@janette
Active 5 days, 22 hours ago-
Janette replied to the topic Monthly competition April 2025 in the forum Monthly Competition 1 year ago
Heck, I did not expect that. Thank you for such an awesome feedback, Libby, and for a competition prompt which challenged my writerly boundaries. Also well done to Sea and Sandra for their excellent stories.
I have nothing in mind for the next topic – a walk is in order to mull it over, not that I need and excuse to set out in this wonderful sunshine. -
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Janette posted an update 1 year ago
I wondered if I could ask a favour of any fellow writers who enjoy character-led novels. The current title of my book Saving Grace has never really sat easy with me, being aware it also the title of a major film (one of my favourites), and I more recently learned it is the name of a US series, besides being used several times by other authors…[Read more]
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Hi @janette , I immediately liked (Don’t) Call Me Graceless and
My Growing Chain of Big Fat Lies. Is Fibs an alternative title?
The first title suggests character, the second plot. They both have voice.
I’m not keen on Fibs. It feels vague.-
Thank you, Libby. Your comments are very helpful.
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I like ‘The Art of invisible mending’ which offers intrigue.
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Janette replied to the topic Monthly competition April 2025 in the forum Monthly Competition 1 year, 1 month ago
<u>Parsnip Wine
</u>
Our back-facing neighbours were the first to acknowledge our arrival. Each time I looked out, the ever-preened woman was at her bay window, dog-in-hand (at least I think the explosion of fur was of canine origin). Gerald supposed she were sun-worshipping, her glances only polite curiosity – then he always did see the good i…[Read more]
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Janette posted an update 1 year, 1 month ago
And sorry for the belated congratulations, Libby – amid the business of being employed again, I thought I had already posted my response to your comp win, which was a fine, worthy entry.
I confess I didn’t know what to do with the April challenge you posted, but some thought during a weekend walk gave me a lightbulb moment.
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Thankyou, @janette ! And I’m pleased you had a lightbulb moment.
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Thank you!
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Janette replied to the topic Monthly competition March 2025 in the forum Monthly Competition 1 year, 1 month ago
The Prophecy
You will mistake the gulls
for the screaming of a girl
and run out of your flat
to an empty landingThis dark prophecy will forever haunt me.
An old neighbour uttered it; a self-proclaimed psychic, who called by to pass on the warning. Such a pathetic attempt, I thought, to scare me from moving to the new flats offered to tempt…[Read more] -
Janette posted a new activity comment 1 year, 2 months ago
Thank you for your kind comments, Sea. However I think such a subject would maybe better suited to @johnt3, or perhaps another Welsh writer whose genre is children’s stories.
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Janette posted a new activity comment 1 year, 2 months ago
It was a good call, Sandra. Congratulations. And thank you Seagreen for the inspiration to put pen to paper again.
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Janette replied to the topic Monthly Competition – February 2025 in the forum Monthly Competition 1 year, 2 months ago
This is my second attempt – lesson learned in posting too hastily without allowing time to edit (not that this one fared much better). Please feel free to disqualify if this is outside of the rules.
Snuffle and the Tylwith Teg
Brittle scales fell from his body as he staggered to the edge of hanging rock. Laughter rang out all around, but I…[Read more]
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Janette posted a new activity comment 1 year, 5 months ago
I look forward to reading yours, Richard.
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Janette posted an update 1 year, 5 months ago
Phew, Winter comp story posted. Hope it may be forgiven that this is an old monthly comp entry that I have torn apart, expanded and reassembled. It is all I could come up with given my other obligations, and I now hope errors and amends don’t leap out at me!
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I hope you may be forgiven too, because my entry was conceived in a similar way. I don’t even have your excuse of being too busy, but the story asked to be written and so I wrote it.
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I look forward to reading yours, Richard.
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Me too to a large extent. My entry very much a side/back story of two or three other comp entries all of which stemmed from one or more of my ‘Love triangles with murder series. I did hope for something different but the characters have taken up permanent residence in my head.
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Janette posted a new activity comment 1 year, 5 months ago
I wholly agree, though in a fit of madness, I thought that an increased gathering of writers might at least get our voices heard, if not have any bearing on sales. It would be a start if some regulation was brought in regards being able to blatantly claim someone else’s work is your own – but too many influential people are on the opposing side to…[Read more]
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Janette posted a new activity comment 1 year, 5 months ago
I share your sentiments, Libby, as I do the statement from Bluesky (in the body of the report). This is wholly about money, bypassing the love of writing and reading altogether. Sadly, I feel it could also have a knock-on effect on self-publishing, causing increased distrust in the quality you can find there. I hope I am wrong, but I’m becoming…[Read more]
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Janette posted a new activity comment 1 year, 5 months ago
I have bowed out of this. My intention was to be supportive, but the feelings stirred and opposing views given have me concluding that I should leave it to published authors and their representatives to fight the battle. Lesson learned.
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Janette posted a new activity comment 1 year, 6 months ago
On listening to other opinions, both here and on Messenger (FB), I concede that I have perhaps not worded my intentions very well and may have come across as too confrontational. I also apologize to those who feel ‘bombarded’ and will happily remove names from the list of those I have shared into the conversation, or remove the message altogether.…[Read more]
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Janette posted a new activity comment 1 year, 6 months ago
Sandra, it isn’t so much a bombardment campaign, rather a sharing of a meme to ask for support. I appreciate the view that regular novelists are enabled to be taken on because of the success of celebrity books, but the avalanche of them in such an unlevel playing field is instrumental in creating this huge imbalance, and I think the dishonesty is…[Read more]
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I suspect, lacking conviction in my opinions, I’m not a campaigner.
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I have bowed out of this. My intention was to be supportive, but the feelings stirred and opposing views given have me concluding that I should leave it to published authors and their representatives to fight the battle. Lesson learned.
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Janette posted a new activity comment 1 year, 6 months ago
Thank you, @philippaeast for posting this. @Libby hope you agree with the sentiment.
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Janette started the topic Is a social media Christmas appeal worthwhile? in the forum Blogs 1 year, 6 months ago
Recently, @Philippa East posted a copy of her letter to the Society of Authors on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=2364405197250152&set=pcb.2364405367250135
It refers to the unfair bombardment of celebrity books and their many promotions, especially during a holiday season. Though I am not (yet) published, I wholeheartedly agree…[Read more]
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Hi @janette, thank you for sharing this. As I’m not on FB I can’t read the whole letter on screen. Are you able to copy and paste it here?
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Hi Libby and @janette.
Here below is a copy of my original letter to the society of authors.
I think that a “Christmas appeal” letter, encouraging readers and book-buyers to support ordinary authors by avoiding celebrity titles would be great! I’ve been chatting loads about this issue in my various writing networks, so I think that if we were…[Read more]-
I saw your letter, Philippa, and I’m really pleased you voiced what so many of us are feeling.
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Thank you, @philippaeast for posting this. @Libby hope you agree with the sentiment.
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I’m happy to join any communal effort. I’m an associate member of SoA, because I haven’t sold enough books to classify as a full member. Our Monmouth branch of SoA is very active, and as you can imagine, the subject of celebrity authors comes up a lot, particularly in relation to children’s books. A good friend, Claire Fayers, has just scored a…[Read more]
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On listening to other opinions, both here and on Messenger (FB), I concede that I have perhaps not worded my intentions very well and may have come across as too confrontational. I also apologize to those who feel ‘bombarded’ and will happily remove names from the list of those I have shared into the conversation, or remove the message altogether.…[Read more]
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I’m sorry you’ve had a bad experience trying to get the message out Janette. I share your and Philippa’s frustration with the celebrity Christmas book, especially now I’m truing to get my funny children’s book under people’s noses. An unfair situation, but one I doubt publishers will be interested in rectifying.
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Janette posted an update 1 year, 6 months ago
Good to see so many taking part in the Winter comp. I’ve been wrestling with two ideas though one appears to have risen above the other. I was ready to post it … but late corrections reminded me to be a little less hasty and allow some thinking time, when I’ll probably change my mind again.
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I’ve been struggling to come up with anything, because my initial idea seems beyond my ability. I’m going to try something simpler.
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