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Athelstone posted an update 6 years, 1 month ago
“I don’t care where you’ve been, You ain’t been nowhere till you’ve been in – the Things that go Bump writing challenge.”
Find the group. Join. Enjoy.
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JaneShuff posted an update 6 years, 1 month ago
Just wondering how you are all dealing with the Covid pandemic within your writing. I’m in the planning stages of a new novel and can’t decide. Do I set my novel pre-pandemic? Which feels like a bit of a cop-out. Do I ignore it completely? Same comment. Or do I try to set it in the current situation with the problems and concerns of the pandemic…[Read more]
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I think it depends how optimistic or pessimistic you are about the pandemic. Considering how long it takes between drafting a novel and seeing it in print (if it gets that far), if you take the optimistic view the whole thing will be over by then, it’ll no longer be a part of contemporary life, and nobody will worry much whether you’ve included it…[Read more]
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Not answering your question, exactly, but I’ve read a number of short stories which include reference to Covid and in general I find them offputting, a bit bandwagon, which might be because we’re in the middle of it. I think if your novel is set at the time, a passing reference to its restrictions might be enough. But the same (to include or…[Read more]
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Personally, I’d leave it out. So many people now must be writing pandemic stories, that the mention of it alone might put readers on guard. Also, optimistically speaking, by the time your novel comes out, life may have returned to normal and your story would be dated.
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Interesting. I wasn’t planning on writing a story about the pandemic but was thinking about whether the story I had planned to write should acknowledge the pandemic. For example there is quite a lot of travel in it and it feels weird to have someone just hop on a plane given what’s going on. Have to think a bit more.
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Best of luck!
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Yes, best of luck, Jane. FWIW, I don’t think ignoring the pandemic is anything of a cop-out. I’m choosing to ignore it in my next one for similar reasons to some remarks above, that a) it risks becoming band-wagon and, if it does (hopefully) pass, Covid might age the novel by the time it comes to print. Mostly b) that books are commonly escapism,…[Read more]
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I agree there’s a risk of bandwagon. I think it can be hard, too, to think of something interesting to say about a situation when we’re still in it. Hard for me, anyway.
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Yeah, its a tricky one isn’t it? To ignore it completely, or assume that a book based two years from now can still ignore it completely seems a bit unbelievable to me. This is a world changing event, ignoring it for present/near-future settings would be odd imo. BUT I have absolutely zero interest in novels *about* it. I do think the shifting,…[Read more]
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Thanks @raine. You expressed my quandary much better than I could. Still not sure which way to go!!
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I’m veering towards thinking that a contemporary book which ignores covid is going to date far faster than one which has it/its aftershocks in the background.
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I think I agree and, in any case, I’m finding hard to impossible to plan without the realities of Covid19 informing the action. It is the current reality.
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Sandra replied to the topic Cloudie short story challenge publication in the forum Podium 6 years, 1 month ago
You’re really on a roll, Raine … proving it’s not just buses. Brilliant news.
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Raine started the topic Cloudie short story challenge publication in the forum Podium 6 years, 1 month ago
Hi all, thought you’d be interested to know that ‘Bathymetry’, a short story which came out of a previous winter short story challenge is going to be published in Strange Horizons, which is a bit of a dream publication. Whoop whoop. I can’t actually remember which challenge but it was on the old Word Cloud – A Winter’s Tale perhaps?
So that’s 3…[Read more]
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Woooow, Strange Horizons is AMAZING Raine, WELL DONE! I’ve wanted to get a story in there forever, this is huge
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It’s great, isn’t it? I’m so delighted. They asked for an R&R a few months ago, so I had all my fingers and toes crossed, and now YAY! 🙂
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Fantastic, so pleased for you. Any idea when it might be published?
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Not till early next year apparently. Not sure when exactly.
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Great news, Raine. Congratulations! Let us know when it’s published.
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That’s not too long in the scheme of things (it being September already, aaargh!) – make sure you post a link in Podium when it appears 🙂
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Brilliant! Good for you x
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Brilliant! It was “Whispers and Glances” and I’ll accept all the thanks going, especially with alcohol attached. It’s your tale of Turkish boat-related doings, if I recall (and trying not to recall too much in print), and truly excellent it is.
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That’s the one @athelstone! And thank you. x
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Brilliant news, Raine. Congratulations 😊
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More great news! That’s fabulous.
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I remember that piece of brilliance very clearly – so well deserved @raine! I can’t tell you how delighted I am that your work is finally getting the plaudits it deserves!! Whoop whoop from down here xxx
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Raine replied to the topic Indie publishing deal in the forum Podium 6 years, 1 month ago
Thank-you all for the lovely comments. 🙂 It’s a long way off being an actual book but I’m enjoying knowing it’s coming! Now to edit…
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Raine started the topic Indie publishing deal in the forum Podium 6 years, 1 month ago
For anyone who hasn’t seen this on FB or Twitter…
Some news…
https://www.lunapresspublishing.com/post/welcome-to-the-family-lorraine-wilsonIts a small indie press in Edinburgh (so local – yay!) & they are a perfect home for my square peg of a book!
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👏👏👏🍾🍾🍾
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About time too! Great choice of publisher (and author) – it is as though it was meant to be. Congratulations, Raine x
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You know what I think about this – delighted for you. And delighted others are going to get a chance to read this wonderful book
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Yaayy! I’m SO SO delighted about this news, and they are very lucky publishers to have snapped you up. What a wonderful team you make. Just surprised it’s taken this long but now your gorgeous prose will be out in the world. So happy for you lovely! xx
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That your square peg eventually found a publisher with a square-shaped hole to fill should encourage everyone else who has so far failed to find their fit.
Really, really delighted for you. -
This is just the best news. So pleased for you. And it’s about time your exquisite work got the attention it derserves 😊
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Well done Raine!
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This is great news, Raine!
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Athelstone replied to the topic Monthly comp: July 2020 in the forum Monthly Competition 6 years, 1 month ago
Congratulations to all (of us), especially @Janette 🙂
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Athelstone posted an update 6 years, 1 month ago
A bump never hurt anyone – well, unless it did. Anyway, BUMP. Don’t forget the short story writing challenge! If that means little, hurry over to the group “Things that go bump!” and be enlightened (You’ll have to join to read the forum). Preferably make a choice and take part.
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JaneShuff replied to the topic Susie in the forum Blogs 6 years, 1 month ago
Lovely story, Richard. Funny how some people stay with you over the years while others disappear from your memories.
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RichardB posted an update 6 years, 1 month ago
Last night, beginning at about one in the morning, chaos erupted as over 3,000 young people (police estimate) converged on our quiet little village, making their way to an illegal rave on the mountain behind us. Judging by the number of parked cars choking the streets, most of them are still there. On so many levels, more than I can be bothered to…[Read more]
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Oh Richard – saw it on the news last night. Had no idea it was your village. I can’t understand why people would be so selfish and inconsiderate when so many are doing their best to avoid catching/spreading this blasted infection.
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RichardB posted an update in the group
Things that go bump 6 years, 1 month agoI noticed that over half the entries in the last challenge had some sort of paranormal element. Mine didn’t, but since I’ve always loved ghost stories…
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I’ve entered six of these now and four of them have had some sort of supernatural aspect. This one definitely ought to be up your street
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RichardB replied to the topic Susie in the forum Blogs 6 years, 1 month ago
I wasn’t 100% certain that the (very) occasional references I found on the Net were to ‘my’ Susie until I found that photo. Susie isn’t exactly a rare name; neither is her given name, Susana, not in Spain. And though her surname may be exotic in Britain, she’d told me it’s common in Catalonia, where she was born.
On her last day at the pub I gave…[Read more]
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RichardB replied to the topic Susie in the forum Blogs 6 years, 2 months ago
I don’t want to come on like a rampant egotist, but within hours of my posting this latest blog Ath’s new challenge appeared, and all the excitement has pushed my blog out of sight way down the wall. So this blog is another thing that’s going to go…………..BUMP.
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