Sandra

  • Simple, I thought – judge a few stories for the March competition while Ath is out of action (Ath, if you’re reading this, sending BIG healing vibes and willing a speedy recovery). But – what a dilemma to be handed. These are all excellent and worthy to be winners in their own right.

    But judge I must, as promised, so here are my thoughts:

    Jill -…[Read more]

  • Damn! It messed with my formatting 🙁

     

  • The madness is all mine for thinking I could do this!

    All words taken from Rod Judkins’ The Art of Creative Thinking.

     

    DRIBBLES AND SPATTERS

    Inner demons

    chisel

    creative confidence

    Ideas so strange

    wither.

     

    Radiate defiance

    Salvage mistakes with freedom

    and

    transform the message

    Come alive!

  • You asked for mad?  Well, here’s the  slice of crackpot absurdity I came up with .

     

    The necklace of tiny silver bells about her neck tinkled softly as she backed against the garden wall. ‘You’re all mad, you know,’ she muttered holding the sharp seed dibber, labelled ‘Mr Pointy’, like a knife at the advancing crowd.

    At the front of the group,…[Read more]

  • Several weeks ago, I posted that I had stopped seeking representation for my book, Grace (full title to be revealed with the book cover), and go down the Indi path. As a complete publishing novice, my first reaction was ‘where the hell do I begin?’ And, for those others wondering the same thing, promised I would report back on anything I had don…[Read more]

    • Thank you. This is really useful information. It’s a lot of work – hope things move along smoothly for you.

      • Thanks, Bella. Gwynn GB warned it was a lot of work done properly, but to treat it as a business. It seems though, that you don’t escape any of the marketing work if taken on via trad publishing. Yes, let’s hope the work pays off – fingers crossed.

  • In March it seems that hares go mad. They chase each other, jump and frolic, even have boxing matches. For March, somebody has done/is doing/will do something mad. It might be you, or not – whatever you wish. 500 words maximum please before midnight on 31 March.

     

  • Thank you for such a satisfactory February topic, Libby, and for your generous appraisal! I loved the other two entries; they could easily have won.

  • Teabreak in love

    Maureen Chapman. No, tell a lie, it was Chaplain, like a vicar. Her name, I mean—she wasn’t like a vicar. Anyway, Maureen Chaplain was perfect from my ten-year-old point of view. But I’m getting all jumbled up about how to start, so I’ll take a breath. See, it really began when the Brazells moved out from next door and the Cha…[Read more]

  • Athelstone posted an update 3 months ago

    Some very sad news for old Cloudies, which I suppose is most of us. I’ve just heard that Barb (Barbara Dawn Ettridge) died in Australia just over a week ago. Barb was funny, sharp, a great writer, and a good friend. Details are here:…[Read more]

    • Yes, Athelstone I well remember the lovely Barb. Sad news, but thank you for posting it. May she Rest In Peace. Jillx

  • Terrie, I had a tricky January but that’s no excuse. Sorry for missing a super monthly comp. Well done Libby, a really great entry. Well done all.

  • Hi Janette, hi everyone. So lovely to reconnect. How are you all doing?

    • Hi Hel! So glad to hear from you again! How are you? Are you still writing?
      I am starting the self-publishing route for my Grace book after reading up on the Trad V Indie comparisons. Currently awaiting cover design proposals, when I’ll send them my WIP for typesetting. It’s all feeling terrifyingly close, but exciting.

  •  

    Thank you Jill, Sandra and Libby for  giving me totally engaging entries  composed in three distinct voices.  This monthly challenge  is always a  great  showcase  for the  talents  of the  members of  Den of Writers.

    Jill:- Lots of new beginnings in this piece. New start new job new house new baby.  A well-crafted thoughtful story with lots o…[Read more]

  • Just a  reminder that  there is less that  a week   until the  the  January  comp ends  and there are only  a couple  of  entries  so far .  If you have something you think  will fit the  fairly broad remit of the theme  then  do please submit it .

  • I know that feeling. I was also a government employee who found himself parcelled up and sold to the highest bidder, or at least the one that made the most empty promises and said the things that our betters at the high table wanted to hear. I recall now how our managers queued up to tell us what a good thing it was and, yes, they used that exact…[Read more]

  • Bella posted an update 4 months 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.

    • Hi Bella, I’ve been away for a few days and only just saw your note. Still away and a bit tied up with things, but I’ll see if I can check our member details. Sadly, no guarantee of being certain because names and email addresses often don’t match directly.

  • John T replied to the topic Not a Disaster Story in the forum Blogs 4 months ago

    We must venture that way. We’re at the other side of Bannau Brycheiniog near Abergavenny.

  • John T posted an update 4 months 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.

    • Good to hear you’re feeling stronger, John. Still battling with my September Song entry – good to hear you’re onto it too.

  • Janette posted an update 4 months, 1 week 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.

  • 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]

  • 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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