Activity

I confess to not having written much these past few months and my writerly fixes are, for the most part, coming through my involvement with the Den. When I set this prompt, I think I knew it might be tricky – time-consuming, too – but I’m afraid I allowed the need to give my own writing a bit of a shake to get in the way of my common sense.

Do I regret posting this prompt? No. Not in the face of the fabulous entries it garnered. Hopefully, you all gained something from the exercise. I love all the stories – would read all the novels – but why on earth did you have to make it so difficult to judge?

Sandra – Lucy’s POV was a new angle for me. I saw a different side to her. Vulnerable. Less sure of herself. Her interaction with Luke is warm and natural and just perfect, really, and I’m actually more than a little sad that she’s about to die before getting the chance to know her better.

Libby – There’s something very engaging about Frederick Longley. I know absolutely nothing about lancets and chancel steps but I know how I feel when I run my fingers over the carved wooden pews in St John’s Kirk in Perth and I imagine our awe is something similar. There’s a lovely, old-fashioned feel to this and I wish now I’d made the word limit greater so I could read what happens next.

Janette – I don’t know how you teased Grace out of your mind and onto the pages, but your insights are strong and the voice is wonderful. I found myself a little teary when I read this through the first time.

There’s no question in my mind that you all deserve to win, but I’m passing the baton for November to Janette.