tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post3428248445462649795..comments2024-02-17T09:53:06.168+00:00Comments on Notes from the Slushpile: Getting to The EndCandy Gourlayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07802791643303335762noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-54088716784489620612016-08-24T08:32:44.522+01:002016-08-24T08:32:44.522+01:00Kept muttering yes as I read this. So much that re...Kept muttering yes as I read this. So much that resonates. I find the end so hard. I SO want to make it sing and be meaningful. I drive my friends and family mad with my Act 3 angst. Determined to refind the joy this Autumn. Thanks for writing. Emma Greenwoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15690376433079802026noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-53543090711095082592016-08-07T09:35:54.449+01:002016-08-07T09:35:54.449+01:00Thanks,Candy, for that great advice and the resour...Thanks,Candy, for that great advice and the resources I want to check out. Familiar with Scott Bell but not Yorke. I've been putting off my second draft, but I think it's time to make time for it. X x A. Colleen Joneshttp://acolleenjones.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-80162216416086590002016-08-03T16:47:56.503+01:002016-08-03T16:47:56.503+01:00Thanks, Janey! And good luck with YOUR forthcoming...Thanks, Janey! And good luck with YOUR forthcoming creative endeavour;😊Candy Gourlayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07802791643303335762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-60113689659118178552016-08-03T16:46:41.003+01:002016-08-03T16:46:41.003+01:00Thank you, Addy, I'm feeling very, very blesse...Thank you, Addy, I'm feeling very, very blessed to be here. Candy Gourlayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07802791643303335762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-56309631169524004202016-08-03T16:36:59.830+01:002016-08-03T16:36:59.830+01:00Exactly! I'm not saying that a strong hook is...Exactly! I'm not saying that a strong hook is a bad thing but that the quality must carry on til the end.Candy Gourlayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07802791643303335762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-59713946370202635212016-08-03T16:16:12.839+01:002016-08-03T16:16:12.839+01:00Thanks Candy - sage advice as ever. The challenge ...Thanks Candy - sage advice as ever. The challenge is always in raising the stakes effectively - starting with enough of a bang to hook the reader, but keeping the real fireworks for the end!Nick Crosshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02571077124165351007noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-48062048645080972012016-08-03T15:56:19.721+01:002016-08-03T15:56:19.721+01:00Amazing post, and lovely vacation shots Candy. I h...Amazing post, and lovely vacation shots Candy. I hope you're getting some proper rest and down time amidst your pursuit of "the (best) end", I have no doubt you'll get there, good luck x Janey Robinsonhttp://www.janeyrobinson.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-52620949627219998792016-08-02T08:45:41.192+01:002016-08-02T08:45:41.192+01:00I've thought about the disappearing story with...I've thought about the disappearing story with my work a lot but it's never had a name! The idea of writing with conviction and a need to tell this fabulous story also resonates. Finding what I really want my protagonist to say is so true for me. This is such a great piece, Candy! Enjoy the view! Addy Farmerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00450583537731030466noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-53500828115662108852016-08-02T00:12:34.188+01:002016-08-02T00:12:34.188+01:00My pleasure! My pleasure! Candy Gourlayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07802791643303335762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-19814540934736955092016-08-02T00:12:02.903+01:002016-08-02T00:12:02.903+01:00My daily struggle is exactly that: the battle to ...My daily struggle is exactly that: the battle to get immersed in the story and shed my worldly cares!Do read it ... it's very good. He even critiques writing books by other authors which I found useful for discovering even more books on writing. Candy Gourlayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07802791643303335762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-63016647658809921582016-08-02T00:08:24.313+01:002016-08-02T00:08:24.313+01:00Thank you! Thank you! Candy Gourlayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07802791643303335762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-5837746945601890502016-08-02T00:08:08.128+01:002016-08-02T00:08:08.128+01:00Teri, I could write reams here - and I'm hop...Teri, I could write reams here - and I'm hoping my family will let me sit and write a bit! Keep thinking I ought to organise an Ultimate Retreat here ... who's coming? Candy Gourlayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07802791643303335762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-52538656181059154352016-08-01T23:14:41.254+01:002016-08-01T23:14:41.254+01:00I too admire your blogging expertise whilst on hol...I too admire your blogging expertise whilst on holiday! An excellent blog with some incitful advice. Thank you! Natalie Yateshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01326877801051079350noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-79122944131309170582016-08-01T18:41:07.710+01:002016-08-01T18:41:07.710+01:00I'm curious: can you sit by that beach or lie ...I'm curious: can you sit by that beach or lie on that hammock and relax? Views and open spaces - especially over water - make me write. I can't help it.<br />I'm impressed at your blogging in such a beautiful location, and I'm sure your book is so nearly there that it will jump out at you in its satisfying completed perfection, very very soon!<br />Go, Candy!<br />p.s. I hope to manage to blog sometime before the end of 2016....Teri Terryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13641477543947472370noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-33763786652445622462016-08-01T17:52:15.011+01:002016-08-01T17:52:15.011+01:00I'm at a service station half way through a fo...I'm at a service station half way through a four hour drive listening to audio books and secretly pondering a recently completed manuscript. This post was a very welcome read - thank you. I see the whole process of finishing anything a bit like meditation, it's a daily practice to try and centre yourself and your thoughts on the story, its outcome and a real connection to something greater than yourself vs all the creeping thoughts of: propositions, will it be liked, what's popular at the moment, how quickly can I get this finished.!!! The irony of course is that by developing a sound practice that focuses on the heart of writing (outcome, story, passion, something greater than you) one ends up finding the best answers to all the secondary stuff (proposition, popularity, likability, actually finishing) I have Walk In The Woods sitting unread on my shelf - I must dig it out and have another delve into some of those unexpected baby themes. Thanks for a fab read.www.poetryjoe.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13240275784018759283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-92039253156176248832016-08-01T17:40:42.119+01:002016-08-01T17:40:42.119+01:00This is so interesting ... thanks Candy x
This is so interesting ... thanks Candy x<br />Sally Kindberghttp://www.sallykindberg.co.uknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-40149385937623122582016-08-01T17:30:53.257+01:002016-08-01T17:30:53.257+01:00It's true, Janet, it's true. Though in thi...It's true, Janet, it's true. Though in this case, I am referring to this particular project I'm on which is past the proposition phase and at its final stages of writing. And whether or not it wins a publication deal, a hook is only good for hooking until an author does the work to deepen it into story Candy Gourlayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07802791643303335762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-90042273398005225152016-08-01T17:04:05.884+01:002016-08-01T17:04:05.884+01:00'It is not about writing to impress my way int...'It is not about writing to impress my way into getting published anymore'<br />Maybe not for you, Candy, but this is exactly the position I find myself in, having been abandoned by my first publisher. Track record counts for nothing, the hook of the next book is what matters. It feels very like starting again from scratch.Janet Foxleynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-14446930897560614062016-08-01T16:55:49.491+01:002016-08-01T16:55:49.491+01:00The process is such a long and troubled one it is ...The process is such a long and troubled one it is so easy to forget WHY one is writing the darn thing! Let us all remember the joy!Candy Gourlayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07802791643303335762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-3245707152833740032016-08-01T16:52:43.167+01:002016-08-01T16:52:43.167+01:00Thanks, Ana. I can't help noticing that very f...Thanks, Ana. I can't help noticing that very few books on writing actually devote enough time to that drive to the end. And yet the success of a book is dependent on the reader'so final experience of it! Candy Gourlayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07802791643303335762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-80837281900311389792016-08-01T09:13:54.822+01:002016-08-01T09:13:54.822+01:00This is Brilliant Candy and so timely for me. I...This is Brilliant Candy and so timely for me. I'm still after the hook as you know but profoundly satisfying is really what i want - profoundly satisfying for me as story creator. That's my joy of writing. Jan Carrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11335419896028312596noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-43657229025103108892016-08-01T09:09:39.368+01:002016-08-01T09:09:39.368+01:00'The story thins in the telling.' Yes, I&#...'The story thins in the telling.' Yes, I'm noticing so much front-loading of books lately. Presumably it's the quest to make the sample chapters sizzle. (Personally, I rather like those gentle, meandering Victorian openings which grow steadily with layers of enrichment.) Meanwhile endings are neglected. Just read a review of the BFG movie which said it was like a long buildup to a joke about farting. I saw it last week and found the ideas about dreams which were spread throughout, more satisfying than the corgis jetting around the palace. I think a diffuse ideas cloud can culminate in a satisfying way without fireworks, but admittedly kids like action.<br />Ana Salotehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13373695860557420762noreply@blogger.com