@madiguana
Active 5 years, 2 months ago-
RichardB started the topic The Sweat of the Workers in the forum Blogs 3 months ago
One early morning in 1989, about a year-and-a-half after I’d transferred out of the district bus office to become a bus driver, I arrived for work at the bus garage to find that overnight new logos had appeared on the buses. In fact the engineering staff – mechanics and maintenance workers – were still sticking the last ones on. They bore the wor…[Read more]
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Bella posted an update 3 months, 1 week ago
I have just seen a message from the daughter of Mary Walker James on the YWP page on Facebook. Mary died in October. I have a feeling she was a member here although I cannot be sure of what name she went by. Mezz, possibly? )@mezz, sorry if I have got the wrong name.
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John T replied to the topic Not a Disaster Story in the forum Blogs 3 months, 1 week ago
We must venture that way. We’re at the other side of Bannau Brycheiniog near Abergavenny.
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RichardB replied to the topic Not a Disaster Story in the forum Blogs 3 months, 1 week ago
In the few months since I wrote this blog about ‘our’ pub, the Ancient Briton has won – count them – four awards:
Welsh Pub of the Year;
Welsh Eatery of the Year;
Welsh Gastropub of the Year;
First Place, Welsh Good Food Awards.
As I said before, it seems that the owners, Nils and Emma, are doing something right.
It so happens that we have a…[Read more]
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John T posted an update 3 months, 1 week ago
Happy fairly-new-year, everyone! I’ve written very little in the last three months for health reasons, but I’m slowly winding back up again. I’ve found a (hopefully acceptable) way to take part in September Song, and I’m returning to blow the dust and cobwebs off my WIP.
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Janette posted an update 3 months, 3 weeks ago
Gosh, I almost forgot about the monthly comp, and a worthy winner you chose, Ath. Well done, Terrie, and thank you, Ath, for the prompt. I can’t promise anything in the coming weeks but will try my best in among the prep work for publishing.
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Terrie started the topic January 2026 Monthly Competition in the forum Monthly Competition 3 months, 3 weeks ago
As January is the start of the New Year my obvious thought was New year – new beginnings – but then I thought let’s widen that theme of ‘New’, so write about anything new that motivates, or perhaps daunts, you, or the main character/s of your story.
Think….New Year resolution. New crime scene. New house. New relationship. New…[Read more]
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Terrie replied to the topic Monthly Competition – December 2025 in the forum Monthly Competition 3 months, 3 weeks ago
Well done Jill, Janette and Sandra , December comps always seem to be more of a challenge as most of us usually busy with other things.
Thank you for the chance to set the January comp Ath.
Sorry was busy yesterday and forgot to pop in to see the results . I will post the January challenge as soon as I come up with one . …[Read more]
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Athelstone replied to the topic Monthly Competition – December 2025 in the forum Monthly Competition 3 months, 3 weeks ago
Right, here we go.
Is there anybody who hasn’t had at least a small part in the production of a nativity play? Jill, that’s just how they go. A perfect evocation. And your story has a Christmas miracle as well – or was it a mischievous young actor?
Janette, I was there in that supermarket. No, really, I was actually there I think, barging past…[Read more]
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Athelstone replied to the topic Monthly Competition – December 2025 in the forum Monthly Competition 3 months, 3 weeks ago
OK, it’s a fraction after midnight so 2026. I’ve read them all. They’re annoyingly good. So sorry, you can all wait until tomorrow is well and truly underway. Happy New Year!
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Terrie replied to the topic Monthly Competition – December 2025 in the forum Monthly Competition 3 months, 3 weeks ago
Lord of Yule
Riann contemplated her decision of allowing the snow-covered stranger, now tending the fire, into her cottage. His ice-sprinkled cloak and hood hung at one side of the fire’s mantle, a puddle forming below it, while his boots and mittens lay close to the hearth.
He hadn’t actually set her senses tingling with alarm but there was a p…[Read more]
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Athelstone replied to the topic Monthly Competition – December 2025 in the forum Monthly Competition 3 months, 4 weeks ago
Wouldn’t be Christmas without the occasional disaster.
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Terrie replied to the topic Monthly Competition – December 2025 in the forum Monthly Competition 4 months ago
Still a few days to go and i am on it, honestly , Ath.
After a hectic but lovely build up to xmas and a family orientated day yesterday I settled down about half an hour ago to try and finish my offering. ……. son was carrying a very large bucket of soapy wash water out to the drive to clean his motorbike when…[Read more]
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Janette posted an update 4 months, 1 week ago
Would you know? A cancellation gave me space to knock out a story for December. That’s it though until next year.
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Janette replied to the topic Monthly Competition – December 2025 in the forum Monthly Competition 4 months, 1 week ago
Running the Christmas Gauntlet
Brace yourself, girl. Everywhere is going to be madness today. Most of the throng will be feeling much the same way … which means shouting and kids screaming; means shoving and pushing … but take a deep breath. Concentrate on the list. You’ve successfully run the Christmas shopping gauntlet before.
The veget…[Read more]
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Athelstone posted an update 4 months, 1 week ago
Christmas is coming, The Goose is getting fat, please to put a penny in the old man’s hat, If you haven’t got a penny, a ha’penny will do, If you haven’t got a ha’penny then enter the December monthly comp. Ten days to go.
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Janette posted an update 4 months, 1 week ago
So sorry for my absences. I have made the decision to self-publish my books after careful consideration, reading how some trad friends have fared, and revisiting notes from my last (self-publishing) workshop in York. I’m very wet behind the ears regarding publishing, especially self-publishing, so I am deep into swatting about it before I make any…[Read more]
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Good luck. Please let us know how you get on. I’d like to piggy-back on your request for tips. I am part of a group currently ready to publish a non-fiction book. We’re trying a few pitches via the traditional route just in case it lands but it’s quite likely we may end up self-publishing because we don’t want the book to languish, unpublished, for ages.
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Hi Bella. So far I’m deep into reading the Writers and Artists Guide to Self Publishing, which is very ‘involved’ though gives lots of advice. I have also signed up to David Gaughran’s free self-publishing course (on his website). I also found this: https://justpublishingadvice.com/publishing-companies-to-avoid-and-nasty-new-author-scams/
I’ll let…[Read more]-
Janette (and Bella), one tip I didn’t mention earlier is that it makes very good sense to set your page size for composing to Blurb’s trade book size. Makes it, in my opinion, a lot easier to read on screen too. Blurb’s page size is 13.02cm x 20.95cm. Select mirror margins , set top margin 2 cm, bottom 2.25 cm, inside 1.75cm, outside, 1.75 cm…[Read more]
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Hi Janette, I’ve never self-published but am in contact with editors and proofreaders who work with self-pub authors. This tip usually doesn’t apply to experienced writers so I just add it as a general comment. When self-pub authors approach editors for a proofread or copy edit, often what’s needed is a more substantial developmental or…[Read more]
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Thank you, Sandra and Libby. All taken on board, but the novel has had three beta readers so far, plus an agent’s when she almost took it on. Better luck this time, eh?
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You are well prepared, Janette! Good luck with the self pub.
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Athelstone started the topic Monthly Competition – December 2025 in the forum Monthly Competition 4 months, 3 weeks ago
Christmas is coming, The goose is getting fat! For the December competition, I would love a Christmas story. The theme is Christmas in any way, shape, or form. Make it sad, make it happy, naughty or nice. Make it ghostly if that tickles your fancy. Make it commercial or spiritual. Feel free.
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