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Sandra replied to the topic Monthly comp – July 2019 in the forum Monthly Competition 6 years, 9 months ago
I didn’t have any specific criteria in mind by which to judge this; just expected to choose the one which moved me most, in much the same way as Vicki Feaver’s poetry moves me. Which was a BIG mistake. Because each and every entry was thought-provoking in a subtly different way.
But definitely NOT a mistake for the pleasure each one brought me,…[Read more]
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Thanks John – make my job harder, why don’t you? 😉
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John S Alty posted an update 6 years, 9 months ago
My activity page is now completely occupied by bots!
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We’ll have to sneak in via the closed groups …
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Ditto – replying before you disappear…
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Now I’m the meat in a bot sandwich.
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Athelstone posted an update 6 years, 9 months ago
Feeling a bit hacked-off. Just heard that my number one choice of agent to meet at York is no longer going to be there. To be honest, she seemed like such a good fit for my writing that she was a large part of my decision to go this year. My number two choice is a perfectly nice and doubtless excellent agent, but seems interested in rather more…[Read more]
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Sorry to hear this, Ath. Afraid I don’t know anything about Hal Duncan. I suppose that if you submit your MS to the agent at some later date, you can tell them you’d applied to meet them at York and that would catch their attention favourably.
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Hal Duncan? Think he’s the Scottish bloke. Talks nineteen to the dozen in his sessions, but knows his stuff. Can come over a bit abrasive, and I can’t remember what he writes himself. I have a feeling it’s a bit quirky, so you might be OK with him for your non-genre stuff…?
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Yep, just had a look at his website and it is the chap I remember. His how to write a sentence session was brilliant.
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I had a session with Hal Duncan 2/3 years back. Not easy because he knew nothing about my genre. While his sessions were hi-speed and he promised notes (because taking them was impossible), they never materialised. I can’t find my feed-back sheet but though what little he did say was useful.
Bummer though, big time, for you.
My review of Vellum…[Read more]
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That is frustrating, Athers, especially as your other options are now limited and less appealing. I did a sentence structure workshop with Hal Duncan at York years ago. I’m afraid to say I got bored because he was being too methodical (my flaw probably, not his), but that’s not to say he wouldn’t be a good fit as a Book Doctor. Looking at his w…[Read more]
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Heyoop. Just seen I’ve been name-checked here. I do check the Den regularly but missed this. Sounds like you’ve sorted something out, At hers. Bummer though. Hope you’re not regretting coming to York. I’ll be looking forward to seeing you there.
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Ah well, thanks all – just letting off steam. The chance to actually get read by an agent and then meet them is very different from submitting into the dark and if things go wrong it shouldn’t be just a logistical exercise to ‘fix something up’ for the unlucky delegate. I’ve seen similar things happen in previous years and the outcome is never…[Read more]
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And the decision I made is to have a chat with a book doctor who I trust to tell me if I’m being boring, or brilliant, engaging or execrable. I’ve done a bit of research (which is a posh spin on ‘checked the internet’) about Hal Duncan. Seems to be a very fine writer and all-round star, but I’ll stick with my choice.
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Oh no, Athers, I’d seen that one or two might have been cancelled and it sucks that one was ‘the one’ of yours. I haven’t heard anything, so presume mine are okay, but that doesn’t help you. Nor does having to pick from the remaining places available so late in the day. I really hope you get something out of coming to York and as mentioned above,…[Read more]
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Look forward to that, Janette!
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The same thing happened to me, Ath. The replacement agent I’ve found I don’t know at all, but she looks quite interesting.
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I had something of a false start with my WIP. After getting 40K plus into it, I’ve restarted with a new MC (wildly different character) and a change from past to present tense. The net result is that I’m way behind where I intended to be for York. I’ve decided that if I can’t get an agent who’s a good match then I’ll try a book doctor.
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I know all about changing tense, having changed a whole novel from first person present to third person past (and still not getting it published). One possibility at york is to go for an editor. I had a brilliant session with a commissioning editor: I didn’t expect or get a deal, but she helped me pick out underlying themes in the book. One of the…[Read more]
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GippsGirl posted an update 6 years, 9 months ago
@admin
As others have highlighted, the Den could do with a little housekeeping, and sweeping away the unwanted debris. Curious to know what WordPress offers in the way of security from such intrusions?-
Security is as good as we can currently make it. And house is definitely being kept! 🙂 Occasionally – as recently – we have an odd spate of slightly cleverer bots joining the site because they manage to foil part of the software. While it is annoying to see them on the wall, they have no ability to interact or affect the Den at all. (Each user…[Read more]
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That’s very reassuring, and I like your strategic thinking. Cheers. 🙂
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Many thanks for all your efforts @admin.
I was hoping the Thomas S Cook bot might give some travel tips …
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Sandra replied to the topic Monthly comp – July 2019 in the forum Monthly Competition 6 years, 9 months ago
With a dozen sparkling and highly entertaining entries already posted I know I’m only making it harder for myself to choose, but feel obliged to point out that there’s still five days to go before the deadline.
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GippsGirl posted an update 6 years, 9 months ago
@katemachon
Adored your competition entry, Kate! Second person worked so well, and in such few words you’ve conveyed perfectly that false sense of security. The last line was a stunner.-
Thanks, Gipps. 😀
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Good one, Kate.
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Thanks, John. There are a lot of really cracking entries this month. A great prompt from Sandra.
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JaneShuff replied to the topic DIY soapbox in the forum Podium 6 years, 9 months ago
Please would you send it to France, Sandra. I’ll PM you my address and it would be easier for me to do a trasnfer if you don’t mind PMing me your bank details.
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GippsGirl replied to the topic DIY soapbox in the forum Podium 6 years, 9 months ago
Fine with me, Sandra. Do you want to provide bank details for a transfer (by way of PM) or would you prefer a cheque?
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Sandra replied to the topic DIY soapbox in the forum Podium 6 years, 9 months ago
@Athelstone, @JaneShuff, @GippsGirl re posting Step so grave, if I’ve interpreted the Royal Mail site right (and often I don’t) it’ll cost £7.65 to send to France, £3 for the UK, plus, say 75p for P&P so, Jane, if you have a UK address that’ll still be cheaper than Blurb. (My profit per book is 78p, not £1.30 – maths never my strong point!- so I…[Read more]
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Yep! And couldn’t get cool last night even though it rained.
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Squidge posted an update 6 years, 9 months ago
So I am no longer the mum of two children; I’m the mum of two adults (supposedly) as Squidgeling T was 18 last Saturday.
Feels very strange. Empty nest syndrome beckons…but so do holidays out of term time, opportunities to reconnect with Mr Squidge (you don’t realise how much of your identity is tied up with your kids until they are doing…[Read more]
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Aww. In my view they should have left the age of majority at 21. Especially since they all seem to stay on the payroll for far longer than that anyway…
Anyway, congratulations on having two adults and enjoy some quality time with Mr Squidge.
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“they all seem to stay on the payroll for far longer than that anyway”
Tell me about it!
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Congratulations, Squidge. Enjoy your return to a more independent life!
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Wait until you’re a grandparent. That’s an even stranger feeling!
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It does change, Squidge. It can be a bit disorientating at first and sometimes a bit sad, but you’ll develop a new relationship with them which, even though it’s a totally different shape, completely fills the hole they leave behind. Odd that.
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I’ve been somewhat strategic in helping my daughter to develop her independence. It was I who left home for trips away, leaving her to fend for herself (once she was working, I should add!). Good practice, I thought, for when she gets a place of her own – and she agreed. She has not long returned from her big first trip, spending three months in…[Read more]
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It is a strange feeling, Squidge, which for me felt as though time had played a trick on me. It played stranger tricks when my granddaughter fledged, but suddenly you will wonder how you fit everything in. Athers is right, the holes are soon filled and the relationships blossom, or should I say metamorphose into something quite different and…[Read more]
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Aw, thanks all. I know things do get easier – and become different – as we’re already on that road with our eldest. We’ll take it slow, and Mr S and I will no doubt talk about it all and fingers crossed we’ll find a new equilibrium soon.
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All my nest-leavers are now in their forties(!!!) and yes, there’s huge benefit in re-discovering the bloke you remember from way back when, but also great to build new relationships with the emerging adults. All different. All totally rewarding.
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GippsGirl replied to the topic Monthly comp – July 2019 in the forum Monthly Competition 6 years, 9 months ago
Bringing a gun into a house changes it.
Atoms shift and reconfigure to make space
for this alien instrument
and what it might wreak.It’s not the way, she pleads.
Violence begets violence
and can’t be undone.Pushed back by forceful hands,
she quakes in the corner,
bible clutched to heart.He sits rigid, jaw clenched, hairs on end,
the wei…[Read more] -
Sandra replied to the topic DIY soapbox in the forum Podium 6 years, 9 months ago
Thanks Robyn, I’ll gladly sign and send you one but hopefully it’ll save you money rather than reward me because Blurb charge an embarrassing (to me) £6.99 p&p for a single book. I’m profiting by ~£1.30 per book, which is fine because I’m not after making money, just getting it out to those friends who have expressed an interest (and much p…[Read more]
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GippsGirl replied to the topic DIY soapbox in the forum Podium 6 years, 9 months ago
Congrats, Sandra! A great accomplishment to get it in print after eight long years. Friends who know I write can’t understand why I’m still at it after five. I, too, would love a signed copy, and assume you reap more of the profit (!) if purchased direct rather than via Blurb? Could do a bank transfer.
And a catch-up is definitely due! x
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JaneShuff replied to the topic DIY soapbox in the forum Podium 6 years, 9 months ago
Brilliant! Let me know about the P&P and I’ll send you a cheque. If it’s hideously expensive to send to France, I’ll get it sent to my sister, or one of the sons…
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Sandra replied to the topic DIY soapbox in the forum Podium 6 years, 9 months ago
Jane, I’d be delighted to sign and send you one, how much would be the £7.95 + p&p. I’ve not yet got the order back and would need to go to the post office to find out what it costs. Will let you know.
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Sandra replied to the topic DIY soapbox in the forum Podium 6 years, 9 months ago
Thanks Janette, it didn’t work out as expected, but what book does?
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