@juliec
Active 7 years, 6 months ago-
Janette posted an update 10 months, 2 weeks ago
So sorry for my absences. I have made the decision to self-publish my books after careful consideration, reading how some trad friends have fared, and revisiting notes from my last (self-publishing) workshop in York. I’m very wet behind the ears regarding publishing, especially self-publishing, so I am deep into swatting about it before I make any…[Read more]
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Sandra replied to the topic November 2025 monthly competition in the forum Monthly Competition 11 months, 1 week ago
Sorry, Terrie, no way do I have head space to do anything for this. Will aim to Do Better next time
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Janette posted an update 11 months, 3 weeks ago
Well done, Terrie – a great choice! I have a busy November coming up but will try and fit in some time to take part in the monthly comp.
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Sandra replied to the topic Monthly competition October 2025 in the forum Monthly Competition 12 months ago
This the result of apending 5 days writing with a gathering of Self-Edit participants.
Games people play
Monday morning’s plumping of the pillows of our marital bed effortful, thanks to both sleep and sex absent as snow in August throughout the weekend. Similarly, energy enough to dissipate the sourness of my reaction when I noticed the wor…[Read more]
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Janette replied to the topic Monthly competition October 2025 in the forum Monthly Competition 1 year ago
As the Veil Grows Thin
Hey, Vee, I’m still at your side my dear. My old bones are aching in this hospital chair but, aye, I’m still watching over you.
They say you might hear me but – I don’t know. See, I can’t get used to how still you are. Never would’ve been afore, hey? Specially when we first met, when we danced like demons and made lo…[Read more]
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Janette posted an update 1 year ago
So sorry, Jill. I hoped to be of a mindset to join in September’s comp, only this month has thrown up too many mind-scrambling obstacles to facilitate concentration. Seems you already have some excellent stories already and I don’t envy your task.
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Sandra replied to the topic Emma Darwin has started a youtube channel in the forum Coffee Shop 1 year ago
Fabulous indeed – thanks for the link, Libby. I’ve much enjoyed Emma’s two previous novels, so this will be a cert.
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Sandra replied to the topic Monthly Competion – September 2023 in the forum Monthly Competition 1 year ago
Sorry Jill, Returned from ten days away to a refusing-to-charge laptop, and three days from going away for another week I’ll not be posting anything for this month’s comp’ Looks like you’ve got some good response so I’ll aim to read ASAP.
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Fiona posted an update 1 year, 1 month ago
Hello! I think it’s years since I last dropped in but in switching computers I rediscovered this page. So glad to see some familiar faces and competitions going strong. Fiona (SE 2013)
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Sandra replied to the topic Monthly competition August 2025 in the forum Monthly Competition 1 year, 1 month ago
Only two entries, as Athelstone rightly points out, but both were a joy insofar as they echoed some of my experiences. Like Jill, Steve and I were but 16 and eighteen – me young enough to be banned from going on the back of his motorbike, but after four years of ‘going steady’, when Steve asked my Dad for, permission to marry me his response…[Read more]
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Sandra replied to the topic Monthly competition August 2025 in the forum Monthly Competition 1 year, 1 month ago
Only two entries, as Athelstone rightly points out, but both were a joy insofar as they echoed some of my experiences. Like Jill, Steve and I were but sixteen and eighteen – me young enough to be banned from going on the back of his motorbike, but after four years of ‘going steady’, when Steve asked my Dad for, permission to marry me his respo…[Read more]
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Sandra replied to the topic Monthly competition August 2025 in the forum Monthly Competition 1 year, 1 month ago
Aargh – busy weekend filled with grandchildren visits and attempts to add names to a 1905 photo of a Christmas celebration family history question. I’ll get to reading and deciding ASAP.
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Sandra replied to the topic Monthly competition August 2025 in the forum Monthly Competition 1 year, 1 month ago
@ Libby: Sorry not be reading an entry from you, but fully sympathise with lack of time.
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Sandra posted an update 1 year, 2 months ago
Ten days left to write 500 words about a first time meeting with in-laws (and follow a link to a brilliantly vivid account of Liz Lochead’s experience)
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Janette replied to the topic Monthly competition August 2025 in the forum Monthly Competition 1 year, 2 months ago
The Woman Whose Nose Pointed North
I had already met my mother-in-law, years earlier, not that I could have known. We had moved onto a still-being-built estate, the house across from ours taken by a large family. So many children were a draw for a five-year-old girl and her brother.
The children, I remember, seemed friendly. Not so the…[Read more]
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Good luck. Please let us know how you get on. I’d like to piggy-back on your request for tips. I am part of a group currently ready to publish a non-fiction book. We’re trying a few pitches via the traditional route just in case it lands but it’s quite likely we may end up self-publishing because we don’t want the book to languish, unpublished, for ages.
Hi Bella. So far I’m deep into reading the Writers and Artists Guide to Self Publishing, which is very ‘involved’ though gives lots of advice. I have also signed up to David Gaughran’s free self-publishing course (on his website). I also found this: https://justpublishingadvice.com/publishing-companies-to-avoid-and-nasty-new-author-scams/
I’ll let…[Read more]
Janette (and Bella), one tip I didn’t mention earlier is that it makes very good sense to set your page size for composing to Blurb’s trade book size. Makes it, in my opinion, a lot easier to read on screen too. Blurb’s page size is 13.02cm x 20.95cm. Select mirror margins , set top margin 2 cm, bottom 2.25 cm, inside 1.75cm, outside, 1.75 cm…[Read more]
Hi Janette, I’ve never self-published but am in contact with editors and proofreaders who work with self-pub authors. This tip usually doesn’t apply to experienced writers so I just add it as a general comment. When self-pub authors approach editors for a proofread or copy edit, often what’s needed is a more substantial developmental or…[Read more]
Thank you, Sandra and Libby. All taken on board, but the novel has had three beta readers so far, plus an agent’s when she almost took it on. Better luck this time, eh?
You are well prepared, Janette! Good luck with the self pub.