Episode Summary: "Nuggets of Wisdom from Carly Fortune and Sue Hincenbergs"
Podcast: The Shit No One Tells You About Writing
Hosts: Bianca Marais, Carly Watters, and CeCe Lyra
Release Date: May 8, 2025
Episode: Nuggets of Wisdom from Carly Fortune and Sue Hincenbergs
Introduction
In this enlightening episode, Bianca Marais engages with two accomplished authors—Carly Fortune and Sue Hincenbergs—to delve deep into their writing journeys, the challenges they've overcome, and the invaluable lessons they've learned along the way. The discussion offers emerging writers a wealth of insights into improving their craft and navigating the publishing industry.
Carly Fortune on One Golden Summer
a. Book Cover Design and Continuity [02:32-04:48]
Carly Fortune shares the meticulous process behind the creation of her book cover for One Golden Summer. She collaborates closely with Toronto-based painter Elizabeth Lenny to ensure each cover maintains a consistent visual mood and color palette across her series. Carly emphasizes the importance of continuity, stating:
"I wanted people to be able to go into a bookstore, see the book, and be like, that's a Carly Fortune book."
— Carly Fortune [03:53]
b. Sequels and Fan Expectations [04:48-10:27]
Carly discusses the pressure of writing a sequel following the unexpected success of her debut novel, Every Summer After. Fans clamored for more, particularly seeking a happy ending for the beloved character Charlie. She explains her approach to balancing fan expectations with her creative vision:
"I did not want to write a sequel in that I felt like I left the main characters where I wanted to leave them, but I did think about Charlie a lot."
— Carly Fortune [06:32]
c. Handling Criticism and Building Confidence [10:27-17:30]
Addressing the challenges of external validation, Carly reveals how overcoming imposter syndrome stemmed from the arduous process of writing her second and third books. She notes:
"I did the hard book. I did not nail it on the first draft like I would have liked to have, and I still got it done."
— Carly Fortune [10:27]
Carly reflects on the brutal nature of online criticism, particularly on platforms like Goodreads, and how she learns to filter constructive feedback from unwarranted negativity.
d. Writing Process and Managing Deadlines [17:30-21:02]
Carly opens up about the grueling schedule of writing one book a year while navigating personal challenges such as postpartum anxiety. She acknowledges the difficulty of balancing creativity with strict deadlines:
"I would wake up very early lately so I can get a draft finished of my next book on schedule."
— Carly Fortune [16:23]
e. Craft Insights: Curiosity Seeds and Show vs Tell [21:02-26:03]
Carly emphasizes the importance of planting curiosity seeds to engage readers, sharing an example from One Golden Summer:
"In my final year of university... that's when you've got the reader hooked."
— Carly Fortune [24:56]
She advises writers to avoid excessive backstory and instead sprinkle intriguing details throughout the narrative to maintain tension and reader interest.
Sue Hincenbergs on The Retirement Plan
a. Journey from Rejection to Publication [33:43-37:12]
Sue Hincenbergs recounts her perseverance through numerous rejections before achieving success with her debut novel, The Retirement Plan. After 198 query submissions for her first book and 50 for her second, Sue found breakthrough success with her third manuscript. She shares the pivotal moment of signing with an agent:
"I finally had a request for the call... I thought, am I going to cry? Like, finally, finally, somebody likes my book."
— Sue Hincenbergs [37:12]
Her story underscores the importance of resilience and continuous improvement in the face of setbacks.
b. Evolution of Writing Craft and Voice [37:12-40:06]
Sue discusses how her writing style evolved through trial and error. Initially inspired by Helen Fielding's Bridget Jones, she experimented with different structures and perspectives until finding her unique voice. She highlights the importance of writing what she desires to read:
"What do I like to read? Because I'm the typical consumer... write something I want to read."
— Sue Hincenbergs [48:14]
c. Craft Tips: Show vs Tell; Differentiating Ensemble Characters [41:41-44:34]
Sue offers practical advice on avoiding excessive exposition and enhancing character differentiation in ensemble casts. She emphasizes using subtle quirks and interactions to distinguish characters:
"They had these little jibes at each other, that they knew each other so well... just jest about."
— Sue Hincenbergs [44:34]
Bianca reinforces this by suggesting writers highlight and sprinkle backstory throughout the narrative rather than front-loading it.
d. Building a Writing Community [44:34-55:20]
Reflecting on the significance of community, Sue shares her experiences with writing groups and beta reader matchups facilitated by the podcast. She stresses the value of receiving objective feedback and the mutual growth that comes from engaging with fellow writers:
"It was really constructive, but that's really all I had... looking forward to that monthly meeting."
— Sue Hincenbergs [55:20]
e. Dialogue and Repartee Writing [57:41-60:10]
Sue articulates her approach to crafting witty dialogue, focusing on capturing the essence of conversations without overloading with descriptive tags. She explains the iterative process of refining dialogue during editing to enhance clarity and flow:
"I started to realize I don't really need all those tags... write it, so it's rat a tat tat."
— Sue Hincenbergs [58:09]
Bianca commends Sue’s dedication to refining her dialogue, noting the importance of clear and engaging conversations in storytelling.
Conclusion
Bianca wraps up the episode by celebrating the successes of Carly Fortune and Sue Hincenbergs, highlighting their contributions to the literary community. She underscores the episode's key takeaway: perseverance, continuous learning, and engaging with a supportive writing community are pivotal for emerging writers striving to make their mark in the publishing world.
"Literary community writers supporting other writers. Literary citizenship is so incredibly important."
— Bianca Marais [60:37]
The episode serves as a beacon of inspiration, illustrating that with dedication and the right support system, writers can overcome obstacles and achieve their publishing dreams.
For those inspired by Carly and Sue’s journeys, consider engaging with writing communities, refining your craft through continuous feedback, and staying resilient in the face of challenges. Remember, as Bianca aptly puts it:
"Remember, it just takes one."
— Bianca Marais [61:39]