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Janette posted an update 1 year, 9 months ago
Phew, Winter comp story posted. Hope it may be forgiven that this is an old monthly comp entry that I have torn apart, expanded and reassembled. It is all I could come up with given my other obligations, and I now hope errors and amends don’t leap out at me!
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Janette started the topic Is a social media Christmas appeal worthwhile? in the forum Blogs 1 year, 9 months ago
Recently, @Philippa East posted a copy of her letter to the Society of Authors on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=2364405197250152&set=pcb.2364405367250135
It refers to the unfair bombardment of celebrity books and their many promotions, especially during a holiday season. Though I am not (yet) published, I wholeheartedly agree…[Read more]
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Hi @janette, thank you for sharing this. As I’m not on FB I can’t read the whole letter on screen. Are you able to copy and paste it here?
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Hi Libby and @janette.
Here below is a copy of my original letter to the society of authors.
I think that a “Christmas appeal” letter, encouraging readers and book-buyers to support ordinary authors by avoiding celebrity titles would be great! I’ve been chatting loads about this issue in my various writing networks, so I think that if we were…[Read more]-
I saw your letter, Philippa, and I’m really pleased you voiced what so many of us are feeling.
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Thank you, @philippaeast for posting this. @Libby hope you agree with the sentiment.
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I’m happy to join any communal effort. I’m an associate member of SoA, because I haven’t sold enough books to classify as a full member. Our Monmouth branch of SoA is very active, and as you can imagine, the subject of celebrity authors comes up a lot, particularly in relation to children’s books. A good friend, Claire Fayers, has just scored a…[Read more]
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On listening to other opinions, both here and on Messenger (FB), I concede that I have perhaps not worded my intentions very well and may have come across as too confrontational. I also apologize to those who feel ‘bombarded’ and will happily remove names from the list of those I have shared into the conversation, or remove the message altogether.…[Read more]
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I’m sorry you’ve had a bad experience trying to get the message out Janette. I share your and Philippa’s frustration with the celebrity Christmas book, especially now I’m truing to get my funny children’s book under people’s noses. An unfair situation, but one I doubt publishers will be interested in rectifying.
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Janette posted an update 1 year, 10 months ago
Good to see so many taking part in the Winter comp. I’ve been wrestling with two ideas though one appears to have risen above the other. I was ready to post it … but late corrections reminded me to be a little less hasty and allow some thinking time, when I’ll probably change my mind again.
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I’ve been struggling to come up with anything, because my initial idea seems beyond my ability. I’m going to try something simpler.
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John T replied to the topic Chit Chat in the forum
A Different Time 1 year, 11 months agoYou might get a riff on my current series of novels out of this. There is one character who is hardly affected by the passage of time, and it would be fun to explore her POV. Although how to write it, I haven’t a clue… yet.
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Janette posted an update 2 years, 5 months ago
Apologies for the big absences. I have had a lot to get my head around and the battle is not yet over, but I am starting to ease myself back into addressing an unfinished WIP. I have found a brilliant library: The Bradford Mechanics Institute Library, who serve teas to your table while you write. I love that you have to be a member (for the small…[Read more]
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Hi @janette, I grew up close to Manchester in the 1970s. I don’t know a great deal though can remember the atmosphere and what it looked like. There was a sense of desolation despite the moneyed suburbs. I don’t know anything about the theatres – a memory of the Library Theatre but that’s all. But if you think I can help, send me a private message…[Read more]
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Thank you, Libby, I’ll bear that in mind. It’s mostly theatre life I’m interested in, but I may want to pick your brain some time when I come to refining descriptives.
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Hi @janette, feel free 🙂
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I know nothing about Manchester in the mid 70s. I did do a few trips by coach from Newbury to Wigan in the early 70s (to the Casino) fuelled by optimism and fabulous blues music, Not so many that I was a regular. Happy to discuss.
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Thanks, Ath
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I was born in Manchester, but no help, as I left in 1965, aged 10! The Mechanics Institute Library sounds amazing. Dad was a member of one in Hull when he was teenager before the war, and made a point of joining one in Cardiff when we moved there in 1965. All part of the workers’ education movement – he was a big supporter.
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I’m also looking at how backstage works in theatres, particularly the wardrobe part, meanwhile I aim to generalise and hope it suffices.
Yes, the Mechanics Institute Library is amazing. I only wish I’d more time to explore it. Ours at least, had the education part of it taken over by the council, but it is interesting to see how many groups…[Read more]-
Mandy’s son Sam has done backstage work, but I think that was more technical – lighting etc.
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John T posted an update 2 years, 7 months ago
For those of you who are interested, Apples in the Dark is now available as an Ebook (paperback coming at the end of June). Almost ten years in the writing, tearing up, rewriting, rewriting again, etc – but it has finally got there. Links to books and to website in my Linktree. https://linktr.ee/wordswithjohn
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Congratulations, John. I’ve picked up a copy.
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Thank you so much, Kate. I still hardly believe that anyone might want to buy my book!
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John T posted an update 2 years, 7 months ago
Thanks to advice from Daedalus, Richard and Athelstone, my entry to Whodunnit with all the weird code is now fixed!
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John T posted an update 2 years, 7 months ago
Anyone on here. Help. Something went wrong in the copying of my story to Whodunnit. It’s full of visible computer code. Anyone know how to cure that?
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Try toggling between ‘Visual’ and ‘Text’ and pasting into it set to one then the other to see if it works better. The only other alternative is to paste it into a notepad-type app where it will clear all the formatting, and you won’t get the code, but you probably will need to go through it in the editor and manually add things like italics (and…[Read more]
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Thank you – I’ll try.
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Janette replied to the topic Monthly Competition – November 2023 in the forum Monthly Competition 2 years, 9 months ago
It’s hardly fair to say ‘by default’, because @Alex, your story merits more than that. I loved the uplifting ending, and the thread you chose in the challenge, which was a pleasure to read. It is with the same pleasure I pass the baton over to you.
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Janette posted an update 2 years, 9 months ago
Only ten more days to go for the November Monthly comp.
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Um, fingers crossed and a fair wind …
It might be more of a description than a story. My brain is full of other stories at the moment. But I’m interested in the task you’ve set @Janette
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Janette replied to the topic Monthly Competition – November 2023 in the forum Monthly Competition 2 years, 10 months ago
Just to make clear – this just relates to autumnal references. You can use sight in other parts of the story.
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Janette started the topic Monthly Competition – November 2023 in the forum Monthly Competition 2 years, 10 months ago
Autumn is upon us in all its savage glory, but it is so much more than a paint pallet. I’d like you to theme your story around Autumn, including every sense except sight. I’d like this to be within a 450 word limit, please.
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Janette replied to the topic Monthly competition – October 2023 in the forum Monthly Competition 2 years, 10 months ago
Hope this meets the challenge. It is approaching the end of my book Saving Grace, and has spoilers (in the event this thing gets published!). Pervious feedback said this scene felt too easy/convenient. Now, she panics and resists. I show her conflicts as she starts to make comparisons.
Untitled
While he drove, Michael told me about how he worked…[Read more]
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John T replied to the topic Influences in the forum Blogs 2 years, 10 months ago
Salter is an author I’ve never read. 90% of my favourite contemporary authors are women, but that may be as much about genre as gender. I read very few thrillers or crime novels, and only occasional l…[Read more]
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Janette posted an update 2 years, 11 months ago
Joined @johnt3 in giving BlueSky a go. Looking forward to finding more familiar faces there, but I haven’t much to report on yet. My book 2 (way off finishing its rewrite) needs to be closer to ready before I consider which way to get book 1 published. Black dog keeps sitting on my keyboard.
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There are an increasing number of us there, including a fair few from the Den.
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Janette, do you mean a real black dog, or black dog in the metaphorical sense?
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Metaphorical – though just as pesky and stubborn.
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I know that black dog. It’s hard to shove it out of the way, sometimes. Big cwtches from Wales x
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Thanks, John. Big Yorkshire hugs right back atcha x
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🙂
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Sorry to hear it. It is remarkably adept at confounding all good intentions to write.
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Thanks, Ath. Yes, writing and reading both confounded. It feels like a midge infestation in my head when I try to take things in or concentrate further than one page. Hopefully, I’ll overpower IT sooner rather than later.
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My usual remedy for reading problems is to read children’s books. I read a lot – they’re my therapy.
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I hope life becomes easier, Janette.
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Thanks, Libby. Here’s hoping x
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@johnt3 Good idea. Some of my favourites are children’s books.
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John T posted an update 2 years, 11 months ago
The proof copy of my novel has arrived. This is getting scarily real!
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Woohoo! Exciting as well as scary, I hope.
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Yep.
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Must feel wonderful, John. It’s been a long trip!
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It certainly has. I began writing seriously in 2004, at the age of 50.
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I can see some similarities there. I started around then as well. You were a couple of years ahead of me on the age front, but it seems we picked up our pen and paper about the same time.
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Not exactly surprising, given the similarities between our writing, but interesting.
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Mind you, I’m still puffing away a good stretch back from the finish line 🙂
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I’ll be cheering you on!
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Woohoo! Can’t wait for my copy.
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Being the the most amazing beta-reader, your copy will appear before I publish it. Pre-publication copies are currently at the printers.
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John T posted an update 2 years, 12 months ago
Any of you guys on BlueSky? I’ve found Raine and Athelstone. I’m @johnunworded.bsky.social
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I’ve requested an invitation to join. Can’t see any harm in trying it out.
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I have no invites to pass on yet, but I gather you get them after a while. It’s a fairly empty space at the moment, but I think it will fill up. People like Joanne Harris, Neil Gaiman and Chuck Wendig are on board.
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Janette replied to the topic Monthly competition – September 2023 in the forum Monthly Competition 2 years, 12 months ago
Strange tastes
Oh, I did miss my Bert. Watching him through the window, wheelbarrow-in-hand, shaping our garden into all sorts of strangeness: gaudy, modern art in bloom.
Me, I preferred order. Neatness. A little chintz perhaps; a Capo Di Monte on the sideboard. ‘Let go, Pammy! Unstiffen your lip,’ Bert would say while waltzing me roun…[Read more]
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I hope you may be forgiven too, because my entry was conceived in a similar way. I don’t even have your excuse of being too busy, but the story asked to be written and so I wrote it.
I look forward to reading yours, Richard.
Me too to a large extent. My entry very much a side/back story of two or three other comp entries all of which stemmed from one or more of my ‘Love triangles with murder series. I did hope for something different but the characters have taken up permanent residence in my head.