Daedalus

Such an interesting thread, Sandra.

I think the most helpful advice I read on this theme was the point that it is not my job to judge whether my work is good or bad. Who am I to say whether someone else’s mind will or won’t be blown? That’s up to them.

My job as author is to write the damn piece to the very best of my ability, and then to put it…[Read more]

I realised that, when in the habit of being ready and willing to apologise, I was giving myself an excuses to fail.
Joining groups such as the Cloud, partaking in story challenges – stretching myself so as not to embarrass myself, judging my work against the very varied submissions of others, and trusting that my peers will give it the respect t…[Read more]

If it’s good enough, I prefer my MS to do the trumpet-blowing (show, not tell).

You have to blow your own trumpet, no-one is going to blow it for you.

No, I wouldn’t express doubts either, but neither would I be boastful. I want my cover letter to lead the agent to my MS, not give him/her false impressions about me as a person.

Interesting. If I’m asking people for feedback and it’s the first time for us both, I try to signal that I know the piece of work isn’t perfect/finished and that I am genuinely hoping to be told what doesn’t work. Is that self-deprecating? I don’t think so. But I wouldn’t express doubts in a cover letter because it does beg the question as to why…[Read more]

It’s either in your nature to be self-deprecating, or confident of your ability and happy to tell the world. I’ve always been self-deprecating. I wish, sometimes – when writing a cover letter, for example – it wasn’t so, but there it is.
I was also an art student, and could never promote my work.

The only advice I’ve received recently was from…[Read more]

Thanks, Giselle. You’d do well to duck.

I love this thread!

Richard, wow, brilliant writing. That disjointedness works so well.

Whenever I have to write violence I think of Silence of the Lambs, when you really don’t see/read that much, but the tension is huge. Lots of small suggestions can build on our inner fears.

Janeshuff, so happy that you’ve found the solution! Now, all you…[Read more]

The Book of Death

I’ve waited a long time to claim this one; lurking in shadows at each sniff of her foetid breath, or a glimpse that would transpire to be a rag in a tree. One day she would err, I knew it. Until now though, the loathsome hag had remained one move ahead, vanishing into the night before I reached the aftermath of her latest c…[Read more]

I do love a good pow.

Hi @Alanr
Sounds like a plan. My understanding of the “read our books before you submit” guideline is to help prospective authors determine whether their own MS would be a good fit. I’m sure you’ll quickly work this out by consuming a few of their titles to see if your own seems similar in style and flavour. Good luck!

Never Judge a Book

No, sir, we don’t hold property any more. Not since 1 October. Yes, you did just miss out. Yes, if it was a gold bar we probably would look after it and if you ever find one of those on a park bench then don’t hesitate to come straight here. But this is a book. Well, look after it but leave us the details and we’ll conta…[Read more]