Since the New Year, I've been doing a rewrite of Save The Last Dance For Me, to make it shorter, tighter and, hopefully, better. Already I've cut three chapters that I didn't feel were contributing much to the plot. Any sections that I felt were necessary, I've included as flashbacks in another chapter. Already it seems to be working better with a smooth transition between chapters. I have rejoined the New Writers' Scheme of the Romantic Novelists Association and will resubmit the typescript for a further opinion.
A lengthy letter based on some family history research I have done has appeared in the February issue of Family History Monthly. I haven't seen it myself yet, but someone has told me it's there. Hopefully, the same magazine will be printing a short article of mine this summer based on my experience of working in a cotton mill. Now I just have to write the article ...
Saturday, 21 January 2012
Friday, 13 January 2012
Facebook - and some good news
I've been struggling with Facebook for the past week or so as the 'Facebook for Dummies' book that I bought second hand doesn't seem to bear any relation to what's on the computer screen before me. I will sort it but I guess it will take time.
I had two bits of good news today. A couple of months ago, I submitted a letter about a breakthrough that I'd had in my family history and I learned today that it is to be featured in the February issue of Family History Monthly, a national genealogy magazine. While submitting that, I mentioned a couple of ideas for articles to the editor. She didn't want either of those because they had more more less been covered in previous issues but she did ask me if I could put together a social history article on my experiences working as a weaver in a Lancashire cotton mill in the distant past. Today, I received confirmation that she definitely wants the article and that it will be in the May issue. These two bits of good news have boosted me no end. The fiction market is a harder nut to crack!
I had two bits of good news today. A couple of months ago, I submitted a letter about a breakthrough that I'd had in my family history and I learned today that it is to be featured in the February issue of Family History Monthly, a national genealogy magazine. While submitting that, I mentioned a couple of ideas for articles to the editor. She didn't want either of those because they had more more less been covered in previous issues but she did ask me if I could put together a social history article on my experiences working as a weaver in a Lancashire cotton mill in the distant past. Today, I received confirmation that she definitely wants the article and that it will be in the May issue. These two bits of good news have boosted me no end. The fiction market is a harder nut to crack!
Friday, 6 January 2012
I'm on Facebook!
Hey, I'm on Facebook! I always swore I would keep clear of Facebook and Twitter but having read that these are essential tools in 'getting your name out there', I decided sign up, first of all for Facebook. I'll try Twitter later. Just now, I'm still finding my way round the site.
Had a quiet Christmas, just the two of us, but enjoyable just the same. That's how it's been for the last four Christmases, since my elderly mother died in 2008. We'd always spent Christmases with first, in the first place, my Dad, then after he died, just with my Mum. Even after three years (she died just before Christmas), we still miss her and the Advocaat doesn't taste the same without her! Neither of my children live close by but I spoke to both of them on Christmas Day. Having said that, I don't think I could cope with a noisy Christmas!
Had a quiet Christmas, just the two of us, but enjoyable just the same. That's how it's been for the last four Christmases, since my elderly mother died in 2008. We'd always spent Christmases with first, in the first place, my Dad, then after he died, just with my Mum. Even after three years (she died just before Christmas), we still miss her and the Advocaat doesn't taste the same without her! Neither of my children live close by but I spoke to both of them on Christmas Day. Having said that, I don't think I could cope with a noisy Christmas!
Friday, 23 December 2011
A minor success!
A few weeks ago, I received a card saying that my entry for a short story competition had been highly commended and had been included in a published anthology. I'd forgotten about that but then this last week, I received my copy of the anthology and there it was, my short story on the printed page. What's more the secretary of the competition had sent me a letter and making an amusing reference which led me to understand that she had read the story and that it had some resonance with her. I found that as encouraging as having the story published.
I've been very lax about blogging of late but we have been busy decorating before Christmas and I am finding it hard to be motivated at the moment. I will take up my pen after Christmas - promise!
I've been very lax about blogging of late but we have been busy decorating before Christmas and I am finding it hard to be motivated at the moment. I will take up my pen after Christmas - promise!
Monday, 21 November 2011
More on the balloon fiasco!
It was only after reading Marilyn's comment - thanks M - that I realised I had meant to post about the sequel to the balloon fiasco. The delivery was due on 1st November so on the morning, I very reluctantly tied the blown up balloon to a metal post on the edge of our front garden and next door's. When I looked out of the window about ten minutes later, the balloon had gone. At first, I thought that it had blown away then I saw that my next door neighbour was out cleaning his car and wondered if he had taken it down.
He confessed that he had and what's more had popped it! He'd thought that some trick or treaters from the night before (31st October) had played a trick and tied the balloon to the metal post. He was most apologetic but I simply laughed. When the delivery was made, I mentioned to the driver what had happened. I guessed from what he said that he didn't think much to the idea either and agreed with me that the idea probably originated with some university graduate trying to justify his existence.
He confessed that he had and what's more had popped it! He'd thought that some trick or treaters from the night before (31st October) had played a trick and tied the balloon to the metal post. He was most apologetic but I simply laughed. When the delivery was made, I mentioned to the driver what had happened. I guessed from what he said that he didn't think much to the idea either and agreed with me that the idea probably originated with some university graduate trying to justify his existence.
Sunday, 30 October 2011
A Bit of a Rant!
Nothing has been happening, hence no blog for a couple of months. Now, two things have happened which makes me shake my head in despair at modern society.
The first was a letter from a well-known DIY store, I won't mention their name but it's got their name on it. It was about a delivery of something we purchased a week or so since. I'd already had two phone calls and now a letter confirming the date agreed. With the letter was enclosed a balloon and a piece of string. I stared at the balloon in puzzlement but all was made clear when I read the letter. I was supposed to tie the blown-up balloon to our gate post (we don't have one!) so that the delivery driver would know which house he was delivering to. To me, this implies that the driver doesn't have the common sense to check the numbers and if I was the driver, I'd be insulted. Needless to say, the balloon won't be going outside on our non-existent gate post and I shall tell the driver so when he phones up (again!) on the morning of delivery.
The other thing happened to my husband (not for the first time, I might add). He was queuing in a supermarket when a young lad, aged about 13, he thought, gave the cashier 50p to pay for a 49p bar of chocolate, thus needing 1p in change. Instead, he said to the cashier, 'Keep the change.' What!?!? Whatever happened to the saying 'Look after the pennies and the pounds will look after themselves.' With such an attitude no wonder the country is in such a mess.
Sorry, folks, rant over!
The first was a letter from a well-known DIY store, I won't mention their name but it's got their name on it. It was about a delivery of something we purchased a week or so since. I'd already had two phone calls and now a letter confirming the date agreed. With the letter was enclosed a balloon and a piece of string. I stared at the balloon in puzzlement but all was made clear when I read the letter. I was supposed to tie the blown-up balloon to our gate post (we don't have one!) so that the delivery driver would know which house he was delivering to. To me, this implies that the driver doesn't have the common sense to check the numbers and if I was the driver, I'd be insulted. Needless to say, the balloon won't be going outside on our non-existent gate post and I shall tell the driver so when he phones up (again!) on the morning of delivery.
The other thing happened to my husband (not for the first time, I might add). He was queuing in a supermarket when a young lad, aged about 13, he thought, gave the cashier 50p to pay for a 49p bar of chocolate, thus needing 1p in change. Instead, he said to the cashier, 'Keep the change.' What!?!? Whatever happened to the saying 'Look after the pennies and the pounds will look after themselves.' With such an attitude no wonder the country is in such a mess.
Sorry, folks, rant over!
Friday, 23 September 2011
New Writers' Scheme and short stories
My report from one of the readers on the New Writers' Scheme of the Romantic Novelists' Association duly arrived a few weeks ago. (I've been very remiss about posting a new blog but it's been something of a busy Summer.) The reader seemed to sense that it was very much a first draft and worded him/her highly enough. The report was thorough, fair, constructive and immensely helpful. (As there are quite a few male members of the RNA, I have to be non-discriminatory and say 'he/she'.) Most encouragingly, he/she said that my 'manuscript is on the right track and is well worth perservering with.' He/she also advised leaving the MS alone for a few months and coming back to it afresh. That is good advice. Sometimes one can be up too close to see the wood for the trees (cliche! naughty!).
Talking of good advice, some time ago one of my Birmingham RNA colleagues, Sally Jenkins, advised that The Weekly News was a good outlet for short stories. Accordingly, I sent for the guidelines and, after some delay, received them by email this week. Today, I bought a copy of the newspaper so that I could see what kind of story is accepted. To my delight, it was to find that one of the stories was by my friend, Sally Jenkins! If you are interested in writing, you might like to check out her blog (updated more often than mine is!) Sally Jenkins - she is brilliant at spreading the news about competitions, etc. Today, I emailed the fiction editor with one of my own short stories.
Earlier this year, I entered a short story competition organised by a theatre renovation group. This week I received a card to say that although I had not won any of the prizes, I had been shortlisted and my story ENTERTAINING ANGELS would be featured in the anthology. I am as pleased about that as if I'd won because it means that once again my name is 'out there!' Self promotion doesn't come easily to me but it's something that has to be done these days. The card didn't say if I would receive a complimentary copy but I've ordered one anyway. Will post on here when it arrives.
Talking of good advice, some time ago one of my Birmingham RNA colleagues, Sally Jenkins, advised that The Weekly News was a good outlet for short stories. Accordingly, I sent for the guidelines and, after some delay, received them by email this week. Today, I bought a copy of the newspaper so that I could see what kind of story is accepted. To my delight, it was to find that one of the stories was by my friend, Sally Jenkins! If you are interested in writing, you might like to check out her blog (updated more often than mine is!) Sally Jenkins - she is brilliant at spreading the news about competitions, etc. Today, I emailed the fiction editor with one of my own short stories.
Earlier this year, I entered a short story competition organised by a theatre renovation group. This week I received a card to say that although I had not won any of the prizes, I had been shortlisted and my story ENTERTAINING ANGELS would be featured in the anthology. I am as pleased about that as if I'd won because it means that once again my name is 'out there!' Self promotion doesn't come easily to me but it's something that has to be done these days. The card didn't say if I would receive a complimentary copy but I've ordered one anyway. Will post on here when it arrives.
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