I DID go back and make because of anachronisms. Thank you for reading and for your 6 stars.
Comment from TheWriteTeach
Jay,
Perhaps I need to come here more than once a year (to pay my membership dues) if I expect to understand posts such as this one! LOL Fanny sounded quite interesting, and she pulled at my heart strings to jump right back in and start posting my own prose again. That alone deserved the six star rating! Drop me an email sometime and we can catch up.
Suz
reply by the author on 07-Aug-2022
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Jay,
Perhaps I need to come here more than once a year (to pay my membership dues) if I expect to understand posts such as this one! LOL Fanny sounded quite interesting, and she pulled at my heart strings to jump right back in and start posting my own prose again. That alone deserved the six star rating! Drop me an email sometime and we can catch up.
Suz
Comment Written 07-Aug-2022
reply by the author on 07-Aug-2022
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Oh, did you read my latest Incomparable Fanny Barnwarmer post? (I'm one shy of ATB on it) Suz, you really should start posting your prose here again. We need to make our mark in this community while we're still young ponies. Some people tell me that getting old can be rather jolting. About emails, I checked my contact page and have two that start "Suz" but I don't want to send them an email until I know it's you. So ... if you want to PM me your addy, I'll certainly drop you a line. Oh, need I say ... Thanks for the 6 lovely stars. It means so much.
Jay
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Look for the PM.
Comment from Judy Lawless
As you know, I have enjoyed all your scripts since I started reading them, Jay. I was disappointed that Eavesdroppers Are We All didn't come to fruition.
I'm happy to hear your thoughts on why fiction writing is so challenging. I don't know how I could plan ahead far enough to plot out a whole story before beginning, because the characters take on a life of their own. And yes, not many stories are complete at the end of the first draft.
I look forward to the last (or maybe not :)) scene about Fanny.
reply by the author on 07-Aug-2022
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As you know, I have enjoyed all your scripts since I started reading them, Jay. I was disappointed that Eavesdroppers Are We All didn't come to fruition.
I'm happy to hear your thoughts on why fiction writing is so challenging. I don't know how I could plan ahead far enough to plot out a whole story before beginning, because the characters take on a life of their own. And yes, not many stories are complete at the end of the first draft.
I look forward to the last (or maybe not :)) scene about Fanny.
Comment Written 07-Aug-2022
reply by the author on 07-Aug-2022
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Thank you, Judy. You and I. then, are probably the only two who enjoyed Eavesdroppers. I just got so overwhelmed by subtexts and subplots in it, that I put it on the shelf ... and never got back with it. That's why I'm so adamant about following Fanny's peregrinations to wherever she leads me. I'm still hoping one more person reads the last posted scene for two cents and gooses Fanny into ATB. Okay .... boosts, Lol. You and a few others I can count on as being there within a day or two of posting! Again... Thank you dear Judy!
Jay
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You?re welcome, Jay. That is so frustrating when only one more review is needed to make the ATB. Been there many times.
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I'm happy to say, one last review came in which vaulted me over. Thank you for your concern about that.
Jay
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Yeah! :)
Comment from Ulla
Hi, Jay. As you well know, I'm a great fan of Fanny. I love the way she speaks, and for some reason I've never had much difficulty understanding her, albeit English is not being my first language. I also don't think the play is too long. Fanny has an endearing way of telling the tale to us(I'm not talking about the dog here)and gradually showing us what really happened. I will miss her when she's finished talking.
Your honesty is admirable. I think we all have doubts about our writing, not only occasionally but constantly. I know, I have.
Thanks a lot for sharing all this us. Ulla:)))
reply by the author on 07-Aug-2022
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Hi, Jay. As you well know, I'm a great fan of Fanny. I love the way she speaks, and for some reason I've never had much difficulty understanding her, albeit English is not being my first language. I also don't think the play is too long. Fanny has an endearing way of telling the tale to us(I'm not talking about the dog here)and gradually showing us what really happened. I will miss her when she's finished talking.
Your honesty is admirable. I think we all have doubts about our writing, not only occasionally but constantly. I know, I have.
Thanks a lot for sharing all this us. Ulla:)))
Comment Written 07-Aug-2022
reply by the author on 07-Aug-2022
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Bless you, bless you, bless you. A trifecta of blessings for you! And for the 6 stars displayed so beautifully!
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Smile!!!
Comment from Theodore McDowell
Jay, self-doubt and insecurity about our writing comes with the territory. No need to apologize or explain Fanny or the possible blemishes in the script to the fact that we can't revise extensively on FanStory. It's fabulous work.
reply by the author on 07-Aug-2022
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Jay, self-doubt and insecurity about our writing comes with the territory. No need to apologize or explain Fanny or the possible blemishes in the script to the fact that we can't revise extensively on FanStory. It's fabulous work.
Comment Written 07-Aug-2022
reply by the author on 07-Aug-2022
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Thank you, Tim. Oh, I am secure. Always have been, always will be. But I didn't think it showed so much here. LOL, see it's happening behind my back. Thank you for your continued support, m' man!
Jay
Comment from LovnPeace
Do to life circumstances I missed out on Fanny. Hum, reading this I got dizzy. I would have missed it any way, thou it sounds interesting, I never liked-"continued" serial's. No patience. Let the tail wag. Blessings, Barbara
reply by the author on 07-Aug-2022
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Do to life circumstances I missed out on Fanny. Hum, reading this I got dizzy. I would have missed it any way, thou it sounds interesting, I never liked-"continued" serial's. No patience. Let the tail wag. Blessings, Barbara
Comment Written 07-Aug-2022
reply by the author on 07-Aug-2022
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Thank you, Barbara, for weighing in. Love and peace to you. Oh, and blessings as well, in abundance!
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TY and to you.