@juliec
Active 7 years ago-
Sandra replied to the topic Monthly competition- November 2024 in the forum Monthly Competition 1 year, 4 months ago
Sea, I well remember, a couple of years ago admiring your shorter haircut when you picked me up at Markinch station, Promise I wasn’t thinking of the competition we might meet at Craigievar! I did hope to do something more inspired for this great prompt, but ran out of mental space, so well done Ath.
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Sandra replied to the topic Is a social media Christmas appeal worthwhile? in the forum Blogs 1 year, 4 months ago
My view is that publishers are in it for the money, and celebrity sells more – and more reliably – than as-yet-unknown novelists (potentially supplying a profit which might enable them to take more chances on unknowns?) It might be seen as ‘not fair’, but in my view is more honest to trust readers’ appreciation of well-written novels than bombard…[Read more]
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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 started the topic Is a social media Christmas appeal worthwhile? in the forum Blogs 1 year, 5 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, 5 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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Sandra replied to the topic Monthly competition- November 2024 in the forum Monthly Competition 1 year, 5 months ago
This is not my take on the headline, but I’ve posted it here because I could not come up with anything more ludicrous.
“Short hair hints may be ‘sabotage” study finds.
Publishing her research on the ’Science Direct’ website, under the heading ‘Personality and individual Differences’ Danielle Sulikowski details how women were asked to giv…[Read more]
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Sandra replied to the topic Monthly Comp – October 2024 in the forum Monthly Competition 1 year, 5 months ago
Congratulations to Seagreen, and to everyone else who supplied an entertaining and impressive piece to October’s comp. And to Knicks for setting it,
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Sandra replied to the topic Monthly Comp – October 2024 in the forum Monthly Competition 1 year, 5 months ago
Apologies, Knicks, I’m not going to submit anything this month – torn three ways with something that will not knit.
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Sandra replied to the topic Chit Chat in the forum
A Different Time 1 year, 6 months agoYeah. Thanks. Still pondering …
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Sandra replied to the topic Chit Chat in the forum
A Different Time 1 year, 6 months agoInitially, absence of choices left me teetering, unsupported. lacking a direction pointer (as did the lack of a ‘final twist’ in previous years.) But it didn’t take long to seize on an idea (and even less time to feel that a mistake and subsequently suffer an alternative uncertainty of direction) Still ongoing, but that’s the nature of a ch…[Read more]
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Sandra replied to the topic Monthly competition, September 2024 in the forum Monthly Competition 1 year, 6 months ago
@ Richard, glad to hear you were inspired, and hope it becomes a (good) habit. I did try to make sure I’d the time-line correct for Rebecca, but whichever, it worked as far as impact was concerned.
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Jules replied to the topic Chit Chat in the forum
A Different Time 1 year, 6 months agoAsper usual, I have no ideas at all yet. Knowing me, it’ll be something weird though ????
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Sandra replied to the topic Monthly competition, September 2024 in the forum Monthly Competition 1 year, 6 months ago
I should’ve known better than to panic – what I took for drought was silent fermentation which resulted in an uncorking and a fizzing cascade of sparkling wines. Knick’s violently vivid tale of betrayal dangerously intoxicating with an awe-inspiring detonation of language.
Richard B’s continuation of his ‘Whodunnit’ tale and Rebecca’s stoi…[Read more]
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Sandra replied to the topic Chit Chat in the forum
A Different Time 1 year, 6 months agoSurprise, surprise, this will be another gallon into pint pot exercise; the story I want to tell one I’ve already written – 50000+ words and more – from letters, postcards, photos. meetings (in New Zealand) and anecdotes. But the slant of this challenge requires a different telling and is one I’ll aim to fulfil.
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Sandra replied to the topic Monthly competition, September 2024 in the forum Monthly Competition 1 year, 7 months ago
As I well know, Ath, but returning from a week in Orkney to nil activity I thought I’d give everyone a second possibility of inspiration.
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Sandra replied to the topic Monthly competition, September 2024 in the forum Monthly Competition 1 year, 7 months ago
Thank YOU Libby – as ever I look forward to reading your entry.
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Sandra replied to the topic Monthly competition, September 2024 in the forum Monthly Competition 1 year, 7 months ago
UPDATE/ALTERNATIVE TO SEPTMBER COMP.
In view of lack of response so far, I wonder whether Tessa Hadley’s new collection, ‘After the funeral’ might be more inspiring? If so, give it a go – give them both a go if you feel so inspired – you’ve still a couple of weeks.
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