Saturday 27 July 2013

So what's been happening...?

Well, I’ll start with the bad news.  When an agent said my children’s novel was one of the better ones they’d seen, I got rather excited and decided to invest in it. I posted it off to a consultancy agency, in the hope of getting it up to scratch, but got a terrible report back. I cried, as you do, and have now seriously lost faith in it. I'm not saying what the agency had to say was wrong, but I'm not sure how long it will be before I find the courage to read it through again.




There is good news though, I sold two stories to My Weekly, and I have a story in this week's Yours. There’s even a teeny, tiny photo of me too, which is nice and slightly scary at the same time.

In other news, I’m planning to publish the first three chapters of my thriller, Eight Degrees, on a series of blogs.  How daring is that?  Well not very, as I'll be hiding behind the pen-name, Amanda Timoney, as I'm too chicken to use my own.  The blogs are almost ready, so watch this space!
  
And in other middle-sized news, I’ve completely amazed myself as, not only have I set up a Facebook page as Amanda Timoney, BUT, and you’re going to say 'WOW', I know it.  I’ve only gone and added a clever ‘LIKEY’ thingy-me-jiggy-widget-type-bobby on Writing Allsorts.  Go that girl! If you cast your eyes to the right side-bar you’ll be able to see it in all its glory.

And on that note, I better go and hang the washing out before it storms.

16 comments:

joanne fox said...

Sorry the news on your children's novel was so disappointing. With a bit of time, you might still be able to come back to it and rework it. But good news too, with the story sales. Congratulations!

Pat Posner said...

Aww, Mandy, HUGS on the report.
Glad you've sold a few womag stories - (few MORE *smile*).

Don't give up on the children's novel; wait a while then take a look at it again.
xxPat

Patsy said...

Oooh, the likey thingamy is clever! Think I've already liked you, but will click to be sure.

Teresa Ashby said...

I think it's so sad that this resulted in you losing faith in your book. Knowing you and your writing, I cannot believe it deserved a terrible report :-(

But Yay for My Weekly and Amanda Timoney and for setting up a proper writerly FB page and getting the widgety thingy on your blog :-) x

Kath said...

Mandy, I tried a well-known consultancy years ago with a short story I really liked and wanted to get published. They were extremely lukewarm, in fact they more or less said I should concentrate on writing other stories and forget that one. I later sold it. Just because you pay them, it doesn't mean their critiques aren't as subjective and fallible as anybody else's.

Congrats on the sales to MW! xx

Wendy's Writing said...

Just keep remembering, Amanda, the agent that said you children's novel was one of the better ones... that's got to stand for something. Well done with the sates - you're very lucky to be able to write for MW - I missed the boat when they closed their doors to new writers.

Karen said...

I've been lucky enough to read the children's novel and loved it, so DEFINITELY worth coming back to. Damning reports like that can really dent self-belief, but please don't give up on it!

Congrats on more story sales, and YAY for setting up a new page. Looking forward to reading the new blogs :o)

Amanda said...

Thank you, Joanne. I hope I’ll eventually get back to it, as I had such fun writing it.

Thanks, Pat. As you know, I’d been working on the ch. novel for a VERY long time – so hopefully I’ll drag it again one day. I won’t be beaten – oh no! XX

Hee hee, Patsy – I’m so proud of myself setting it up – and thank you so much for liking me on Facebook.

Awh, thank you, Teresa, you is so lovely. :-) X

So glad that short story was published, Kath. I hope you told the consultancy! X

Thanks Wendy. I only just managed to be lucky enough to write for My Weekly. They were the first magazine I was published in, in 2009, so I have a real soft spot for them. It’s such a shame they don’t buy from all – but you never know what the future might hold.

Thank you, Karen , that’s so lovely of you. I really need to dust myself and the novel down, and get on with it, don’t I? :-)

Anonymous said...

Hi Amanda, you've invested too much effort to abandon your characters. What do they know? You know what they say, "if you can't write, pick on someone who can write," you CAN write, you've proved that, and I love your stories.

Amanda said...

Thank you so much, Susan, that's very kind of you. :-)

DAB said...

keep smiling Ms Allsorts TFx

Amanda said...

YAY, hellowee, TF. *WAVES* Hope you are well X

Deborah Carr (Debs) said...

Congratulations on your sales and new Facebook page.

Sorry to hear about the painful report, but your book can't be that bad if the agent liked it so much. Good luck with it.x

Amanda said...

Thank you, Debs X

DAB said...

All great my end.thanks :-)

Been busy being creative, have posted a few of my paintings up on the old TF blog to feast your eyes upon. Blimey! ;-)

Keep up with your wordflow now.No slacking

TF(DAB)xx

Amanda said...

Oooh, I'm on my way over right now... xx