Writing Allsorts

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

2011-12-22T00:26:00.000-08:00

'Well,' I hear you say, 'where the devil have you been?’ Actually I’m not sure anyone is saying anything, as you’ve probably all lost faith in me as a blogger by now.

But 2012 will be different. I promise. It's on my list of New Year's Resolutions to blog more regularly - and I never break a resolution - well only sometimes.

In the mean time have a great Christmas and a very happy 2012!

Non-smoker: Looking to share a novel with suitable voice and genre.

2011-10-06T00:07:00.000-07:00

When I studied Creative Writing a few years back, my tutor emphatically told the class that to write you need to find your own voice and decide on a genre. Well I’ve found my voice twenty-seven times. Yes, I have multiple writing-personality disorder. And I’ve had more genres than hot dinners. (My tutor also said avoid clichés – so pretend I didn’t say that)

The thing is, I’ve written ghost stories, murder mysteries, comedy (well attempts at), love stories, chick-lit, tear-jerkers, factual articles, a children’s novel – oh, and now I’ve completed a thriller novel - but I still can’t find my voice or my genre.

Plus, I’m continually drawn to writing in first person. I pop myself right there in the protagonist’s head, and, well, talk like them. A thousand voices – but which one’s mine? Ooh, I feel like Rory Bremner.

So this whole 'voice' thing is a bit complex then, isn’t it? If you write in first person, then you are that person, that character – they can’t all be you, can they?

I suppose, then, I’m still experimenting. And if, by some sort of miracle one of my VERY different novels are ever snapped up – I would develop that voice and run with it.

In the mean time, I'll continue to have fun experimenting with different styles and voices. In fact, I’ve got a comedy, tear-jerker with lashings of ghosts, a dollop of murder mystery and a smidgen of love interest - written through twenty different first person viewpoints, on the go right this minute. You think I'm joking. :-)

21 TODAY

2011-09-14T03:54:00.000-07:00

No, not me! I’m a wee bit older than that. I’m talking about Womag Short Story SALES! Yes, yippee yo-yos I sold my 21^st story TODAY. Actually, that’s not quite true – it was a couple of weeks ago to be exact, but it's taken me this long to get my posterior into gear and get around to blogging about it.

But I’ve got a huge excuse. My eldest son got married at the end of August. How exciting is that? I’ve yet to come down from it all. My daughter-in-law is wonderfully creative, and the wedding had an Alice in Wonderland theme. It was fantastic. Below are just a tiny sample of the designs she created.

So what else? Well, I’m going to enter a few competitions. I’ve never really tried the world of competitions but a few have tickled my fancy.

The Mslexia Novel Competition – details can be found HERE.

The Mail on Sunday – Start-of-novel competition. Details can be found HERE on Womag’s blog. Thank you Womag!

The Best Short Story Competition. Thanks to Suz for her help voucher gathering!

SUCH FUN!

Ooh, and do help yourself to cake!

I believe in FAIRIES

2011-08-04T04:00:00.001-07:00

Okay, I admit it! I believe in FAIRIES - well doesn't everyone?

Those who have been following my blog for some time, thank you, and you may remember here how I promised myself a fairy ornament each time I was lucky enough to sell a story.

Well I didn’t keep it up...and I won’t deny it, just lately short story sales have become a bit of a rarity - a sign of the shrinking market, I keep telling myself. But what if it's down to something more magical? Like the lack of fairy wishes.

So, with this in mind - no I'm not completely barking - well perhaps a bit - I went on a fairy hunt and came across the above very lovely ‘Good Luck Fairy’. And I bought her not only because my lounge is lilac, and she's rather pretty, but because I knew she would bring me some much needed good luck.

Within a day, I had my first spark of luck. My short story jointly won first place in my lovely on-line writing group, Womag2Weekly.

NEXT – I PASSED my English Literature exam for OU A210 – oh yes indeed. Final year, here I come!

And FINALLY (and I’m assuming finally, as luck normally only comes in threes, well so they say - the fairies that is -okay so I am mad.) The Best of British Magazine have said they are going to publish my article on my father’s childhood in London during World War 2. He’s going to be so THRILLED!

Right, best go .... I need to buy another FAIRY!

Exams, Sales and Wanderings

2011-07-11T05:55:00.000-07:00

I've been on my travels, oh yes indeed. Visiting America and Canada - searching out magazines. Well not only searching out magazines because that would have made my hubby a wee bit cross – but I did pick up two copies of Woman’s World and I'm very tempted to send them a story at some point. Although they don't take email submissions which is a bit of a shame. They have Woman's World in Canada too, and I also saw our very own home-grown People’s Friend there, which made me rather proud.

On my return I received a lovely email from Liz Smith at My Weekly wanting to buy one of my stories – the sixth they've bought of mine - YAY! So my supermarket trips over the next little while will be rather exciting as I scan the mags for my stories - I'm waiting for two to appear in Take a Break Fiction Feast too. It certainly make up for those rejections.

Oh, and I’ve finally finished my A210 course with the Open University. The three hour exam took a lot of revising for - but I can honestly say, with pride, I gave it my best shot! However, it was so hard– and if I’ve passed it will be some kind of miracle. I won’t know until the middle of August, but I'll let you know - one way or the other - and then it’s on to my FINAL year – EA300 Children’s Literature. Not going to be easy, but I will get there - well if sheer determination has anything to do with it. :-))

My latest novel is chugging along nicely. I'm halfway through, and hoping to get it finished and out there to agents before the end of the year. So watch this space!

Bye for now.

Woman's Weekly

2011-05-24T23:48:00.000-07:00

It’s like *Rejection City* around these parts. Three stories that had been with Woman’s Weekly for over three months all winged their way back over the last few days. That’s a grand total of 17 rejections.

My road to Woman’s Weekly has been bumpy. It was around my eighth submission I got my hopes up. On the 17th March 2010 at 11.23 a.m precisely, after four months with Woman’s Weekly, one of my stories came back with a lovely letter saying they liked my writing and would like to see more of it. Although they added that –sorry, it’s a ‘NO’ this time, I still danced a little. Well wiggled my head in excitement. I thought I’d finally got somewhere. But since then it’s been rejection after rejection.

I was even more frustrated this time, as the stories came back in a different order than how I sent them out. Talk about give a girl false hope.

I refuse to give up, though. They don’t get rid of me that easily! Perseverance and determination is the key. I just wish I could find the blinking door.

In other news:

Novel: I’m galloping along with my new novel and loving it; hovering presently at 25,000 words. I’m convinced I learnt a lot from writing FMIAB and I’m hopefully not making the same mistakes with my new novel, although time will tell. The biggest difference is I have my plot summarized chapter by chapter, whereas I let FMIAB lead me. It’s making a huge difference.

A210 Open University: My Approaching Literature course is drawing to an end. I've completed my assignments and have a 3 hour exam to do. I should be revising right this minute, but seem to be continually finding things to do to avert it – hence the blog post! Next year is my final year – and then I’ll be in proud possession of an English Literature Degree – well that’s if I pass the scary exam!

Bye for now x

I've Cracked Take a Break!

2011-04-05T22:03:00.001-07:00

I haven’t been about much, have I? I'm so sorry! But it’s mainly because I haven’t had much to say for myself! But guess what? I finally have! Oh yes, indeed! After seventeen rejections – yes, seventeen, I’ve sold two stories (both in the same email!) to Take A Break! I feel like I’ve won the lottery, frankly - As it was one of my goals, you see - To crack this seemingly unbreakable magazine! So today I've got to whiz my agreement with Bauer Publishing over – ooh, get me - and send through my stories as attachments. (Thank goodness I saved a copy of each, named 'copy I sent to TAB' or I'd be in a right ol' pickle.)

In other news, I’ve had two stories in That’s Life! Australia – with fantastic illustrations. And if you’re reading lovely Australian Womag Writer – thanks again for sending both stories to me!

I’ve also had a story in My Weekly since we last spoke – with the most beautiful illustration of a mother and baby I ever did see.

Plus, I’ve reached dizzy heights with stories ‘out there’. Thirty, in fact – so I’m a one-woman- story-producing-machine, just lately!

There’s always a bit of bad news when you write, it goes with the territory. And mine is that Lovely Agent turned down my novel for the third time, with more helpful hints on what I’m doing wrong. I think I’ve now edited it to death. It’s a poor shadow of its formal self, and clearly needs bed rest. So I've started a BRAND NEW novel. It’s grittier and not at all chick-lit, and I’m really enjoying it to be honest – and almost 20,000 words in.

Oh, and I must say, I was thrilled to receive this gorgeous award. So a HUGE thank you to Maria and Suzy.

And to end on a HIGH I met up with some of the members of my Womag2Weekly group a couple of weeks ago, in Peterborough. It was so LOVELY putting faces to names of fellow short story writers, and gossiping about the various magazines. I’m sure a few editors’ ears were burning – we only said lovely things – honest!

Added 7.4.11: I must admit I'm constantly overwhelmed by how lovely fellow womag writers are. And I've suddenly realised I never mentioned how thrilled I was when Bernadette sent me her TL! Summer fiction special, with my story in it (hangs head in shame)- so thanks again Bernadette - much appreciated!

The Short Story Rejection System

2011-02-12T05:16:00.001-08:00

My fourth rejection from People’s Friend landed on my doormat today. I posted it Wednesday, and it was back with me this morning (Saturday) with a brief letter telling me the storyline was too weak.

This got me thinking about my experiences with short story rejections - and there's been a fair few, I can tell you!

I considered how rejection letters and emails are worded, and the length of time the magazines took to respond. Crumbs, it sounds like a science experiment. Well here are the results...

People’s Friend

People’s Friend, as I’ve said above, are pretty quick off the mark with their rejections – often by return. I’ve never sold to them so have no experience of an acceptance – but I know they can take several months before an acceptance is finally received.

They tend to send a standard reply with their quick rejections, often saying the story is too weak for their readers.

Out of all the magazines, they are probably the only one to let people know about a rejection at such a fast speed – which is great in lots of ways. The only thing I find with such a quick rejection is it doesn't give us time to forget the hours and hours we've spent on the story, so can sting when it plops back through our letterbox.

Woman’s Weekly

Again, I’ve never had any success with Woman’s Weekly. I’ve had an *almost* letter after four months, which I treasure and cling to. But boy can I report on rejections. Always standard, in my experience, and can take as long as 7 months to come through. My average rejection time is around 90 days. (Once you've cracked Woman's Weekly, acceptances and rejections are dealt with by email, I believe)

That’s Life! Australia

I’ve never had a rejection from That’s Life Australia – which isn’t as GREAT as it sounds. It’s because they don’t send any. It’s simply a case of waiting six months, and then assuming they don’t want your story. I actually like this – which may make me a little odd – but I don’t feel quite so rejected if nobody’s actually said I am.

The Weekly News

Now Jill Finley sends emails – lovely rejection emails that almost make you feel like you’ve been accepted. I’ve actually received rejections from Jill after four weeks and four months.

My Weekly

Just like Jill Finley, Liz Smith at My Weekly words her rejection emails in such a way, you feel quite uplifted after reading them. She does take a fair while to respond, but she is on her own, and gives all her writers heaps of attention once she gets to them. Sadly, she still only buys from those who have already sold, and only one a month.

Take A Break, Fiction Feast

I’ve only ever received standard rejections letters on especially lovely paper from TAB. The rejections have ranged from 15 – 85 days. I’d like to think the one that took 85 days to wing its way back was getting close. But you can’t really tell, as all replies are the same. I have sent a fair few stories to TAB that have gone on to sell elsewhere, which implies, for me, TAB are a really hard nut to crack.

Yours

Yours respond by email, which is always nicely worded. I’ve only ever submitted two stories to them. One was rejected after 3 months the other 6 weeks.

****

Yikes! All this talk of rejection is making me miserable. Let's end on a positive, shall we? I have a story in this week’s The Weekly News. It’s my first sale to them – so I’m especially chuffed.

A SHORT STORY CHALLENGE

2011-02-03T22:51:00.001-08:00

This is something all short story writers can play at home. All you need, in true Blue Peter style, is an empty washing-up bottle, a wire coat hanger and - this is the important bit - a LONG list of rejected stories. If you haven’t got any you’re lucky. And I was going to say you can borrow one of mine as I’ve got hundreds of the little demons – well 38 to be exact. But it could get complicated, turn nasty, even. ‘I wrote that bit’ *punch* ‘No you didn’t, I wrote that bit’ *punch*.

And you don’t actually need the washing-up bottle or wire coat hanger either, unless you want to make a...a...well you decide.

I digress. Back to the challenge, then...

It’s so easy to think once a story has been rejected by one magazine it’s a no-go. You can feel totally deflated and, yes, upset. I admit, I cried when my early rejections came through. But I don’t anymore – because, to paraphrase somebody who says clever stuff, it’s all part of the rich pattern of writing. But, and it’s a big BUT, it isn’t always the end for our rejected tales. Sometimes it only needs a few tweaks, sometimes nothing at all, for it to get snapped up by another magazine or even a competition.

So here it is...

THE CHALLENGE

1. Type a table of your rejected stories. This shouldn’t include stories you haven’t attempted to send out there.

2. Add columns headers with various outlets e.g. Take A Break, Competition. The Weekly News...you catch my drift. This should be different to the excel spreadsheet, or paper records you normally keep – you do keep a record, right? This is different, it’s your ‘CHALLENGE TABLE’

3. Now take your stories – (one at a time, or your head will whirr) and read them through carefully. You may decide the twist (if there is a twist) is too obvious – well worn (ooh, get me) – and it would be better to go with a more obscure idea. E.g. It isn’t his mother after all, it’s Mrs Jones from number six with the six poodles (I’m being silly). Or perhaps you’ve got far too many unnecessary words, or too many characters. Or the setting is all wrong. Or you need to give more explanation, or less explanation. Going back to a story after some time often highlights things that you didn’t spot first time round.

4. And now, GET THOSE STORIES OUT THERE!

Right... I hereby announce MY challenge is to SELL at least one of my 38 rejected stories before the end of the year. I’ll keep you posted – or I may never blog again because I look darn silly.

A Writerly Roller Coaster

2011-01-14T21:56:00.000-08:00

For me, writing’s a bit of a roller-coaster ride – much like life really.

On the up, just after saying I'd sold 11 short stories in 2010 – That’s Life! bought one, making 12 sales for 2010 - who'd have thought it? (And on the subject of Australia, I would like to add here that my thoughts are with my lovely relatives in Brisbane and everyone affected by the floods – keep safe all!)

On the down, on Monday I received three short story rejections in one day, making it a total of five rejections for 2011 already. I hope I’m not setting a trend.

On the up, a lovely agent who showed an interest in my novel last year has agreed to look at my chapters again.

On the down – I can’t get to see stories I’ve sold to That’s Life! Australia. So, just in case there’s anyone out there with a scanner and back copies, I’m sending out a HUGE plea on behalf of myself and lovely fellow womag writer, Susan Wright. We both have stories in the Summer edition of That’s Life! Fiction Feast (out November 29th 2010), I have a story in the weekly magazine issue 41, 2010. Susan’s in issue 9, 2011, and I’m in issue 8 and issue 13, 2011, plus Susan’s in their Autumn edition (out February 2011). If anyone out there has any of these copies and would be prepared to scan our stories for us we would be eternally grateful. Alternatively, we would both be prepared to do a magazine swap or something similar. (My email is on my profile if you can help us at all) I don’t know about you, but seeing our stories in print is definitely the best bit.

Ooh, and I’d best end on the up,. I know it’s not writing, as such, but I’ve just sent off my third assignment for this year’s Open University course. I’m studying Approaching Literature and finding it, shall we say, challenging. But I keep telling myself I’m half way through my fifth year and almost there.

Okay, I'm off to compare William Wordsworth’s The Prelude with William Blake’s 'The Schoolboy'. Gawd, cup of tea first though, methinks.

Keep well all!

It's Been A Funny Old Year

2010-12-10T23:26:00.000-08:00

I sneak in at the back, full of Meal Deal: crisps, ploughman’s sandwich, diet coke – ooh and I had one of those giant éclairs too. I’m late. Everyone is looking. Although, wait a sec... *checks blog stats* ... actually no one is looking.

Ooh, ooh, wait! Someone from Australia’s just clocked me – I can see the Aussie flag on the screen and everything. No...no... she’s gone. She was searching for “pigeon mating patterns” anyway - can't think why she ended up here.

‘Ms. Allsorts.’

They’re clapping now – my 68 – no wait 67 – no wait 66 followers.

‘Tell us a bit about your blog – your writing – and stop – well – eating’

I can feel my coke fizzing and bubbling in my chest – I may well belch in a moment.

‘OK, OK,’ I say, standing and pulling my skirt from knickers. I clear my throat. ‘Well, it’s been a funny old year.’ *good start, yeah?* ‘I’ve broken all my previous writerly records.’

It’s true - I sold one story in 2008, three in 2009 and *drum roll please* ELEVEN – yes eleven in 2010 - good yeah? And my first three chapters have been with two agents for YONKS. OK, so they’re probably lost – but a girl can dream. And, and...well actually that’s it. Ooh no, I have other news. I had a story in the BUMPER issue of My Weekly a couple of weeks back – such a gorgeous magazine, and the picture was delightful.

‘You can sit down now, Ms Allsorts – we...’

‘No wait let me tell you about my GOALS for 2011.’

Everyone’s rolling their eyes, but I’m going to tell them anyway.

‘I want to write like David Nicholls – I want to write like David Nicholls - I want to write like David Nicholls. OKAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYY – LUNCH everyone....anyone.?’

HAVE A LOVELY CHRISTMAS AND A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR ONE AND ALL!

Talli Roland - The Hating Game

2010-12-02T22:43:00.001-08:00

I'm happy to do my bit today (actually I'm a bit late with this as I've been away - sorry Talli!) in helping fellow blogger and writer Talli Roland's debut novel THE HATING GAME hit the Kindle bestseller list at Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com

If you don't have a Kindle you can download a free app at Amazon for Mac, iPhone, PC, Android and more.

About THE HATING GAME:

When man-eater Mattie Johns agrees to star on a dating game show to save her ailing recruitment business, she's confident she'll sail through to the end without letting down the perma-guard she's perfected from years of her love 'em and leave 'em dating strategy. After all, what can go wrong with dating a few losers and hanging out long enough to pick up a juicy £2000,000 prize? Plenty, Mattie discovers, when it's revealed that the contestants are four of her very unhappy exes. Can Mattie confront her past to get the prize money she so desperately needs, or will her exes finally wreak their long-awaited revenge? And what about the ambitious TV producer whose career depends on stopping her from making it to the end?

It's coming soon in paperback and you can keep up with the latest at
http://www.talliroland.com/

Wishing you lots of luck, Talli!

Out to Lunch

2010-11-05T23:19:00.000-07:00

This blog is Out To Lunch. It will probably have steak - but I'm not making any rash promises. And it will return when it can think of ANYTHING interesting to say for itself...

Whoops!

2010-11-05T09:48:00.000-07:00

Sorry to those who were kind enough to attempt to read my 'Short Story Posts' post. Sadly, there wasn't one. I was attempting to update my PAGES - and pressed Edit Posts instead of Edit Pages. I've told you before I can't be trusted on Blogger - and just proved my point!

I do have a little bit of short story news though - Liz Smith from My Weekly has emailed me to say my story, which they've renamed 'Last Straw', will be in the January 15th issue - I'm so excited! (Her news was nestled between two rejections - but I can totally live with that)

Have a great weekend everyone.

Hats off to the Past, Coats off to the Future – The History of Wilshere-Dacre School

2010-11-05T02:54:00.001-07:00

Today, I saw on Amazon that my non-fiction book, ‘Hats off to the Past, Coats off to the Future’ is a Bestseller. Umm...well it ranks 2,119,358 in Amazon Bestsellers. – That’s the same thing – right?

Ooh, and even better than that: The book is so blummin’ rare it now sells for £25, when it was once £9.99. Trouble is I’m no longer selling it – a second-hand bookshop is cashing in on my meagre success. Just think, I could have been a millionaire if I’d only held some back.

Seeing my book on there has caused me to trundle merrily down memory lane. The year is 1997. The month is November. And the excitement of publishing my own book is making my insides want to venture out.

I only published a limited number – 500 to be exact – I couldn’t afford more. And along with subscribers – over 200 (I’ve since disposed of the thumb screws) plus a loan from the lovely parents – I did it. Yes, I self-published a non-fiction book. And, thank the heavens, the WHOLE lot sold within a month.

I’ve actually been asked several times *she says a little too smugly* if I’d do another run. But I never have, although I wonder sometimes if I should. Mind you the book's on four floppy disks – and who has floppy disks these days?

The greatest pleasure of writing about my old junior school was it made people happy. I got letters of thanks that fill two albums. *I’m actually looking at them now, saying, ‘awh, how lovely – people can be so kind.’* It was such a satisfying venture, from the thrill of interviewing my old head teacher, to the parcels arriving full of MY books.

Wonderful, wonderful ~~Copenhagen.~~ times. Memories aye?

Is this Fact in Fiction, ma Lord?

2010-11-02T00:52:00.000-07:00

I’ve been tinkering with a part-written short story I wrote four years ago, around the time I was in a car crash.

The core of the piece is taken from the horrid experience – mainly how I felt at the time – and particularly the feeling of coming out of unconsciousness to the sound of fire engine and ambulance sirens. Yes, I’ve changed the names and the actual circumstances to a large extent, but it is based on fact. And I've realised this isn’t the first time I’ve used a personal experience as a basis for one of my short stories.

This made me wonder how much of ourselves we reveal when we write.

My novel is, in my opinion, a complete work of fiction from top to tail - well so I thought. My sister thinks otherwise. She noticed I based the protagonist’s childhood home on where we lived as children. It even has a lamppost outside, a yellow back gate and a picture of galloping horses on the wall. Bet you can’t wait to read it. ;-)

So did I deliberately base it on my childhood home? I’m not sure – it all just appeared on the page, flowing from my subconscious. But it seems, although the plot is complete fiction *I’m pretty sure it is*, I’ve drawn on my own memories to set the scene.

The only thing I never seem to do when I write, however, is base characters on REAL people. It’s really odd – as I know some people do – but every single one of my characters is a total work of fiction.

Do you use factual events or people you know in your fiction? Go on, tell me - I promise not to tell anyone. :-)

The London Ghost Walk and Other Stuff

2010-10-20T04:22:00.000-07:00

The London Ghost Walk

As some of you already know I find ghosts fascinating. Novel 1 and Novel 2 embrace a supernatural theme...

So, for me, Friday was very exciting, as I trundled up to London and took part in The Original London Ghost Walk...

...and here’s me being an excited minor-celebrity stalker, with our excellent guide Richard Jones, who some may remember from Most Haunted fame.

Ooh, and here’s two odd looking light anomalies taken in quick succession as we looked into St Bartholomew’s Hospital. Trick of the light? Perhaps.

There are some pretty spooky nurses at St Bart’s, the oldest hospital in London. One, apparently murdered in a lift, makes her presence felt in the early hours of the morning. The said lift often cranks its way to the basement, no matter which floor has been asked for, and plunges into darkness, refusing to move however much the weary traveller pushes the buttons. *spooky aye?* Finally, occupants will vacate the lift and climb the stairs to the ground floor, only to find the lift waiting, lights on. *and it get's worse.* If the person decides to walk, the lift will follow as they mount the twisting staircase. *shivers a little*

Other ghoulish nurses include one on Grace Ward (or pinkies ward). It's said she prescribed a fatal overdose to a patient and took her own life in remorse. And another nurse appears on the Bedford Fenwick Ward, apparently giving comfort just before death. *Remind me not to get sick around St. Barts!*

I’m not sure my photographs are any of these nurses trying to manifest, but I certainly got a a chill when I saw them on my return home.

Anyhoo, the tour was brilliant. Richard Jones is impressively theatrical, without being over the top. For me, there was just the right amount of spookyness. It wasn’t one of those *jump out from behind a gravestone type tours* but it gave me a chill from time to time, and was full of interesting historical facts.

Other Stuff

Apologises to those who couldn’t see my *How many womag writer’s are there* post. I somehow managed to leave it in draft form when I amended. I really can’t be trusted alone with a blog. I'm still updating - so please continue to comment or email.

And finally...

I’m pleased to be part of WRITERS PLATFORM BUILDING CRUSADE . A fab idea and a great way of getting to know other bloggers, plus *hopefully* gain a few more readers. :-)) Do pop over and see how it all works!

(Both *ghostie* pictures have blog author copyright – please credit this blog if you would like to copy. Thanks.)

To Self Publish or Not to Self Publish...

2010-10-12T01:47:00.000-07:00

...that is the question.

OK, so is it viable? I've been pondering over the idea for a while and have come up with a few pros and cons.

PROS

Well...IT CAN WORK – and here are a few name s to prove it...

William Blake, Lord Byron, T.S. Eliot, Benjamin Franklin, Ernest Hemingway, Rudyard Kipling, D.H. Lawrence, Beatrix Potter, George Bernard Shaw, Percy Bysshe Shelley, Virginia Woolf.

Okay, okay, so they're not very recent, but Stephen King is self published, and that’s got to be a positive, surely. Plus there have been several recent successes that I know of William P. Young, Jeremy Robinson and J.A. Konrath for example.

And of course on-line self-publishing is huge, with sites like LULU and the options to upload your novel onto the Amazon Kindle. And with print on demand sites like Blurb you could have your novel in your excited mitts before you could say, ‘Harry Potter’. You could even print a few copies and see how your book is greeted. Perhaps promote it on your own website, on You Tube (if you know a clever person who could make a mini-film plug for your book), and through social networking. Then, if it goes down a storm, you may even nab yourself a publishing deal for any reprints. All sounds pretty brilliant to me! Easy peasy!

CONS

It has to be said, publishers and agents have the skills needed to take what you have written and turn it into a marketable book. As they look at your original manuscript they are immediately aware of the many changes needed before it can be slipped on the best seller shelves at Waterstones or WH Smith. I’m certain if I was EVER lucky enough to get an agent, they would make many changes to my novel. A definite reason for going down the traditional route if at all possible.

You have to be BRILLIANT at selling yourself with self-publishing. It won't be easy convincing people to open your book if you haven’t got a publishing company behind you.

I have to admit, I may one day self-publish, as my sister loves my book. ;-) But I'm only going to do the self-publishing walk, if/when the agent/publisher route fails. And with odds like 14,400 – 2 chance of getting an agent stacked against me - it probably will. So, for that very reason, I see nothing wrong with a writer who has spent years writing a book, having the opportunity to see their work in print - even if they only sell twenty copies.

However, it’s not all doom and gloom on the getting an agent front. I know from having my full MS read by Darley Anderson that it is possible to get agents interested in our work (or perhaps that was just a fluke).

For the moment, I'm still praying for an agent to notice me. I’ve even had my book Bubblecow-ed especially. Ooh, and I must tell you, the lovely editor at Bubblecow cried while reading my book (in a good way...well at least I think it was in a good way).

Currently, my chapters are winging their way to four agents. I'm not excited. I’m expecting absolutely NOTHING. As I know, if all else fails – I WILL SELF PUBLISH.

Ooh, and here's a couple of interesting posts on the subject...

Nathan Bransford - Should you self publish? (Thanks due to Karen for pointing me Nathan's way :-))

The Blood Red Pencil - Self publishing numbers game.

It's About Time!

2010-09-23T08:47:00.001-07:00

‘bout time, Amanda. So where have you been? It’s been over a month.

Has it really? Oh Lordy, Lord - I have no excuses – not a single-y one.

Shame on you, girl.

Sorry, sorry. Ooh, do I get a discount for under-usage?

No. So what you been up to?

Writing.

Just for a change.

Umm.

Sold anything?

Yes, yes *dances a little – although legs are stiff from sitting writing* I’ve sold a couple of stories to That’s Life! Australia. YAY!

Calm down, calm down. I got wind you had a pile of rejections too...Plus you should probably fade into a corner somewhere, as other bloggers have probably forgotten all about you. But first, tell us about your Novel.

Please don’t ask.

I just did.

Blah.

Oh come on, we’re all friends here.

Well, I sent the first three chapters off to a nice lady agent who was keen *again* on the concept. But it came right back. ‘Not what I thought it would be,’ she said in as many words. ‘But good luck with it, hon.’

She called you hon?

Well, no.

You’re lying for affect.

Yes, you have to if you want to be famous.

So what are you going to do with your novel now?

Well *clenches fists excitedly* I’ve made HUGE changes. First, I deleted the first three chapters as they can’t behave themselves in front of an agent. Second I deleted a character. RIP Gavin – we still love you and may resurrect you in the future – but frankly, you’re JUST NOT REAL ENOUGH.

And?

I’ve changed it ALL to first person, present – which I’m hoping gives it more depth. And, and, I’m making the supernatural side less *unbelievable* and more *is she really seeing a ghost, or is she going totally mad?* type thing. So watch this space.

And you think that will really help.

Well, who can tell with all the rain we've been having?

You mean the current difficult climate?

Umm – but I feel happier about the novel. In fact, the happiest I’ve ever felt.

So how’s things over at Womag2Weekly?

GREAT! We’ve sold seven W2W stories so far – to My Weekly, The Weekly News, Oz and TAB – not bad for a relatively new group me thinks. But they're a super-duper lot!

Well thanks for joining us, today, Amanda - I’d say ‘bout bloody time, but I was brought up proper.

Well thanks for having me - sorry I didn’t quite catch your name. Poor show on the coffee and cakes though - cheesecake next time, yes?

HAT TRICK!

2010-08-08T00:05:00.000-07:00

So, after a spell of ‘why do I write, again?’ with much crying on my extremely lovely writer friends’ shoulders. Oh, and causing my hubby to get that glazed look which means, ‘I’m pretending to listen, but the grass growing outside is more interesting.’ SUDDENLY, like buses on the number 47* route, three came along at once. YES. SALES. My Weekly bought three of my stories all on the same day. All on the same email. All at the same time. I’m so very thrilled, and a trifle gobsmacked, quite frankly.

So thanks everyone for supporting, and listening to me whinge. I’m living proof that a scary amount of rejections in one week can be followed by great news. So it looks like we just have to keep on going then. You know, if we want to get where we want to be – even if we do stumble and fall from time to time...YES? Well I'm up for giving it a go...

*The number 47 route is being used for example purposes only. No buses were harmed in the writing of this blog post.

NOVEL REJECTION

2010-07-22T23:02:00.001-07:00

Well I plucked up the courage to send my chapters out there. I sent it to three agents. And I now have three rejections. Maths has never been my strong point, but even I know that's not good!

Rejection number one arrived in two weeks. It was a form rejection with a sweet little addition saying ‘good luck with the rest of your studies’ (you’ll need them). No, not the end bit – but I probably do.

Rejection two arrived in just over two weeks saying. ‘I found the writing unconvincing and lacking in emotional depth.’ Talk about crush a writer.

Rejection three was from the very lovely agent who read my whole MS last time, and agreed to look at it again. She said she thought it was a great improvement but unfortunately needed to be 100% behind a project in these difficult times in publishing and thinks I need to develop my characters further.

I have to say I was gutted. I wanted to wrap my MS in a blanket and say ‘there, there, I won’t put you through that again. I’ll give up writing. It’s all far too painful for you and for me.’ (Although in truth I should have been prepared. I read somewhere that the chances of being accepted are about 14,400 to 1. Not good odds at all!)

But I won't give up. I don’t believe I can. Two of the three agents said my concept was good. So I just need to find a way of making it REALLY work before sending it into the big bad world again. Oh and grow a thicker skin while I'm editing.

Onwards and upwards then - or even sidewards would be good.

I'M SENDING IT OUT THERE!

2010-06-30T23:56:00.000-07:00

I’ve DUSTED & POLISHED until I can see my face in my MS, and, YES, YES, YES, it’s finally ready!

SCARED! – I could eat a plateful! But I have to let go! No, really, let it go Amanda, your knuckles are turning white.

I’ve compiled a list of five agents from the Writers’ & Artists’ Yearbook – looking at who they represent, what they are looking for etc. Plus, I’ve written my synopsis and individual covering letters.

So what am I waiting for? Perhaps one more read through...

...and then I'll be sending it out! After the weekend, yes? YIKES! Wish me luck!

Ooh, and I’ve also received this lovely award from Maria – Thank you, Maria. I actually feel a bit of a fraud getting a Prolific Blogger Award as I’m far from prolific! But it’s lovely to get it anyway.

There are a few rules that come attached to this award:
• Every winner of the Prolific Blogger Award has to pass on this award to at least seven other deserving prolific bloggers.
• Each Prolific Blogger must link to the blog from which he/she has received the award.
• Every Prolific Blogger must link back to This Post, which explains the origins and motivation for the award.

It seems lots of bloggers already have this great award, so I wish to pass it on to any of my readers who haven’t yet got it!

An Award & A Sale

2010-06-16T00:20:00.000-07:00

Crumbs, is it June already? So what's been 'appening?

Well, I’m almost there with the novel! Okay so you’ve heard that before! But it’s now printed off and covered in biro and I’m working through it and, and, and...I will get there one day!

Lately, though, I’ve been mainly having trouble with italics. When should we use them? For example would I use them if I said ‘The Radio Times’ ‘David Essex’ or ‘Cadbury’s Flake’? Answers on a postcard please!

Oooh, and I’ve FINALLY cracked The Weekly News. Oh YES! I’m so chuffed as I’ve had so many rejections from them - I’d even set up a separate hard-drive to house them all. I read on WOMAG's blog some time ago how lovely the editor, Jill Finley is – and I can vouch she really is! Guidelines for The Weekly News can also be found on Womag's blog

I’ve been to the BEAUTIFUL Halkidiki, and returned all refreshed and raring to WRITE. Actually, I wrote a little while I was away too. I also read Sue Moorcroft’s new book All That Malarkey and really loved it – a FAB holiday read, would really recommend.

The lovely David has passed on an award for little old me – thanks David. By the way if you haven’t ventured over to his FAB blog, do pay him a visit! I just hope, while accepting my award, nobody will stand in the background looking bored and showing their belly, because I hear Patrick Stewart can get a wee bit uppity.

Okay, apparently I have to tell you 10 things about me. Crumbs. I’m far too boring. But entering into the spirit here goes.

1. I’m obsessive but not compulsive.
2. I love travelling and I’ve been to many countries, but I didn’t fly until the year 2000! And before that I’d only been to France for the day.
3. I’m a born organiser. (see no.1)
4. I worked for six years as a School Secretary in a junior school. (see no. 3)
5. I love poppies.
6. I was accident prone as a child and pretty sickly.
7. My Granddad died in The Battle of Dunkirk
8. My favourite film is ‘Gone With The Wind’.
9. I left school with only a grade E ‘O’ Level in English and a C in Art!
10. I love to write – HA – bet you didn’t know that!

Told you it was BORING!

I’d like to pass this AWARD on to ...

Karen

Gaeliika

Sarah

Colette

Becky

Have a LOVELY day one and all.

David Essex in All the Fun of the Fair

2010-05-31T05:00:00.000-07:00

I went to see All the Fun of the Fair yesterday, at The Garrick Theatre, Charing Cross Road, London. If you're a David Essex fan it’s an absolute MUST.

When David first appeared on stage, I wanted to ‘woop woop’ as you do ... but nobody else did, so I thought I’d better behave myself and settled down to enjoy the show.

I think to fully appreciate All the Fun of the Fair you have to like David’s music and you mustn’t expect too much in the way of effects. It is a lovely story with fantastic singers and actors; Christopher Timothy plays Harvey, and the up and coming actors Michael Pickering, Nicola Brazil, Susan Hallam-Wright, Cameron Jack and Tim Newman were a pleasure to watch. The show made me laugh and cry and I would go again tomorrow and watch it all over.

David Essex remains an extremely talented, lovely man who is growing older gracefully. He’s who he is today because of yesterday, but doesn’t claim to be the heartthrob he once was – except he still is – if you know what I mean! I’ve loved his music since ROCK ON reached number 3 in the UK charts in 1973 - (when I was three months old ;-)) And I have bought all his new stuff too – being a die-hard fan and all.

Oh and now the exciting bit! I met him after the show. Oh yes indeed. I had my photograph taken with him too! And as he walked away, he turned and eyed my hubby's shirt.

‘I’ve got one of those,' he said. 'Tesco Finest.’ It was! Well not Finest, Cherokee - but close enough.

As David zipped up the Charing Cross Road, I realised that’s what's so great about him – his ability to be just like everyone else.

Get It Write Blog Group

2010-05-20T22:16:00.000-07:00

The ‘Get It Write’ blog group is almost a year old - bless its cotton socks!

We presently have 13 members, but because the criteria is that we only have to post ‘something’ four times a year – we need to increase membership. So we are opening the doors to anyone who may find an on-line writing group beneficial.

A Bit About The Group

We are mixed bag of members; some of us are published, some not; some of us are qualified, some not, some are completely new to the writing game, some not. We are Womag Writers, Poets, Article Writers, More Literary Types, Chick-Lit Writers... etc... etc...

The idea of the group is to put a maximum of one piece on the blog per month (and a minimum of four pieces a year)for critique by other members - it can be any form of writing. Additionally, you have to be prepared to critique the work of any writer who has taken the time to critique yours.

It’s a little like a face to face writers’ group, gone cyber!

If you are interested in joining, do email me (my email address is on my profile) or comment below with your contact details and I will contact you. I will need to ask you a few questions about yourself – purely for the security of the group.

Please respond quickly if you're interested - as I will need to cap membership at 18!

Thanks

Edit: 27th May 2010 - We now have a full house of 18 members. But I will keep a waiting list, if anyone else shows an interest.

Is my NOVEL too short?

2010-05-18T01:24:00.000-07:00

Is my novel too short, officer?

Yes, it jolly well is! Much too short, in fact! 12,000 words too short! And I’m arresting you for claiming you’ve written a novel, when in fact you haven’t. It’s a novella.

Charming!

A novella is a short novel.

Oh, okay. But I want it to be a novel. Trouble is I’ve edited it for the final time, and it’s ready to go. Oh yes, indeed!

Except it’s not, is it? Because it’s too blinking short! *do police officers say blinking?*

No wait – but it is a novel. Chesil Beach by Ian McEwan is under 60,000 words.

But you’re not Ian McEwan, are you?

Well no, but Wikipedia told me a novel is anything from 40,000 words upwards.

Ah, but I’m a member of the writing police and I know everything. Now what exactly are you going to do about your sadly lacking word count?

Well I guess I could look at my cast and add a little more characterization, a little more depth here and there. I've noticed, too, at the very end of my novel, I’ve summed up some of the lesser known characters with too much telling – so I could show those bits with new scenes.

Yes, but the thing you don’t want to do is fill your story with too many unnecessary words and sentences that do nothing to move the plot forward.

Righty ho, then - off to make my story a little longer - back soon!

Okay, so that’s the novel news! What else have I been up to?

Well, I’ve had a fistful of short story rejections. In fact I’m *this* close to giving up on Take A Break! But then something drives me on. Perhaps it’s the lovely paper they write their rejections on!

On a POSITIVE, I SOLD my FIFTH story to Thats Life! Australia – I so love that magazine! I also had a wonderful email from Jill Finley at The Weekly News, who is back after maternity leave (many congratulations to her!) giving reasons why she didn’t buy my story but saying she would love to read more of my stuff - YAY! And I received a similar letter from Woman’s Weekly with the same kind of comments. So I’m getting there – slowly – slowly - slowly - quick - quick - actually no, just slowly!

Peter Kay The Tour That Doesn’t Tour, Tour.

2010-04-30T01:03:00.000-07:00

What is it about Peter Kay that makes us feel, even in a crowd of over 20,000, he’s only talking to us?

‘He must have been sitting in my living room or hiding in the dresser, to know so many anecdotes about MY life?’ I thought, as I watched him.

Oh, yes, did I not say? I’ve only been and seen him live! Oh YES indeedy! And before I go any further, I must tell you he was blummin’ brilliant!

So how did it happen? How did I find myself perched in the eaves of Manchester Evening News Arena, last night? Well I’ll tell you... and most of it is TRUE!

It began when Peter announced,‘I’m doing a tour, that doesn’t tour’ at Manchester Evening News Arena. Now I’d been a member of his website since he first mentioned garlic bread, so I was sent an email telling me I could buy a ticket three hours before they go live. I didn’t consider Manchester is three hours away from where I live, but what’s six hours in a car compared to seeing the best comedian of all time - LIVE!? So I booked! Got tickets! YAY! And then he announced other venues, other dates...oh God, there were venues in London, just down the road. Still, I thought, I’ve got a ticket – mustn’t complain!

So the day arrived. 29th April 2010. And we set off. Nan sat in back clutching her multi-pack of Curly Wurlys for the break, a smile bigger than a Cheshire Cat that she was going to see her idol. No, not Peter – Rick Astley, she’d loved him since, ‘Never going to give you up,’ played at her aerobics class in 1987. That was before she had all that trouble with her hip.

Anyway, we set off at 2 p.m. ‘Should be there by six, latest,’ said my hubby, munching on a Wagon Wheel. (There not as big as they once were, are they?’)
It was about 6 p.m. his eyes took on that demon look he gets, letting us all know he’ll kill anyone who says. ‘We’re not going to get there on time, are we?’

But we did! Get there, I mean. One oil spill on the road, twelve traffic jams, a torrential downpour that made visibility horrendous and our youngest asking ‘are we there yet’ on repeat, we arrived five and half hours later. FRAZZLED. Nan jumped from the car, bursting for a wee, and we eventually arrived in our seats just in time to hear Rick Astley melodically telling us he hadn't given up on us.

How, after all of that, Peter Kay managed to make hubby cry with laughter, is beyond me. I was in absolute stitches too, of course – as were the whole audience!

So, if you haven’t got a ticket – and there are any still out there – I’d recommend you get one a.s.a.p!

Keep up the good work, our Peter – you are a little ray of sunshine!

How many Womag Writers are there exactly?

2010-04-12T00:51:00.000-07:00

So how many times have we Womag Writers said of late, ‘There’s SO MUCH EXCELLENT COMPETITION out there!’? Well this post is SIMPLE. I’m trying to find out exactly HOW MUCH - although I have a long way to go!

At the moment the list below is FAR from complete – a drop in the ocean of short story writers – but I’ll be updating it each time I get a moment. Plus, rather like a RSPB bird check – I need your help to finish it - Please!

So do please let me know (either by commenting below, or emailing me - address is on my profile) if:

1. You write short stories for Women’s Magazines or know someone who does.
2. Whether you have been published.
3. Whether you are at double star status! (Over 10 fiction sales) triple star status (over 30 fiction sales) quadruple star status (over 50 fiction sales) quintuple star status(over 100 fiction sales.
4. If you would like your name linked to your blog.

Finally, if your name is on the list and you would prefer it not to be - do let me know.

WOMAG WRITERS (stars represent fiction sales.)
* = published.
** = 10 or over sales
*** = 30 or over sales
**** = 50 or over sales
***** = 100 or over sales

(STAR RATINGS ARE UNDER CONSTRUCTION - UPDATES GRATEFULLY RECEIVED
If I have your star rating wrong, I do apologise. If this is the case please, please don't be offended and please update me!)

Adam Millward *****
Alex Davies t.b.c.
Alice Renaud t.b.c.
Alison Carter t.b.c.
Alison Clink t.b.c.
Allie Loconte t.b.c.
Amanda Brittany**
Amanda McLellan t.b.c.
Andrew Preskey t.b.c.
Angela Johnson*
Angela Pickering****
Anita Haynes***
Ann West*
Anna Buxton t.b.c.
Antonia Bloom*
Bernadette James****
Beth Anderson*
Bev Maydon t.b.c.
Brenda Joy t.b.c.
Brian Richmond t.b.c.
Cally Taylor t.b.c
Camilla Kelly**
Carey Fletcher t.b.c.
Carol Maclean t.b.c.
Carol Smalley t.b.c.
Caroline Storer*
Carolyn Lewis*
Carolyn Scott*
Carolyn Williamson*
Catherine Burrows*
Catherine Howard a.k.a. Linda Lewis*****
Catherine Howarth*
Cathy Sibley**
Celia Bryce t.b.c.
Celia K. Andrew****
Chelsea Addison t.b.c.
Cheryl Bywater*
Cheryl Rogers t.b.c.
Christina Byrne t.b.c.
Christine Webb**
Claire Baxter*
Clare Nonhebel t.b.c.
Colette Dickinson t.b.c.
Colette McCormick*
Cynthia Chapman t.b.c.
Debbie Santangeli t.b.c.
Deborah Rickard*
Della Galton*****
Diane Fordham****
Diane Parkin **
Dodie Ellis t.b.c.
Dorothy Koomson t.b.c.

Eileen Gilmour****
Elayne DeLaurian t.b.c.

Elaine Everest***
Elizabeth Dale t.b.c.

Elizabeth McKay t.b.c.
Elizabeth Moulder t.b.c.
Elizabeth Wells t.b.c.
Enid Reece*
Frances Garrood t.b.c.
Francesca Burgess**
Francine Lee t.b.c.
Gabe Ellis t.b.c.
Gale Crane t.b.c.
Gail Whiteley t.b.c.

Geoff Bagwell t.b.c.
Georgie Fford***
Geraldine Ryan*****
Gerry Savill*
Ginny Swart*****
Glynis Scrivens*****
Gwen Cremin t.b.c.
Hazel Osmond t.b.c.
Heather Moulson t.b.c.
Heather Pardoe t.b.c.
Heather Parker*
Helen Hunt**
Helen Lowry *
Helen Yendall **
Hilary Halliwell****
Hilary Hares t.b.c.
Irene Yates t.b.c.
Isobel Stewart t.b.c.
Jacque T S Smith t.b.c.
Jan Jones****
Jan Wright*****
Jane O'Hare t.b.c.
Jane Wenham-Jones t.b.c.
Janet Marsh t.b.c.
Jean Rowden t.b.c.
Jenna Wallace* Website
Jennifer Bohnet*****
Jenny Maltby
Jenny Robson t.b.c.
Jill Butcher****
Jill Sanderson t.b.c.
Jill Steeples*****
Jo Styles t.b.c.
Jo Wightman t.b.c.
Joanna Barnden t.b.c.
Joanne Campbell t.b.c.
Joanna Duncan t.b.c.
Judith C. Davis t.b.c.
Judith Wilson t.b.c.
Julie Coffin*****
Julie Phillips*
June Crowe*
Karen Clarke****
Karen Holmes t.b.c.
Kate Blackadder**
Kate Jackson***
Kathleen McGurl***
Katie Carr t.b.c.
Katie Grayson t.b.c.
Katie Payne t.b.c.
Kay Seeley*
Kelly Florentia t.b.c.
Laura Kalpakian t.b.c.
Leigh Forbes*
Lesley Eames t.b.c.
Lily Forester t.b.c.
Linda Mitchelmore t.b.c.
Linda Povey****
Linda Priestley a.k.a. Linda Gruchy*
Linda Sainty t.b.c.
Lorraine Mace t.b.c.
Lucy Alton*
Lydia Jones t.b.c.
Lynne Hackles t.b.c.

Madeleine Purslow t.b.c.
Margaret Rowe t.b.c.
Maria Perry Mohan *
Marian Latham a.k.a. Marian Hipwell*****
Marilyn Fountain t.b.c.
Marjorie Santer t.b.c.
Mary Kettlewell t.b.c.
Mary Keyser**
Mary Simpson t.b.c.
Maureen Gottfried a.k.a Kirsty Peters and Maureen Brannigan*****
Meg Stokes*
Mhairi Grant t.b.c.
Nicola Slade**
Michael Bracken*****
Norah Francis t.b.c.
Pamela Kavanagh t.b.c.
Pam Weaver *****
Pat Jeanne Davis *
Pat Posner*
Patricia Findel-Hawkins t.b.c.
Patricia Maw**
Patsy Collins****
Patti Hales t.b.c.
Paul A Freeman t.b.c.
Paula Williams*****
Pauline Gaffney t.b.c.
Penny Alexander****
Rachel Lovell t.b.c.
Red Morgan a.k.a. Susie Morgan *
Rebecca Holmes***
Rena George**
Rob Nisbet*
Rona J Frith***
Rosemary Brown t.b.c.
Rosemary Gemmell** Web Page
Rosemary Hayes*****
Rosie Edser***
Roxana Robinson t.b.c.
Sally Jenkins t.b.c.
Sally Thomas t.b.c.
Sally Quilford***
Sara Goodwins t.b.c.
Sarah Duncan**
Sarah England****
Sarah Evans t.b.c.
Sarah Pearse t.b.c.
Sarah Swatridge t.b.c.
Sheila Alcock****
Sheila Corbishley t.b.c.
Sheila Norton a.k.a. Olivia Ryan*****
Sheila McAdams t.b.c.

Shirley Wells a.k.a. Shirley Worrall*****
Simon Whaley**
Simone Katzenberg t.b.c.
Stella Whitelaw - t.b.c.
Steve Beresford - t.b.c.
Sue Houghton*****
Sue Moorcroft***** Blog Spot
Susan Alison**
Susan Sarapuk t.b.c.
Susan Wright****
Sylvia Murphy t.b.c.
Suzanne Jones*
Tamsyn Murray t.b.c.
Tara Westgate*

Teresa Ashby*****
Tess Niland Kimber****

Tessa-Jo Stone**
Tia Brown t.b.c.
Tina Burton**
Trisha Ashley t.b.c.
Valerie Bowes t.b.c.
Vivien Hampshire****
Yvonne Jackson t.b.c.

****
Finally thank you so much Lily for this lovely award.

I would like to award it to all the bloggers in Get It Write and Womag 2 Weekly.

Quick March

2010-03-19T03:48:00.001-07:00

Oh my Goodness, is it really the middle of March?

So what's been happening? Well, I’ve had a few bits of exciting news over the last few weeks. I sold another short story to That's Life Australia, plus two articles (well one's not fully sold yet, but being held for publication, which is a good sign methinks) So that brings my successes to a grand total of 10 – OH YES - double figures! Who’d have thought it, aye? Well certainly not me! (I won't tell you how many rejections I've had - suffice to say though, it's FAR more than 10)

I’ve been working endlessly on NOVEL 1 – cutting gazillions of words and adding new BIG characters, as suggested by the agent - and I think I’m getting there - perhaps - maybe. At the mo, I’m hovering around 45,000 words, but I do have a plan – so that’s good - yes!?

The writing groups I’m part of - Get It Write and Womag 2 Weekly are both going well – we’ve had a success in each camp, and the writing there is absolutely brilliant. I’m so enjoying being part of it all and getting to know such lovely writers.

Now, one thing I’ve been thinking about during the last few weeks is Show Don’t Tell - yes that old chestnut.

I can see: ‘Mick felt happy’ is telling.
I can see: 'Mick laughed, waving his hands above his head' is showing.
But how about: 'Mick laughed, waving his hands above his head. He wanted to grab her in his arms...'
This confuses me a little. Is the first half showing and the second telling? And if so, how would you show the second half? Answers on a postcard please! Gawd, I’m sure I think too much!

Have a great weekend!

An Epiphany

2010-02-01T00:59:00.001-08:00

Crumbs, is it really February? Although, to be honest, writerly wise I’m glad to see the back of January! What with the MS coming back, and then three rejections in quick succession from The Weekly News – not a good month, I can tell you.

Kronburg Castle

It was a great month otherwise though. Me and the other half trundled off to Copenhagen for a few days. Freezing and expensive, but totally worth it! We lived on Pringles because everything was so dear - £6 for a cuppa, £10 for a glass of wine, £22 for a breakfast and £30+ for a meal! Still we ordered ‘one’ breakfast to our room and shared it – there was enough food for two, and we even had enough to pack a roll for lunch each! Tight-wads or what? HA!

Copenhagen was magical – as I knew it would be. What with the influence of H.C. Anderson and Shakespeare all around us. I came back half wondering whether to write children’s stories. Or perhaps a modern day Hamlet! HA! Perhaps not! But I did have an epiphany!

The thing is, I’ve spent the last eighteen months wondering which genre to write in – I feel like I’m being pulled in several directions – I’m doing all the pulling of course. But then it came to me, I really want to concentrate fully on Women’s Commercial Fiction – Chick Lit to be more precise! And I’m so loving it; it’s so much fun to write – I have a gormless smile on my face all the time I’m clicking away on the keyboard – It’s great!

So my second novel is now 16,000 ‘happy’ words in – and I will return to Novel 1 shortly and ‘chick-litty-fy’ it!

Of course, I’ll still write my short stories for Womags - as I absolutely love that too! And I’m not saying I will never write any other genre again. But for now, CHICK-LIT is the plan. So we’ll see how that goes, shall we?

Please, please remind me why I write again...

2010-01-22T01:40:00.000-08:00

I guess you can tell it’s all a bit gloomy here at ‘Chez Amanda.’ Yes, I’ve heard back from the lovely agent that I sent my whole MS to, but it's a ‘thank you, but no thank you.’

As ‘thank yous, but no thank yous’ go – it was a lovely no thank you, but still a no thank you.

She said some lovely things about my writing, my ideas, and enclosed a three page reader's report on how I can improve my novel - which was something she didn't have to do.

Although I’m feeling a little deflated (seems to be a trend of mine) I will pick myself up – dust myself down - and feel GREAT that I’ve got this far – Oh yes I will. And I’m relieved I only sent it out to the one agent as I can now improve it before I send it again – YES? No? Well maybe.

Onwards and upwards – the sun will come out tomorrow – and all that jazz!

Cafepress

2010-01-11T04:02:00.000-08:00

I’m such a bad blogger! I haven't blogged since the 27th December - that's a very poor show indeed. Oh, and when I did blog, I was so wrapped up in 'lovely agent's email', that I forgot to tell you what I got for Christmas!

Well I got this

And this (on a T-shirt)

And I got a writer cup and bag too! Cool, yes? My hubby got them from this great site CAFE PRESS and now I want EVERYTHING on there!

Ooh, and look what I got today.

It was sent to me by the lovely Colette and Jarmara - thank you both. I'm supposed to pass it on to 15 bloggers, but I can see from roaming around blogland that many of you already have this lovely award - so I would like to pass it on to EVERYONE who reads my blog - that's probably only about 15 anyway!;-)

Pssst....

2009-12-27T09:47:00.000-08:00

Oh my ears and whiskers! Guess what? I’m only seeing out 2009 with a wee clink of champagne glasses!

Because ... well ... the LOVELY agent I posted my first three chapters to last week -only wants to see the rest of my novel! Oh yes indeed! How blinking marvellous is that?

I’m in shock quite frankly. Delighted, of course... but I know I have to slap myself down pretty quickly as I still have a VERY, VERY LONG way to go, and frankly the road before me may be paved with disappointment. But YAY I’m heading in the right direction, YES?

HAPPY 2010 ONE AND ALL!

Merry Christmas & A Happy New Year

2009-12-22T07:47:00.000-08:00

Wishing you all a Wonderful Christmas and a Happy and Healthy 2010!

Molly loves the snow - but then she doesn't have to drive in it!

A special little girl visited me yesterday and left me a 'Snow Angel'.

Awh, I'm feeling all Christmassy already!

My Novel has Wings

2009-12-14T00:10:00.000-08:00

Okay, so I lied. I’m back before Christmas. What am I like? But then I can’t be trusted anywhere near a Blogger link as you well know!

And the thing is, I wanted to tell you I’ve posted off my first three chapters, synopsis and covering letter to a real-life AGENT. Oh yes indeed! I took it down the post box, in an envelope and everything, folded it, and squished it into the red hole. I then spent the next three hours sticking my hand in the said post box trying to get it back. No I didn’t. Not really. But I did wonder if it was the right time (is there ever a right time?) And now I have three similar letters sitting next to me, all looking at me saying ‘post me now’ but I'm too chicken. I've lost my bottle, quite frankly.

In other news, my pink party was pink! I saw pink, wore pink,ate pink (the pink chocolate mice were the best) and drank pink! Good fun was had by all!

Slutligen, jag är spännande att kunna säga att jag har sålt en historia att Allas Magazine! YAY! - Which in English means 'I've sold a story to Allas Magazine' - Yay!

Closed For Christmas

2009-12-05T03:53:00.000-08:00

I'm having a mini break from blogging until the sun shines again! Have a lovely Christmas and a Very Happy New Year one and all. x

Congratulations Karen Clarke

2009-12-04T00:06:00.000-08:00

I feel massively chuffed today. The very lovely, Karen Clarke has only been and gone and got herself an agent! Oh yes indeedy! I knew she would from the moment I started reading her blog over two years ago. She is one brilliant writer and deserves to be marching with her pants on her head (see her blog for details!)

Ooh and I’ve had a mini success of my own. I’ve had a pitch accepted by Writers’ Forum, and I'm now frantically writing it and praying I can live up to their expectations.

In other news, this Sunday I’m having a PINK party for my birthday that ends in ‘O’ (That’s all I’m saying – you can guess the other number – but please be kind!) It’s not officially my birthday until the following weekend – but I thought I’d get the party in before everyone gets all Christmased out - you know, like they do. So I'm all excited about that! YAY!

I'm also rather chuffed about the launch of Womag 2 Weekly (notice the variation in name - thanks Lily :-). We now have 8 keen members and it looks all set to be a fantastic group.

Anyway, that’s it in a nutshell! Have a great weekend one and all!

Jack the Ripper

2009-11-28T07:31:00.001-08:00

I’ve always been intrigued by Jack the Ripper. The murders as such do not interest me – I hate blood and gore. It’s the mystery that surrounds them and a keen interest in Victorian history, especially the East End of London, that draws me in.

I have many books on the subject, including, The Jack the Ripper Suspects by Stan Russo which cites 70 suspects – a must for all ripperologists, apparently. I bought it a few years back and it was fairly expensive then but now it sells on Amazon for £42.70 – ooh, er, I guess that makes me a ripperologist then!

You may be wondereing why I’m on about evil Jack today. Well I went on a Ripper Tour last Wednesday and it was absolutely fab. The combination of looking around the East End, a fantastic tour guide: Philip Hutchinson who co-wrote The London of Jack the Ripper (another great book) and actually seeing where the murders took place made for a brilliant evening.

You know, it’s quite strange – my novel isn’t a murder at all, and yet I’ve managed to thread in a couple of references to Jack the Ripper. And I've got a short story whizzing around my head, spurred by the evening, that I really must get down! Well, they say write about what you know, don’t they?

I was going to pop on my photographs, but they are very dark and only this one of The Ten Bells Pub came out reasonably well. It's said that in the early hours of November 9th 1888, Mary Kelly, Jack's final victim, left this pub to meet her demise. It's said too that Jack the Ripper haunts here.

Please don't forget if you're interested in joining 'Womag two Weekly' there are still spaces - so do email me!

Womag Two Weekly!

2009-11-25T05:30:00.001-08:00

Calling all womag writers out there! I’m hoping to start a private writing blog that runs simultaneously with the already successful group, ‘Get It Write’ which has been up and running now for six months.

The difference with this group is it will focus purely on short stories for women’s magazines (rather than all writing, as is the case with ‘Get it Write’)

Cally Taylor has kindly given me permission to run the group to the same format as a ‘Story a Fortnight’ – although she won’t be involved with the running of ‘Womag two Weekly’ (may have to change that name - ha!) group in any way. It will be me and whoever dares come on board.

If you are a writer of short stories aimed at magazines such as My Weekly, Woman’s Weekly, People’s Friends etc. and would be interested in submitting and commenting on this type of story on a fortnightly basis, please email me a.s.a.p. My email address is on my profile! So let's see what the demand is and go from there....GREAT!

Lovely Award

2009-11-18T08:38:00.000-08:00

Super Debs has passed this lovely award on to me – Thank you so much Debs you’ve made my week! If you haven’t popped over to her blog – which I’m sure most of you have -it’s wonderful – go now – no wait – finish reading my blog first!

The award rules are as follows:

1) Accept the award, and don’t forget to post a link back to the awarding person = CHECK.

2) Pass the award on – ooh this is tricky there are so many fantastic blogs – but I would like to pass it on to the very lovely Suzanne – who despite unscheduled interruptions – still has a great plan – Keep on going Suzanne!!! = CHECK

3) Notify the award winners – email winging its way = CHECK

Apart from this lovely award from Debs, I was most excited to get a response from My Weekly today thanking me for one of the stories I sent – that's it, just a thank you! I know, little things! HA!!

A Deflated Balloon

2009-11-13T00:11:00.000-08:00

Yes, that’s me!

Well not a balloon as such, but I am a little deflated as a writer.

I think I must have ‘I love rejections’ written on my forehead, and magazines are intent on trying to please me. Because frankly, they’re pouring in; two from People’s Friends – one took less than a week to wing its way back to me, and there was a blinking postal strike on at the time. The next came a week later with an identical reason for rejection – I’m suspecting form letters here! I’ve also had one from Allas Magazine, one from The Weekly News and another from That’s Life Australia – all in the last few weeks. Swearwords!

But I refuse to let it grind me down. I’ll keep sending out my short stories whether they want them or not – I’m tough! I can take it! HA!

On a positive though, my novel, which underwent a mammoth culling of characters and storyline recently, is now finished – AGAIN – and guess what, it’s visiting a friend. Yes, a very lovely blogging pal is reading it through – cover to cover – so exciting!

Also – I still have nine short stories out there – so there’s still hope! Yes? And I’ve written a story for the Mslexia competition and I’m working on a story for Cally’s Heaven Competition.

How’s that for refusing to let it beat me! Go me! I think!

Introducing Jumbles

2009-10-28T12:09:00.000-07:00

She's my grand-kitten!

Cute isn't she! :-)))

The Cast of FMIAB

2009-10-22T02:02:00.000-07:00

Oooh, my last post got me thinking. And I've been wasting precious writing time casting the movie version of my novel. But it's been great fun dreaming.

And here they are... My wanna-be cast of FMIAB

Rachel, my protaganist, would be played by the lovely, Jennifer Anniston. (Well she always plays the part of Rachel so brilliantly!)

Her sisters, Annie and Felicity, would be played by the amazingly talented, Alyson Hannigan and Jennifer Garner.

For the part of Nana Philpot, I would like the multi-talented, Julie Walters. Thank you kindly.

And now for the men in her life...

The hilarious, Ricky Gervais as Jason.

Lennon would be played by the lovely, Tom Sturridge.

Fergus would be played by Rupert Everett. He may be a wee bit old, but hey, this is fantasy.

And finally, Sam would be played by the great, Edward Norton.

Ooh, that was so much fun... now back to reality!

Cally Taylor - Heaven Can Wait

2009-10-21T00:04:00.000-07:00

I'm very excited to be interviewing Cally Taylor, author of the very wonderful, Heaven Can Wait. I've been following Cally's blog for almost two years, and she's an inspiration!

So welcome Cally, and on with the questions!

What was your inspiration when writing, Heaven Can Wait?

It sounds a little bit morbid but, after a friend from school died suddenly in 2006, I started thinking about death quite a lot. That, combined with a question my then boyfriend asked me – “If I died how long would you wait before you moved on and met someone else?” – gave me the idea for a woman called Lucy who died the night before her wedding and refused to go to Heaven.

If your book was made into a film – which of course it will be!! Who would you see playing the roles of Lucy and Dan?

Oooh I wish! That’s also a really difficult question because no actors or actresses perfectly fit my mental image of Lucy and Dan but, if you forced me at gun point, I’d probably say Rachel Weisz as Lucy and Jim Sturgess as Dan.

Do you think the fact you had many short stories published helped make your agent and publisher sit up and take notice?

I think short story publications and/or competition wins show an agent that you’ve got a good track record when it comes to writing. By listing your ‘writing CV’ you’re demonstrating that your fiction has been critiqued by magazine editors and/or competition judges and found to have merit. Anything that helps convince an agent to give your novel some serious consideration has to be a good thing!
How long did it take you to find an agent? And did you have any agents turn you away?
It took me about a year in total. I started my search for an agent by sending off submissions to six agents that I’d shortlisted from the Writers and Artists’ Yearbook, choosing the ones that represented chicklit and/or women’s fiction and authors that I admired. That was in September 2007.
The first reply I received was a personalised rejection saying that, although she liked the premise, she wasn’t a fan of novels written in the first person! The second reply I received was a phone call from Darley Anderson, saying he really liked my chapters and could I send the whole novel. While I waited for Darley to read the whole manuscript I received another personalised rejection – from an agent with a massively successful chicklit author on her books - and a form rejection from another agent.
In January 2008 Darley rang me to say that, while my book had lots of potential, I had to edit it again and make a few changes before he’d consider signing me. I was disappointed that it wasn’t an immediate ‘yes’ but set to work editing my book (for the fourth time). While I was doing that another agent asked to see the full manuscript. She wasn’t keen on the supernatural premise but asked me to send her anything else I might write.
In July 2008 I sent my revised manuscript back to Darley Anderson and three long, long months later I finally received the phone call I’d been waiting from. It was Madeleine Buston, Head of Foreign Rights at the Darley Anderson agency. She said Darley had given her my manuscript to read on a long train journey up to Scotland and that it had made her laugh and cry. In fact, she said, she’d loved it so much she’d asked Darley if she could represent me!
I signed the contract to be represented by Maddie at the Darley Anderson Agency a couple of weeks later. It was September 2008 - almost exactly a year to the day since I first sent my chapters out.
And if you’re wondering what happened to the sixth agent I approached? I never heard back from him!

Had you ever considered sending out your first three chapters before your book was fully edited?

No. Everything I’d read on the web, and in author/agency interviews, said you shouldn’t send out your first three chapters until your whole novel is the best it can be. You only have one chance (unless you’re really lucky) to impress an agent and it’s no good wowing them with three beautifully edited chapters if the rest of your book is a disappointment. If they ask to see the whole manuscript and you haven’t polished it as much as your first three chapters you’ll end up with a ‘sorry, not for me’.

Do you think Facebook, Blogger, and Twitter are a big part of being an author these days?

I think they are. There isn’t as much money in a publishing company’s budgets to promote debut authors as there used to be (and the recession doesn’t help) so it’s becoming much more normal for an author to help out with publicity. Readers also expect authors to have an online presence these days and if you don’t have a website/blog or twitter/facebook account you’ll miss out on valuable feedback and comments.

How long did it take you to write, Heaven Can Wait?

It took three months and three weeks to write the first draft and several more months to edit it several times over. Looking back now I can’t believe I managed to write the first draft so quickly but I was really driven, writing almost every night. I didn’t want to be the sort of person who talked about writing a novel; I wanted to be someone who actually completed one.

I find that it doesn’t matter how many good things are said – one negative one and I’m in pieces. How do you deal with negative comments?

Like a lot of authors I’m really sensitive to criticism and a bad review is incredibly wounding. So much so that you instantly forget all the lovely things people have said about your novel and become convinced that that critical reviewer is the only person telling the truth. It’s like if you ask ten people if they like your outfit and nine say it makes you look beautiful and one says it makes you look fat. You believe them (and if you’re anything like me you’ll go and change!).
I thought I’d managed to harden my skin against negative feedback after years of sharing my short stories with a particularly brutal online workshop and, to a certain extent I had, but you work so hard on a novel, for so long, and pour so much of yourself into it that it’s always going to hurt when someone says something cruel. Hopefully my skin will thicken up the more novels I write!

Do you find you dream about your characters?

I daydream about my characters but I don’t dream about them. That said I did have a dream when I was editing Heaven Can Wait that I was stuck in Limbo and trying to help people to escape by crawling through grey tunnels (I may also have been watching too much Prison Break at the time!).

Do you carry a notebook and pen everywhere?

Oh yes. I have done for about ten years. Back then I lived in London and would jot down ideas, observations or little phrases that popped into my head while I was on the tube. These days I normally use the notebooks to jot down ideas I’ve had for scene changes or edits, or ideas for new novels.

Are any of your characters based on real people or real events?

Ha! That would be telling! Most of the people in Heaven Can Wait are complete works of fiction but there’s a minor character who may or may not be based on someone I know/knew but I’m not saying any more for fear of being sued!

Who is your favourite author?

I’ve got so many – Roddy Doyle, Hanif Kureshi, Margaret Atwood and Douglas Coupland immediately spring to mind, but if we’re talking about chicklit it has to be Lisa Jewell. I think ‘Ralph’s Party’ was the first chicklit book I read and I fell in love with Lisa’s style and have read everything she’s written since. For male authors of chicklit my favourite has to be Mike Gayle.
Do you think the thrill of being a published author will ever wear off?
I really hope not! If the magic of writing novels and hearing about new deals from my agents wears off and I start dreaming about winning the lottery and doing something else instead it’s probably time to stop writing!

Thanks Cally for a brilliant interview! :-)

Heaven Can Wait...

2009-10-16T09:29:00.000-07:00

...and I can’t! ...wait that is, to read Cally Taylor's debut novel Heaven Can Wait!

Except I’ve got to, because my copy of her book hasn’t arrived yet – weeps openly!

But I still wanted to say huge congratulations to Cally Taylor - YAY!

And I will be interviewing her here at Writing Allsorts on the 21st October, when, amongst other things, she tells me who she would most like to play the parts of Dan and Lucy if (well let’s be honest here – WHEN) the book becomes a film!

Hope to see you then!

OOH, A BLOG AWARD

2009-09-30T00:45:00.000-07:00

Ooh, thank you Debs, whose blog is utterly fabulous by the way, for this gorgeous award.

The "Your Blog is Fabulous!" Award stands for: Integrity. Commitment to Excellence. Stubbornly Optimistic.

THE RULES:
List five current obsessions:

1. My wonderful family and friends – No explanation needed.

2. Writing – See my blog for details.

3. Injustice – Ooh, I could go on and on and on about this – but I won’t. We see injustice in every corner of the world and sometimes in our own lives. And, in truth, I try hard not to obsess about it NOW – So it’s not, in fact, current – ooh, er have I broke the rules? But the way I see it is this, if there’s a way to solve the injustice, I will do everything in my power to do so. But I’ve learnt, as I reach the grand age of 25 (Okay, okay, 30 ;-)) that sometimes you just have to let go.

God grant me the serenity
To accept the things I cannot change;
Courage to change the things I can;
And the wisdom to know the difference.
Reinhold Niebuhr

4. Bullying - See above!

5. The baggage retrieval system they’ve got at Heathrow. ;-) – Best ask Monty Python about that one!

I would like to pass the award on to the following super-duper blogs. I know some already have the award, but hey what the heck, let’s live a little!

Helen P

Tom Foolery

Jarmara

Suzanne

Karen

Helen H

Fionnula (Who it's good to see back in blogland!)

Writerly Ups and Downs

2009-09-24T00:47:00.000-07:00

On Sunday, we went to The Orchard at Grantchester. It's wonderful there, with a marvellous ambience of bygone years. In fact, I wouldn’t have been surprised to see Rupert Brooke saunter from the little restaurant with a cheese scone and a cuppa.
Oh, and on the way back we dropped into Bury Lane Garden Centre and I found this notebook!

It’s from The Ladybird Archive Collection – isn’t it fab? It’s brought back memories of my early school days! Awh! I’m going to carry it everywhere, so I can jot all kinds of writerly things in it!

And talking of writing; this weeks certainly had its ups and downs.

On the upside, I’m editing a chapter a day at the moment and have now reached halfway! YAY!

But on the downside, I’ve had yet another rejection from Woman’s Weekly – that’s the sixth! Crumbs, they are a hard nut to crack! Or perhaps they don't like my style.

And to add to the downs; I had a rejection from an agent! Yes, okay, I confess, I dabbled. I sent out my first three chapters to one agent and I now have a bad case of burnt fingers. So I will now reflect a while before sending it out again. I need to be fully happy that I’ve done all I can to make it as perfect as it can be - and that could take some time. :-)

Crumbs, has it really been that long...

2009-09-09T06:29:00.000-07:00

I am thoroughly ashamed of myself. I remember a time when I blogged daily – Okay, so I was a little addicted, but nothing that a bit of electric shock therapy didn’t sort out. But now I think they should pull out the plugs, as I'm not blogging at all!

Although, I do have an excuse. My novel is almost edited! And the first three chapters are ready to go! In fact, I was almost tempted to send them out there, whilst editing the rest. But reined myself in, resisting the temptation. But it won’t be long now! YIKES!

Oh, and I’m a bit over-excited today. I’ve just received the Spring Edition of That’s Life Fast Fiction Australia, and my story’s in there – woo hoo! And what’s makes this even more special is I’m sharing the pages with some fantastic writers: including Karen Clarke, Sally Quilford, Womag and Teresa Ashby. Looking forward to a nice cup of hot chocolate later, when I'll be reading the magazine from cover to cover.

Gone Editing

2009-08-19T08:43:00.001-07:00

I'VE FINISHED THE RE-WRITE OF MY NOVEL! Yes! Really! Woo-hoo!!

So now for the EDIT - although I'm thinking I should probably leave it to stew for a few weeks first.

But, frankly I'm amazed and rather chuffed that I’ve actually got this far! And would like to say a huge thanks to all the lovely bloggers who continually support and encourage me! I know I would never have got this far without you! x

Wow! Look What I've Won!

2009-08-12T00:05:00.000-07:00

I'm thrilled to bits. I entered a competition over at DJ's and my name was pulled out to win a copy of The Cloths of Heaven by Sue Eckstein. I can't wait to read it. It sounds brilliant!

You can read a great interview with Sue Eckstein over at DJ's. And a fab review of the book HERE

In other news: I’ve PASSED my Creative Writing and Literature Diploma with an amazing overall score of 82%. YAY! I’m shocked, truth be told. Not bad for someone who left senior school clasping a grade E ‘O’ Level in English and a grade C in Art! HA! That's shown them! Not that I'm bitter, you understand!

Coincidentally this is a little Contrived

2009-07-28T01:34:00.000-07:00

I am having a bit of a panic. Nothing new there then! It’s my novel AGAIN! I have far too many coincidences throughout, which make it all seem a little contrived. It’s so hard though, I want the subplots to link in some way to the main plot - but there’s got to be a valid reason, rather than a coincidence - YES?! So my job over this week is to go through it in the hope of making my coincidences less coincidental – so to speak.

I’ve been so busy on my novel! I’m nearly at 70,000 words on the re-write. Last week I followed Calistro’s fab idea of chapter index cards – and that worked brilliantly! Do go have a look if you haven’t already - it’s such a great idea!

Ooh, and finally, I have a story in My Weekly this week – YAY! I received my complimentary copy yesterday and they’ve done such a lovely job. The artwork is super, as always! It’s out this Thursday, I think! So exciting !

Derren Brown's ENIGMA

2009-07-18T00:44:00.000-07:00

I leapt across the nice old lady who sat next to me. She was asking her son if ‘being put into a trance’ was anything like having an operation, and looked startled when I landed in her lap. But, despite my efforts, I didn’t catch the Frisbee.

‘Swearwords.’

I so wanted to catch it. To throw my Frisbee clasping hand in the air and shout, ‘Ooh, ooh, ooh, Derren, look at me, I’ve caught a Frisbee.’ Because then Mr Brown would have called me down onto The Adelphi stage, where I could have spent some wonderful moments with him.

And I was all prepared, you see. I was wearing my ditsy yellow top (well that's what it says on the label) and my best Tesco necklace. Get the idea? Yes I’d really gone to town.

But hey, we can’t have it all. Just to see him up there, waltzing around the stage like he owned it (which he probably did) was enough. And, actually, I’m lying. Sorry! I’m not one for going up on the stage, truth be told. Although I have acted, oh yes indeed! I had a huge role in a P.T.A. murder mystery play a few years back. I bet you’re impressed.

Anyway, I digress. And I must not digress. Look into my eyes. I must not digress. Because, this blog post is about Derren Brown, who entertained me last night, although sadly he has asked I keep the evening’s events a secret. You know, between me and him – and 2000 others, who just happened to be there. So I can’t share anything with you; which I suppose makes this post a complete waste of time.

Except that, if you do get a chance to spend the evening with him, I strongly recommend it. As, quite frankly, his show, ENIGMA, is blummin’ FANTASTIC!

Details of his tour can be found HERE

Patience

2009-07-13T04:06:00.000-07:00

YAY - I’ve just received my copy of Writers’ & Artists’ Yearbook 2010.

Trouble is, it’s made me all impatient.

I'm itching to send off the first three chapters of my novel! They are ready! Done and dusted a gazillion times! As too is my synopsis. Yes, I'm all set to GO.

Trouble is, I’ve only re-drafted 60,000 of my 75,000 words. So I know it’s too soon.

So, I’m going to be very patient! Yes, really I am!

Oh and the above picture is of Molly, my twelve year old gorgeous doggie. It was taken yesterday, when she seemed to have a fancy for eating the lobelia, which is apparently toxic. So we'll be keeping a close eye on her when she ventures into the garden from now on!

A Good Week

2009-07-04T06:32:00.001-07:00

A lavender walk on Thursday with three of my closest friends, certainly put a spring in my step. It was a beautiful evening full of sunshine and smiles, and later we put the world to right in a pub garden; lovely times indeed. So much so I've included a lavender walk in my novel!

And I’ve been busy, busy, busy clocking up the word count on my re-write – so much has been chopped from the first draft it’s unrecognisable as the same story - and there’s still more editing I can do – but I am getting there – slowly!

Oh and I’ve actually entered the Tonto Competition now, which is exciting. And I’ve SOLD another story to That’s Life Australia – which is trebly exciting as it looks like I’ll be sharing the pages with three super-duper blogger friends YAY!

What's Occurin'?

2009-06-29T05:40:00.000-07:00

Well, I’ve had a lovely email from My Weekly saying my story will be in the August 1st issue. Tidy. They are so lovely at My Weekly, and this week they are my very favourite magazine!

And I’m half way through the novel re-write! I know! And better still, I’ve had a brainwave – yes really! It’s transformed the whole thing and now it’s blinking marvellous, even if I do say so myself! No, only joking! But it is coming together!

Ooh, and I’m entering the Tonto Competition, all thanks to the lovely, DJ for pointing me in its general direction! I have a few ideas for that, but they have yet to find their way onto the page!

So that’s me in a nutshell, quite frankly. Genuine!

Novel Progress - WICKED!

2009-06-18T08:53:00.000-07:00

I woke this morning feeling like I would never reach the end of my novel.

It was a maze.

I could see the start.

I could actually feel the end.

But what was all the sticky stuff in the middle? Quicksand I think; tricky people and scenes that didn’t belong, or did belong but were doing all the wrong things.

Crumbs, I thought. What a mess! How in heaven’s name was I going to join random thoughts like ‘evaporated milk’ and ‘Cromby coats’ into a novel that an agent may want to take on? - A novel buzzing round my head when I eat, walk, dream, run, iron (okay not so much ironing!)

And then yesterday, another plot idea popped into my head as I travelled by train to see WICKED (which is absolutely fab by the way – do go see, if you haven’t already. Oh, and guess what? Caroline Smailes was only sitting two rows in front of me and I didn’t even know – small world? I think so!).

Anyway, I got a bit cross,‘NO,' I said. 'Go away new novel idea - I really have to get this novel finished first.’

And today, SUDDENLY, it’s all come together. I actually think I know where I’m going with it! Yeah, really! Really, really! So watch this space! YAY!

Private Blogging Writers' Group

2009-06-15T08:48:00.001-07:00

I would like to set up a blogging writers' group! I so need to, to keep me motivated! So if you fancy joining me, do email me my email is on my profile) for the info - there's only twelve places so please be quick!

Updated 18th June - We now have 12 lovely members of 'Get It Write' - Anyone interested in the group please do email, and I will be happy to inform you should a space become available.

Greenway: Agatha Christie’s Summer Home

2009-06-13T22:14:00.000-07:00

We had the best of times down in Devon, but the most memorable for me was our visit to Greenway: Agatha Christie’s Summer Home, which she visited every summer from 1938 until her death in 1976.

Apparently, she never came to Greenway to write. Instead she would read her latest manuscript to her family after dinner - now why won't my family let me do that? The retreat also gave her ideas for her novels; the setting for Dead Man’s Folly was based on Greenway and its boathouse; a magical, haunting building. Whilst I was in the boathouse, I sat on Agatha’s chair, hoping some of her talent would wear off on me! I've bought a copy of Dead Man's Folly and will read it with a different perspective now, imagining how she was seeing the setting as she wrote.

Greenway is now owned by The National Trust, and is only a short ferry ride away from Dartmouth. Wonderful!

We also visited Burgh Island, a beautiful place, where Burgh Island Hotel sits in all its Art Deco splender. Amongst other famous people, Agatha Christie visited here too. She used the setting for her novels 'Evil Under the Sun' and 'And then there were None'.

And talking of 'and then there were none' have a little lookie at my word count – Yep, back to zero, as I begin a re-write. Wish me luck – and have a lovely Sunday all!

Step Away From The Novel

2009-06-06T05:32:00.000-07:00

Two posts in one day, Amanda! What’s happening?

Well, it’s a displacement activity. I’m avoiding my novel. So if you see it, you haven’t seen me, right!

Initially, I was thrilled by the bond I had with my novel. I would put everything into our relationship, and it would never let me down. But now, I guess like any long term relationship, it’s all gone a bit stale.

Anyhoo, we’re off to Dartmouth next week, my novel and I. (Oh and hubby too!) And I’m hoping, once there, some of the passion we once felt will come back (I’m still talking about my novel here you understand!)

But if I return feeling like this, we’ve agreed a mini-break, while I try new ventures. My novel has agreed to sit in ‘my documents’ waiting for me, until I'm ready. But I hope, for both our sakes, the holiday does us good.

An Xtranormal Epidemic

2009-06-06T01:43:00.000-07:00

Crumbs! What has our friend, Lane started?

They’re rampaging blogland! Yes, it’s the invasion of the Playmobile people!

They’ve been seen here, here, here and here – and that’s just what I’ve spotted as I've tried to catch them landing on blogs.

Oh, and, I must confess, a very sad example of these little people can be found here!

FANTASTIC! Go get your own HERE – You know you want to!

Paul McKenna Changed My Life in Seven Days-ish.

2009-06-04T00:49:00.001-07:00

Paul McKenna is not the reason I write. But I totally blame him for why I am obsessed! Quite frankly, the man has brainwashed me.

Okay, I know some of you have heard this before and you’re probably saying, ‘Gawd, what’s with all the repeats AB?’
Well it’s like this you see. Going down with a strange blogging disorder some time ago, resulted in the loss of a great many valuable and informative posts. Ha, only joking – most of them were naff. But the Paul McKenna one I had a soft spot for and now feel the urge to share it with you once more. So here it is again, in all its glory, albeit a little edited.

It all began back in 2006 when I was having a wee bit of a bad time of it. Life was s**t and I was that fan! I won’t list my whinges, but there were a fair few. You know the ones that life throws at us all from time to time, normally when we are looking the other way, and then shouts, ‘CATCH!’ I knew in my heart that I had blessings by the bucket load but my numeracy skills were completely ungradeable.

So I bought Paul McKenna’s book, ‘Change your life in seven days.’ It didn’t. Not in seven days anyway. But I’m convinced he hypnotised me.

Mr McKenna says on his CD, (and I won’t use his exact words, because when he pops over to read my blog, he may sue me for stealing his copyright) but to sort of paraphrase him, he says, ‘You can do whatever you want with your life, if you are determined enough.’ And he says too (and I’m paraphrasing again) that if you listen to his disc over and over you will find the tools that will help you fulfil your dream.

So I decided to listen to his CD over and over. And whilst doing so, I thought about (amongst other things) my writing. (No I wasn’t crazy! Honest! Well maybe a little.)

The outcome is this – I’m now obsessed with writing. And I really can’t stop, NOT NO HOW, NOT EVER. Now maybe this would have happened anyway. Gazillions of people get to this point and much, much further without the aid of Paul McKenna. But I do wonder whether, in my case, he played a part in my writing obsession! Oh, and just in case anyone’s wondering, my life is GREAT now and I’m drowning in my bucket load of blessings. YAY!

N.B. And since I blogged this post originally I’ve sold three stories. Go Paul!

That's Life Australia

2009-06-02T01:03:00.000-07:00

Today has started well. I received an email from That’s Life Australia saying they are about to pay me for the story I sold to them a short while ago – YAY! And it’s all thanks to Karen for pointing me in their general direction and Womag for printing all their guidelines – without them I would never have thought to send it to the other side of the world.

And I’d like to give 'That’s Life Australia' a big thumbs up. They responded to my story within a day telling me it had been shortlisted. They then got back to me within three months, informing me they would like to buy it. Oh, and they pay pretty well too!

And to add to the day starting well, during the night I had a short story idea that wouldn’t leave my head – I so love it when that happens, as it's not often. So I got up at 6 a.m. and outlined the story and will spend today editing it. Here's hoping the day keeps getting better-er and better-er!

Finally, a huge thank you to all those who commented on my last blog post. Thankfully, my malady has past and, as you can see, my typing fingers are working overtime again! YAY!

Why Do I Write?

2009-05-29T11:44:00.000-07:00

I’ve been writing my novel since November 2008. 70,000 moments gathered by time and hidden where they may never see the light of day. And they say 99% of novels are rejected, so I wonder, sometimes, what could possibly make mine feature in the lucky 1%, other than a misplaced dream.

I hate days like this, where I question why I write. And I’ve tried to absorb what my tutor told me. He said, ‘don’t write to sell, write because you love to write.’

Without doubt, I love to write. And I know, even if I never sell another piece, I will continue to write for the rest of my life.

I shouldn't have days like this. I am a writer.

New Website

2009-05-27T06:45:00.000-07:00

Here is my new website. It's very basic and not quite finished, but I thought I'd share it with you all.

I've Chickened Out

2009-05-26T05:52:00.000-07:00

I’ve studied the guidelines of the CBBC script writing competition since my last post, and decided to chicken out.

There were a few things that put me off. And, quite frankly, on the top of the list was my age. I’m no spring chicken as you know. And the first line of the guidelines says ‘we want to find the next generation of CBBC writers.’ Well that’s not me is it? And my theory was concreted, I think, by the fact you have to give your date of birth on the application form. So that’s that idea out of the window. Shame, I was quite excited about that.

So instead, I will do some ironing. No only joking. That can wait ‘til Christmas! Instead I’ll do some work on my novel, post a short story to Woman’s Weekly, and structure an article about my favourite haunted location, Minsden Chapel! Although where to send it once written is quite a mystery. Any ideas?

Hope you all had a lovely bank holiday – wasn’t the sunshine lovely!

CBBC Script Writing Competition.

2009-05-24T02:41:00.000-07:00

Since my attempt at writing a play for my A363 course, I've had a little fancy to write and submit a script. And, thanks to Antonia, I’ve learnt of a competition that CBBC are running. It’s an opportunity open to any writer who wants to write Children's drama for the 6-12 age range. I know I am knee deep in my novel at the moment. But I really would like to give this a go, if only for more experience of writing scripts.

And talking of my novel, here it is in the picture! Yep, I’ve printed it off – Crumbs, what a lot of pages! And it is now covered with edits, and I’ve been juggling it about a bit, getting myself in a complete muddle, truth be told.

Oh and just one more thing before I venture out in the lovely sunshine, I read over at Calistro’s, a wonderful post about saving Salt Publishers. Nip over and have a read, if you haven’t already! It brought a lump to my throat. I shall be buying a short story later today.

Website Building and Kaye C Hill

2009-05-21T00:35:00.000-07:00

This morning I’m going to give my writer friend Kaye C Hill a little plug. Her first book, Dead Woman’s Shoes, a humorous murder mystery was fab, and her second book, The Fall Girl is out this August. She was clever enough to win a competition with Crème de la Crime publishing house, and since then she’s never looked back. Lucky Kaye.

Anyway, amongst other helpful advice, she suggested I set up my own website. You know, to show I mean business! I was flattered by her faith in me. And the idea grew on me. Putting a website url on submission letters MAY give an illusion of professionalism. Yeah? Well it’s certainly worth a try.

So once son number 3 has finished his ‘A’ Levels, I’m going to ask him to help me set one up! So watch this space!

Any tips on website building greatly received!

I Love Australia

2009-05-18T05:18:00.000-07:00

Australia is one of my favourite places ever, ever, ever! I love it! And over the past two weeks I’ve been lucky enough to be in the company of two of the country’s best imports – my Auntie and Uncle. They emigrated to Brisbane from the UK back in 1968, and have been visiting England, staying with us. We’ve had the best of times, lots of family dos, and visits to super places. Weather could have been better, I guess, but then you can’t have it all. Anyway, I’ve just seen them off. And although it was emotional, I’m determined to see them again!

Oh, and just to add to my love of the Aussies – I received an email from 'That’s Life Australia' this morning saying they want to buy one of my stories – Yay!

Blog Warming Party

2009-05-15T04:00:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my blog warming party. Help yourself to champagne and caviar.

x

Editing Novel 1

2009-04-27T23:22:00.000-07:00

No I’m not. Editing novel 1, I mean. Not yet anyway. But one of my favourite blogs on writing, The Blood Red Pencil has printed a brilliant post on editing. And I was especially drawn to the fact you should avoid weak verbs like ‘ing’ words, and check for too many 'ly' words.

And, guess what? In novel 1 I’ve got 2760 ‘ing’ words and 1760 ‘ly’. I know because I swapped my ‘ings’ and ‘lys’ for the word ‘turnip’ and then panicked for a bit because I couldn’t return it to normal. (All’s well now though – I used the little arrow-back thingy.)

So, although now at a stupendous 64,400k, I’m upping the completed first draft goal to 85,000, as I can see a lot of culling going on around June time.

Okay, I’m off quick’ly’ now as I’m do’ing’ lots of work’ing’ today – I’m prepar’ing’ for my lovely Aunt and Uncle. They are com’ing’ over from Australia, stay’ing’ for two week’ly’s. Love’ly’'ly'

A363 Advanced Creative Writing with the Open University

2009-04-25T02:24:00.000-07:00

I was asked by a fellow blogger yesterday what I thought of the Open University’s Advanced Creative Course A363. And my response was,

‘It’s Blumin’ BRILLIANT.’

I’ve been lucky. I’ve had the same fab tutor for both A215 and A363. He’s a writer of successful plays that are regularly broadcast on BBC Radio. He’s very critical, and not one for lavishing praise, which, I have to say, took a bit of getting used to – As, quite frankly, I love praise – don’t we all?! But once I saw EVERYTHING he said was 100% valid – I took everything on board.

I’ve learnt SO much from both courses. And I'm sure I wouldn’t have sold two stories if I hadn’t done A215.

And A363 has taught me how to write plays for screen, film and stage – which I may just try one day! Oh, and how to splice the strands of a novel – which has helped me greatly with novel 1.

Yes, I would 100% recommend both courses, especially as, if you do both you get a ‘Creative Writing and Literature Diploma.’ YAY!

Although, it has to be said, both courses are blinking HARD WORK! Or is that just me?!

Oh, and you can find out a bit more about A363 here!

Guilty as Charged

2009-04-23T03:51:00.000-07:00

I need to smack myself about a bit. Yes, I’ve been procrastinating - just a little!

I’ve been dreaming how my book cover will look, should I ever get that far - HA! Although there's nothing wrong with dreaming is there? If you don't have a dream - how you gonna have a dream come true?

Right, back to writing.

Writing, Writing and More Writing

2009-04-21T00:07:00.000-07:00

I’ve been such a busy girlie. I’ve been working so hard on novel 1. Poor novel 2 has now faded into the background. For now anyway.

I’ve written 60,000 words + and I’m actually pleased with how it’s going – that’s a first! I’ve even written a prologue – which I’ve never tried before. And I’m taking a leaf out of the lovely Karen’s book and setting myself a deadline. I want it finished and ready to send to agents by August 2009. Gawd, did I really just say that?

I’ve also sent a short story to the Frome Festival competition, which I saw advertised on Sally’s brilliant competition calendar.

Plus, I’ve now written the first draft of my final assignment for my Open University.

So I’ve been busy then - So busy in fact that I’ve now got a muzzy head, which is so annoying because that means I’ll have to stay away from the computer for a bit. RATS!

In other news, I went to see a great murder mystery play at our local theatre. We were all given little pads and pens and had to guess who did it. Cool. I didn’t win. In fact, I’m not sure I know who did it even now! ;-)

Show Don't Tell

2009-04-15T23:00:00.000-07:00

Ooh, I’ve had a light-bulb moment. It came to me last night! Just like that! Well not exactly just like that. But I realised despite being told emphatically by my tutor and every ‘how to write ‘ book I’ve ever read, that I should SHOW not TELL. I’m STILL guilty of TELLING far too much, ma Lord.

At the moment, my story is set in the present and the protagonist TELLS the reader what happened in the past. But last night, I thought why not set some chapters in the past and SHOW the reader what happened there. I’m also tempted to change the whole thing into a third person viewpoint (it is presently in the first).

So, massive re-write coming on me thinks! Crumbs! Better get on with my final OU assignment first though, which is like a scary phantom haunting my dreams! I know, I need to work on my metaphors too!

And here's a great post over at Blood Red Pencil about Show vs Tell.

Novel 2, and The Incredible Shrinking Word Count

2009-04-11T02:41:00.000-07:00

Now I may be a little on the crazy side, stop sniggering TF! But I’m going to make a start on Novel 2. YES, I know I haven’t finished Novel 1 yet!

But the thing is you see, the ideas for Novel 2 are jumping up and down inside my head saying, ‘write me, write me now!’ And I’m so worried that while I’m boosting the word count of Novel 1, all the creativity I’m feeling for Novel 2 will disappear.

Ooh, and talking of boosting the word count of Novel 1. Well, I’m NOT. In fact, Novel 1 is shrinking. It’s fine though. I think! I’ve just re-drafted to zap all those pesky ‘thats’ as advised on this great post at The Blood Red Pencil.

Right, I’ll just pop another one of Leigh’s word counters on my profile for Novel 2. And then I’ll nip off and write both novels to completion - in the words of Tommy Cooper, ‘Just like That!’ HA!

Ghosts at Minsden Chapel

2009-04-08T05:35:00.000-07:00

I'm so interested in GHOSTIES and STUFF. It must be my over-active imagination. I plan for Novel no.2 to have a ghost theme, and I've written a few short stories that involve the paranormal.

Now, I really have to tell you about my latest experience at the VERY haunted location of Minsden Chapel in Hertfordshire.

A bit about Minsden Chapel’s history and its phantoms can be found here. MINSDEN STUFF

It's one of my favourites haunted locations. And I love to visit on a bright, spring afternoon. Note, I did not say at night – I’m far too chicken for that.

Anyway, we’d had a couple of weird experiences on our prior visit there. The strangest being that one of our party came away with a red line around their neck, that seemed to appear from nowhere. It was as though someone had tied something around his neck and pulled it tight. This was made stranger by the fact hangings used to take place up there. And, once home, a subsequent search of the internet revealed others have experienced the same thing.

So, back to last Sunday’s visit. Some weirdy things happened!

1. We set up a video camera which recorded us milling around the chapel. I, in true Yvette Fielding fashion, called out, ‘If there’s anyone there please give us a sign.’ Nothing happened. Or so we thought. But when we got home and looked at the film, just after I call out the camera SO obviously moves. Several inches in fact, in a horizontal fashion. Strange.

2. One of our party said their neck itched. On looking we saw another clear, red line around her neck.

3. Several strange pictures were taken. One shows a glowing cross, another a figure at the edge of the page. One a full on figure and another has two strange glowing lights. (Go on, look hard, get in the spirit of the blog post - and no the cross isn't the sun!)

4. Voices were heard and all of us thought we saw things out of the corner of our eyes.

A lot of mumbo jumbo do you reckon? All fab for stimulating those writing juices, don't you think?

Edited to add more pictures 9th April.

Ghostly photos are copyright to the blog author - If you wish to copy please link back to this blog - thanks.

Fairy Wishes

2009-04-06T06:00:00.000-07:00

When I SOLD my first EVER story, I bought this...

Yes, it's Tinkerbell! A Fairy!

I wished on my fairy, asking that I would sell another story...

....and hey presto, I SOLD my second EVER story!

So when I get my payment for my second EVER story, I'm going to buy meself another fairy ... perhaps one for the garden. And then I'm going to make another wish...so watch this space!

Does anyone else buy a keepsake to remember their successes by? Or am I quite mad? Don't answer that?

49,000 WORDS!

2009-04-02T04:25:00.000-07:00

I have written 49,000 words of my novel. Good, yeah?

I have a beginning, a middle and an end. And I have written the final chapter!

I have nothing more to add to my actual plot-line and I have no more characters to invent.

HOWEVER – This is what I believe a tutor would say about my work:

-Some of your chapters, Amanda, are merely a paragraph long – This occurs especially after Chapter Seventeen – and really isn’t acceptable.

-Your descriptions, as a whole, lack lustre.

-Your speech needs to be interspersed with descriptive prose.

-Show don’t Tell!

-Your characterisation needs lots of work.

-BUT – Amanda, this can only be a good thing, because the finished product needs to be around 80,000 words.

-Now get your head down and add 30,000 more words. And while you’re at it stop procrastinating!

Right, off to write some more, Sir - Would you like an apple?!

Firmly in the Past

2009-03-26T06:10:00.000-07:00

Those who read my blog back when I was crazy woman, Annie Bright, may remember I was in a car crash back in 2006. Perhaps you even recall me ranting and raving about the injustice of the justice system. Didn’t I go on!?

Anyways, I gave up the fight for justice. Despite knowing that a driver had overtaken a bus at speed, had not attempted to brake, and had ploughed into my car causing more than a bit of distress mentally and physically, I gave up fighting.

Frankly, the fight for justice was causing more heartache than the accident itself (well perhaps not quite). The sight of emails and letters from my solicitor and insurance company made my nerves more than a little bit frayed. Oh and it rubbed off on my poor hubby too! Until one day he said, ‘please give up the fight.’ And, being the dutiful wife that I am, (HA!) I did.

And today, I received compensation, well 25% of it. A diddy amount compared to what my solicitor originally thought I would get, which was 80%. But although I’ve lost the case, I’ve kept the most important thing - my sanity! And saying goodbye to the stress that surrounded it all was the best thing I ever did. Sometimes in life it is best to just let go.

And now I’m signing off for a whole week. Yes, one whole week! I’m taking the advice of lovely TF and I’m gonna suck a gobstopper for a bit. Be back soon!

A Bit of Culture

2009-03-25T02:19:00.000-07:00

I went to London yesterday to see the incredible play, ‘The Woman in Black’.

Adapted for the stage by Stephen Mallatratt, from Susan Hill’s wonderful, gothic horror novel, it truly kept me on the edge of my seat – well actually that’s a lie, I slunk further and further down in my seat in case the ghost got me.

My tutor recommended the play when I was attempting to write my own fifteen minute stage play for the Open University. And although I was pleased enough with my result, I now realise, after watching The Woman in Black, how pathetically mediocre my own play in fact was.

The play was a great example of less is more, and shows, if people are left, in part, to their own imagination, novels and plays work tremendously well. And all kudos to the actors, who performed brilliantly.

Oooh, and then I went to Cafe Rouge for steak and wine after – yummy.

I’m going on-line later to book Wicked, recommended by Tam. Oh, and I’ve seen Derren Brown has just opened bookings for his show, Enigma – me thinks I’ll book that too!

With the GOOD comes the BAD!

2009-03-20T04:25:00.000-07:00

Oh my word it’s been a week and half. Now they say you have to take the good with the bad.

Well the bad came today in the form of a rejection from Take a Break, saying, in standard letter form, that my story was not quite what they were looking for. But I refuse to be deflated; nothing can take the shine from my sale of earlier this week. Well perhaps it can a widgy bit – rejections are so horrid, aren’t they?! But I’m going to read through my story, have a bit of an edit, and get it straight back out there – somewhere - anywhere. They can’t keep me down for long!

On a happy note, look at the lovely card I’ve received from Helen.

She sent it because she didn’t want me to miss out on Pay it Forward. I’d previously made a right mess of the whole thing, by shouting, ‘me, me, me’ and then ‘no, no, no.’ I went all to pot, worrying I wouldn’t have enough people who read my blog to Pay it Forward to. What am I like? Anyhow, Helen still sent me this lovely card. How kind of her. Thank you, Helen.

SOLD!

2009-03-18T05:20:00.000-07:00

Oooh, I’m on cloud nine and a half.

I have sold another story to my now very, very favourite magazine, My Weekly. Yippee!

They will print my story in one of their summer issues in the Coffee Break slot! And I'm so excited because they do such marvellous illustrations.

I’m absolutely thrilled to bits. YAY!

My Timoney Tree

2009-03-16T00:31:00.000-07:00

I felt a little like Cilla Black, saying, ‘Surprise, Surprise’ at the weekend.

It went like this; my Grandfather left Ireland in 1917 when he was seventeen. His brother stayed in Sligo. They only saw each other once after that, and have now passed away.

Anyways, I’ve been trying to track down my Grandfather’s brother’s family. And, after many, many years of research, I only went and found them! Am I clever or what?

So, at the weekend his brother’s daughter, now 82 years of age, met my Aunt, now 84. They are first cousins. So, as you can imagine, were absolutely thrilled to bits by it all! Wonderful! It’s left me with a shiny glow that has nothing to do with wine!

I have decided to write about the Timoney brother’s lives for my final assignment for my Open University course. They both led full and often hilarious lives, although in places bitter sweet. I can’t wait to write about it. Off to start it right this minute!

Award & Happy Red Nose Day!

2009-03-13T00:07:00.000-07:00

Ooh, I've seen all these lovely red noses. And thought I'd get one of my own! How do I look?

And another ooh! Look at the award the lovely Karen has sent my way.

I would like to pass it on to the marvellous, Lane, the very clever and funny, Tom Foolery and to new blogger,JillyWilly who I studied with last year. Please do say, 'Hi!' to her.

Happy Red Nose Day! Roll up, roll up - Get your own red nose here!

Claims to Fame

2009-03-11T04:56:00.000-07:00

A little while ago the lovely Fionnuala posted a clip of Gerry and The Pacemakers on her blog. On seeing it, I proudly told her that my uncle used to know him. It was my claim to fame. Yes indeedy!

But the more I thought, the more I realised, it was my uncle’s claim to fame not mine. So it got me wondering what MY claims to fame are.

Now you may think I’m going to mention my writing at this point, but NO! Because the two things I’m most chuffed about are -

1. My next door neighbour is Tom McDermott's (from the first ever Big Brother)sister!

2. I had my photograph taken with Little and Large at Butlins.

Now I don’t want you to think the above has changed me at all, because it hasn’t. I’m the same person you’ve gotten to know and always will be. In fact, even when I’m a famous novelist, with my own pool, a doberman and JK’s phone number plumbed into my mobile I refuse to change! In the words of Gloria Gaynor, ‘I am what I am!’

Can you trump my claims to fames? It’s hard I know!

18th Birthdays and Slug Commentary!

2009-03-09T01:50:00.000-07:00

My youngest turned 18 yesterday! Crumbs, that came at me when I least expected it! So that means I’ve got no children left! Awh! How did I let that happen?

Over the next two days I’m devoting my time to explaining away my slug story in a 750 word commentary. That should be interesting. Although I’ve got to a point where I actually understand it myself – so that’s something I suppose. Oh, and I let my husband read it – yes I am quite mad! And he said that it had left him thinking – He meant it in a good way - I think!

I’ve written over 36,000 words of my novel – but I’m at that stage where all the characters are getting on my nerves. I think I’ve spent too much time with them. And it doesn’t help that I’ve got a better idea brewing. But I’m determined to carry on – so I can actually say I’ve written a novel!

Juxtaposition

2009-03-04T03:13:00.000-08:00

Yes, I’m using big words now. And it's a nice word don't you think?

I discovered it on my Open University Advanced Creative Writing Course. And decided, if I could describe what it is on my blog, I may actually understand what it means. HA!

So here goes. 'It's two things that are happening in a piece of writing that are placed near each other or side by side for comparison or contrast.'

Right, all I have to do now is weave the word cleverly into my commentary of my next assignment. Which seems to be a fiction piece mainly about slugs! Don't ask!

Crumbs, there is much more to this writing lark than I first thought!

Writing Allsorts

2009-02-26T23:37:00.000-08:00

I’ve stopped using my PEN name. Why keep a PEN name if it doesn’t work?

I have to say, it took me ages to pick it. I even asked my Facebook friends for ideas. (Yes, I’m back there –can’t keep away – what am I like?!)

Anyway, hundreds of suitable pen names flooded my status comment box. Well seven. But that’s a fair few for a Facebook status, I’ll have you know! Suggestions included, Billy Biro, Mark Urpen and Peter Parker. And a blogger not far from here suggested I call myself Candy Crayola. NICE! And another advised me to be careful as news of my pen name could leak. HA!

In the past, I’ve submitted short stories in my real name. And I now wonder if I should do the same when I submit my novel. I guess, the main reason I would use a pen name is privacy.

But then I know I would LOVE to see my OWN name on the cover of a novel. Difficult! Gawd, ark at me! But we have to have a dream!

I wonder, in balance, what most writers do.

Anyway, for now, I’ve put my pen names away. And will be concentrating on getting the blinking novel finished.

By the way, you know what this means don’t you? Yep, I’ve changed my blog name AGAIN, this time to ‘Writing Allsorts.’

Welcome to Writing Allsorts! Make yourself at home!

Waiting for Short Story Rejection

2009-02-24T23:58:00.000-08:00

The hardest part of writing, as every writer knows, is REJECTION.

When I first started submitting short stories to magazines almost a year ago, I waited, longingly, for the postman, hoping he would bring GOOD news.

I have since learnt; the postman, however chirpy, will only bring BAD news. Yes, the inevitable A4 envelope, with a letter saying,

‘Thank you, but no thank you!’

Now do correct me if you know different. (Although, I may not print your comment - HA) But in my experience, and that of some lovely writers I’ve spoken to, it appears acceptances ONLY come by email or by phone!

So, frankly, I now dread the postman’s visit. Just in case he has an envelope that I lovingly addressed to myself in my very best handwriting.

Twittering On About Facebook

2009-02-23T23:20:00.000-08:00

As you may know, I’ve dabbled.

And yes, Twitter was FAB. Messages popped onto my computer screen, giving me an instant high. It was enjoyable, enlightening and sometimes hilarious. Especially, when Alan Carr popped up with his message, ‘I’ve binned my red turtle neck jumper, what was I thinking?’

In fact, it was hard to say, ‘No’ to Twitter. But I HAVE. Yes, I’ve deleted it. ‘Awh,’ I hear you say, and she was having such fun. And, yes I was! And now I’ve lost the lovely, Stephen Fry as my new best friend. Sobs!

But it had to go. ‘I MUST stop procrastinating, and concentrate on my writing,’ she writes a hundred times on the blackboard. I’ve even put my Facebook account into hibernation – But I’ll be back on there before you can say, ‘Jack Robinson.’ Ooh, I haven’t searched for him yet – better reactivate.

On the writing front I’ve been up since 4am, working on my fifth assignment for my Open University course. Oh, and guess what? I’ve had a stupendous idea for novel 2 – which is actually HEAPS better than my idea for novel 1. Isn’t it always the way?

Writing Reams

2009-02-21T04:24:00.000-08:00

As a writer, I've filled many bright, A4 ring binders.

Researched short stories in magazines.

Filled so many gorgeous, colourful notebooks (love that bit!)

Been advised by many a Writer's Magazine

And read more than enough books on the subject.

Crumbs, such a lot of paper... I'm off to the garden centre to guiltily buy a baby tree.

My Head's In A Whirl

2009-02-19T04:39:00.000-08:00

My head's in whirl. It’s my novel you see. Granted, I’ve never got this far before, and God knows I’ve tried.

I’ve written 29,500 words, that almost make sense. Something of a precedent.

The problem is, my novel has so many layers, like a sky high, creamy, chocolate cake. And frankly, I’m getting myself confused.

So, in the middle of last night I plotted a neat ending for every character. It’s a chick-lit style book, so no loose ends allowed. But now I’m looking at the jumble of words I wrote, and can’t make head nor tale of them.

Perhaps I’ve got too many characters, and too many layers, and I’m eating too much cake. I don’t know?

Anyway, to solve this, I've decided to add yet another character called Anton. (Aunt Marilyn’s toy boy) - Yes, you heard it here first. And Anton's going to tie it all together nicely. Aren't you Anton?

Crumbs.... will I ever get there?