Tuesday 31 December 2013

Leah - December (and 2013) Round Up and A Motivational Message


Good evening everyone! I hope you’re all well and that December has been as good to you as it has been to me. I’ve had a lovely time; good food, family, drink, presents and only the briefest touch of sickness. All in all, it’s been lovely.

I suppose you’re curious about what I’ve been up to?

Well… if I look at the things I wanted to achieve this month:

  • Complete, to satisfactory standard my anthology short story
  • Finish all my transcripts
  • Earn at least £100 by way of paid writing (probably goes hand in hand with my transcripts)
  • Enter at least one short story competition
  • Reassess Slippers & Chains and figure out where I need to be (editing)
  • Start draft of next ‘Meeting Each Other’ story (Bill)

 …I can tell you honestly and truly that I’ve done it all. I’m so pleased! Not without my fair share of sweating, crying and head-desking, but it’s all done. And that puts me in good stead for 2014.

But first… I’d like to talk about 2013 as a whole.

It’s been a mad year for me. The second year of my boys’ lives and the first year I’ve been out of full time work since leaving university. It has been full of good times, bad times, scary times and angry times, but as I look back there is so much for me to be pleased about. And proud of.

First... the highlights:
Achievements of 2013 as spikey bubbles
Just a quick run down...

Wonderful! More than anything this proves to me that with good planning and persistence anybody can do anything. And that counts for all of you too.

I’m going to talk more about 2014 in my own blog, so this is more of a motivational message for you. You can do what you set out to do. You can carve out time, make a little space and work towards your goals. You just have to make sure that the goals are a true reflection of what you want and sensible when placed against your own personal circumstances. 
Unrealistic goals thought bubble
Words of wisdom... from my brain to your screen! :p

That’s different for everyone; I can’t advise you on that. But I can tell you that by taking the time to decide fully what you want and lay it out in a manner you understand (bullet points, mind maps, pictures or audio recordings, whatever!) you can make it happen.

That’s my message for you at the end of this glorious year; go out there, make it happen. You can do it. I know you can and I believe in you.

All that remains to say now is...
Happy new year banner from OpenClipArt.com
Credit: bdtiger2000 at OpenClipArt.com

Peace. x

Checking In


123rf.com


December 31st seemed the right time to check in. It’s the best moment to look back on a year - a point when somehow it’s easier to unclutter and isolate the past twelve months from thoughts and plans around 2014. 
I’ve often wondered whether it was such a good idea to nail my Goals List to the mast, especially when life gets in the way of writing. During the summer, one of my friends said to me ‘Keith…you can never live and write.’ I know what she meant. Some weeks I was burning the candle at both ends - and in the middle. But we get on with it don’t we, because we’re writers and they never quit – because those that blow hot and cold or throw in the towel are not serious writers. Harsh maybe – but true.
Looking back on my goals for the last few months, sometimes that progress milestone didn’t quite get passed, or I was still short of a finishing line. That was hard to take, especially when I'd  been super glued to a manuscript instead of getting entangled in the eiderdown or eaten by the sofa after another TV dinner.

Guess I might not be in the medal positions, but I’m still at the races and in the pack as the bell goes for the last lap. Will stay positive and remind myself that what I’m doing now is far  better than what I was doing before I started to write. Life and writing will never be easy together.
Long Term Goals

•Submit manuscript, synopsis and letter of introduction to literary agents.

•Publish my book

•The Escape Line blog link to reach 30,000 hits by 31 December 2013 – At 33,850 on 31/12/13. New target 60,000 by 31 December 2014

•Win prizes in Flash Fiction Writing Competitions

Short Term Goals

•Complete manuscript by 31 October 2013 - Final Chapter completed on 10 December. Epilogue and final edits to finish. Revised completion date 31 January 2014

•Submit to agent with accompanying letters by 30 November 2013 – Deadline missed. Revised final date 28 February 2013

•Continue to blog weekly – Done

•Enter 2 Flash Fiction competitions by 31 December 2013 - One submitted. Begin serious submissions from 01 March 2014

•Write 2 Flash Fiction pieces a month – Done.  Continue for 2014

Additions

1,000 Word short story for Phoenix Writers Anthology completed on 31 December 2013
 
Keith

Saturday 7 December 2013

Wayne - Embracing Rejection

No Admittance - Wayne Kelly


So, if you read my previous post, you know I set myself a few goals. My short term plans have fared well, having managed to submit several pieces during August, September, October and November.

Wow, what a great feeling it was when I began to submit my first pieces for short story and flash competitions. Filled with hope and naive optimism that perhaps, just maybe, one of the little blighters would get long listed, even daring to dream that one of them might even turn up in a short list. I wasn't holding out for anything quite as exciting as first prize (not on my first batch of submissions) but surely I would get some positive outcome somewhere. Well . . . So far? Nope. Nada. Zip.

And guess what? That's ok. Really, it is. I won't try to pretend I'm chuffed about it, but once the initial disappointment wore off, I realised that as each set of results was announced, I would get a fresh opportunity to submit the piece somewhere else. It has given me the chance to cast a fresh glance over the rejected story and , if necessary, make a few more tweaks before sending it off once again. One thing we writers aren't short of is competitions to enter.

A little bit of rejection won't discourage me from what I love to do: Write. There are many reasons that a piece may not hit the mark in a particular competition - sometimes it may just need more of a polish. Perhaps the genre wasn't suitable for your chosen competition. Or maybe the judge wasn't a fan of tales revolving around killer bingo robots. There's no accounting for taste.

Either way, I say 'Embrace Rejection'. Keep writing, keep learning, keep developing your craft and if, like me, you are lucky enough to have the support of fellow scribblers like the Phoenix Writers, eventually you will get the result you hope for.

Happy writing and Merry Christmas.

Wayne.



Tuesday 3 December 2013

Sheila - 'You Can't Write About That!'

Flowers - Maria A Smith

It seems to me that if you’re a writer, no memory, or experience, is too sacred, or too precious to be exploited. And we’re not just talking misery memoires here either. 

Problems with a drug addict son? Just purge yourself in print, preferably a best seller. Your friends confide in you their problems with their sex lives, their husbands, their many and varied adulteries, lusting after a best friend’s husband, a husband’s vasectomy? Why not make a few hundred pounds writing an article for a newspaper, never mind that names have been changed to protect the identity of the person being exploited. Surely when people confide in you they do not intend for you to share it with 2 million readers even if you change the names?

On the other hand, all experiences must inform the way we write and how we write. It’s inescapable. I found myself reflecting on this when subconsciously, I wrote a short story which had in it one true fact I had been told in confidence.  Unbidden, it had crept in, central to the story though the interlinking thoughts and feelings were not part of the original. In truth,  it was something that could have happened to any number of people, but if the story ever saw the light of day, and members of my family knew it had been written by me, immediately, they would draw their own conclusions and someone would feel betrayed. 

Strangely enough, when funny things happen at family get togethers, or holidays, my sisters say, “Oh, you can write about that!” I usually answer in the negative, but occasionally, reading back a piece of dialogue I’ve written,  I can immediately recognise a turn of phrase, an odd comment and know the source. It’s remained in my subconscious just waiting for a moment to be used. But would I indulge in a massive betrayal just to see my name in print? I think not.

Saturday 30 November 2013

Maria - Confessions of a Crazy Writer

Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life - Maria A Smith

You have to be a bit crazy to be a writer don't you? Firstly, you keep the strangest hours, often going to bed very late, or rising early to scribble down words conjured up from your imagination. You live inside your own head, working out scenes, often conversing with characters created on the page. You look at people oddly, perhaps weighing them up for a part in your story, and you walk around mumbling to yourself while you work out scenes and plot.

And then you have to get your work out there. Out into the big bad world where it'll have to be tough enough, and good enough, it will have to jump through hoops, be criticised by editors, publishers and judges, and anyone else who is scrutinising it with a view to showing it off as the winner, or article of the month or letting it adorn the shelves of the book shop.

 Gosh its scary. You have to be brave. Not precious. Get it out there! And thats where the Subs group comes in. Writers working together, supporting each other, each at their own pace, forging towards the common goal of seeing their work published.

Never mind if you have the most supportive spouse, or partner, there is no one quite like another writer to understand your frustrations when things aren't going right, like when you want to chuck it all in,  rip your work to shreds, and throw it onto the fire! Or to share your jubilation when success strikes. Having a fellow scribe or two, or three or more, for support, or to bounce ideas off, and to help when you're stuck or deflated is priceless.

You'll motivate each other, and share enthusiasm to enter competitions, and send work to markets, you'll become dogged about finding links to competitions, enthusiasm is infectious. They'll understand what its like to be a writer on a mission fitting stuff in between real life chores, the day job, and the other manure life chucks at you.

Stick together. Unite and share in each others successes.

So what have I done in the last month?

Started the re-write on my novel. I'm chipping away at it like a big block of wood, there isn't really much shape yet, but in my minds eye, I'm holding my book in my hand. I'm watching the trailer, and I'm feeling happy and proud and exhilarated.

I've entered a flash fiction competition, and that is all I've done, Apart from another letter to another magazine. Not my best effort.

Excuse number 1 - My Mac let me down. Its fixed.

Excuse number 2 - I'm tired. I have a very bad habit of going to bed far too late.

Excuse number 3 - I need a better plan.

I'm taking December off from subbing anything into the big wide world because I know its not really achievable with all the stuff outside of writing I need to do. It will also give me time to regroup and energise myself. I'm off to hatch a new plan for 2014.

Whats your plan? How are you going to get your work out there?

Maria

Leah - November Roundup - Yeeehaaaa


Talk about a roller coaster. ^_^
Unlike last year, this November has been one of fun and frolics and absolute joy. Mission complete and all that.

If you want to know what I’m talking about, first check this post on the Phoenix Writer’s main page.

Now… I’m pleased to say that on 22 November 2013, not only had I trounced the 50k word target, but I also hit the final carriage return of my novel draft. In so far as setting a goal and achieving it, mission accomplished.

Next month I’ll talk more about what I’m hoping to do with 2014, including a return to my long term goals. I’ll see if I’m on track, what needs changing and what else I can add.

December however… it’s the festive season! *throws confetti* Hooray!

I’ve been baking:
*nom*

 I’ve been taking photos:
Front camera lacks focus! - 'The kids attack!'

And writing:
Lots...

I’m not done either. I mean, it’s December, so if I didn’t do some sort of Christmas story someone out there would be a little disappointed with me. Particularly since this year my boys are old enough to understand a little of what all the fuss is about. Luckily for me, Writing Magazine (or was it Writer’s Forum) has a themed competition; Father Christmas. Woohoo, right?

But what do I want to achieve this month? Well:

  • Complete, to satisfactory standard my anthology short story
  • Finish all my transcripts
  • Earn at least £100 by way of paid writing (probably goes hand in hand with my transcripts)
  • Enter at least one short story competition
  • Reassess Slippers & Chains and figure out where I need to be (editing)
  • Start draft of next ‘Meeting Each Other’ story (Bill)

Add to this list things like ‘enjoying the season’ and ‘seeing my family’ and I think that should keep me fairly busy. What about you guys? I hope you’re all keeping up with your own goals well and achieving all that you want to achieve.

Why not tell me about it? Hit me in the comments here or stalk me (what, it’s legal now!) on Twitter or Facebook. Go on… you know you wanna.

Peace! x