Martini Rosso

Thanks Sandra. The ‘mate’ was an attempt to show gender. Always tricky in first person. I’ve never been on a motorbike so your observations are most useful, as are your suggested tweaks. Much appreciated.

Thanks Bella. I’m relieved it works for you and thanks for all the tweaks. Definitely should be ‘they would come for me.’ Great catch.

I like @Squidge‘s suggestion.

How about having both a competition as you’ve outlined it @Daedalus
and also a non-competitive prompt/challenge as a separate thing, also run every two months. It may be just me but I can see things becoming confusing if the one process variously includes a competition and a non-competition!

If there’s no judging…[Read more]

Brilliant news, Raine. Congratulations.

Some lovely, quality writing, Bella.

I do agree with the others that I didn’t need quite so much information about the Bert back story. That did slow it down.

I liked this bit. ‘The conversation could go either way. She held her breath’ It really had me thinking uh-oh, what is this mother going to be like? Is she mentally unstable and going to…[Read more]

I thought this very well written and certainly not slow. However, as the opening to a novel, in view of what you tell us is going to happen, I feel it needs a hook. Perhaps a short chapter before this one, whetting the readers appetite.
Just my opinion, as always, so ignore at will.

Wonderful news. Congratulations. And very interesting about the previous rejections. Subjective, as you say.

How about every two months to start with and see if that works? I’m sympathetic to John’s suggestion of quarterly but if part of the aim is to exercise one’s writing muscles with different stories or styles then frequency seems relevant. So maybe see how we get on and go to quarterly if that’s necessary?

If we did open votes would voters give a…[Read more]

Thoughts:
A quarterly competition? Winner sets the subject for the next comp, but doesn’t judge it. Prize is a virtual Gold Quill.
The judging is either by a panel or a vote of the participants, or an open vote.
Critique of the entries? By who? Needs some ideas. Maybe submit the winning entry to a magazine or competition?

Have a good weekend, everybody.

Works for me, good idea.

That’s a great idea @raine if @jd73 is happy to judge.

Good one, Daeds, thank you.

Fabulous Fiona. This is one I want to read, but I’m waiting for the paperback.

Thanks Kaz. I’m going to print this out and have a thorough read.

How incredibly generous of you to share your notes in this way, KazG. Thank you.

The Womagwriter blog has info on this too https://womagwriter.blogspot.com/
(a useful site if you’re thinking of submitting to women’s mags)

And Della Galton blogged about it a couple of months ago on her site.

Brilliant Stevie. Have to say I loved that story, so I’m not surprised.