tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post266145598410603398..comments2024-02-17T09:53:06.168+00:00Comments on Notes from the Slushpile: What We Authors Can Learn from Jackie ChanCandy Gourlayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07802791643303335762noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-60827617102574573262015-10-09T14:59:27.099+01:002015-10-09T14:59:27.099+01:00Awesome post!
As one poster said, I was like a no...Awesome post!<br /><br />As one poster said, I was like a nodding dog reading it :-)<br /><br />Even years after seeing them, Jackie Chan fight scenes are the ones I remember most clearly from all the many films (and fight scenes) I've seen. So it is with the best written books - and in retrospect, I realise that all those books utilise 'Jackie Chan's' concepts. Co-incidence? (Is Jo-incidence with a 'C'). Sorry. Friends flashback.Wilfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14550267826102681721noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-57119425612722827902015-09-17T11:30:50.722+01:002015-09-17T11:30:50.722+01:00Brilliant post Candy- so much good stuff to learn ...Brilliant post Candy- so much good stuff to learn from here. For me today, Jackie's question in the fan fight video nails it: 'Do you have the patience, or not?'<br />So here I go- 'calm, again, one more time...' because the story is worth the effort. Have a great writing day, everyone.Andrew Kellshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11818032752619753645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-47089290878915312352015-09-03T14:34:05.331+01:002015-09-03T14:34:05.331+01:00Thanks, Joe! Interesting about rhythm - I feel it ...Thanks, Joe! Interesting about rhythm - I feel it when I'm writing - that there's a beat needed here and there. But i couldn't possibly explain.Candy Gourlayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07802791643303335762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-58531357191440674482015-09-03T14:28:36.048+01:002015-09-03T14:28:36.048+01:00Brilliant post, Candy. And I really know that you...Brilliant post, Candy. And I really know that you as a writer don't take short cuts. One thing I found interesting in the video is the notion of the rhythm of a fight. I suspect there is a rhythm to different sections of a book. In improv, you talk about "finding what the scene is about," which they dictates the positions the characters take up and their voices.Joe Friedmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12803701303212415697noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-84579220818780409912015-08-27T15:00:02.766+01:002015-08-27T15:00:02.766+01:00I have to confess I watch the fight scenes and n...I have to confess I watch the fight scenes and not the movies. The fight scenes have a narrative structure in themselves! Candy Gourlayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07802791643303335762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-12359078283559633052015-08-27T14:58:56.350+01:002015-08-27T14:58:56.350+01:00Thanks, Elinor. Its the toughest thing but also gr...Thanks, Elinor. Its the toughest thing but also great fun.Candy Gourlayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07802791643303335762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-72120678056671093662015-08-27T07:38:57.190+01:002015-08-27T07:38:57.190+01:00Thanks for posting this, Candy. I really enjoyed i...Thanks for posting this, Candy. I really enjoyed it, especially the ladder scene and the way you talk about planting clues and plotting - I was wondering what Jackie was going to do with the lion dance heads! Lots to return to here.Jeanniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18153826649245862065noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-6974848537953122592015-08-25T07:32:04.603+01:002015-08-25T07:32:04.603+01:00"I used to sweat over plotting. I still do ....."I used to sweat over plotting. I still do ... but thinking about action and reaction has made the task less excruciating."<br />Great post. I feel the same way about plotting so this is an interesting way of thinking about it. Thank you!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05777275315704722425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-1395046281351870382015-08-24T13:35:30.925+01:002015-08-24T13:35:30.925+01:00I think it's become a mantra because it is the...I think it's become a mantra because it is the problem most beginning writers have to overcome. But its more complex and many shaded than simply showing not telling. When do you play out a scene? Why? You can be just as long winded when you're showing! The trick is to be sensitive to when you're boring your readers.Candy Gourlayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07802791643303335762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-15262643819894535142015-08-24T13:19:16.641+01:002015-08-24T13:19:16.641+01:00This is great, loads here that I am going to come ...This is great, loads here that I am going to come back to, especially as I am plotting a new story atm. Really agree with you about the endings and how things needed to be planted long before they are needed.<br /><br />I love that you mentioned sometimes it's okay to 'tell', in fact it's a huge relief to hear it. I've always thought it should be a concious decision whether you show or tell, as an author you take into consideration what works best and what you are trying to achieve. 'Show don't tell' seems to be a bit of a mantra that people can follow slavishly without thinking about 'why'. George Kirkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12231075417385235147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-11885508611364953842015-08-24T13:01:01.294+01:002015-08-24T13:01:01.294+01:00I am visualising that nodding dog now! Thank you f...I am visualising that nodding dog now! Thank you for reading (and nodding)!Candy Gourlayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07802791643303335762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-44324859022286982252015-08-24T12:42:09.311+01:002015-08-24T12:42:09.311+01:00Brilliant post, Candy! I was like a nodding dog, ...Brilliant post, Candy! I was like a nodding dog, reading it. Thank you.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04871239587214383387noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-63363066092780787232015-08-24T12:21:56.018+01:002015-08-24T12:21:56.018+01:00Thanks, Candy. I think short stories (and picture ...Thanks, Candy. I think short stories (and picture books) do teach good discipline, in that you have to write a strong beginning, middle and end in a very compact way - the skeleton of the story is laid bare for all to see (and judge!)Nick Crosshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02571077124165351007noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-72469091421858129882015-08-24T12:03:07.748+01:002015-08-24T12:03:07.748+01:00Rowen, the commercial rush to publish a book that ...Rowen, the commercial rush to publish a book that is not ready is damaging not just to sales but to the author's long term career. But it's hard for authors to have that insight. We really rely on our editors to make sure we don't publish a disposable book (ie. One that sells because of the hook but doesn't grow the author a readership because of the weak ending)Candy Gourlayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07802791643303335762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-88478250954452643232015-08-24T11:58:29.912+01:002015-08-24T11:58:29.912+01:00I was thinking of your short stories, Nick. Short...I was thinking of your short stories, Nick. Short story structure makes this point so clearly.Candy Gourlayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07802791643303335762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-3355815729346526362015-08-24T11:57:23.799+01:002015-08-24T11:57:23.799+01:00Thank you! Thank you! Candy Gourlayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07802791643303335762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-65700102994127997182015-08-24T11:56:52.143+01:002015-08-24T11:56:52.143+01:00And I love Jackie Chan!And I love Jackie Chan!Candy Gourlayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07802791643303335762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-34501462784678517582015-08-24T11:54:00.422+01:002015-08-24T11:54:00.422+01:00Oh yes! "He doesn't win because he is the...Oh yes! "He doesn't win because he is the better fighter, he wins because he doesn't give up" - you don't get published just because you're a good writer, nobody ever got published who gave up. (And those who aren't good writers will surely become better from all that practice! )Candy Gourlayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07802791643303335762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-61715230088557704282015-08-24T11:48:05.369+01:002015-08-24T11:48:05.369+01:00Thank you! Thank you! Candy Gourlayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07802791643303335762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-20868119314700252872015-08-24T10:33:07.237+01:002015-08-24T10:33:07.237+01:00The point about clarity fascinated me. Jackie Chan...The point about clarity fascinated me. Jackie Chan opted for wide shots, often well lit scenes because he wanted the audience to SEE that it was not a trick. The fighting, the acrobatics ... they were real. He wanted to dazzle his audience with the truth. Writing a scene so that it feels like the truth, utterly real - though using different tactics of course - is the writer's challenge.Candy Gourlayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07802791643303335762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-24886680939082592102015-08-24T10:02:19.908+01:002015-08-24T10:02:19.908+01:00Great Post Candy!Great Post Candy!Sallyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12759992873045228788noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-68424344114761027182015-08-24T09:55:58.415+01:002015-08-24T09:55:58.415+01:00The stand out thing for me is PRACTICE - nothign h...The stand out thing for me is PRACTICE - nothign happens by accident, it all take practice. Fascinating post - thanks Candy.Kathryn Evanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16439670363289229014noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-55849334078529855532015-08-24T09:52:18.313+01:002015-08-24T09:52:18.313+01:00I don't know why authors wouldn't want to ...I don't know why authors wouldn't want to build to a big finish - they're so much fun to write!Nick Crosshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02571077124165351007noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-12091662871117433702015-08-24T09:05:35.289+01:002015-08-24T09:05:35.289+01:00Great post, Candy. And I wholeheartedly agree abou...Great post, Candy. And I wholeheartedly agree about the need to build to brilliant, satisfying finales. I suspect some recent books which arrived to great fanfare will quickly fade from our collective memories because they just don't deliver at The End.Rowena Househttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11548957772863528477noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-28353543498805770022015-08-24T08:19:15.734+01:002015-08-24T08:19:15.734+01:00A punchy and pertinent post. It highlights the hug...A punchy and pertinent post. It highlights the huge efforts artists go to to make their work effortless. Brilliant, Candy. Addy Farmerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00450583537731030466noreply@blogger.com