tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post2447668147837801746..comments2024-02-17T09:53:06.168+00:00Comments on Notes from the Slushpile: What I Learned From Writing My Second NovelCandy Gourlayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07802791643303335762noreply@blogger.comBlogger86125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-47265598062209880312012-04-16T15:32:46.906+01:002012-04-16T15:32:46.906+01:00Congratulations on finishing book 2 - I can't ...Congratulations on finishing book 2 - I can't wait to read it. I really admire your bravery in pressing the reset button and absolutely sympathise with the struggle to write when life gets in the way. Your author quotes prompt me to add another quote, this time not from an author, but a comedian. Whenever I am asked how many words I've written in a day I always hear a paraphrase of Eric Morecombe in my head, saying, "I have written all the right words - just not necessarily in the right order!"Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-21422923579481206282012-04-12T18:15:47.061+01:002012-04-12T18:15:47.061+01:00How did I miss this brilliant post?! Thank you Can...How did I miss this brilliant post?! Thank you Candy - having totally dismantled my current WIP, it's heartening to know it does come right - even if you accidentally turned left...Kathryn Evanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16439670363289229014noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-33541075942146658702012-04-10T21:23:55.677+01:002012-04-10T21:23:55.677+01:00Congratulations on finishing book 2 Candy - I'...Congratulations on finishing book 2 Candy - I'm looking forward to reading the results of your efforts! Thank you for the timely post too, I shall be copying a couple of quotes to pin above my writing desk. I have been struggling to writing at all lately so it is good to be reminded that even 100 words a day adds up to a novel eventually!Yonahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03314749007961050408noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-20488781546587044022012-04-10T16:17:28.779+01:002012-04-10T16:17:28.779+01:00Forgot to mention - one of the key things I learne...Forgot to mention - one of the key things I learned was DO NOT MULTITASK - one novel at a time! Thanks, Philippa!Candy Gourlayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07802791643303335762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-18534660023248382222012-04-10T16:16:44.063+01:002012-04-10T16:16:44.063+01:00hi karen! thanks so much for your thoughtful reply...hi karen! thanks so much for your thoughtful reply. i'm on candygourlay on Twitter!Candy Gourlayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07802791643303335762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-2864856326888049532012-04-08T18:30:10.536+01:002012-04-08T18:30:10.536+01:00Great post, Candy. I recently published my second...Great post, Candy. I recently published my second children's book (Eeek!) which had sat in a drawer for 10 years. You are absolutely right that if there's a bit that's not working you just have to deal with it - even if that means cutting it right out and changing direction. It's so hard to do this when you've sweated blood and tears to come up with the original plot line.<br /><br /> The same thing happened with my first novel. <br /><br />And, in the end, it is worth every minute of the pain because, finally, you know you are there - especially when the great reviews start coming in!<br /><br />Are you on Twitter by the way? I can't see a link - but I have just tweeted this post (I am @kareninglis by the way - based in London ) I'm also on Google + but possibly less active than I should be there!Karen Inglishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10205875900756890899noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-82247944815207468112012-04-06T11:53:26.505+01:002012-04-06T11:53:26.505+01:00Superb post - should be required reading for all l...Superb post - should be required reading for all loons, sorry, writers.<br />I am struggling up novel number 2 whilst numbers 3 and 4 gang up on me demanding to have their go. 1 is lurking with intent at my editor's house. Yikes.<br />Thanks for all the encouragement/realism.K.M.Lockwoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07540392557430776265noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-62137804254394263602012-04-05T08:24:23.315+01:002012-04-05T08:24:23.315+01:00Thanks, Jeannie!Thanks, Jeannie!Candy Gourlayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07802791643303335762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-31236252802596225802012-04-05T08:23:58.344+01:002012-04-05T08:23:58.344+01:00Quoting authors quoting authors is cool. You can q...Quoting authors quoting authors is cool. You can quote me on that.Candy Gourlayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07802791643303335762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-49774580991036399512012-04-05T08:23:14.684+01:002012-04-05T08:23:14.684+01:00I still have bits of your hair on my desk. Thanks,...I still have bits of your hair on my desk. Thanks, Irfan!Candy Gourlayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07802791643303335762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-86715943510505351902012-04-05T08:22:31.903+01:002012-04-05T08:22:31.903+01:00Sometimes though it's not courage. You've ...Sometimes though it's not courage. You've got no choice really if you want to write a good book.Candy Gourlayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07802791643303335762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-56853655979931024172012-04-05T08:21:18.576+01:002012-04-05T08:21:18.576+01:00Bloody mountain.
Thanks for commenting!Bloody mountain.<br /><br />Thanks for commenting!Candy Gourlayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07802791643303335762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-85908241681908819492012-04-05T08:20:37.297+01:002012-04-05T08:20:37.297+01:00There is only one response t this: ARGHHHH!!!!There is only one response t this: ARGHHHH!!!!Candy Gourlayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07802791643303335762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-35954612195284711592012-04-05T07:30:03.177+01:002012-04-05T07:30:03.177+01:00Thanks for writing such an honest post, Candy. I c...Thanks for writing such an honest post, Candy. I completely identify with what you say. Second novels are just like this. Not to depress you, but writing my third novel was worse. The fourth seems a little easier (so far), but like Tim Bowler's quote in a previous post, 'Every story you write is a mountain no-one has climbed.'Rachel Wardhttp://www.rachelwardbooks.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-3405915764120577972012-04-04T22:29:32.953+01:002012-04-04T22:29:32.953+01:00Thanks for this generous post, Candy.It's defi...Thanks for this generous post, Candy.It's definitely one to keep. I can't wait to read Shine.Jeanniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18153826649245862065noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-8551248983777389472012-04-04T19:03:32.436+01:002012-04-04T19:03:32.436+01:00Ooh, perhaps it would here too! Sorry to be so for...Ooh, perhaps it would here too! Sorry to be so forward ;)Wendy Meddourhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11232145254833119663noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-87521506902644018502012-04-03T21:58:49.372+01:002012-04-03T21:58:49.372+01:00haha...hollow laughter....if onlyhaha...hollow laughter....if onlyKeren Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13121027210783177857noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-25013895173327505012012-04-03T14:16:06.780+01:002012-04-03T14:16:06.780+01:00Brilliant post Candy! Think knowing when we'v...Brilliant post Candy! Think knowing when we've taken the wrong turn is the hardest thing! And being brave enough to turn back against the flow in a world constantly pushing you forward.christina Vinallnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-30585633989930895162012-04-03T12:53:13.687+01:002012-04-03T12:53:13.687+01:00Truly fabulous post, Candy. I'm not surprised ...Truly fabulous post, Candy. I'm not surprised it's getting all this attention. And I totally TOTALLY sympathise. It's exactly what I'm going through now, and have been for ages. I know it all so well! (Except having to take the children to the Philippines. I don't have to do that.) Thank you for putting it out there. And quoting Neil Gaiman. xxxsophia bennetthttp://www.sophiabennett.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-67806272833016626792012-04-03T12:11:32.016+01:002012-04-03T12:11:32.016+01:00Ah,I soooooo understand! Well done and thanks for ...Ah,I soooooo understand! Well done and thanks for this wonderful post. Yay you!Addy Farmerhttp://www.addyfarmer.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-63507730136070039562012-04-03T11:55:22.066+01:002012-04-03T11:55:22.066+01:00Ha! Flushed out a lurker! Thanks for coming out to...Ha! Flushed out a lurker! Thanks for coming out to comment ... and no, it's not a hobby, it's a life.Candy Gourlayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07802791643303335762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-8475579113796396012012-04-03T11:54:52.765+01:002012-04-03T11:54:52.765+01:00Yay!Yay!Candy Gourlayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07802791643303335762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-68054809765857899442012-04-03T11:54:42.855+01:002012-04-03T11:54:42.855+01:00Thanks, Amy, sometimes the trenches can be very de...Thanks, Amy, sometimes the trenches can be very deep!Candy Gourlayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07802791643303335762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-40935294321036434462012-04-03T11:54:16.983+01:002012-04-03T11:54:16.983+01:00And don't forget that YOU're what's gr...And don't forget that YOU're what's great about the book too - your distinctive voice! It's gonna be great, Maureen!Candy Gourlayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07802791643303335762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-89874984626781190532012-04-03T06:57:01.442+01:002012-04-03T06:57:01.442+01:00I've never commented before, lurking in the tr...I've never commented before, lurking in the trenches and enjoying your posts but this time I have to say thank you for such wise suggestions and sensible ideas. I've been sending novels off to agents for six years but I'm still refusing to think of it as a ... hobby ... and you give me hope! Congratulations!Tamsinhttp://www.catchinglarks.comnoreply@blogger.com