Squidge

Well done Skylark. So delighted for you! Like everyone else, I wish I’d been there for your speech. But it’s great to see lovely people and wonderful writers getting the good stuff that they deserve, regardless of how long it takes.
Congratulations!!

This is great, Squidge. Way more immediate and intense – can really feel Tilda’s relationship with the magic and her power. I’d agree with Philippa’s points, but I think it’s great and tight and engaging. I guess from here the question is around how much more exposition you want in this passage and how much should come later.

No worries, @Squidge. Great to see people finding the site from wherever they come.
And Hi Alan!

Thank you, lovely people! Are you all trying to make me cry?!
@athelstone wish you’d been there too but we’ll certainly catch up another time and you’re not half bad at the encouragement yourself
@janette I laughed about the train once I was safely home! And thank you for not setting me off from the front row!
@johnt3 same fears as me but it was…[Read more]

That you research meticulously and have a great imagination? 😄

I thought that was probably the case with the girl’s age, inevitably there are going to be things that have already been covered with an excerpt that starts some way in. Enjoyed reading it, and look forward to seeing more

Thanks Seagreen, I’m happy to hear that you’ve enjoyed the read.

Hi Squidge,

I only read the second version and I really enjoyed it and found it an engaging opening. I agreed with Philippa when the stake was revealed about what would happened if she failed, Tilda’s reaction felt weak compared to the pressure she has just been put under. Also if this is a school of sorts I would imagine she would have been…[Read more]

Thank you Daedalus – I take your points, I have trimmed it down and I will look at hinting at the girl’s age,as it’s six chapters in, it’s not the start of a book so I hope it wouldn’t have to be handled in the same way, but thanks for reading as ever – and not sure what your observation says about me!

Lovely blog, Skylark and I did laugh at the train incident! Listening to you speak was a perfect end to a very enjoyable Festival. Like Janette, knowing that you were giving the keynote was the number one reason I decided to go for the fourth time in a row, despite the JW changes.
You handled it brilliantly, with passion and clarity, and we could…[Read more]

Big step @alanr – best of luck with the subs, keep us posted with your progress

@Squidge – I think you meant to thank @madiguana, the Admin who is custodian of the Den’s twitter channel 🙂

Hi Alan 🙂 Welcome to the Den

Hi Alan, good to make your acquaintance

Superb blog, Skylark, and a great pleasure to read. I’ve wanted to go to the FoW for years, with it always a bit out of reach, but this year I really wanted to go for the sole reason of seeing your moment of triumph. (Not to mention hearing your words of wisdom). But there will be more such moments and I look forward to seeing them i…[Read more]

I’ve been to every FoW and there have been many golden moments but none compare to sitting on That Stage with That Author. Glad we didn’t need tissues after all. You were perfect.