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Squidge replied to the topic Mid grade 1st chapter in the forum Critiques 6 years, 8 months ago
It’s still possible to get in close, even using third person. It’s a bit of a knack, to get into your character’s head in this way – I often find myself rewriting complete paras when editing, because by the end of the book I’m so familiar with my character I can tell how they’re going to react, what they’re feeling or thinking. It’s a weird place…[Read more]
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Squidge replied to the topic Mid grade 1st chapter in the forum Critiques 6 years, 8 months ago
Hi Kate, it’s pitched about right, I think.
I wondered about the amount of description initially – and where it just touches on backstory/info dump when your MC says she’s never been there before. Can you rework something along the lines of ‘In all my sneaking around, I’d never managed to see inside, and I wasn’t disappointed on this, my first…[Read more]
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Athelstone replied to the topic Monthly competition – January 2020 in the forum Monthly Competition 6 years, 8 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 Espaรฑa and the Cathedral, but honestly there’s so much. We were almost persuaded to visit the site of…[Read more]
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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]
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Raine replied to the topic Monthly competition – January 2020 in the forum Monthly Competition 6 years, 8 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
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John S Alty replied to the topic Monthly competition – January 2020 in the forum Monthly Competition 6 years, 8 months ago
Well done Libby, excellent. Good job, Jane.
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Athelstone replied to the topic Monthly competition – January 2020 in the forum Monthly Competition 6 years, 8 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, 8 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.
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Janette replied to the topic Monthly competition – January 2020 in the forum Monthly Competition 6 years, 8 months ago
Congratulations Libby; well deserved. And thank you @janeshuff for a challenge well set.
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Raine replied to the topic Monthly competition – January 2020 in the forum Monthly Competition 6 years, 8 months ago
Nice one, @athelstone ๐ I want this to be part of something bigger!
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Athelstone replied to the topic Monthly competition – January 2020 in the forum Monthly Competition 6 years, 9 months ago
โYou donโt have a future, not really,โ said Gregor. He shifted his bones on the stone floor making his chains rattle.
โAh,โ said the philosopher, at length, โyouโre one of those Zenonians. A Stoic I suppose. You imagine that because we can never sufficiently divide the instant we call the present, then it must be an illusion, as is the future. A…[Read more]
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Raine replied to the topic Monthly competition – January 2020 in the forum Monthly Competition 6 years, 9 months ago
Just reading through these, and much fun it is. ๐ Thank-you all for brightening up my lunch break.
@johnalty – that sneaky wee twist made me laugh. ๐
@sandradavies – erk!! Love the ‘not fat – not quite – not yet’ line, instant image of the man!
@seagreen – wow, hard and powerful, and I am totally siding with her!
@libby – impressive world…[Read more] -
John S Alty posted an update 6 years, 9 months ago
The activity thread is rather strange since the DIY MA programme got underway – it’s like overhearing half a conversation. Intriguing.
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Unfortunately, WordPress with its plugins that give us groups etc. has a fair few bugs. For some unknown reason, the DIY MA group, in spite of being set as private, spills its conversations if you select Activity whether you’re a member or not.
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You should join us, John. It’s very relaxed!
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Yeah, soz about that. I and the admins have both (all) tried to sort it and it just isn’t playing. Frustrating, but if it lures you into joining in, then maybe that’s a win!
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Raine posted an update 6 years, 9 months ago
Do I win the prize for latest monthly comp entry, or will someone slip under the wire and steal my dubious honour?
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Raine replied to the topic Monthly competition – January 2020 in the forum Monthly Competition 6 years, 9 months ago
OK, late and rather unedited entry, soz! Content warning for miscarriage.
Tomorrow I Will Rise.
Tomorrow I will rise. I will smile and talk with friends and I will be braver than I am today. Tomorrow I will rise. Next week I will laugh. Next month, next month I will bleed.
Today, I count your futures, each possible thread, each vine and…[Read more]
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Raine posted an update 6 years, 9 months ago
Ok, so I have just sent off A Thing. So am freeeee. MOnthly comp and MA course on the agenda… ๐
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Well done! What’s the thing, if you don’t mind my asking?
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Ah well, nothing now, apparently. Was revised version of TIOU that publisher requested. But they’ve replied saying they’ve closed their list.
Hey ho. Would have been nice if they’d told me.-
Back in the bin I go.
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Oh FFS! That is utterly shitty and so unprofessional! Surely if they requested it you bypass their closed list status? My agent had closed her lists when I sent her the thing she’d requested a year earlier and she still took it. That is RUBBISH and I am furious on your behalf.
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Do they know it’s the thing they requested? I mean it wasn’t just a standard response?
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No, they know. I replied to their last email saying ‘don’t worry if it takes a few months. We’re not going anywhere.’…
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Well that sucks massively. What a shabby performance
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That is utter crap! Seriously unfair.
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Seriously unprofessional too, imo
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Agree 100%
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I would say unbelievable, but – sadly – I can believe it. It is truly appalling behaviour that wouldn’t be tolerated in most professions. It is no surprise that so many people, good writers, are turning to self-pub. I’m so sorry, Raine. Can you name the guilty? Quite understand if you don’t want to.
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Daedalus replied to the topic New historical fiction novella in the forum Podium 6 years, 9 months ago
Thanks @RichardB ๐
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Daedalus replied to the topic New historical fiction novella in the forum Podium 6 years, 9 months ago
I forgot to mention that book 2 of my ‘Fortress of Malta’ series of WW2 novellas was out, but it’s now on 99p promotion on Kindle, so a good time to point it out https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bastion-Fortress-Malta-Book-2-ebook/dp/B07Y5MDLWZ/
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John S Alty replied to the topic Dipping my toe back in in the forum Blogs 6 years, 9 months ago
Hi @skylark, good to see you’re back.
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Amanda Berriman (Skylark) replied to the topic Dipping my toe back in in the forum Blogs 6 years, 9 months ago
@squidge hello! Great to hear the Tilda series is progressing. I’ve got the first one in the queue for bedtime reading to the boys and can’t wait to see how it’s evolved from when I first read it years ago on the Cloud. I think I missed that there as going to be a remake of David Copperfield as well. I see most films at our community cinema club…[Read more]
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Amanda Berriman (Skylark) replied to the topic Dipping my toe back in in the forum Blogs 6 years, 9 months ago
@kazg yes, how I will laugh! I came across my very, very first shitty draft a year or so ago and it was quite something. Good to see how far I’ve come, at least!
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