-
Philippa East posted an update in the group
December SloMo 7 years, 11 months agoHello Everyone, and thanks so much @raine for setting this group up.
Like Seagreen, I have editing work to do over the next month or so, so I am hoping I can make slow and gentle progress on that. I’m currently grappling The Fear / Resistance, so joining you all in this supportive place will be helpful, I hope.
My main panic is that these…[Read more]
-
-
Daedalus replied to the topic Monthly competition – Nov 2018 in the forum Monthly Competition 7 years, 11 months ago
Well done Raine, fantastic competition Jonathan, many thanks for the feedback
-
-
Athelstone replied to the topic NaNoWriMo in the forum Coffee Shop 7 years, 11 months ago
Well done indeed! And (seriously) I am in awe looking at your word count.
-
Daedalus replied to the topic Monthly competition – Nov 2018 in the forum Monthly Competition 7 years, 11 months ago
(Sorry, 500 words not inc title)
-
Daedalus replied to the topic Monthly competition – Nov 2018 in the forum Monthly Competition 7 years, 11 months ago
Stairway
In the church in my village was a staircase that went nowhere. It was not such a very rare thing. Lots of mediaeval churches in my part of the world have a little alcove near the pulpit that used to lead to the rood gallery – an actual gallery, often beautifully decorated, high above the congregation from where the priest would deliver t…[Read more]
-
Athelstone replied to the topic NaNoWriMo in the forum Coffee Shop 7 years, 11 months ago
Well, that’s me done. I really thought I wouldn’t make it this time.
-
Philippa East replied to the topic Two newses in the forum Podium 7 years, 11 months ago
Excellent! I am so chuffed for you. Well done.
-
Hilary replied to the topic Two newses in the forum Podium 7 years, 11 months ago
That’s great, Raine. I, too, remember that amazing Now and Then story, particularly the sense of setting and history. Good for you.
-
Daedalus replied to the topic Two newses in the forum Podium 7 years, 11 months ago
Superb Raine, I love that story. Any idea when the antho will be out?
And that’s a real endorsement about the flash piece. I’m sure they wouldn’t have nominated it if they didn’t think it had a shot at winning.
-
Janette replied to the topic Two newses in the forum Podium 7 years, 11 months ago
Raine, that’s fab news and so well deserved. Happy dancing for you!
-
John S Alty replied to the topic Monthly competition – Nov 2018 in the forum Monthly Competition 7 years, 11 months ago
Editing
“Listen to me, Luigi; we’re always on the lookout for new stage plays and this one sounded interesting. Ingenious plot, bit of sex, incest, prostitution, a potential murder and ending up with a suicide.” He put down the cigar he had been waving like a conductor’s baton and folded his hands on his expansive belly. “What’s not to like?”
“…[Read more] -
Daedalus replied to the topic Twitter thread on literary agents in the forum The Writers' Lifeboat 7 years, 11 months ago
Thanks @philippaeast, there’s some good stuff in there isn’t there? Considering printing out a copy for when I start to query (a while away yet)
-
Philippa East replied to the topic NaNoWriMo in the forum Coffee Shop 7 years, 11 months ago
I so agree that it’s useful to drill down into the actual function of a particular behaviour (e.g. scrolling on Twitter, ironing socks etc.)
It MAY be avoidant procrastination (i.e. continuously putting off something we’re for some reason afraid to face). Or that same behaviour could be a much-needed and healthy break from the keyboard / page -…[Read more]
-
Philippa East replied to the topic Twitter thread on literary agents in the forum The Writers' Lifeboat 7 years, 11 months ago
Great thread, Daeds, thanks
-
Athelstone replied to the topic NaNoWriMo in the forum Coffee Shop 7 years, 11 months ago
To be clear, the wiki definition, or the Oxford Dictionary, or Chambers, or whatever, is only the definition that whoever wrote the definition decided on. It’s useful as clarification or as a pointer if you really don’t know how to use the word. That said, even if it is wholly and exclusively correct* then the understanding of commitment remains…[Read more]
-
Daedalus replied to the topic NaNoWriMo in the forum Coffee Shop 7 years, 11 months ago
I think what writers commonly refer to as procrastination is not quite the same as that definition, anyway. Sometimes forcing yourself to write can be the worst thing for your writing, and doing something else can be what you need to get your head into the right place.
-
Daedalus replied to the topic NaNoWriMo in the forum Coffee Shop 7 years, 11 months ago
You ever meet anyone with any kind of attention deficit disorder Alan?
-
Squidge replied to the topic NaNoWriMo in the forum Coffee Shop 7 years, 11 months ago
Procrastination is nothing to do with commitment! It is everything to do with recognising that you need something completely different sometimes to get the authorly juices flowing again. I do it – it doesn’t mean I’m not committed at all.
I prefer to call it what it is and look at WHY I’m doing it. If it’s simply time-wasting, then I give myself…[Read more]
- Load More

I know exactly what you mean about The Fear, both in general and in the specific form you mention. Encouragement: a few days ago I fixed a problem in my old revived MS that I’d been shrinking from for, literally, years, si if I can do it you certainly can.
Thanks @richardB. “Shrinking from” – that’s exactly it!! I know I just need to take a deep breath, and step in. Quit worrying about the outcome and just engage with the process.
I have four clear hours tomorrow morning to work, so hopefully I will make some progress. Out of interest, Richard, what was the problem and what was your fix? (if you…[Read more]
The problem was the one I mentioned a couple of days ago: the bloated chapter full of stuff the reader already knew. I was shrinking from it because there were several threads/issues involved and it was going to be hard work keeping track of them and figuring out what I could get away with losing. I solved it by being bloody ruthless – something…[Read more]
Oh well done on the ruthlessness! And that sounds like such an important thing to have fixed. I wonder if part of our Fear can come from the sense that if we try to change tricky elements in the MS, the whole thing will fall apart….