Activity – Den of Writers

Kate posted an update 6 years, 3 months ago

Are there any mid grade writers on the Den that would be willing to take a look at the first chapter of my MG book? Someone suggested I was using a YA style that might not be appropriate and I can see what they mean. I’d like thoughts on language and structure relating to MG books before embarking on the next edit.
I’ll post it up in crit for…[Read more]
- Seagreen replied 6 years, 3 months ago
  
  Hi Kate,
  Just noticed this. If you post it, I’m read it but not sure how much help I’ll be.
  - Seagreen replied 6 years, 3 months ago
    
    *I’ll*
    - Kate replied 6 years, 3 months ago
      
      Thanks @seagreen. I’ll post it up tomorrow.
Athelstone replied to the topic Monthly competition – January 2020 in the forum Monthly Competition 6 years, 3 months ago

I spent a day in Seville. I recommend a) don’t drive; it’s considerably more insane than Paris and that’s bad enough b) wear a surgical mask or take oxygen; the air reminded me of London circa 1973 only much, much, worse c) we liked the Plaza de España and the Cathedral, but honestly there’s so much. We were almost persuaded to visit the site of…[Read more]
- JaneShuff replied 6 years, 3 months ago
  
  Thank Ath. Going to the cathedral and the palaces tomorrow and spent the day wandering around including seeing students doing Flamenco at Plaza Espana. Fabulous. It is all fabulous for folks like us who live in a little breton coastal backwater although you are right about the air. Did you see my post last week about failing to get enouh done in…[Read more]
JaneShuff replied to the topic Monthly competition – January 2020 in the forum Monthly Competition 6 years, 3 months ago

Ps posting this at the airport. Has anyone been to Seville? Any recommendations as to things to do?
JaneShuff replied to the topic Monthly competition – January 2020 in the forum Monthly Competition 6 years, 3 months ago

Just noticed that I forgot to take the numbers off my comments. They mean nothing. I got my OH to print the stories off with nothing to identify them and number them so I would judge them blind. Except for Ath who posted so late he missed the process.
Raine replied to the topic Monthly competition – January 2020 in the forum Monthly Competition 6 years, 3 months ago

Ooh congrats @libby on a very deserving perfectly formed story! 😊 And thank you @janeshuff for a challenge that got me away from editing/fretting! X
Seagreen replied to the topic Monthly competition – January 2020 in the forum Monthly Competition 6 years, 3 months ago

Congratulations, Libby! 🙂
And thanks, Jane, for kick-starting my writing year x
John S Alty replied to the topic Monthly competition – January 2020 in the forum Monthly Competition 6 years, 3 months ago

Well done Libby, excellent. Good job, Jane.
Athelstone replied to the topic Monthly competition – January 2020 in the forum Monthly Competition 6 years, 3 months ago

Great entry, Libby and a very well deserved win.
Jane – another great competition. Thanks.
Sandra replied to the topic Monthly competition – January 2020 in the forum Monthly Competition 6 years, 3 months ago

Very well done, Libby – such a strong and individual tale (as were they all) and thank you Jane for the prompting and the comments.
Libby replied to the topic Monthly competition – January 2020 in the forum Monthly Competition 6 years, 3 months ago

Thank you, @Janette !
Libby started the topic Monthly competition – February 2020 in the forum Monthly Competition 6 years, 3 months ago

One of the novels I enjoyed reading in 2019 was The First Day by Phil Harrison. For the February competition please write a piece which depicts or refers to the first day of something – anything you like.

It can be a complete story or the start of a longer one. Maximum 400 words but a shorter entry is fine.
Janette replied to the topic Monthly competition – January 2020 in the forum Monthly Competition 6 years, 3 months ago

Congratulations Libby; well deserved. And thank you @janeshuff for a challenge well set.
Libby replied to the topic Monthly competition – January 2020 in the forum Monthly Competition 6 years, 3 months ago

Thank you, @janeshuff . This is the first time I’ve won a monthly Den competition and I’m really pleased, and especially so as everyone else’s entries were excellent and a delight to read. Many thanks!
JaneShuff replied to the topic Monthly competition – January 2020 in the forum Monthly Competition 6 years, 3 months ago

Thank you everyone. And sorry for the delay. We’re away for a few days from tomorrow and I had quite a few things that had to be done before we went.

A cracking bunch of entries. I hope you enjoyed writing these as much as I enjoyed reading them. As usual I was struck by the many different ways they all responded to the theme.

1) @johnalty. I…[Read more]
Raine replied to the topic Monthly competition – January 2020 in the forum Monthly Competition 6 years, 3 months ago

Nice one, @athelstone 🙂 I want this to be part of something bigger!
JaneShuff replied to the topic Monthly competition – January 2020 in the forum Monthly Competition 6 years, 3 months ago

Thank you all! I am looking forward to readying them. I am out most of today so results will be posted this evening.
KazG replied to the topic Class 3: Writing Exercise, Raine. in the forum Andrew Wille's DIY MA course 6 years, 3 months ago

Oh my lord @raine this is magnificent. Heartfelt and raw but with real beauty too (I don’t think you can help your writing being beautiful, frankly). That images of the monsters under the sea and the line about undoing her smile as if it had never been, the line about her joys being taken away – joy in his kindness, moments of softness. So vivid,…[Read more]
KazG replied to the topic Class 3 writing exercise "I don't remember", Sandra in the forum Andrew Wille's DIY MA course 6 years, 3 months ago

ooh, very interesting angle @sandradavies.I like using a secondary character to shed light on the story and this is a very vivid reveal – of both the son and father. The impression I got of the father was a sadistic bully who asserts power and enjoys it. The lines about the Duncans implies a family of note of some kind – or maybe notoriety? these…[Read more]
KazG replied to the topic Class 3: Writing Exercise, Bella in the forum Andrew Wille's DIY MA course 6 years, 3 months ago

So very interesting @bellam, especially as your explanations show just how much you have buried below the surface of the letters. Very well done, both of them.

I too got a sense of a unreliable narrator in the first letter – do we believe her? I doubted her – and in the second one you have nailed the young, inexperienced voice and that line…[Read more]
KazG replied to the topic Class 3 Writing Exercise "I Don't Remember" – KazG in the forum Andrew Wille's DIY MA course 6 years, 3 months ago

thank you all! It was a surprise for me how it took off.
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