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Janette replied to the topic Monthy Comp – September 2020 in the forum Monthly Competition 5 years, 7 months ago
How would you describe a breathtaking sunset? Why no come along to the monthly comp and put it into a short story? It’s already half way through the month, it would be great to get a few more entries.
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Sandra replied to the topic Monthy Comp – September 2020 in the forum Monthly Competition 5 years, 7 months ago
The marking of a life, or two.
This the second funeral in six days and the mourning very different.
Last week’s was of a mother. Not his, not biologically, but one who had nevertheless mothered him. Had generously included him, enabled him to share in the love she gave her natural sons. Much needed when his own family had been hard and spiky, s…[Read more]
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Athelstone posted an update 5 years, 7 months 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 5 years, 7 months 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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Now there’s a coincidence. Neither am I.
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Nor me! Although I am not good with those pictures!
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I sometimes think a robot would be better at identifying the traffic lights than I am. Hang on, maybe that’s the point…
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Those blasted traffic lights. I’m always relieved to get the fire hydrants. I think I’m becoming a fire hydrant fan.
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Good to mix things up with the occasional bit of fire hydrant. But where’s the other street furniture? Why can’t we identify some litter bins for a change, or bike stands or something?
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Dogs. I want to identify all the dalmatians in a field full of friesan cows.
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I once saw a dalmatian in a field full of daisies.
Re street furniture, it could be the tables and chairs a coffee shop blocks the pavement with in a town near me.
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Janette replied to the topic Cloudie short story challenge publication in the forum Podium 5 years, 7 months ago
Ooh, I remember Bathymetry well. Therefore not at all surprised at its success, but delighted nevertheless at your news Raine! You’re on a well-deserved roll.
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Sandra replied to the topic Cloudie short story challenge publication in the forum Podium 5 years, 7 months 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 5 years, 7 months 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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Seagreen replied to the topic Monthy Comp – September 2020 in the forum Monthly Competition 5 years, 7 months ago
390 words.
Prison? Or exile?
My senses woke – to unfamiliar birdsong and the whisper of wind through long grasses; to the brush of warm air across my skin and the scent of lemon lavender and rose petals spiced with cinnamon; to the taste of salt-tinged air on honeyed lips. I stretched, easing joints taut with inactivity, then opened my mind t…[Read more]
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Raine replied to the topic Indie publishing deal in the forum Podium 5 years, 7 months 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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John S Alty replied to the topic Monthy Comp – September 2020 in the forum Monthly Competition 5 years, 7 months ago
Excuse the bizarre formatting, this had indents when I wrote it.
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John S Alty replied to the topic Monthy Comp – September 2020 in the forum Monthly Competition 5 years, 7 months ago
Sunset
The sun melted into the horizon like a knob of butter in a frying pan and behind it the sky was on fire, it’s flames dancing on the restless sea. Soon, for this was the tropics where sunset and darkness are never far apart, a million stars would come out to play. Frank and his sister, Sarah, sat shoulder to shoulder, their feet half b…[Read more] -
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Janette started the topic Monthy Comp – September 2020 in the forum Monthly Competition 5 years, 7 months ago
One of my favourite scenes in one of my favourite books (The Love Song Of Miss Queenie Hennessey), features a beautiful descriptive of a sunset. I love sunsets; the colours within them and the effect they have on landscapes and seascapes.
I want you to write a piece which features a remarkable sunset. Brownie points if it plays a significant part…[Read more]
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Raine started the topic Indie publishing deal in the forum Podium 5 years, 7 months 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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Janette replied to the topic Choices in the forum
Things that go bump 5 years, 7 months agoAway
Believer
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Janette replied to the topic Monthly comp: July 2020 in the forum Monthly Competition 5 years, 7 months ago
Gosh, just seen the notification in my in-box. Thank you @Squidge for such a good challenge (pity more didn’t join us), and @Athelstone and @Libby. I thoroughly enjoyed your stories and feel we were all winners.
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Knicks replied to the topic Choices in the forum
Things that go bump 5 years, 7 months agoHome
Unbeliever
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