UK Amazon Kindle Forum discussion
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Marc Nash
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Live Event with Marc Nash - Today at 7:30
Rosemary wrote: "Hi Marc, just wondered if your flash fiction just happens like that (arrives in your head in a flash!), or is it slower than that? Is there any difference between how you write a shorty and a novel..."I've been writing flash long enough now that they come really quickly. DD's writing comps normally take me 10-15 minutes. I can spark off a single idea or thing I've seen, then I can examine it from every angle in the 1000 words of flash I have to play with. I don't feel I have to have a beginning, middle and end, so I can just examine every facet of what prompts me in daily life. For example, I once got off a bus and there was a perfectly undamaged lady's shoe on the grass verge. In the 7 minute walk to my front door, I had most of a flash story prompted by it!
It's different to novels, because you can do things you could never sustain over the course of a novel. Different ways of telling stories which work over the course of 1000 words. It's really good antidote to my tendency to overwrite in novels
Will wrote: "Marc, I can understand hating editing. We all hate it. Do you use an independent editor as well as DIY?"I don't, simply due to economics. i would if I could
Kath wrote: "Lorraine - Lover of Jellybeans wrote: "Kath, your question got me totally confused ! I so don't get that time travelling stuff ! But at least Time After Time is rather easy to understand because it..."thank you! That's the aim with all my writing. You can enjoy it as just a story, or there are things to get you thinking (hopefully) after you've finished reading it.
Hi Simon and welcome ! Night Patti !
Denise wrote: "Lorraine - Lover of Jellybeans wrote: "Kath, your question got me totally confused ! I so don't get that time travelling stuff ! But at least Time After Time is rather easy to understand because it..."that's how trying to think of time travel of more than four dimensions always functions! Our 3-dimensional conceiving brains just can't conceive of it. because it doesn't accord to our everyday reality. That's what I wanted to explore.
Marc wrote: "thank you! That's the aim with all my writing. You can enjoy it as just a story, or there are things to get you thinking (hopefully) after you've finished reading it."hmmmmm i am not sure i will thank you for the state of my head after reading your book. i think i got to over thinking things a little - nothing new there for me !!!
Marc wrote: "Will wrote: "Marc, I can understand hating editing. We all hate it. Do you use an independent editor as well as DIY?"I don't, simply due to economics. i would if I could"
You're doing a great job doing it yourself :)
Lorraine - Lover of Jellybeans wrote: "Kath wrote: "Lorraine - Lover of Jellybeans wrote: "Kath, your question got me totally confused ! I so don't get that time travelling stuff ! But at least Time After Time is rather easy to understa..."No, but I needed to set it up for the rest of the novel to unfurl. But you couldn't blame the women for wanting a bit of payback now could you? :-)
Lorraine - Lover of Jellybeans wrote: "Marc wrote: "Lorraine - Lover of Jellybeans wrote: "I did struggle with the rapping thing a bit, but I expected that, but I also found a lot of words that I didn't know in your book. It's been a wh..."it was hard with twins. If you looked at one while talking, the other assumed you weren't talking to him.
So how do you think the world would be if women had the power? (please remember that we're a majority tonight ;) )
Simon wrote: "Questions, questions. You're obviously someone who weighs every word - do you have favourites you have to limit the use of? And, etymologies, how often in a page of writing would you consider the..."
Every word beyond the and's and the's yes. My favourites usually inveigle their way into each book. I try not to use the same word more than once.
Yes, the roots of words is often significant. Those words that have stayed largely true to the meaning of their etymological root and those that have diverged. Then there are those words which have two or more quite different meanings, I like to try and suggest both simultaneously, though one will be stronger than the other in any context.
Patti (Migrating Coconut) wrote: "Loving all the questions and answers! Marc, I hope you don't wear your fingerprints off!Sorry, I must go now as its 12.30am here and I'm still recovering. Must sleep.
Continue having a great ev..."
sleep well patti!
Kath wrote: "Marc wrote: "thank you! That's the aim with all my writing. You can enjoy it as just a story, or there are things to get you thinking (hopefully) after you've finished reading it."hmmmmm i am not..."
don't think you can ever overthink anything. What it may do is find it hard to come to a conclusion because there are so many thoughts flying around?
How did you find time to write with the twins? (:
Lorraine - Lover of Jellybeans wrote: "So how do you think the world would be if women had the power? (please remember that we're a majority tonight ;) )"One word, "enlightened"
I don't think there would be as much war or obsession with materialism. What saddens me a tad is that the marketers have been able to peddle young women the delights of binge drinking and behaving like men have for years.
Marc wrote: "don't think you can ever overthink anything. What it may do is find it hard to come to a conclusion because there are so many thoughts flying around? "which is why it is so helpful to have the author available to be able to talk to about it - which we did to a very successful conclusion - for me anyway :)
Katy wrote: "How did you find time to write with the twins? (:"well one advantage of twins is that they're always at the same level of development and interested in the same sort of things, so that it is possible to find time away because they can entertain each other. they're 14 now and don't want to hang with their parents! And who could blame them.
Kath wrote: "which is why it is so helpful to have the author available to be able to talk to about it - which we did to a very successful conclusion - for me anyway :) "I totally agree with you Kath, this is such a fab reading experience :)
Kath wrote: "Marc wrote: "don't think you can ever overthink anything. What it may do is find it hard to come to a conclusion because there are so many thoughts flying around? "which is why it is so helpful t..."
yay! It flows the other way too Kath. Twenty years ago, authors would never have the opportunity to chat with their readers and discover how they found the reading experience of their books was for them
Marc wrote: "Katy wrote: "How did you find time to write with the twins? (:"well one advantage of twins is that they're always at the same level of development and interested in the same sort of things, so th..."
Did you take a break from writing when they were very little? Or write when they were sleeping? (:
Katy wrote: "Marc wrote: "Katy wrote: "How did you find time to write with the twins? (:"well one advantage of twins is that they're always at the same level of development and interested in the same sort of ..."
well when they first arrived, there was no time to do anything! Once they only needed one feed in the night, I would stay up writing until they had that feed, as I've always been a bit of a night bird anyway. When I wrote plays, before I was married, I wrote from 5pm to 5am, so was used to it. I stopped reading as well when the boys were born. it took 6 months before I picked up a book again and I will always be grateful to patricia Cornwell, whose books I read one after the other to ease me back into reading.
Marc wrote: "Kath wrote: "Marc wrote: "don't think you can ever overthink anything. What it may do is find it hard to come to a conclusion because there are so many thoughts flying around? "which is why it is..."
I tink 20 yrs ago authors would tell you what your experience of a book should be - now they are interested to explore the readers reaction which may be completely different to their own interpretation.
Denise wrote: "Marc wrote: "Kath wrote: "Marc wrote: "don't think you can ever overthink anything. What it may do is find it hard to come to a conclusion because there are so many thoughts flying around? "which..."
absolutely agree. No one even knew what authors looked like 20 years ago! Now they can look up their inside leg measurement on the internet!
Was it hard to write DJ style? Or have you bathed in that kind of speech for a long time?
Marc wrote: "Katy wrote: "Marc wrote: "Katy wrote: "How did you find time to write with the twins? (:"well one advantage of twins is that they're always at the same level of development and interested in the ..."
Being only 18, I am proud to say that I don't have any children! haha. I have helped with my brothers and cousins though. I don't know how you managed with twins!
Do either of them want to follow in your footsteps and write? (:
I know you've said that they think the words you use are too long! Was just wondering how they came about reading them. Do they read your books voluntarily? Or do you ask them for their opinions?
Marc wrote: "Denise wrote: "Marc wrote: "Kath wrote: "Marc wrote: "don't think you can ever overthink anything. What it may do is find it hard to come to a conclusion because there are so many thoughts flying a..."Well inside leg measurements are important!
What is yours, btw? :-D
Lorraine - Lover of Jellybeans wrote: "Was it hard to write DJ style? Or have you bathed in that kind of speech for a long time?"I often think in terms of voice as much as character (again my playwriting days probably). Get the voice right and the character follows as their views and values come through how they talk as much as what they say. The DJ was just another voice, albeit a bit different for me. But it was great fun to write
Katy wrote: "Marc wrote: "Katy wrote: "Marc wrote: "Katy wrote: "How did you find time to write with the twins? (:"well one advantage of twins is that they're always at the same level of development and inter..."
well my wife and I took one each in separate bedrooms when they were first born. We used to pass one another in the kitchen looking like zombies - "yours awake?" and the other would nod & ask the same question & we'd nod yes too!
Both have dabbled with writing, but at this age there are so many things they want to also be doing, they can't commit to the discipline of sitting at a desk to write. Maybe in time. One wants to design computer games, the other wants to be a sports' journalist, so I don't think they'll write fiction as such.
They haven't really read my books properly. Only dipped in enough to try and wind me up about them! I wouldn't make them read my stuff, only if they wanted to. My wife has never read anything of mine nor seen me read live ;-0
Ah yes, more than one meaning, they're the fun ones.
Denise wrote: "Marc wrote: "Denise wrote: "Marc wrote: "Kath wrote: "Marc wrote: "don't think you can ever overthink anything. What it may do is find it hard to come to a conclusion because there are so many thou..."wouldn't have a clue. haven't bought a pair of trousers that wasn't off a peg in decades
Simon wrote: "Ah yes, more than one meaning, they're the fun ones."cleave and fast are my faves. they have diametrically opposed meanings to themselves!
Is there anyone you were afraid of showing your work to? (:
Silly question, but why is there a list of 20 words on your profile page on GR?
Katy wrote: "Is there anyone you were afraid of showing your work to? (:"not now. I was always a bit uneasy about showing my parents, but they now just read it and say, yes that's very 'me'
Lorraine - Lover of Jellybeans wrote: "Silly question, but why is there a list of 20 words on your profile page on GR?"And why is 8 not written as 8, but written in roman numerals?!
Lorraine - Lover of Jellybeans wrote: "Silly question, but why is there a list of 20 words on your profile page on GR?"cos it's all about the words :-)
Seriously some people have plot or story as the most fundamental part of their book; others have character or relationship. For me it's voice as I've said and the central theme or image. That's always where my books begin their life. Once I have those two features in mind, then I sit on it and let it seethe away in the subconscious for 6 months. Then it's time to write it and get the words right to capture the voice and convey what I hope is some emotional truth for that character.
Katy wrote: "Lorraine - Lover of Jellybeans wrote: "Silly question, but why is there a list of 20 words on your profile page on GR?"And why is 8 not written as 8, but written in roman numerals?!"
ah, originally that was my profile on a wordpress website. I find Wordpress very buggy and it wouldn't type the 8, but always for some bizarre reason converted the 8 into a smiley face - I kid you not. Now this somewhat undermined what I was going for with the profile, the only way round it was to do it as Roman Numerals. But then that actually fitted the idea, so I stayed with it even when I transferred it over to GR and other websites!
Lorraine - Lover of Jellybeans wrote: "Silly question, but why is there a list of 20 words on your profile page on GR?"I suppose that's my internal checklist for what I'm trying to achieve with each book. Most of those elements need to be in my books for me.
Who would you say is your biggest supporter?(:
i did say in my review that it took me a fair while to get used to your style of writing. i usually speed read and your book made me slow it right down and read more carefully. i really am glad that i didn't give up. especially as i had already told you that i started reading it! some books are really worth working at reading and once i got your style, i thoroughly enjoyed it.
Katy wrote: "Who would you say is your biggest supporter?(:"oooh I can't reveal that. Like with my twins, I could never say I have a favourite. I have acknowledged some of my readers in my books by name!
the answer to which is my favourite twin son, is the one not being naughty at that particular moment. No 'terrible twos' for me and my wife - as soon as one threw a tantrum, we went and lavished ostentatious love over the other one and that soon nipped the tantrum in the bud!
Kath wrote: "i did say in my review that it took me a fair while to get used to your style of writing. i usually speed read and your book made me slow it right down and read more carefully. i really am glad tha..."Thank you! I know exactly what you mean.
Funnily Kath, I'm reading mine using the text-to-speech while I'm reading, and finding it much easier that way somehow... I just love the "F-10's" which comes up as "F-10 feet s" :)
Lorraine - Lover of Jellybeans wrote: "Funnily Kath, I'm reading mine using the text-to-speech while I'm reading, and finding it much easier that way somehow... I just love the "F-10's" which comes up as "F-10 feet s" :)"wow, I couldn't imagine how that works for SlipMatt and PhatLip!
What do you enjoy reading the most, or do you not have time?
Marc wrote: "Lorraine - Lover of Jellybeans wrote: "Funnily Kath, I'm reading mine using the text-to-speech while I'm reading, and finding it much easier that way somehow... I just love the "F-10's" which comes..."It's fine as far as I've noticed :)
Sorry, I must go now as its 12.30am here and I'm still recovering. Must sleep.
Continue having a great event. I'll catch up and probably add some more questions tomorrow.
Xxx