tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post7517417043183642183..comments2024-02-17T09:53:06.168+00:00Comments on Notes from the Slushpile: These Are The Things That Make Us Anxious: Matt Haig and Writers' NeurosesCandy Gourlayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07802791643303335762noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-35274265953926686122013-05-04T09:41:13.064+01:002013-05-04T09:41:13.064+01:00Me too. We could all end up with Writer's OCD....Me too. We could all end up with Writer's OCD. Maureen Lynashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16855138050232488108noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-86101639841698650572013-05-04T09:40:21.592+01:002013-05-04T09:40:21.592+01:00I think I've written it. It's at the very ...I think I've written it. It's at the very back of the filing cabinet under, barmy ideas.Maureen Lynashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16855138050232488108noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-14025837081456655762013-05-04T07:43:32.421+01:002013-05-04T07:43:32.421+01:00Oh dear...Oh dear...Jo Wytonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01941417444551495613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-83580833100772282042013-05-03T08:11:03.846+01:002013-05-03T08:11:03.846+01:00I have actually done that. Several times...I have actually done that. Several times...Stroppy Authorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16560035800075465845noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-26786493964291414902013-05-03T06:57:40.006+01:002013-05-03T06:57:40.006+01:00I don't blame you! It's like the socks in ...I don't blame you! It's like the socks in the wash thing: there is absolutely a tiny comma pixie running amock in every manuscript, I'm sure of it.Jo Wytonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01941417444551495613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-2212408258733212832013-05-03T06:56:53.621+01:002013-05-03T06:56:53.621+01:00Well everyone in the UK is waiting for that heat w...Well everyone in the UK is waiting for that heat wave to arrive, so I'm sure two books about one would be welcomed!Jo Wytonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01941417444551495613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-2420142935180203142013-05-02T11:58:36.734+01:002013-05-02T11:58:36.734+01:00Utterly brilliant. Loved the squirrel neurosis. ...Utterly brilliant. Loved the squirrel neurosis. I am currently suffering from that one because I have written a book set during a heatwave and oh my so has somebody else .....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-25950938376142497302013-04-30T19:20:39.258+01:002013-04-30T19:20:39.258+01:00Great post! Painful yet hilarious. That comma neur...Great post! Painful yet hilarious. That comma neurosis? My first novel will be released in less than 3 weeks and I've started having this recurring nightmare where ALL of the commas and periods in my book disappear in the first print run. Seriously. I wake up shaking.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-66344552250891505152013-04-29T18:45:29.391+01:002013-04-29T18:45:29.391+01:00You're very encouraging, Jo xYou're very encouraging, Jo xJan Carrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11335419896028312596noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-89164937490326587972013-04-29T18:23:50.449+01:002013-04-29T18:23:50.449+01:00Yes, I think that's very true, Emma. Now I mus...Yes, I think that's very true, Emma. Now I must away. I'm waiting for an email, you know...Jo Wytonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01941417444551495613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-61500763527778017842013-04-29T18:23:04.687+01:002013-04-29T18:23:04.687+01:00I can't believe ANYTHING bedevils you, Amy!I can't believe ANYTHING bedevils you, Amy!Jo Wytonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01941417444551495613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-77576436033030008472013-04-29T18:22:42.575+01:002013-04-29T18:22:42.575+01:00I fully expect to see a vampiric hamster in the ne...I fully expect to see a vampiric hamster in the next Rescue Princesses, Paula! 'Wildlife Revenge.'Jo Wytonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01941417444551495613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-82181394544446952872013-04-29T18:22:03.612+01:002013-04-29T18:22:03.612+01:00Falling on hamsters is dangerous - it inevitably e...Falling on hamsters is dangerous - it inevitably ends in death for at least one of the participants. <br /><br />But yes - I know what you mean!Jo Wytonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01941417444551495613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-63290446260481782302013-04-29T18:21:23.077+01:002013-04-29T18:21:23.077+01:00And therein lies the problem with neuroses - you f...And therein lies the problem with neuroses - you feel silly for thinking them - and then it turns out you were right to! Just sometimes, that is. Thank goodness it doesn't matter whether somebody gets to your idea before you do - thank goodness it's all in the execution!Jo Wytonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01941417444551495613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-52873120335834081692013-04-29T18:20:16.054+01:002013-04-29T18:20:16.054+01:00It's a sure fire hit!It's a sure fire hit!Jo Wytonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01941417444551495613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-70563571061626681862013-04-29T14:41:25.865+01:002013-04-29T14:41:25.865+01:00I think all writers suffer from neuroses, publishe...I think all writers suffer from neuroses, published or not! It seems like every time I think of an idea, I find out something similar has already been done...like that dystopian short story I intended to develop into a full-length novel, only for dystopia to suddenly become THE genre, and someone else to use the exact same idea. I'm also convinced that 90% of a writer's life consists of anxiously waiting for emails...ELAdamshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11390894357209056149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-20829836484745940382013-04-29T13:54:57.839+01:002013-04-29T13:54:57.839+01:00LOVE.
Titles, commas, markets - these things bed...LOVE. <br /><br />Titles, commas, markets - these things bedevil me, too! (And I was so sure I was the only one thinking about chipmunks...)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-70457566609974372122013-04-29T09:50:26.499+01:002013-04-29T09:50:26.499+01:00I am ALWAYS convinced that someone else will write...I am ALWAYS convinced that someone else will write my book first. And how did you get my idea about the hamster...<br /><br />PS I like the new look website!Paula Harrisonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01455380645038090414noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-5928509423338693032013-04-29T08:46:43.725+01:002013-04-29T08:46:43.725+01:00Sending the wrong file! I'm in touch with that...Sending the wrong file! I'm in touch with that neuroses!Candy Gourlayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07802791643303335762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-89449578147513658452013-04-29T08:43:54.858+01:002013-04-29T08:43:54.858+01:00I really enjoyed this post! Thank you!I really enjoyed this post! Thank you!Anne Boothhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17160915179685300264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-58722343505421483092013-04-29T08:23:55.505+01:002013-04-29T08:23:55.505+01:00Having spent four years writing a middle-grade vam...Having spent four years writing a middle-grade vampire story, I was told DON'T MENTION VAMPIRES! The bookshops are sick of them. So my baddie became a demon. Two years down the line: DON'T WRITE ABOUT THE PARANORMAL; the bookshops are sick of them. Why, oh why didn't I have a hamster to fall back on? Shhh ... ugar. Rowena Housenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-9957158002802209042013-04-29T08:23:21.334+01:002013-04-29T08:23:21.334+01:00These neuroses are mine and sometimes, just someti...These neuroses are mine and sometimes, just sometimes, they're legit. Title? Yes. In fact, when I did finally sell my novel they made me change it. Someone ese has written "my" book? Yes. Not quite that detailed, but I got an idea for a novel inspired by a mediaeval romance and nearly sold it and then...a big name writer had the same idea and hers was about to come out. Trying to sell a mediaeval werewolf fantasy when every other title was urban paranormal - yes. And disappointed Twilight fans complain loudly on Goodreads when it turns out to be not what they wanted to read. Most of all, do you change your long foreign surname and write under something Anglo and easy to pronounce? I didn't and sometimes wonder if I should have.Sue Bursztynskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09362273418897882971noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-3955394737113956592013-04-29T07:50:03.911+01:002013-04-29T07:50:03.911+01:00Oh yes, so I did! Undoubtedly one of the worst one...Oh yes, so I did! Undoubtedly one of the worst ones.Jo Wytonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01941417444551495613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-8904136385822668792013-04-29T07:41:49.516+01:002013-04-29T07:41:49.516+01:00I remember the second photo! I think it was taken ...I remember the second photo! I think it was taken at the retreat a few years ago after Candy's talk totally freaked you out. <br /><br />You forgot to include my past, present and no doubt future neurosis of all time: attaching the wrong file. You know, the really hopeless three-drafts-ago version. I'm always convinced I have done this no matter how many times I check...<br />*off to scan inbox for errant attachments*<br />Teri Terryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13641477543947472370noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-14354688734640183112013-04-29T07:39:26.209+01:002013-04-29T07:39:26.209+01:00Haha a middle grade vampire hamster. Seems pretty ...Haha a middle grade vampire hamster. Seems pretty cool to me!Suzanne Furnesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00908200156114453054noreply@blogger.com