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Sandra posted an update 6 years ago
Congratulations to @Philippa, who’s ‘Little white lies’ has been long-listed for the CWA John Creasey (New Blood) Dagger award.
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Sandra replied to the topic Monthly comp – May 2020 in the forum Monthly Competition 6 years ago
Well done Jill – you came so close to winning on YWP that it is only justice you come first here.
And thank you Libby for setting a theme which sent me back to all of these small stones and properly gather them in one place (now up to #94
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Sandra replied to the topic Monthly comp – May 2020 in the forum Monthly Competition 6 years, 1 month ago
Between 2011 and 2013, for some eighteen months, I participated in a āSmall stonesā project; a daily moment of intense observation. Many were made during the twelve minute walk (six there, six back) to buy a morning paper. This is a 396 word selection.
Autumn
Stepping stones of yellow sycamore
stuck to the rain-damp roadAnd the sky this mor…[Read more]
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Sandra replied to the topic Monthly comp – April 2020 in the forum Monthly Competition 6 years, 1 month ago
Thank you Raine – both for setting such an interesting, informative and though-provoking challenge, and for picking my favourite as winner. Well done Libby.
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Sandra posted an update 6 years, 1 month ago
@libby, I loved, loved, loved your comp entry – the agonising over the purchase and then the description – sounds a wonderful piece of inspiration to have in sight.
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@sandradavies Thank you!
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@libby I agree with Sandra, your descriptions are stunning. I’m not quite certain where to post my comment, as I didn’t want to put it on the comp thread. I’m still working my way around… š
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Sandra replied to the topic Monthly comp – April 2020 in the forum Monthly Competition 6 years, 1 month ago
Bringing a little light
I suspected, on reading the rules, if I did submit anything it would be something of a cheat, because thereās not a lot thatās actually old in itself in this room. Not much in the way of āthingsā really, anywhere in the house (although I do have, in the loft, my great-grandfatherās two writing boxes such as Jill describes…[Read more]
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Only a very small proportion of my payments are in cash these days and I think the last cheque I wrote was about 3 years ago. I have two pound coins in my pocket and I think that’s all the cash I’ve had for about a month. These are unusual times in that we are trying to minimise the shopping we do in person, i.e. I’m unlikely to nip out to the…[Read more]
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I had to hunt out our cheque book when confinement started as we’re having to do a lot of payments by cheque. I couldn’t even remember what colour it was.
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I’ve not written a cheque since October 2019. The one before that was written in April 2019. I haven’t handled cash since 31st March when the pharmacist called round with a prescription I had to pay for. Credit card points are building up nicely. Silver linings and all that.
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Sandra posted an update in the group
CoronaMo 6 years, 2 months ago“What’s new, Sandra?”
Regrettably, nothing. 42K+ words into my current wip, taking some pains to streamline the process, not make the same mistakes, I realise I am still incapable of identifying, plotting the story until the characters tell me who they are and what is happening.
After a couple of weeks of floundering (necessary, it appears) I…[Read more] -
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Sandra replied to the topic Good news this time – finally! in the forum Podium 6 years, 2 months ago
Excellent news!
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Barny posted an update 6 years, 3 months ago
Iāve just donated to help keep the Den alive – go to the Donations group to help keep this place running
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Barny replied to the topic Short story in Barren magazine in the forum Podium 6 years, 3 months ago
Really good, Daeds – and IMO we could all go out and respond publicly to your and Kazās FB posts with words to recognise how good this story is. Fantastic.
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Sandra replied to the topic Short story in Barren magazine in the forum Podium 6 years, 3 months ago
Well done Daeds, a powerful example of your writing and story-telling.
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Sandra started the topic Especially recommended books in the forum Blogs 6 years, 3 months ago
Yes, there’s a load of ‘How-to’books out there, and how useful they are depends very much upon the user, but I thought there might be a place to list not every book we use, but the most useful.
To start, and more specifically for crime writers, I can thoroughly recommend ‘The real CSI’ by Kate Bendelow. Kate did a workshop at the ‘Crime &…[Read more]
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Sandra replied to the topic Monthly competition – February 2020 in the forum Monthly Competition 6 years, 3 months ago
Well done John, and thank you Libby for a competition which led to so many brilliant stories – what richness!
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Sandra replied to the topic Recent agent experience in the forum Blogs 6 years, 3 months ago
Hilary, as an aside, the Bookoture girl did say she had a 96 year-old on her list for whom she had so far published some 23 ‘cosy crime’ novels. ‘One every couple of weeks’ she said.
Feedback today from those who did pitch to her said she refused most straight off. Made suggestions to make more acceptable to one and I now of another who pitched…[Read more]
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Sandra posted an update 6 years, 3 months ago
Useful definition of ‘commercial fiction’ from Bookouture : https://www.spreadtheword.org.uk/unpicking-commercial-fiction-with-bookoutures-editors/?fbclid=IwAR2FfqSMY8Ms3zZe4lrExLhphK9X5Xab6lLU330ZQG5-dDxpRkbxYeodKVM
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Thanks, Sandra. As you say, this is useful.
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Very clear!
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Yes, this was interesting, especially, to me, the mention of book club fiction. I can feel a blog coming on…
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But also worth noting, Karen Sullivan of Orenda Books specifically states she likes books that cross genres; said so two years ago and repeated it Tuesday night.
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Sandra posted an update 6 years, 3 months ago
Fiona Erskine aka Bric has a launch of her second book coming up and as I can’t go, asked me to pass on the invitation:
#The Chemical Reaction is launching at Blackwell’s bookshop in Holborn, London on the evening of Thursday 16th April 2020. -
Sandra replied to the topic Monthly competition – February 2020 in the forum Monthly Competition 6 years, 4 months ago
Bit of a confession from me – this lifted from current wip, otherwise I might not get one done. 400 words plus title.
Returning from honeymoon (First day of the rest of their married life)
They were on the A9, having just left the Kinross services, before Luke asked. āYour wedding present? When do I get to see it?ā
āSoon as we get home,…[Read more]
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More great news on the Den! Congratulations, Philippa. Long may the success continue!
Way to go!
Brilliant news x
It is great news. And those of us subscribed to Jericho Writers Online Festival can see Philippa talking about her road to publication on 10 June
Hello everyone, this is my first post as a new member and it is fitting seeing as I learned of the Den through that Webinar with Philippa East at the Jericho Festival. I was inspired by the journey she described and it has been the best event I have attended so far.
Welcome to the Den, Andrew.