@juliec
Active 7 years, 3 months ago-
John S Alty posted an update 7 years, 7 months ago
I’m working to finish this month’s competition entry (come on, you lot!) and fiddling with the Room with a View thingy. Had a piece published in Across the Margin, always a little boost.
Real life is quite demanding right now, also, so just popped in to say Merry Christmas! -
Raine replied to the topic Getting An Agent Blog in the forum The Writers' Lifeboat 7 years, 7 months ago
Yeah, do post an update when you have time, @philippaeast! I’d love to hear how it’s worked doing such big edits with your agent as editor. I didn’t really get much of that with mine, so would be interested to hear how it’s been.
-
Raine posted an update in the group
December SloMo 7 years, 7 months agoFirst day of school hols, which means a final, wonderful end to all the school xmas events (slides into exhaustion coma…) AND I am now ALONE till sunday, for which YAAAAAY!!!
I’m half way through the book edit and have cut from 120k to 110k. Which means I’m on target to get to 100k… so far. I want to get to 99k for that subliminal 5figure…[Read more]
-
Great work, Raine! Sounds like you are definitely on track, well done. Fingers crossed for the next 11,000 xx
-
-
Sandra replied to the topic Monthly comp – December 2018 in the forum Monthly Competition 7 years, 7 months ago
In absence
‘Anna’s party’s on the 21st. I’ll stay over.’
Anna. Beth’s sister. She and I had a hate:hate relationship for reasons neither of us ever disclosed to Beth. Beth had sense enough not to ask.
On this occasion my smile was for more than gratitude at her tact. An entire night to myself; twelve plus hours, taking into account Be…[Read more]
-
Squidge posted an update 7 years, 7 months ago
The spambots are very pretty in the membership column, but I wish they’d beetle off! Can we lock the doors for a bit and hope they find somewhere else to play?
-
I wonder if there’s a tougher way to ask prospective new members to prove they are human? Not sure what BBpress offers in that regard
-
Are they not all the same? The ‘tickabox’ to say you’re not a robot, or the ‘type in these letters you can barely read, even if you ARE human’ box? 😉
-
I can’t remember what we had when we signed up. I imagine some are easier for bots to beat than others
-
-
-
We are now trialling a plugin that should deal with the issue. The vast majority of bots did get stopped by the system software and those few that managed to register were blocked, usually within the hour, manually. Hopefully the plugin will prevent any further spambots getting through!
-
Wahey!
-
-
-
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.
-
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]
-
Sounds really good progress @raine despite all the frustrations. And every cloud has a silver lining 🙂
-
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
-
-
-
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.
-
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!
-
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.
-
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!!
-
-
-
-
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
-
Xmas is not not conducive to writing, Raine, except Christmas cards but it sounds as though you are doing well.
-
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
-
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.
-
-
-
-
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!!
-
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.
-
John S Alty replied to the topic Writing Advice in the forum The Writers' Lifeboat 7 years, 7 months ago
I came across this piece of writing advice by Sol Stein which appeals to me:
“….be sure you don’t stop the story while describing. You are a storyteller, not an interior decorator.”
Probably a shot across the bows of so-called literary prose. King likes to emphasize this point too, but doesn’t do it quite as succinctly.
-
Hilary replied to the topic Short Story Publication/Competition in the forum Podium 7 years, 7 months ago
Congratulations, Stevie!
-
Hilary replied to the topic Short Story Publication/Competition in the forum Podium 7 years, 7 months ago
(not sure I want to meet the bots though)
-
Hilary replied to the topic Short Story Publication/Competition in the forum Podium 7 years, 7 months ago
The launch was great, thanks! I enjoyed the reading – luckily I went first, so could then relax. It was great to meet some of the other writers too.
I love meeting other writers…
We need to have a Den get together… In RL, I mean. -
Raine replied to the topic Short Story Publication/Competition in the forum Podium 7 years, 7 months ago
Just spotted this – well done both @elle and @hilary! How was the launch? I’ve only read out to my writing group, so you are very brave!
-
Janette replied to the topic Short Story Publication/Competition in the forum Podium 7 years, 7 months ago
Many congratulations, Elle and Hilary. Enjoy the read, Hilary x
-
Squidge posted an update in the group
December SloMo 7 years, 7 months agoMy slomo so far has been to draft a Christmas newsletter (rather a Marmite thing, I’ve found, for the recipients), planned a few writing exercises for a group I’m talking to tonight (which I will also be using for NIBS next week), and about 150 words of something I like for Room with a View (although I have no idea where it’s heading or why I’ve…[Read more]
-
Well, that’s progress then! Nice work on the Room With a. It’s story. Hope it collaguates soon.
-
*Room With A View
-
I love it when something insists on being written even if you don’t have a clue where it’s going.
-
How did the writing group go @squidge?
-
Sorry – been out of sight for a few days. Writing went well – the group of mainly older ladies (70+yrs) seemed to enjoy the exercises I set, and convinced quite a few that they could write after all. Yet to try it on the NIBsers…
-
-
-
-
-
-
Raine posted an update in the group
December SloMo 7 years, 7 months agoI’ve decided, in light of switching to editing, that I’m to spend 1-2 hours a (writing) day editing, and the rest working on short stories or transcribing. Should help me keep my editing focus, fingers crossed. Did my first two chapters yesterday…
-
I like the plan, @raine. Slow (SloMo) and steady. I’m also switching it up – spending a couple of hours mentally revising elements of book one and then an hour or so sketching ideas for book 2. I switch sides of the table in between!
-
Ps well done on the two chapters. What kind of editing are you doing?
-
Ta. x. Edit is a general tighten up to try to shrink the total. But I’ve also decided to cut out a character who just wasn’t quite pulling his weight. I’m hoping that helps the whole thing streamline, but it makes the whole thing very line-edit level. Tempting, like you say above, to just keep going when there’s time. But I don’t think that would…[Read more]
-
Oof that does sound hard. I know what you mean about changing one thing affecting everything. Sounds like you,are making brave decisions though with the tightening. I hope it is starting to feel more streamlined (streamlined is such a good word. That’s how we want stories to feel, I think. You know, a sort of organic elegance).
-
-
-
-
- Load More
Have a good one.
Thanks Kate, you too.
And a Very Merry Christmas to you too, John. And to you, Kate.
Wish you all the best, John x
Thanks Athers, thanks Janette.