tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post7001458695210039522..comments2024-02-17T09:53:06.168+00:00Comments on Notes from the Slushpile: How Big Is Your Slushpile?Candy Gourlayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07802791643303335762noreply@blogger.comBlogger56125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-89077392844035272222012-05-11T23:26:57.506+01:002012-05-11T23:26:57.506+01:00That was a great post. Thank you for sharing your ...That was a great post. Thank you for sharing your journey with us. It is Inspiring. My slushpile is very small as I have only been writing for a year and a half.<br />1 - almost polished pb drafts<br />1 - decent pb draft, still needs significant work<br />2 - crappy pb first drafts<br />40+ - pb ideas, most which will probably not see the light of day.Darshanahttp://www.flowering-minds.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-54550827642626139292012-04-13T14:34:33.828+01:002012-04-13T14:34:33.828+01:00I'm really late to comment on this. My slushpi...I'm really late to comment on this. My slushpile is very small (3 books). But I enjoyed reading this immensely, so that must count for something...Nick Crosshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02571077124165351007noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-36318152745768456582012-04-12T16:00:22.910+01:002012-04-12T16:00:22.910+01:00Now we all know why the Polar Icecap is shrinking....Now we all know why the Polar Icecap is shrinking. We've all got the slushy stuff piling up at home. Maybe the publishers should get on and publish some of it to save the planet and our sanity.<br />Having said that - if I'm going to be in the slush, I'm pleased it's with you guys. Happy writing everyone!Jo Franklinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11863749932391225653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-51794298729857435412012-04-11T10:47:03.853+01:002012-04-11T10:47:03.853+01:00That's an impressive slushpile and how lovely ...That's an impressive slushpile and how lovely to work with your dad on a project. I'm aiming to collaborate with my illustrator daughter some time in the future, she's just as obsessed as I am only with pictures. She gets twitchy if she hasn't drawn anything for a few days!Maureen Lynashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16855138050232488108noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-69686109981618661862012-04-11T10:44:19.287+01:002012-04-11T10:44:19.287+01:00A bazillion years! That's much longer than me ...A bazillion years! That's much longer than me :) Do you have a link for the course? Is it online or do you have to attend?Maureen Lynashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16855138050232488108noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-6813343999152216032012-04-11T10:42:57.905+01:002012-04-11T10:42:57.905+01:00Excellent! Focus is good! Good luck :)Excellent! Focus is good! Good luck :)Maureen Lynashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16855138050232488108noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-75566931641574659532012-04-11T10:41:41.111+01:002012-04-11T10:41:41.111+01:00Thanks, Julie.Thanks, Julie.Maureen Lynashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16855138050232488108noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-89854258988789988732012-04-11T10:34:33.907+01:002012-04-11T10:34:33.907+01:00I must admit, since writing the post I've been...I must admit, since writing the post I've been mulling on why I didn't start the learning curve a bit sooner, Cathy. I was a bit surprised when I added it up. I actually bent the truth a bit - there are also stories on my computer that aren't printed out and hidden in the filing cabinet. So, it's even bigger than I admitted!Maureen Lynashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16855138050232488108noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-37532834100688421502012-04-11T10:29:46.904+01:002012-04-11T10:29:46.904+01:00Thanks, Cheryl.Thanks, Cheryl.Maureen Lynashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16855138050232488108noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-85197709494709369122012-04-11T10:29:09.473+01:002012-04-11T10:29:09.473+01:00Learn to love that slushpile, Jackie. Your answer ...Learn to love that slushpile, Jackie. Your answer will be in there one day.Maureen Lynashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16855138050232488108noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-67012061863449165482012-04-11T08:58:53.881+01:002012-04-11T08:58:53.881+01:00Thanks for sharing your writing journey through th...Thanks for sharing your writing journey through this awesome post! Many aspiring authors would relate to your slush pile experience, especially me with the occasional brain freeze. Dam those blue slurpies.<br /><br />My slush pile includes 20 pictures book texts and a chapter book text that I've co-written with my dad.<br /><br />Thank you also for sharing the people you've met along the way, the places you went, the interview in the very big cave, and your constant drive and passion to keep on slushin!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17756291509110723512noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-32491231770290284542012-04-11T03:31:29.454+01:002012-04-11T03:31:29.454+01:00This is fantastic, Maureen! I'm so grateful yo...This is fantastic, Maureen! I'm so grateful you shared the story of your writing journey -- and your slushpile -- with us. You know what? You're FUNNY! I'm glad you've kept writing.<br /><br />Like Joanna, I took a fantastic course (the same one as she did, Just Write for Kids) a year and a half ago, and that has made an enormous difference. Unlike Joanna, I was piling up plenty of slush before that. Guess what? You have to walk through slush to get to the top of the mountain!<br /><br />I've been piling up slush into a slushy glacier for close to a bazillion years now, and I have learned a lot in the process. And now I have friends who have wellies on with me, and we're sloshing through the slush together. And we're going to make it!Beth Stilbornhttp://www.bethstilborn.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-71146345494946764962012-04-11T03:12:52.884+01:002012-04-11T03:12:52.884+01:00Ditto, Ditto, Ditto to what all other comments say...Ditto, Ditto, Ditto to what all other comments say....you are funny and your post is brilliant! But what is so "funny" to me is the timing of this post. I have been struggling today in particular with focus and whether to follow my heart or other people's advice. Your post has helped me clear things up....and it made me laugh! Thanks.Sharon Stanleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15932054869101408424noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-90163556857234442102012-04-11T01:34:25.759+01:002012-04-11T01:34:25.759+01:00I absolutely ADORE this post, and you know what Ma...I absolutely ADORE this post, and you know what Maureen? You're FUNNY! :-)Julie Hedlundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04477115458570906449noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-75165974761741613752012-04-11T01:26:29.597+01:002012-04-11T01:26:29.597+01:00I'm reminded of the day when a friend of mine ...I'm reminded of the day when a friend of mine became engaged, and asked me for a ballpark figure of what we had spent on our wedding. While I still had a bulging binder of receipts and invoices, I've never totalled it up because I really do NOT want to know! <br /><br />Thank you for a funny and perspective-building post!Cathy Mealeyhttp://bildebok.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-7177542836780340302012-04-11T00:43:54.692+01:002012-04-11T00:43:54.692+01:00This is a fabulous post. Your journey to find your...This is a fabulous post. Your journey to find your passion may have had some detours but you found it! Good luck and happy writing.Cheryl Velasquezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07665617073360379743noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-78371272130330556262012-04-09T20:10:35.148+01:002012-04-09T20:10:35.148+01:00Loved this post. So glad to see another's jour...Loved this post. So glad to see another's journey. Such fun how you laid it all out. And I too, am no longer feeling so bad about my slush pile of odds and ends stories. <br />Still searching for that place that perfectly fits me. <br /><br />Thanks!Jackie Castlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01069905579258709848noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-83566490210838995392012-04-09T18:10:29.138+01:002012-04-09T18:10:29.138+01:00Double the size of your slush pile, and you'll...Double the size of your slush pile, and you'll ALMOST have mine. I don't think of it as slush, though. I think of it all as potential success. Sad, but true.<br /><br />I'm glad you are no longer lurking. You're funny. I know, ...but I couldnt resist saying it. I look forward to hearing more from you. Good luck on your journey.genevievehttp://earontheball.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-42982698823870640632012-04-09T17:39:10.158+01:002012-04-09T17:39:10.158+01:00But at least you'll have friends to slush with...But at least you'll have friends to slush with. I was so alone for so long - sigh.Maureen Lynashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16855138050232488108noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-14768038205798989232012-04-09T17:28:05.447+01:002012-04-09T17:28:05.447+01:00This was a fantastic and funny read. I also unders...This was a fantastic and funny read. I also understand how OFSTED can send you out into the scary world of writing! <br /><br />My slush pile is small as I have been writing only 15 months.... lots of PB drafts, most critiqued by crit groups, crit partner and one or two by an editor.... everything still WIPs..... s grateful to have fallen upon SCBWI and a great online course right at the beginning of this journey, though, have no fear, I am am sure I will slush with te best of you!Joannahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00633484787634197878noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-32957110192196819152012-04-09T17:23:34.169+01:002012-04-09T17:23:34.169+01:00Thanks for being part of my journey, Rebecca. We n...Thanks for being part of my journey, Rebecca. We never really know how much we affect the journeys of others do we? :)Maureen Lynashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16855138050232488108noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-39779619566890676792012-04-09T17:21:26.148+01:002012-04-09T17:21:26.148+01:00Wendy! We must be soul sisters! What a ride you ha...Wendy! We must be soul sisters! What a ride you have been on, did anyone ever use the word potential? BTW - You're funny and I love your cat that no-one wants.Maureen Lynashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16855138050232488108noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-63196727259563499022012-04-08T23:46:37.575+01:002012-04-08T23:46:37.575+01:00Journey begins ...
Stage 1: 'Oh, I shall be an...Journey begins ...<br />Stage 1: 'Oh, I shall be an illustrator'. <br />Action: Complete sample artwork and dummies for x4 picture books. <br />Event: 2 deals on table<br />Outcome: Table mysteriously disappears. <br /> <br />Stage 2: 'Oh, I shall be a picture book writer'. <br />Action: completes picture books - x10 <br />Event: x3 accepted by publishers<br />Outcome: currently lost in strange time warp<br /><br />Stage 3: 'Oh, I shall be proper novelist'<br />Action: Wrote half a novel<br />Event: Shampoo leaked into laptop. <br />Outcome: Erm ... no back up!<br /><br />Stage 4: 'Oh, I shall be an YA writer'<br />Action: Began MS <br />Event: Agent asked to read the 'rest of manuscript exclusively'<br />Outcome: Confessed there wasn't any. <br /><br />Stage 5: 'Oh! Why didn't I do this before?' <br />Action: Discovered that I have the mind of an 8-10 year old. Wohoooo! Began to write in my 'natural' voice<br />Outcome: Suddenly, lots of book deals.... <br /><br />There. And as I was completely ignorant of the fact that you lot existed (until last year), I didn't even know that I was suffering from an almost normal affliction! *happy sigh*Wendy Meddourhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11232145254833119663noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-96083672699160332012-04-07T21:30:05.931+01:002012-04-07T21:30:05.931+01:00Fantastic read, Maureen! And definitely an inspira...Fantastic read, Maureen! And definitely an inspiration to the rest of us to perservere! My slushpile must be nearly as long as yours--I just haven't forced myself to compile everything and see exactly how much I have written. :) Thanks for sharing!Rebecca Colbyhttp://www.rebeccacolbybooks.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-32561891700823646892012-04-07T11:12:54.483+01:002012-04-07T11:12:54.483+01:00I may adjust the life-long friend comment. It'...I may adjust the life-long friend comment. It's under review from now on. You have one year. Watch yourself grrr.Maureen Lynashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16855138050232488108noreply@blogger.com