@janeshuff
Active 3 years, 3 months ago-
RichardB posted an update 7 years, 7 months ago
For those of you who don’t know, we’re still in the habit of giving our autistic son a bedtime read, and this can be quite instructive because he chooses library books I wouldn’t touch. The one we’re in the middle of at the moment could be set as a textbook on the subject of how not to write a novel. Belt-and-braces showing-plus-telling, long…[Read more]
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Libby replied to the topic Getting An Agent Blog in the forum The Writers' Lifeboat 7 years, 7 months ago
Thank you for posting this, Philippa; it’s a great insight into your novel’s development and your own progress as a writer. What you say is both heartening and daunting. So much work! I’m really pleased you have an agent you like, one who is helping you develop the MS to an even higher level and who – by the sounds of things – shares your own…[Read more]
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Athelstone replied to the topic Getting An Agent Blog in the forum The Writers' Lifeboat 7 years, 7 months ago
Fascinating then and fascinating now! I think one thing that you express so well here is the sheer workload of writing a successful book. OK, not everybody is going to make the huge changes that you did, but the fact remains that ‘tinkering’ is almost never enough. Great blog.
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Philippa East started the topic Getting An Agent Blog in the forum The Writers' Lifeboat 7 years, 7 months ago
Hi guys,
This blog was previously up on the (now defunct) Word Cloud. I thought I’d post it again here, in case it is of help to anyone else climbing the same parapets…
Breaching the Citadel
(aka Getting a foothold in the Publishing World)Everyone’s journey up there is different. Following the fine Cloudie tradition, here’s min…[Read more]
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Raine posted an update 7 years, 7 months ago
A wee reminder that the Monthly Comp is sitting waiting for your seasonal musings… Perfect for fitting in between mince pies. Although mince pies are the food of satan, so I’ll be giving them a miss.
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Raine posted an update in the group
December SloMo 7 years, 7 months agoHad a lot of NoMo here recently. But that was to be expected. And today I have the mini home sick, so am going to attempt to edit against a backdrop of Attenborough programmes!! Actually, despite the painful slowness, I figured out a couple of key plot changes that I think will go miles towards addressing the issue of the final stakes not being…[Read more]
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Sounds really good progress @raine despite all the frustrations. And every cloud has a silver lining 🙂
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Well done, Raine. So pleased you have managed to steal back a little space and time for yourself. And thrilled that you’ve untangled that problem of the stakes. That must feel great! I am so sorry about the migraines. I am in awe of how you work despite them. x
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KazG posted an update in the group
December SloMo 7 years, 7 months agoStill SloMoing along and hitting my very modest targets. Chip, chip, chip. Over 10,000 words now and it’s been pretty easy going, really, esp after NaNo.
I got some editorial notes from a publisher who’s shown some interest – all of which is gold and so useful – but one of the comments was that a 2 book series would be easier to sell, so I…[Read more]
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Well done @kazg on keeping that word count going. 10k in the run up to xmas is a pretty impressive feat!! And I think your plan makes sense – write the thing first, then see how overall structure might work across the novels. Saves having to be thinking ont he large scale whilst trying to write. So what are you focussing on atm? Drafting #2 or editing #1?
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Thanks @raine 😊 finishing book 2 is my focus. I have to keep some momentum up or that book world will feel cold, if you know what I mean. Also it might affect book 1 edits once I know what happens next!
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I know what you mean about momentum @kazg. Once lost it can take a while to get back on track.
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Oh wow! Huge credit to you, @kazg for staying so steady as you work through this and absorb that editorial feedback. I think your strategy is a good one – get your vision down first, then step back and review. Really good luck!
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Thanks @philippaeast! God knows I’ll need it 🙂
Yes, momentum has an energy it itself I find @libby. Even just a little helps.
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Sandra replied to the topic Monthly comp – December 2018 in the forum Monthly Competition 7 years, 7 months ago
Wow, Sea, the December comp had not impinged at all so I read this not knowing the theme – what stunningly beautiful – crisp and fresh – sensory descriptions, and clarity of insight. Loved it.
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Seagreen replied to the topic Monthly comp – December 2018 in the forum Monthly Competition 7 years, 7 months ago
UNTITLED (388 words)
You weren’t coming back. I see that now. But had it really taken a pre-dawn walk on Christmas morning to untangle my thoughts and clear my clouded vision?
Yes, should the truth be told. It had.
I had lain awake for hours – body tired, mind agitated, and senses heightened in the dark. Aware of the warmth of my breath in t…[Read more] -
Hilary posted an update in the group
December SloMo 7 years, 7 months agoHello fellow slomoers (?)
I’ve been very slow… but I now know how my novel is going to end! I have an outline for the bits I’ve still got left to write. Need to flesh them out a bit and then get on with it. That will be the third draft done, then.
Well done to all of us! And keep going all of us! Might do a Janowrimo!-
That’s fantastic @hilary! What a relief for you. Such a good feeling when structural chunks fall into place like that. Well done you, and everyone! I’m liking SloMo very much – think I’ll be joining you for JanNoWriMo!
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Well done @hilary! I never know the exact ending till about 2/3 of the way through, and it’s always a bit of a relief to figure it out! Hope it helps you move through the last few bits now you’ve got it mapped out.
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Yeaaaarrrsss! Nice work, Hil on the ending! Looking forward to hearing more about it…. Yes, please can we continue in January???? I need all the kindly support I can get!!
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Athelstone posted an update 7 years, 7 months ago
Coast walk this morning with a steady 40 mph wind off the sea blowing hail horizontally. Not nice round stuff either: jagged lumps with sharp bits that stung like hell. Got hit in the eye and it felt like a punch. Couldn’t see properly for 10 minutes, but cobwebs all blown away and once my fingers had thawed out managed to scribble some ideas down.
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Win.
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Absolutely 🙂 or possibly ;(
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Thea replied to the topic Short Story Publication/Competition in the forum Podium 7 years, 7 months ago
Oops, a bit late to this:
@Hilary – So glad to hear that the launch went well. Congratulations!
@Stevie – well done on your listing!
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RichardB posted an update in the group
December SloMo 7 years, 7 months agoVisiting EmmaD’s blog last night for the first time in a while, I found a delightful phrase that could be the motto for this group, though it’s actually from Jenn Ashworth rather than Emma herself. Anyway, I love it.
No word count boot camp, no productivity porn.-
hah hah! Love it. I also love Jenn Ashworth, for the record, so love that it’s her phrase. Good point, I haven’t browsed EmmaD’s blog for a while either…
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KazG replied to the topic Short Story Publication/Competition in the forum Podium 7 years, 7 months ago
Hooray Stevie! Congratulations!
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Libby started the topic Winchester Writers' Festival in the forum Competitions, Open calls and Writing Opportunities 7 years, 7 months ago
I’m on the mailing list for Winchester festival news. The programme for Winchester 14-16 June 2019 will be out, as usual, in February. http://www.writersfestival.co.uk
They have two new scholarships – info on website. However they’re not running any competitions in 2019:
“Our writing competitions have been a popular addition to the Festival for many…[Read more]
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Raine posted an update in the group
December SloMo 7 years, 7 months agoI’ve a few NoMo days (xmas, health, rubbish stuff), but managed to edit two chapters yesterday and transcribe them today. I am checking my % cut after each chapter, and making a graph. Yes I know. I’m a scientist, don’t @ me, as they say. It’s actually really encouraging, as well as being pretty…
Hoping for two more chapters edited this pm
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Xmas is not not conducive to writing, Raine, except Christmas cards but it sounds as though you are doing well.
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Nice work, @raine. That really sounds on track, despite the NoMo days (I’m having a NoMo Day today). I hope overall you aren’t finding the trimming too painful
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Ooh, graphs. What sort of graph? Yes I had a NoMo day yesterday too, but that’s ok. It’s that time of year after all. ANY progress is a great achievement, I’d say.
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Raine replied to the topic Short Story Publication/Competition in the forum Podium 7 years, 7 months ago
Well done @stevie! That’s great news, and now get that thing out to magazines – it’s clearly ready to be out in the world!!
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Libby posted an update in the group
December SloMo 7 years, 7 months agoI’ve changed my profile pic to something less bot-like. These are the leaves of a whitebeam, one of my favourite trees. I was thinking of growth, hope, aspiration. You know, general upwardsness. Fingers crossed.
The past few days have been very slowmo/slowgo. Max of 1,000 words a day editing by hand when really I should accomplish 2,000 or at…[Read more]
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Thanks Libby, really glad you enjoyed it! I’m pleased Menzies’ personal characteristics come through.
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They certainly do. He looks pleasant in the photos. Incidentally I did wonder whether he’d broken his nose at some point!
I’m interested in the Ringway story too as I grew up near there but don’t know much about Ringway’s early history.
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Don’t be too hard on yourself about the word count. For me, getting the words right is far more important, and the added stress of targets is a distraction from that. Anyway, this is SloMo, right?
Yes, Daeds has a real talent for explaining tech stuff lucidly to the lay reader.-
Thanks @richardb. I agree with you. I’m not normally a word-count watcher. I was just feeling a bit bogged down so counted up to see if I’d achieved anything at all!
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Well done on moving forward with the editing, @libby. Each word edited, is a word closer to the end! (My midwife told me that about contractions, and I decided it made a good life mantra!!!)
Also – my neighbours have a big whitebeam over hanging out garden. When the leaves are first coming out in spring, that silvery white is just so lovely!…[Read more]
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Yes, and the leaves drop early so you’re stuck with them quite a long time @raine 🙁
Agree that contractions are good mantra for a lot of things!-
I think we should all cheer on ANY forward motion, painful and incremental included, especially at this time of year! And 1000 a day is high energy by my current standards, so well done @libby. And I too love your leaf pic.
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PS I also agree that the @daedalus signature style is a particular talent for making the (what I would find by default) boring, fascinating.
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Nice pic 🙂
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Sandra replied to the topic Short Story Publication/Competition in the forum Podium 7 years, 7 months ago
Excellent news Stevie; your writing deserves to be read more widely.
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I know… Not a ‘celebrity’ author, is it?
Er, no. It’s a run-of-the-mill piece of women’s fiction. I have just done a bit of on-line digging, and I’m appalled to discover that the author is represented by the winner of the British book Awards Literary Agent of the Year. The mind boggles. I mean, she can’t even punctuate. For instance, she separates a parenthetical phrase, not by bracket…[Read more]