Apologies for not keeping up this blog. So many things have got in the way, nothing too serious but just didn't get around to updating.
Last year, as mentioned, I completed an online poetry writing course. Grades were great and since then I've been subbing to magazines and competitions, so far without success. Set form, formal poetry has been a special interest - terza rimas, pantoums, sonnets and so on - but these rarely appear in lists or magazines. Successful poets seem currently to be writing lovely but rather ethereal poetry, so I'm wondering if I need to be more like that.
Recently submitted to a single-poem comp and also one for poetry pamphlets - around twenty poems. Waiting and hoping.
Currently I'm studying with an online Art Appreciation course. Not strictly a writing-related thing, but I try to get all the main points in my assignments while giving them a literary sort of style. Really enjoyable but very time-consuming. I've a very long history of published articles and some short stories and flash fiction, but the tutor doesn't know that. He commented, 'Well you can certainly write'! Seven assignments in and marks average 9/10. Find myself watching loads of art programmes on TV and realise I have been watching them keenly for years.
On the subject of our current lockdown, I have been noticing on social media that many of the writers I follow are struggling with moving their projects forward. It has taken them by surprise, as although most work from home and are used to being solitary, the atmosphere isn't now conducive to concentration. I've recently written a short piece on why this is, and how to manage it, and I believe it will be published online sometime soon. People report that it's more difficult to work with family members buzzing around, and concentration is difficult with all the awful media information pouring in. I'll write more on this soon, in case it might be helpful. In the meantime, the parting greeting 'Take care' has been replaced by 'Stay safe'.
Friday, 17 April 2020
Saturday, 8 June 2019
Tips for writing students working online
After a long break ...
Here's the text of my ten tips for completing an online writing course. The piece was published on the blog of The Writers' Bureau on June 7th, 2019. I had just successfully completed the Bureau's online course, The Art of Writing Poetry, during which quite a portfolio of poems developed, including some set forms as I wrote in the previous post on this blog. My later submissions earned A+ grades, and this spurred me on to try to get my work published - an ongoing uphill task, but as with the course itself, I won't give up.
Some of the points may seem obvious, but surprisingly not all are followed by all students. I've studied through online and postal courses quite a number of times now, almost all writing-related (and all completed) and one for drawing (dumped), but I know what it's like to become disheartened. So here is the piece:
I’ve recently completed the poetry course with The Writers’ Bureau, and found planning helpful in keeping up the momentum. Here are ten suggestions to remain on track from selection to completion. There is so much enjoyment and satisfaction to come!
1 When choosing your course, whether purely for interest or with an aim to be published, read
everything the website can tell you about it. Don’t be put off by a suggested timescale. (I
completed mine with very few weeks to spare.)
2 Pounce on the course materials. Read the introduction and details of the first assignment carefully.
Flicking through the next few modules may whet the appetite.
3 Plan your writing rate and submission goals. For example, a target number of hours per week, to
include reading the course material as well as writing. If there are, say, twelve assignments over
two years, your goal might be to submit every six to seven weeks. But if you can’t keep to this,
never be tempted into ‘that’ll do’. Make it The Best!
4 Keep a notebook with you always, including at night, and jot down ideas, snatches of
conversation (one spawned a prize-winning short story for me!), themes, or issues that upset,
annoy or inspire you.
5 On settling to work, check the notebook. If there’s no light bulb moment, think about an event and
ask ‘what if?’. Start a rough draft and try not to edit as you go along. I found it best to have both
something starting from scratch and one piece in mid-edit.
6 Keep a log of your work; it’s very motivating to see it piling up. For each assignment I kept a
folder with a copy of the submission, the feedback, and the resulting edited version. Keep a note
of submission contents and grades – this will hopefully show progress and be motivating.
7 Examine feedback carefully; if points are repeated, that needs sorting. You may not agree with
every point but each will have a reason. Bask in positive comments.
8 If it’s a struggle, or there’s a troublesome issue, ask the tutor for advice. It can be hard to be
objective about our own work.
9 Expect variable enthusiasm levels! Typical is a burst of creativity followed by a slowdown, then
an increase in energy as you get into the second half of the course. Update friends/family on
progress – that helps avoid temptation to ‘take a break’.
10 If you hope for publication, make notes about target markets as you go. If the course is mainly for
enjoyment, why not build up a catalogue of the work to take pride of place on the bookshelf?
Wishing everyone a fulfilling, successful – and completed – writing course!
Here's the text of my ten tips for completing an online writing course. The piece was published on the blog of The Writers' Bureau on June 7th, 2019. I had just successfully completed the Bureau's online course, The Art of Writing Poetry, during which quite a portfolio of poems developed, including some set forms as I wrote in the previous post on this blog. My later submissions earned A+ grades, and this spurred me on to try to get my work published - an ongoing uphill task, but as with the course itself, I won't give up.
Some of the points may seem obvious, but surprisingly not all are followed by all students. I've studied through online and postal courses quite a number of times now, almost all writing-related (and all completed) and one for drawing (dumped), but I know what it's like to become disheartened. So here is the piece:
See It Through And Reap The Rewards
June 7th, 2019
When you’ve looked at the writing courses on offer and made the commitment, a strategy can be helpful to ensure you’ll get the maximum benefit.I’ve recently completed the poetry course with The Writers’ Bureau, and found planning helpful in keeping up the momentum. Here are ten suggestions to remain on track from selection to completion. There is so much enjoyment and satisfaction to come!
1 When choosing your course, whether purely for interest or with an aim to be published, read
everything the website can tell you about it. Don’t be put off by a suggested timescale. (I
completed mine with very few weeks to spare.)
2 Pounce on the course materials. Read the introduction and details of the first assignment carefully.
Flicking through the next few modules may whet the appetite.
3 Plan your writing rate and submission goals. For example, a target number of hours per week, to
include reading the course material as well as writing. If there are, say, twelve assignments over
two years, your goal might be to submit every six to seven weeks. But if you can’t keep to this,
never be tempted into ‘that’ll do’. Make it The Best!
4 Keep a notebook with you always, including at night, and jot down ideas, snatches of
conversation (one spawned a prize-winning short story for me!), themes, or issues that upset,
annoy or inspire you.
5 On settling to work, check the notebook. If there’s no light bulb moment, think about an event and
ask ‘what if?’. Start a rough draft and try not to edit as you go along. I found it best to have both
something starting from scratch and one piece in mid-edit.
6 Keep a log of your work; it’s very motivating to see it piling up. For each assignment I kept a
folder with a copy of the submission, the feedback, and the resulting edited version. Keep a note
of submission contents and grades – this will hopefully show progress and be motivating.
7 Examine feedback carefully; if points are repeated, that needs sorting. You may not agree with
every point but each will have a reason. Bask in positive comments.
8 If it’s a struggle, or there’s a troublesome issue, ask the tutor for advice. It can be hard to be
objective about our own work.
9 Expect variable enthusiasm levels! Typical is a burst of creativity followed by a slowdown, then
an increase in energy as you get into the second half of the course. Update friends/family on
progress – that helps avoid temptation to ‘take a break’.
10 If you hope for publication, make notes about target markets as you go. If the course is mainly for
enjoyment, why not build up a catalogue of the work to take pride of place on the bookshelf?
Wishing everyone a fulfilling, successful – and completed – writing course!
Monday, 17 September 2018
FORMAL FORMS AND FORMULAE
As all poets will know, there are a number of set forms of poems which are usually rigid and which vary from the fairly easy to work with up to those that cause nightmares with their complexity. Keeping to a set of rules while making a poem that has something to say can be very taxing, but it's satisfying if it comes together.
I have invented two forms-with-rules, and have produced poems in a number of different forms to submit for my online course. Those from the general list I have written so far are:
Chaucerian Roundel
Limerick (sad rather than humorous)
Minute (60 syllables)
Rubai (plural is the well-known 'Rubaiyat')
Sonnet
Terza Rima (one of my favourites)
Villanelle (wildly taxing)
Shape (or concrete)
Haiku.
The elements of an extremely tricky Sestina are emerging, and on a good day I may set my cap at a Pantoum. There are others, perhaps less demanding, but I do love a challenge.
Is anyone else out there tackling these forms?
Tuesday, 11 September 2018
BACK FROM THE WILDERNESS!
You know that feeling when you're travelling and it turns out that you paid more than anyone else for your ticket?
That's what it's been like for me in recent years with my website. Although I did all the work of setting it up, writing it, posting photos and images, and managing it generally, the web host was starting to charge ridiculous fees for 'hosting'. They were also giving me considerable warning that renewal was coming over the horizon, then suddenly the renewal date was imminent. 'But I thought you said ...'
Each year I considered abandoning ship, but I didn't want to lose all that work (did print it out in case) or the name of my site which was 'registered' with them. Also, when glitches appeared on the site, they were unable to fix them and I had to recruit a tech-savvy member of the family to take over the site and fix it.
This summer, I complained about the fees and was offered a year with more than a third off. Fell for that one, but when it came to paying, the site wouldn't work and the host several times said they'd fixed it but they hadn't. Then I got a bill for two years at four times the one-year offer.
So I have quit. I know about Wordpress, but thought I'd keep this Blogger account, for now at least, and ring-fence it just for writing.
Currently I'm concentrating on Poetry, studying through an online course. 75 per cent done, and grades started at C+ and have steadily increased so that the last three assignments were marked A+, A and A+. I think my efforts with formal poetry forms and with my own invented forms have helped, and the course is really enjoyable. Aware that I have bragged about this on Twitter, but it's been so pleasing.
I have now started submitting to competitions and magazines, though the wait to hear further is up to three months, and then only if successful. No idea how novellists cope with the 'wait-to-hear'; more poems can be written and submitted during this time, but a new novel can't be produced that quickly.
More to follow. If you're still with me, thanks!
Saturday, 5 December 2015
Competition to win a Millie the Detective book
Since I've a few paperback copies left of Millie the Detective and the Diamond Ring with the original cover - the 12-year-old detective's first case - I'm offering five signed copies in a draw (UK only). This is it:
Readership is around 7+ to 11; the other main characters are Millie's younger brother and his best mate, as well as Badger the bully, and of course Boris the dog. Deadline is end of Tuesday December 8th.
To enter (one entry per person), please provide the subtitle of Millie's second case (see the side of this page!) in one of these ways:
(a) tweet to @JacquelinePye
(b) message me on facebook (Jacqueline Pye)
(c) comment at the bottom of this blog with your name, and twitter or facebook
contact details if you have them.
Winners will be drawn randomly, and I'll post names on this blog shortly after the Tuesday, with a link to it on twitter and facebook.
Monday, 30 November 2015
Winning Pieces of Flash Fiction - must there be a common strand?
My own submitted flash fictions have varied quite widely in their nature. Some have been quite dark - murder, other death, jealousy, obsession, weirdness, threat and so on, with several of these appearing in my collection Bottles and Pots. Others have veered towards the lighter and hopefully humorous. Guess which types have won or been placed more times?
As I enjoy writing and entering flash fiction, I do read a great number of others' entries, especially those longlisted, shortlisted or placed. What troubles me is that these - and this often applies to your actual short story winners - tend to be disturbing, stream of consciousness, surreal or generally depressing. Quite prepared to be contradicted; this is just my impression.
Wouldn't it be pleasing if, sometimes, lighter work and humour could be considered worthy? Guessing most of us study what's been winning before we submit, as is wise, but I'm imagining a tranche of flash fiction competitions that state the judges are looking towards fun/humorous skilful writing that manages to tell a story, show a snapshot, make a point, deliver a twist - or all of these.
This a bee in bonnet matter!
As I enjoy writing and entering flash fiction, I do read a great number of others' entries, especially those longlisted, shortlisted or placed. What troubles me is that these - and this often applies to your actual short story winners - tend to be disturbing, stream of consciousness, surreal or generally depressing. Quite prepared to be contradicted; this is just my impression.
Wouldn't it be pleasing if, sometimes, lighter work and humour could be considered worthy? Guessing most of us study what's been winning before we submit, as is wise, but I'm imagining a tranche of flash fiction competitions that state the judges are looking towards fun/humorous skilful writing that manages to tell a story, show a snapshot, make a point, deliver a twist - or all of these.
This a bee in bonnet matter!
Saturday, 31 October 2015
October Round-Up: Ups and Downs
Further to the previous post, some things came off well, others less so ...
The Portswood Library centenary celebrations went very well, with some staff in vintage clothing, lots of exhibits, and the mayor cutting the cake. Penny Legg and I each did a short turn about our books; small audience with one chap rapidly falling asleep but the rest giving their attention.
Then Southampton's Festival of Words SOToSpeak15 began!
Authors on the water Southampton-Isle of Wight was entertaining, although my pitch in the family lounge was surrounded by very vocal preschoolers so a talk was not possible. Even so, had some very nice chats with children about reading and writing, and sold some books. The Solent was slightly choppy but not enough to bother us.
Very small audience at the Boutique Village, but even the children who were too young for my Millie the Detective books watched and listened as I hammed it up with the actions of the school bully and the fretting of the goodie characters. And again I sold books. Maybe should consider a late career on the stage instead.
The writing group of which I've been a member for about 6 years was given our own competition with prizes in each of the four categories. At a very lively awards ceremony in local bar/restaurant The Stage Door, I learned that I had come first in both of the categories entered - flash fiction and non-fiction. This was a shock, but very heartening as during the weeks beforehand I had seriously considered giving up writing. Some of the prize money will go towards raffle prizes to be won at our fab group Christmas tea at the Grand Harbour Hotel in Southampton.
The one-day writers' conference sadly had to be cancelled. I had collected loads of books and leaflets for our writing group trade stand, sorted them into categories, and made a plan of how the table would look. However, it was worse for those who were booked as speakers.
Made the longlist but not the shortlist for the Bath Flash Fiction Award, again honestly unexpectedly. This rolling award has just restarted, and I think it's worth entering again and working even harder this time.
So it's been quite a month, which also saw self-publication of Millie the Detective's second case, The Thief Unmasked. Details are at http://tinyurl.com/p4n7soq - a five-star review already - and info about the first book is not far away from that.
Happy November, all, whether or not your plunging into NaNoWriMo!
The Portswood Library centenary celebrations went very well, with some staff in vintage clothing, lots of exhibits, and the mayor cutting the cake. Penny Legg and I each did a short turn about our books; small audience with one chap rapidly falling asleep but the rest giving their attention.
Then Southampton's Festival of Words SOToSpeak15 began!
Authors on the water Southampton-Isle of Wight was entertaining, although my pitch in the family lounge was surrounded by very vocal preschoolers so a talk was not possible. Even so, had some very nice chats with children about reading and writing, and sold some books. The Solent was slightly choppy but not enough to bother us.
Very small audience at the Boutique Village, but even the children who were too young for my Millie the Detective books watched and listened as I hammed it up with the actions of the school bully and the fretting of the goodie characters. And again I sold books. Maybe should consider a late career on the stage instead.
The writing group of which I've been a member for about 6 years was given our own competition with prizes in each of the four categories. At a very lively awards ceremony in local bar/restaurant The Stage Door, I learned that I had come first in both of the categories entered - flash fiction and non-fiction. This was a shock, but very heartening as during the weeks beforehand I had seriously considered giving up writing. Some of the prize money will go towards raffle prizes to be won at our fab group Christmas tea at the Grand Harbour Hotel in Southampton.
The one-day writers' conference sadly had to be cancelled. I had collected loads of books and leaflets for our writing group trade stand, sorted them into categories, and made a plan of how the table would look. However, it was worse for those who were booked as speakers.
Made the longlist but not the shortlist for the Bath Flash Fiction Award, again honestly unexpectedly. This rolling award has just restarted, and I think it's worth entering again and working even harder this time.
So it's been quite a month, which also saw self-publication of Millie the Detective's second case, The Thief Unmasked. Details are at http://tinyurl.com/p4n7soq - a five-star review already - and info about the first book is not far away from that.
Happy November, all, whether or not your plunging into NaNoWriMo!
Tuesday, 6 October 2015
October 2015 will be some month ...
Much of my activity this month relates to Southampton's Festival of Words, SOToSpeak15 - http://www.sotospeakfestival.org - which runs from October 23rd to November 1st. But not all.
October 2nd was meeting day for Southampton Writing Buddies, of which I've been a member since soon after the group was formed six or seven years ago. As the group owner was away, I chaired the meeting. Always a worry, as she's a Duracell bunny and a great group leader. Still, decent-sized turnout, lots of members in chatty mode, and a great workshop from magazine short story guru Barbara Dynes.
On October 4th I, along with up to 49 other writers, received a very cheering email to advise that our entry to the Bath Flash Fiction Award had been longlisted. Especially thrilling since it's the inaugural award and will be ongoing, always stopping after 1000 entries before restarting soon afterwards. I didn't have high hopes, as the competition comes from the prestigious Bath Short Story Award stable, but gave it my best shot.
Still to come:
On October 22nd my local library, Portswood in Southampton, is celebrating its centenary. As part of the festivities, our writing group owner and I are giving short talks about writing and our books, and hopefully working our way through some cakes. Delighted to be invited to this; the library is very community-friendly and hosts regular events. Including cake sales.
October 26th, first weekday of local half term, will see me boarding Red Funnel ferry Osprey to the Isle of Wight for a straight there-and-back in the family lounge chatting about writing and about my two books for children. Planning to wear something sparkly. A number of Writing Buddies are doing this during the day, and we're all hoping for a calm sea ...
On October 27th I've a date at The Boutique Village in Millbrook, Southampton to chat with families about writing and my books. It's an open, free event, and again other Writing Buddies will be doing the same during the week.
As Southampton Writing Buddies are involved with the Festival, a competition was set up for members to submit fiction, non-fiction, poetry and/or flash fiction, with three prizes in each category. I have entered but shouldn't say what or which category until the judging is completed. On October 28th there's our award ceremony where we learn our fate in this competition. We're a fairly large but very cohesive group, and it does seem odd to be competing with one another, but a great incentive to get on and write.
October 30th is a big day - the Festival's Writers' Conference at Southampton City College. There will be some amazing writing-related talks and workshops throughout the day, and I'd be there even if I didn't have a part to play. Writing Buddies have a 'trade stand', and I'll be enjoying organising it. Have already amassed a good collection of books, booklets, laminated short pieces, biogs and other publicity material and have planned how it's all going to be displayed. Very fine displacement activity, that.
November will seem very flat, writing-wise, but time to relax.
October 2nd was meeting day for Southampton Writing Buddies, of which I've been a member since soon after the group was formed six or seven years ago. As the group owner was away, I chaired the meeting. Always a worry, as she's a Duracell bunny and a great group leader. Still, decent-sized turnout, lots of members in chatty mode, and a great workshop from magazine short story guru Barbara Dynes.
On October 4th I, along with up to 49 other writers, received a very cheering email to advise that our entry to the Bath Flash Fiction Award had been longlisted. Especially thrilling since it's the inaugural award and will be ongoing, always stopping after 1000 entries before restarting soon afterwards. I didn't have high hopes, as the competition comes from the prestigious Bath Short Story Award stable, but gave it my best shot.
Still to come:
On October 22nd my local library, Portswood in Southampton, is celebrating its centenary. As part of the festivities, our writing group owner and I are giving short talks about writing and our books, and hopefully working our way through some cakes. Delighted to be invited to this; the library is very community-friendly and hosts regular events. Including cake sales.
October 26th, first weekday of local half term, will see me boarding Red Funnel ferry Osprey to the Isle of Wight for a straight there-and-back in the family lounge chatting about writing and about my two books for children. Planning to wear something sparkly. A number of Writing Buddies are doing this during the day, and we're all hoping for a calm sea ...
On October 27th I've a date at The Boutique Village in Millbrook, Southampton to chat with families about writing and my books. It's an open, free event, and again other Writing Buddies will be doing the same during the week.
As Southampton Writing Buddies are involved with the Festival, a competition was set up for members to submit fiction, non-fiction, poetry and/or flash fiction, with three prizes in each category. I have entered but shouldn't say what or which category until the judging is completed. On October 28th there's our award ceremony where we learn our fate in this competition. We're a fairly large but very cohesive group, and it does seem odd to be competing with one another, but a great incentive to get on and write.
October 30th is a big day - the Festival's Writers' Conference at Southampton City College. There will be some amazing writing-related talks and workshops throughout the day, and I'd be there even if I didn't have a part to play. Writing Buddies have a 'trade stand', and I'll be enjoying organising it. Have already amassed a good collection of books, booklets, laminated short pieces, biogs and other publicity material and have planned how it's all going to be displayed. Very fine displacement activity, that.
November will seem very flat, writing-wise, but time to relax.
Thursday, 28 May 2015
First 7 Lines
Can't believe it's been so long ....
Have had some successes with flash fiction along the way, currently my favourite writing genre. However, since there is a bit of a trend for people to link from twitter to the first 7 lines of one of their stories, here are the first 7 lines of the first story in my collection Bottles and Pots (see left for link). There's a full, different story in a previous post.
THE ENEMY
The word that means a fear of clowns is 'coulrophobia'.
I know this because I read it in a book given to me last year for my eighth birthday.
Didn't need to look it up - you could tell from the text and it made me feel sick. I never
liked clowns, ever since we were at the circus when I was very young, and one
pretended to throw a bucket of water over me when it was only pieces of paper.
They are the enemy now.
----------
In the story, the narrator comes face to face with a clown with rather unfortunate results!
Have had some successes with flash fiction along the way, currently my favourite writing genre. However, since there is a bit of a trend for people to link from twitter to the first 7 lines of one of their stories, here are the first 7 lines of the first story in my collection Bottles and Pots (see left for link). There's a full, different story in a previous post.
THE ENEMY
The word that means a fear of clowns is 'coulrophobia'.
I know this because I read it in a book given to me last year for my eighth birthday.
Didn't need to look it up - you could tell from the text and it made me feel sick. I never
liked clowns, ever since we were at the circus when I was very young, and one
pretended to throw a bucket of water over me when it was only pieces of paper.
They are the enemy now.
----------
In the story, the narrator comes face to face with a clown with rather unfortunate results!
Monday, 23 June 2014
To Celebrate Prizes, a Sample Story from Bottles & Pots
Seem to have banged on about my two recent prizes everywhere else, so here's a quick summary for this blog.
The current issue (July) of Writing Magazine includes my story which won first prize in a Writers' News competition on the theme of 'Comeuppance'. Being familiar with my darkish short stories, some of my writing group could quite see why I entered! The story is She Loves Me, She Loves Me Not, told by a chap who watches his own funeral and the aftermath, and involves a naughty wife, a cardigan, a chubby chancer and a pink leather jacket.
I was also awarded second place in a competition run by our city council & their 'depot'. This one was The Butchers, and since I'm vegetarian I put the boot into them but as sweetly as I could.
Then I realised that I haven't, as it were, spread myself around in a literary way. So here is a short story (760w) from my first collection, Bottles and Pots. Not all are historical, and length ranges from flash fiction to 3,000w or so. Hope you like it.
The current issue (July) of Writing Magazine includes my story which won first prize in a Writers' News competition on the theme of 'Comeuppance'. Being familiar with my darkish short stories, some of my writing group could quite see why I entered! The story is She Loves Me, She Loves Me Not, told by a chap who watches his own funeral and the aftermath, and involves a naughty wife, a cardigan, a chubby chancer and a pink leather jacket.
I was also awarded second place in a competition run by our city council & their 'depot'. This one was The Butchers, and since I'm vegetarian I put the boot into them but as sweetly as I could.
Then I realised that I haven't, as it were, spread myself around in a literary way. So here is a short story (760w) from my first collection, Bottles and Pots. Not all are historical, and length ranges from flash fiction to 3,000w or so. Hope you like it.
ST ANSELM’S DAY
The people of Fordwich held a festival each year on the
feast day of St Anselm.
He
was their much-loved eleventh-century local saint, once archbishop of nearby
Canterbury and now interred in the cathedral. Each year on April 21st
the servants at the manor house were granted the day off, as were the
labourers; shopkeepers and merchants closed their doors. Even lords and ladies
from other manor houses would mingle with the crowd in the market place. And
this year, 1263, events had been meticulously planned, for local records
suggested that Anselm was canonised exactly one hundred years earlier.
Milo
Chaloner had lived in Fordwich all his life, as had his wife, Estrild. At this
time they had been married for some ten years, and had been reasonably
comfortable together, although there remained silent shadows in the background.
Still, like others, they and their three children were looking forward to the
next day’s festival. There had been another child, but he had died during his
first weeks after crying bitterly and often during his brief time. As was usual for little ones, his body,
wrapped in its christening gown, had been taken to an ancient oak outside the
village. A small tomb had been hollowed out for him within its massive trunk,
and Estrild had gently placed him within, watching and weeping as the elders
sealed the tomb with pieces of the bark held together by mortar. His remains
would feed the tree in the months to come.
Now Estrild was preparing the
slaughtered pig, a job she loathed but it was expected of her.
“You’re
doing the hog roast again this year, Milo?” she asked, without looking up.
“Aye.
And the brewer’s supplying the ale.”
“Anyone
helping you with the roast? I’d rather not, myself.”
“When
you say ‘anyone’ …?”
“I
mean Alwyn. He usually helps you.”
“Aye,
and he helps himself, too. Not only to the meat, neither.”
Estrild’s
knife slipped and cut her hand. He watched as she went to find cloth for a
bandage.
On
the day itself, the weather was fine. The maypole dances went well, with just
the occasional knotting of ribbons, and much ale was bought and drunk. The
Greene Man was splendid in his costume of branches, leaves and grasses, and he
lit the bonfire as the day wore on. The travelling fortune-teller told Estrild
that there had been sadness – of course everyone knew about the baby – but said
there was more to come and dismissed her without taking her silver.
Two
farm hands helped Milo with the hog roast, but Estrild had no interest. Alwyn
had stayed away, and she was sorry. She did not mention him further to Milo.
As
evening fell, the villagers formed a group and began, as was traditional, to
walk the boundary of the village, laying their hands upon established trees in
thanks and reciting prayers to St Anselm around any that held living tombs.
As
they approached the Chaloner baby’s tree, Estrild held on to Milo’s arm as the
tears welled up. But his arm was stiff and he could not offer comfort. The
prayer was said and the group moved on, but not before the Greene Man had noted
some dislodged mortar. There was whispering and later he, with two others,
returned to the tree. They studied the mortar carefully, and it was decided
that the tomb must be checked.
The
replaced bark pieces were removed, and they peered inside. The body of the baby
was decayed while the gown was in fair form, but doubled up and pressed against
it was another that should not have been. A man, not long placed.
“That
looks to me like Alwyn,” said one of the farm hands.
“It’s
Alwyn all right,” said the other. And so it was.
The
news spread quickly back to the group, and they were shocked. Alwyn had been a
striking young man who featured in the dreams of many of the local girls,
though as far as anyone knew, he had not taken up an offer in the village.
There were rumours of a lover, possibly in Canterbury itself, but no proof.
Estrild
was grief-stricken once again, and Milo spoke harshly.
“It’s
months since we lost the child. You’ve three others to look after, and they
need you to be strong. So be strong.”
As
Estrild made her way tearfully to their bedchamber, she heard Milo muttering
but could not make out his words.
“Best
thing for the bastard child. Together with his father until the tree be
felled.”
Thursday, 10 April 2014
A Song from the Teenage Heart!
A change of mood now.
In my late teens I played folk guitar and occasionally wrote songs. I used to sit by an open window, playing and singing, in the vain hope that a record producer might walk by, hear me, and offer a record contract on the spot. At that time I was writing a pop music column for the local paper, and soon afterwards had a job as singer with a group of Cambridge undergrads performing at USAF bases in France for the summer vacation. Buddy Holly, Brenda Lee and all that. Then the others went back to university; I was invited to join another group to tour Germany, but being a romantic and my boyfriend being unhappy about the idea, I didn't go but came home instead to take up secretarial work.
Anyway, one song 'what I wrote' has recently been circulating in my head for some reason. I sang it and played guitar for an audition for Opportunity Knocks, though I got the old 'Don't call us, we'll call you'. Here are the lyrics - and I must stress they're not autobiographical! I was lucky not to be dumped at all ...
Each verse except the third is sung in a minor key. All together now:
I met him in the su-ummertime,
And loved him by-y the fall.
He smiled at me,
I couldn't see
He didn't ca-are at all.
He gave me pearls, he ga-ave me gold,
He gave me e-everything.
He smiled, he said
That we'd be wed -
I wore a diamond ring.
But came the spring, I suddenly knew
He wanted to be free.
He smiled, he said
That love was dead -
He didn't ca-are for me.
So if you meet the boy of your dreams,
With lips as sweet as wine,
You may be blind
And you may find
He'll break your hea-art like mine.
Have to add, ©Jacqueline Pye 2014 !
In my late teens I played folk guitar and occasionally wrote songs. I used to sit by an open window, playing and singing, in the vain hope that a record producer might walk by, hear me, and offer a record contract on the spot. At that time I was writing a pop music column for the local paper, and soon afterwards had a job as singer with a group of Cambridge undergrads performing at USAF bases in France for the summer vacation. Buddy Holly, Brenda Lee and all that. Then the others went back to university; I was invited to join another group to tour Germany, but being a romantic and my boyfriend being unhappy about the idea, I didn't go but came home instead to take up secretarial work.
Anyway, one song 'what I wrote' has recently been circulating in my head for some reason. I sang it and played guitar for an audition for Opportunity Knocks, though I got the old 'Don't call us, we'll call you'. Here are the lyrics - and I must stress they're not autobiographical! I was lucky not to be dumped at all ...
Each verse except the third is sung in a minor key. All together now:
I met him in the su-ummertime,
And loved him by-y the fall.
He smiled at me,
I couldn't see
He didn't ca-are at all.
He gave me pearls, he ga-ave me gold,
He gave me e-everything.
He smiled, he said
That we'd be wed -
I wore a diamond ring.
But came the spring, I suddenly knew
He wanted to be free.
He smiled, he said
That love was dead -
He didn't ca-are for me.
So if you meet the boy of your dreams,
With lips as sweet as wine,
You may be blind
And you may find
He'll break your hea-art like mine.
Have to add, ©Jacqueline Pye 2014 !
Sunday, 30 March 2014
Target Reached!
It was the online short story course early last year that showed me how to break out into different genres, and that has been the root of what's happened since.
My climb up the greasy pole began with some short stories being accepted for several anthologies. Then last summer I began collecting together some of my short stories from earlier months and writing more - mainly dark stories and flash fiction - and put together a collection. While this was in progress, I entered two stories for the open competition held by the Winchester Writers' Conference 2013. A writing pal from Southampton Writing Buddies won first prize with a terrific piece full of colour and some quite understated violence, and we were all delighted. Then, to my surprise, I had my two stories back with kind critiques, one marked 'third place' and one 'commended'.
After that I set about finishing and self-publishing the collection as Bottles and Pots* (ebook and paperback) and this has sold reasonably well and received five-star reviews. At the same time I converted my ebook novel for children of 8-10 years, Millie the Detective and the Diamond Ring**, to a paperback, and that has done well too, again with five-star reviews. Millie mark 2 is in progress. I arranged book-signings in various places locally, which was great fun, and judged a children's book-themed cake competition. Currently awaiting entries from Southampton Writers' Circle for an article competition which I'm to judge and award the trophy - I have twice been to their meetings to talk on the subject.
Now to targets. Last year I set myself the goal of being listed or placed in a writing competition by Christmas, and both of those were sorted, including two second places for limericks. By this summer I had ambitions to actually win a competition, and I recently heard that my short story had won first prize in a comp set by Writers' News, a magazine which I've read since the year dot but haven't entered many comps. The story is dark in its way but with some lightness and, I hope, a laugh or two. It's about a funeral, the wake and the will!
The only target that can follow these is to be listed or placed in one of the big competitions - Bath Short Story Award (just entered) followed by Bristol (April) and Bridport (May). Just have to be sure to up my game for these as they have big prizes and large numbers of entries. But faint heart never won fair writing competition, so I'm giving them my best shot.
* Link to Bottles and Pots is http://ow.ly/pioGZ
** Millie the Detective is at http://ow.ly/pFOy8
My website is at http://www.jacpye.com
My climb up the greasy pole began with some short stories being accepted for several anthologies. Then last summer I began collecting together some of my short stories from earlier months and writing more - mainly dark stories and flash fiction - and put together a collection. While this was in progress, I entered two stories for the open competition held by the Winchester Writers' Conference 2013. A writing pal from Southampton Writing Buddies won first prize with a terrific piece full of colour and some quite understated violence, and we were all delighted. Then, to my surprise, I had my two stories back with kind critiques, one marked 'third place' and one 'commended'.
After that I set about finishing and self-publishing the collection as Bottles and Pots* (ebook and paperback) and this has sold reasonably well and received five-star reviews. At the same time I converted my ebook novel for children of 8-10 years, Millie the Detective and the Diamond Ring**, to a paperback, and that has done well too, again with five-star reviews. Millie mark 2 is in progress. I arranged book-signings in various places locally, which was great fun, and judged a children's book-themed cake competition. Currently awaiting entries from Southampton Writers' Circle for an article competition which I'm to judge and award the trophy - I have twice been to their meetings to talk on the subject.
Now to targets. Last year I set myself the goal of being listed or placed in a writing competition by Christmas, and both of those were sorted, including two second places for limericks. By this summer I had ambitions to actually win a competition, and I recently heard that my short story had won first prize in a comp set by Writers' News, a magazine which I've read since the year dot but haven't entered many comps. The story is dark in its way but with some lightness and, I hope, a laugh or two. It's about a funeral, the wake and the will!
The only target that can follow these is to be listed or placed in one of the big competitions - Bath Short Story Award (just entered) followed by Bristol (April) and Bridport (May). Just have to be sure to up my game for these as they have big prizes and large numbers of entries. But faint heart never won fair writing competition, so I'm giving them my best shot.
* Link to Bottles and Pots is http://ow.ly/pioGZ
** Millie the Detective is at http://ow.ly/pFOy8
My website is at http://www.jacpye.com
Sunday, 8 December 2013
Offer for Bottles and Pots for kindle
A quick note for anyone following this blog.:
For a week from December 6th, Bottles and Pots is available for kindle at ***99p***. This is the link:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=Bottles+and+Pots
I've used this particular link because, oddly, going the direct route seems still to ask the original price. If the link doesn't work, could you copy it and paste into the search bar? So far reviews around the place are 1 four-star, 4 five-star.
The paperback price is also now reduced to £3.30. Just saying!
For a week from December 6th, Bottles and Pots is available for kindle at ***99p***. This is the link:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=Bottles+and+Pots
I've used this particular link because, oddly, going the direct route seems still to ask the original price. If the link doesn't work, could you copy it and paste into the search bar? So far reviews around the place are 1 four-star, 4 five-star.
The paperback price is also now reduced to £3.30. Just saying!
Thursday, 10 October 2013
Self-publishing via CreateSpace: My Experience and Tips
Last year I published my children's novel as an ebook. However, marketing ebooks for children is not yet in full swing, I feel, so it has just appeared in paperback - see Millie's cover on the left.
At the same time (almost), I realised that since I started writing dark short stories and flash fiction a year ago, I had accumulated quite a stack of pieces. Some were already published in various anthologies, or had been listed/commended/placed in writing competitions. This gave me the idea and the impetus to publish the collection which turned out to be Bottles and Pots. After sending for quotes from various printers and publishers, and asking advice of writing colleagues, I decided on Amazon's CreateSpace (CS). So this post is intended to be helpful for anyone thinking of going down that route.
It has not been without hitches, some my fault, some I think theirs. They include page numbers, page breaks and the 'Browse' for files button not functioning. With each query there's a 24h a response which sometimes amounted to little more than 'Have you tried turning it off and on again' as per The IT Crowd. Any alteration means another 24h wait.
Eventually, though, all the problems have been solved, and on balance I would use CreateSpace again. Here are my tips for anyone thinking of using this publishing method.
1 Of course, have the text fully ready, edited and proofed, with page breaks inserted.
2 Set aside a whole weekend, if possible, to get everything uploaded for their review.
3 If there are time constraints on obtaining your own copies to sell, bear in mind that once
your files are finally submitted, reviewed and accepted, you've accepted the proof, and
you've ordered copies, printing can take maybe 3-4 working days, then shipping 1-3wd,
5-8wd, or much longer depending on how much you pay. Once you order, the expected
delivery date may be later than you thought.
3 Read everything on every instruction screen. (Said with feeling.)
4 When CS formatted my .doc file for Millie, the page numbers and some page breaks went
all to pot, and I kept querying (another 24h wait) and altering (ditto) repeatedly.
Eventually CS suggested I submit as PDF since they format into PDF. This worked
perfectly - at last. So it might always be best to submit as PDF.
5 My browser is Safari, and when I repeatedly hit a brick wall trying to click 'Browse' to
select my text file, again after several support requests it was suggested that a
different browser might help. Firefox did - and a colleague finds Chrome good too. So
if I do this again, Firefox it is.
6 Once cover and 'interior' files are reviewed and accepted, you choose whether to check
the proof on your computer, or order a copy (cost £10+ in a hurry). The first time, I
ordered a proof copy, and was glad as there was an aspect of the cover I wanted to
change. For Millie, I proofed digitally and that was fine (and free).
7 When looking at the proof, it's really important to check every bit of it. I was so tempted
to just say 'go', as I need Millie p.d.q., but checked and triple checked first.
8 Once the hard work is over, within the programme CS has some marketing tips.
My first consignment of Bottles and Pots has delivery date tomorrow, and no sign as yet. My order for copies of Millie hasn't shipped yet, and delivery date is just 2 days before I need them for an event. And so the nailbiting continues. On the other hand, not a penny need change hands if you don't want to buy any physical copies of your book (special members' rate) and if you proof digitally. Nothing to lose except your hair!
At the same time (almost), I realised that since I started writing dark short stories and flash fiction a year ago, I had accumulated quite a stack of pieces. Some were already published in various anthologies, or had been listed/commended/placed in writing competitions. This gave me the idea and the impetus to publish the collection which turned out to be Bottles and Pots. After sending for quotes from various printers and publishers, and asking advice of writing colleagues, I decided on Amazon's CreateSpace (CS). So this post is intended to be helpful for anyone thinking of going down that route.
It has not been without hitches, some my fault, some I think theirs. They include page numbers, page breaks and the 'Browse' for files button not functioning. With each query there's a 24h a response which sometimes amounted to little more than 'Have you tried turning it off and on again' as per The IT Crowd. Any alteration means another 24h wait.
Eventually, though, all the problems have been solved, and on balance I would use CreateSpace again. Here are my tips for anyone thinking of using this publishing method.
1 Of course, have the text fully ready, edited and proofed, with page breaks inserted.
2 Set aside a whole weekend, if possible, to get everything uploaded for their review.
3 If there are time constraints on obtaining your own copies to sell, bear in mind that once
your files are finally submitted, reviewed and accepted, you've accepted the proof, and
you've ordered copies, printing can take maybe 3-4 working days, then shipping 1-3wd,
5-8wd, or much longer depending on how much you pay. Once you order, the expected
delivery date may be later than you thought.
3 Read everything on every instruction screen. (Said with feeling.)
4 When CS formatted my .doc file for Millie, the page numbers and some page breaks went
all to pot, and I kept querying (another 24h wait) and altering (ditto) repeatedly.
Eventually CS suggested I submit as PDF since they format into PDF. This worked
perfectly - at last. So it might always be best to submit as PDF.
5 My browser is Safari, and when I repeatedly hit a brick wall trying to click 'Browse' to
select my text file, again after several support requests it was suggested that a
different browser might help. Firefox did - and a colleague finds Chrome good too. So
if I do this again, Firefox it is.
6 Once cover and 'interior' files are reviewed and accepted, you choose whether to check
the proof on your computer, or order a copy (cost £10+ in a hurry). The first time, I
ordered a proof copy, and was glad as there was an aspect of the cover I wanted to
change. For Millie, I proofed digitally and that was fine (and free).
7 When looking at the proof, it's really important to check every bit of it. I was so tempted
to just say 'go', as I need Millie p.d.q., but checked and triple checked first.
8 Once the hard work is over, within the programme CS has some marketing tips.
My first consignment of Bottles and Pots has delivery date tomorrow, and no sign as yet. My order for copies of Millie hasn't shipped yet, and delivery date is just 2 days before I need them for an event. And so the nailbiting continues. On the other hand, not a penny need change hands if you don't want to buy any physical copies of your book (special members' rate) and if you proof digitally. Nothing to lose except your hair!
Tuesday, 27 August 2013
Lots of Writing Going On!
Currently I'm in one of those can't-think-about-anything-except-writing phases. (Apart from cooking in between of course.) Brain is in overdrive.
A previous post was about being either a pouncer or a stalker, and I'm the former - can't resist a challenge, always several short projects on the go. Here in list form is what I've been pouncing on recently.
• Gave a talk to a writing group about magazine articles, and have now been asked to return to run a workshop and judge
a competition.
• Submitted two stories for the Winchester Writers' Conference/Hampshire Chronicle competition - judged by the Prof of
Creative Writing. One was commended, one awarded third place. Very nice critiques, too.
• A rather unpleasant piece involving a clown and a little girl was awarded 4th place in an international flash fiction comp.
• A very short piece was included in National Flash Fiction Day's rolling blog. That was rather nasty, too.
• My work is currently longlisted in Ether Book's twisted tales competition; shortlist not out yet.
• Waiting to hear whether shortlisted for a cash-prize locally based story comp. And, oh goodness, another murder,
but this time set in the middle ages.
• I have ready a 22,000 word anthology of my 'dark tales', and a cover, and currently exploring the best way to get it into print.
• As a member of Inkslinger Books I've just submitted a 4,200 word whodunnit for consideration for our next anthology.
• Now planning to give more attention to a work-in-progress novel for 8-11s about a boy and his mother's new partner.
Nothing nasty here but plenty of conflict. Cd be 15,000 words.
Please forgive the egotistical nature of all this - it needed to be out of my brain and onto a page of some sort. So if you're still with me, thanks ever so.
A previous post was about being either a pouncer or a stalker, and I'm the former - can't resist a challenge, always several short projects on the go. Here in list form is what I've been pouncing on recently.
• Gave a talk to a writing group about magazine articles, and have now been asked to return to run a workshop and judge
a competition.
• Submitted two stories for the Winchester Writers' Conference/Hampshire Chronicle competition - judged by the Prof of
Creative Writing. One was commended, one awarded third place. Very nice critiques, too.
• A rather unpleasant piece involving a clown and a little girl was awarded 4th place in an international flash fiction comp.
• A very short piece was included in National Flash Fiction Day's rolling blog. That was rather nasty, too.
• My work is currently longlisted in Ether Book's twisted tales competition; shortlist not out yet.
• Waiting to hear whether shortlisted for a cash-prize locally based story comp. And, oh goodness, another murder,
but this time set in the middle ages.
• I have ready a 22,000 word anthology of my 'dark tales', and a cover, and currently exploring the best way to get it into print.
• As a member of Inkslinger Books I've just submitted a 4,200 word whodunnit for consideration for our next anthology.
• Now planning to give more attention to a work-in-progress novel for 8-11s about a boy and his mother's new partner.
Nothing nasty here but plenty of conflict. Cd be 15,000 words.
Please forgive the egotistical nature of all this - it needed to be out of my brain and onto a page of some sort. So if you're still with me, thanks ever so.
Thursday, 20 June 2013
Microblog!
A blogpost that takes 20 seconds to read. It's another limerick of mine:
The Player at the Gate
Said St Peter "The footballing game
Has earned you great fortune and fame.
The media adored you,
While rivals abhorred you -
But I'm letting you in, just the same."
The end!
The Player at the Gate
Said St Peter "The footballing game
Has earned you great fortune and fame.
The media adored you,
While rivals abhorred you -
But I'm letting you in, just the same."
The end!
Tuesday, 7 May 2013
The Power of Three - Limericks, that is.
Here are two of my (prize-winning) limericks, with a new third one for good measure.
The first was for a competition to write a limerick relating to the most recent royal wedding,
and it involves .....
Pippa's moment of glory last year
The first was for a competition to write a limerick relating to the most recent royal wedding,
and it involves .....
 |
| Prince Harry by Charles LeBlanc via flickr.com |
Was in showing the world her fine rear.
So when Harry espied
Her amazing backside,
His princely response was quite clear!
The second had to relate to the seven deadly sins. Here's one (well, sort of):
 |
| Sloth by Dark Meadow via flickr.com
Of the seven, it's hard to decide
Which is naughtier - lust, wrath or pride
With envy and sloth,
Well I'm guilty of both,
But gluttony's toughest to hide.
And lastly, a new one: An artist who painted a triptych Told admirers its meaning was cryptic. He gazed at the sky And remarked with a sigh, "The solution lies on the ecliptic." Your go! |
Monday, 22 April 2013
Party Trick Number Two
(The previous party trick was on this blog in August 2012, a memory 'act'.)
This time it's how to look at a row of faces (e.g. friends lined up, or photos) and tell which of them is left-handed. I worked this out myself, and although not infallible (children change dominant hand, dominant hand might be injured and so on), it's been pretty reliable so far.
In my experience, the greater the difference (there's almost always one), the more dominant the hand. The exception is top celebs and models, where I'm guessing they either photoshop or compensate by narrowing one eye slightly, or else they're by luck perfectly symmetrical.
In my experience, the greater the difference (there's almost always one), the more dominant the hand. The exception is top celebs and models, where I'm guessing they either photoshop or compensate by narrowing one eye slightly, or else they're by luck perfectly symmetrical.
 |
| At age 7 |
Here's how it goes:
1 Look casually at someone's face.
2 Note which eye is wider.
3 That's probably the side of their dominant hand!
Test: picture of me above. And yep, I'm right-handed.
Anyone want to test this and let me know?
Test: picture of me above. And yep, I'm right-handed.
Anyone want to test this and let me know?
Sunday, 24 March 2013
Exams Just Around the Corner?
As Easter approaches, exams are lurking not far ahead. Schools, colleges and universities will notice the atmosphere becoming more tense, with students getting nervy and staff hoping for the best where results are concerned.
 |
| By boon chuan low |
Here are links to two of my student-related articles on http://www.suite101.com which may be relevant.
Essay Titles: compare, discuss and asses - what the key terms mean
http://tinyurl.com/665naf6
Gain Maximum Benefit from Every Lecture to Help Improve Grades (aimed at 16+)
http://tinyurl.com/7rgz626
Here are some other tips, mainly from my piece in Special Needs Information Press (SNIP), a newsletter for teachers which I created and wrote for about 6 years before passing it on to a team. It's still thriving!
One Month Before the Exam
1 Make sure you can spell the important subject-specific words.
2 Go through class notes, tidy them up, and pick out those on complex topics which you
can then summarise.
3 If not already known, get familiar with the revision method called Mind Mapping (term
is ©Tony Buzan). It involves a core topic with branches out of it to sections. It's a key
method for visual revision. This is especially good if you remember what you see.
4 If you remember info better if you hear it, try to get hold of a small recorder, and start to
dictate your notes so you can listen to them on the bus, before you go to sleep etc.
5 Make a four-week grid as your Revision Master, for each half hour of your organisable
time, with 25m of work and a 5m break. Decide on the proportion that should be for each
subject. Fill in the first two weeks with topics and any further detail. As the end of the two
weeks approaches, you'll have a better idea of how to plan the final two weeks.
6 Begin narrowing down the most important topic areas for each subject and start a set of
index cards, one for each.
 |
| By CollegeDegrees360 |
1 Fill in the Revision Master for the final two weeks, being as specific as possible.
2 Study your exam timetable, noting carefully the places and times - people do sometimes
get these wrong, with dire results! Make several copies in case you mislay one.
3 Check which notes/books you'll be allowed to take into the exams.
4 If you own the books, use highlighters for points/facts you may need to find in a hurry.
5 If the exam results will affect how you go forward, e.g. Year 9, 11, AS or A2, work out a
plan for (a) if the result are OK or good, and (b) if they're not. This means one less
thing to worry about.
 |
| By Universiteitskrants Univers |
1 Prepare all the writing gear, and make a checklist of anything else you'll need, e.g.
calculator, permitted books and notes, water.
2 Run through condensed notes, index card info and so on.
3 Check again that you know the date, time and place.
4 Eat decent food and drink plenty of water.
5 Go to bed at the usual time, and after a period of relaxation.
6 Don't be intimidated by others saying what and how well they've been revising.
7 SET THE ALARM if it's a morning exam!
 |
| By Alan Cleaver! |
Good luck to all those about to take their exams.
Sunday, 3 March 2013
Writers - are you a stalker or a pouncer?
This analogy came to me overnight, while I was considering my writing goals for the next 3, 6 and 12 months. I'm a pouncer who dreams of being a stalker.
The Stalker
In the kingdom of large animals, and indeed where early man is concerned, targets are often sizeable and almost always food-related. A 'caveman' might be away for a while with his peers, patiently waiting and watching, aiming to nab a large animal to take back for cooking and maybe sharing out. It could take ages, but if successful, the reward was significant and they could take a short break ("chillax" they used to grunt) before having to start the process again.
 |
| by Yinan Cheng via flickr.com |
The Pouncer
Here I'm thinking first of creatures who hunt quickly and descend on prey often. Something might pass by which would make a good meal, and it's rapidly dispatched. I have in mind toads and flies, pelicans (or otters) and fish, and - going back in time - the hungry dog and the string of sausages from the butcher's.
 |
| by Thomas Guest via flickr.com |
Writers on this side of the fence would include poets, short story or flash fiction people, and magazine article journalists. Opportunities usually do have to be sought, but this is not such a long-drawn-out process. Work can be completed more quickly than the Stalker could imagine.
* * * * *
Writers of children's books, though, could come somewhere in between. Not a 2-7 day process, and probably not 9-12 months or more. Another analogy is needed. Another time!
I'm not sure that Stalkers do much pouncing, and Pouncers might rarely flirt with stalking. I love to read about writers nearing completion of their book, completing it, waiting for the verdict, then rejoicing about acceptance and publication. Not to mention launch parties. How I'd love to have a book to launch, giving a speech, signing books, and handing around perhaps an ice-cold, flinty Sancerre to the fans of my work. But now I have come to realise this won't happen. I submitted sample chapters to M & B in the past, and was told 'Nicely written but not enough emotional punch', and I've started other novels but ...
I'd love to know what you think about this analogy, and whether it's far too simplistic. It's just a bit of fun, really, but it clarified my vision of my own writing goals.
I'd love to know what you think about this analogy, and whether it's far too simplistic. It's just a bit of fun, really, but it clarified my vision of my own writing goals.
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