Elle

Bonjour

When we lived in La Rochelle, my governess tried to make me say ‘Bonjour,’ to people we met in the street. It was polite she said, I would never be a gentleman if I did not learn to be polite. But I was shy, and after our morning walk she would scold me, and shake me impatiently. Papa was away at the war and Maman was – distant. I knew s…[Read more]

Thanks Philippa – that does all make sense! Sounds like I need to now combine the stakes of the challenge with the overall feel…

The inciting incident isn’t actually that she can/can’t make an orb; it’s the fact that a little later, she decides to practise in secret, drains her Power and needs to refill… and at THAT point, discovers something…[Read more]

Dancing With Words

Humble, that’s how my kind are deemed: the humble pen.
I don’t know why, since, led by the right hand, we’re capable of causing wars. Stopping them. Uniting distant hearts or breaking them apart. Telling tales that stir a million souls across a thousand years without pictures, smell or sound.
I aspire to that. Which is why,…[Read more]

So great to read this! CONGRATULATIONS! You definitely still need an agent regardless of interest from publishers – they do all the tricky stuff like negotiating contracts and mine has been so brilliant anytime I’ve asked her about the bits of publishing I’m not so sure about. Plus she’s helped me stand my ground a couple of times on things I…[Read more]

OK. Would you mind if an Admin made a small edit to the warning (have a look at your DMs if you want)?

It would be helpful to add a little more detail in the warning, Tony, just so people can be prepared for what they are about to read.
This is not an issue with the story itself; but I think it might serve as a courtesy to others to let them know what they are about to read.

Hi Squidge!

How lovely to read about Tilda, and dive into the world you have created. I really like the idea of Tilda being so aware of the Power inside her – literally feeling it – but now grappling to translate this into the creation of the orb. It’s quite symbolic in a way!

Overall, this second version seems tighter than the first, so well…[Read more]

Hooray!!

At the very least, it needs a trigger warning…

Thanks, Janette. Poop, sorry I missed you at York – I still haven’t matched up real life faces! I hope all is well with you and your writing and you had a successful Festival. x

This is wonderful news CJ. Important step on the road – I suspect the fact is has taken a long time is a good thing. Beware the quickly sorted contract.