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HELEN KAMPFNER posted an update 3 months, 2 weeks ago
Hi Janette, hi everyone. So lovely to reconnect. How are you all doing?
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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.
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Sandra replied to the topic January 2026 Monthly Competition in the forum Monthly Competition 3 months, 3 weeks ago
Well done Libby, like Terrie my mind was contorting to keep up; the wellies adding much to the scene. And thank you Terrie for a theme which was instantly fulfilled (and I’m still re-reading and finding further inspiration, except I can’t get my head around irony)
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Sandra replied to the topic January 2026 Monthly Competition in the forum Monthly Competition 4 months, 3 weeks ago
Fingers crossed, yet another resolution
New book and a new – and very welcome – experience for me: a “How To” write book received as a birthday present which I found many times more compelling, educational; entertaining and personally useful than the many “How To” books on writing I own: a dozen on my bookshelves, and knowledge of one di…[Read more]
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Janette posted an update 4 months, 3 weeks 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.
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Sandra replied to the topic Monthly Competition – December 2025 in the forum Monthly Competition 4 months, 3 weeks ago
Well done Terrie, and everyone else who between them provided a kaleidoscope view of Christmas, and thank you Ath for prompting me into putting a long-held memory into words.
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Sandra replied to the topic Monthly Competition – December 2025 in the forum Monthly Competition 5 months, 1 week ago
A never-forgotten Christmas
The telegram sent by my new-made grandfather, telling my father of my safe arrival, at five minutes to midnight on the twentieth December (and, according to my great-grandfather’s fish scales, weighing 6lbs 4 ozs) is explanation enough of why I don’t remember my first Christmas. To establish whether it was my sec…[Read more]
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Janette posted an update 5 months, 1 week ago
Would you know? A cancellation gave me space to knock out a story for December. That’s it though until next year.
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Janette replied to the topic Monthly Competition – December 2025 in the forum Monthly Competition 5 months, 1 week ago
Running the Christmas Gauntlet
Brace yourself, girl. Everywhere is going to be madness today. Most of the throng will be feeling much the same way … which means shouting and kids screaming; means shoving and pushing … but take a deep breath. Concentrate on the list. You’ve successfully run the Christmas shopping gauntlet before.
The veget…[Read more]
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Janette posted an update 5 months, 1 week ago
So sorry for my absences. I have made the decision to self-publish my books after careful consideration, reading how some trad friends have fared, and revisiting notes from my last (self-publishing) workshop in York. I’m very wet behind the ears regarding publishing, especially self-publishing, so I am deep into swatting about it before I make any…[Read more]
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Good luck. Please let us know how you get on. I’d like to piggy-back on your request for tips. I am part of a group currently ready to publish a non-fiction book. We’re trying a few pitches via the traditional route just in case it lands but it’s quite likely we may end up self-publishing because we don’t want the book to languish, unpublished, for ages.
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Hi Bella. So far I’m deep into reading the Writers and Artists Guide to Self Publishing, which is very ‘involved’ though gives lots of advice. I have also signed up to David Gaughran’s free self-publishing course (on his website). I also found this: https://justpublishingadvice.com/publishing-companies-to-avoid-and-nasty-new-author-scams/
I’ll let…[Read more]-
Janette (and Bella), one tip I didn’t mention earlier is that it makes very good sense to set your page size for composing to Blurb’s trade book size. Makes it, in my opinion, a lot easier to read on screen too. Blurb’s page size is 13.02cm x 20.95cm. Select mirror margins , set top margin 2 cm, bottom 2.25 cm, inside 1.75cm, outside, 1.75 cm…[Read more]
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Hi Janette, I’ve never self-published but am in contact with editors and proofreaders who work with self-pub authors. This tip usually doesn’t apply to experienced writers so I just add it as a general comment. When self-pub authors approach editors for a proofread or copy edit, often what’s needed is a more substantial developmental or…[Read more]
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Thank you, Sandra and Libby. All taken on board, but the novel has had three beta readers so far, plus an agent’s when she almost took it on. Better luck this time, eh?
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You are well prepared, Janette! Good luck with the self pub.
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Sandra replied to the topic November 2025 monthly competition in the forum Monthly Competition 6 months ago
Sorry, Terrie, no way do I have head space to do anything for this. Will aim to Do Better next time
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Janette posted an update 6 months, 3 weeks ago
Well done, Terrie – a great choice! I have a busy November coming up but will try and fit in some time to take part in the monthly comp.
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Sandra replied to the topic Monthly competition October 2025 in the forum Monthly Competition 7 months ago
This the result of apending 5 days writing with a gathering of Self-Edit participants.
Games people play
Monday morning’s plumping of the pillows of our marital bed effortful, thanks to both sleep and sex absent as snow in August throughout the weekend. Similarly, energy enough to dissipate the sourness of my reaction when I noticed the wor…[Read more]
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Sandra replied to the topic Chit Chat in the forum
September Song 7 months, 1 week agoI pulled half a dozen titles from my shelves, in the hope they’d inspire me with characters and plot. In the end the one I chose hung around longest; re-reading it reminded me why it felt so memorable.
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Janette replied to the topic Choices in the forum
September Song 7 months, 1 week agoI might live to regret this, but I am changing my choices (it was a flip of a coin in the first place).
My choices now are:
Sunshine.
The Love Song of Miss Queenie Hennessey
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Janette replied to the topic Monthly competition October 2025 in the forum Monthly Competition 7 months, 1 week ago
As the Veil Grows Thin
Hey, Vee, I’m still at your side my dear. My old bones are aching in this hospital chair but, aye, I’m still watching over you.
They say you might hear me but – I don’t know. See, I can’t get used to how still you are. Never would’ve been afore, hey? Specially when we first met, when we danced like demons and made lo…[Read more]
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Janette replied to the topic Choices in the forum
September Song 7 months, 2 weeks agoRain
Chocolat
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Sandra replied to the topic Choices in the forum
September Song 7 months, 2 weeks agoRain
The missing shade of blue
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