Leah - February; What A Cracker!

Credit: Openclipart.com

For a short month it seemed really full. Lots of competitions to enter, letters to write and writing to do.

Phew!

And that doesn't take into account blogs, editing and other small projects I have on the go. You guys know about the April A2Z Challenge? I've signed up for that this year. Yep. I know. I'm mad. But it looks like fun! I'll be spending March planning posts and getting my titles sorted so I'm ready to write each one each day. *wipes brow* I know... I'd better have several gallons of tea on hand.

I hope you've all had as good a month as I have.

There have been a couple of falls and slips, but more than anything I've achieved writing-wise I've learned some interesting (and important things about myself). I'd like the share them with you.

~I'm never happy.
Not in the sense that I'm always miserable, but in that I'm always wanting more. Looking to achieve more. Looking to do more. I'm never satisfied would probably be more accurate.
This, in of itself isn't a bad thing, but it has lead to several days of burn out, in which I had no choice but to stop because I was so knackered. Oops.

~I'm more organised than I think I am.
Yes, I slip up every now and then, but my blog is testament to how organised I can be. Three posts a week, with a regular back and forth between my two pen names. Clear and structured blog posts with a sensible message. Goal lists that I generally stick to. Not only that, but I run my household too. I'm not going to win any prizes for cleanliness or cooking, but my house is habitable, my family is well fed and happy. That requires organisation.

~I don't pat myself on the back enough.
I've achieved a lot so far. I measure success differently to some (which, I firmly believe should be the case - success is a very personal thing), but I don't tell myself 'well done.' Linked to the first point I generally say 'right, you've done that... next!'

Why am I sharing this with you?

Credit: Openclipart.com

Because I know for a fact that a lot of you are the same. We writers are a funny breed. We write and write and toil and slave away at our words to make them perfect, but how often do we stop and look at back at what we have done, rather than what we haven't? How often do we take stock and realise just how much we've done?

Unless you're super-duper lucky, you probably have a day job to get through before you can even think about writing. Some f you will have families too. You take care of all of those things and still write, publish, blog, critique, submit, edit and support your peers in doing the same.

You're awesome.

Repeat that to yourself five times a day. You. Are. Awesome.

Trust me, it's the truth, and you deserve recognition for it.

Happy February, good luck in March and I'll see you on the other side.


Leah x
Twitter: @ileandraXraven
Blog: www.ileandraXraven.co.uk
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/illyandraven

Wayne - Make Room For Your Writing

Inside my 'Writing Room'

Following my own advice from a previous post, I am still embracing rejection, having received confirmation that I have drawn a blank on all of my submissions so far. That's ok. I'm still learning. What isn't ok is the fact that January was the first month that I failed to submit anything - and I also had a pitifully low word count.

Not good enough.

Fortunately I am a member of a very supportive critique and submissions group, and our latest meeting was enough to spur me back in to action. Having reviewed my (lack of) progress, I decided it was time to shake off the post-Christmas slump and be proactive. As well as stating some new, sensible goals for February, I also realised that I needed to re-establish my old writing rituals, routines and - most importantly - I need to get back in to the habit of writing in my 'Writing Room'.

I am lucky enough to have a dedicated space, my own room, a 'man-cave', if you will, that is separate from the rest of the house, free of distractions and with everything I need to concentrate on my writing. Unfortunately, sometime last year, it became a dumping ground for all of our clutter and any items that were in that strange netherworld between 'useful' and 'rubbish'. In short, I could barely open the door - let alone sit down and let the words flow.

Yesterday, the sun was shining and my spirits rose long enough to motivate me to attack the mess and restore my room to its former glory. Ok, perhaps, it isn't quite back to pristine perfection, but spending any longer on it would've been classed as procrastination and it's good enough for me to get back in to the swing of things. I already feel more positive and have done more writing and editing in the past 24 hours than I have in the last couple of weeks.

Maybe you aren't fortunate enough to have a dedicated room of your own in which you can write, but it's still important to have a space you can settle in long enough to get creative and focus on your project. For some it's the kitchen table, for others their favourite seat in the coffee shop. The point is, we all need to clear a space - metaphorically and literally - and make room for our writing.

For the record, my goals for the remainder of this month, are to sub a piece of flash fiction and to finish editing my short story, 'Beach Hut Monsters' ready for submission to a teen Sci-Fi magazine.

I'll keep you posted as to my progress. Happy writing!

Wayne - Take a look at my blog, Kelly's Eye.

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.

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.

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

Everest Awaits

  

One success this pretty non-productive month has been finally receiving the anthology to feature one of my poems. This makes it three

Third Anthology-just out. Have One poem in it !

anthologies so far...sent them a chaser email and it magically arrived by the next post.....This poem was a departure for me as it didn't rhyme and was focussed upon imagery. I might try some more poems in this vein. Ultimately I would like to have a whole anthology of some of my work but that is to come. I might construct an ebook and see how that goes down.   Apart from this book, I have this month sent three poems off to a National poetry competition, but I am aware that this is a poor showing and I must try harder. I was encouraged by the others in the group who have been very good in submitting this month.
As far as my proposed novel is concerned I have done very little to it apart from more work on the chapter planning and character notes.
I feel I am at the foot of Everest and just need to get to base camp.....sometimes it all seems out of my reach and why am I even attempting this, but then why not ?! There is a famous saying that the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Just making that step is important. I need to stop procrastinating and just 'do it'......
My goals next are to submit much more flash fiction and gauge the reaction and to begin writing the 'novel'. I know that once I start writing I shall be away but I do need to plan it.
Will keep you informed of how Sherpa Tensing and I are getting on.........

                                                                           
Helen

Progress?

Way Out - Maria A Smith

This post is late, well overdue, my excuse if you're interested is overwork, holidays, illness and well, frankly bad planning. September  was a dreadful month, I was way too busy, and if I am totally honest, I'm only just beginning to come out of the deep black hole I fell into...my own fault, and I will learn to plan stuff better. Won't I?

I managed a little work on my novel, a few flash fiction pieces and I sent a letter off to a magazine. I also sent a short story off to a competition too.

What of the next month then? Better planning is a must, and learning to say 'no' to doing stuff I don't really want to do. Easier said, than done, real life tends to run riot every now and again. I'm going to try hard to use my time to best effect.

I'm concentrating on my novel, doing a new outline, and then I'll be doing a rewrite. Yes, a rewrite is necessary. I'm not as daunted now, and feel I can get to where I'm going with my new plan.

On a positive, I did get my personal story in Chat magazine published. Hurrah! I attended Phoenix writers as and when I could for motivation, and the company of other writers which really does make a difference to my enthusiasm. Subs Club met to discuss what everyone has been up to, and lots of writerly things are afoot.

Now I have to go and be productive...

Maria

Never Throw Anything Away

Picture Credit - Don Hankin

Well, I’ve done it,  finally sent off an entry to a competition:  a Flash500 piece. I’ve been working on about three or four pieces this month without any great enthusiasm for any of them especially when my chief critic, him indoors, and ancillary critics, my two sisters, all say that they are not too keen on any of the pieces I read out. “Oh, that doesn’t sound like you at all,” is the general chorus that greets my efforts. “We like your funny pieces best.” Well, news flash, so do I but I only write what comes into my head, and obviously, what’s inside there at the moment is not tuned into the right  wave length. In fact, him indoors is sufficiently  moved to ask, ”What goes on in that mind of yours?” And I can honestly say,  ”I really don’t know.” The reiki master who works her magic once a month remarks that my third eye is blocked so maybe I’m not seeing things in the usual way, which is odd because there have been some funny moments which have definitely tickled my sense of humour and given me  ideas for non-fiction pieces.

Earlier in the month we went to see some friends who have a little dog, a Boston Terrier, all wriggling charm and wet tongue. I dissolve into laughter as they tell me tales of taking him to puppy crèche in the Bark and Ride bus, and the puppy socialisation classes on Sunday mornings, not to mention the scented poop bags and puppy wipes. Well! I think, here is the substance for an article about the modern young couple and their pet. But wouldn’t you know it? I open one of the Sunday supplements and there is the self same article I’d thought of writing, only much better than anything that I could have come up with. 

Then I go to a surprise 60^th birthday party and think I have enough ammunition for a piece on surprise parties. But yes, you’ve guessed it :  someone’s got there before me.

But I think I have learnt a couple of lessons this month. Four years ago, on one of the sisters’ Annual Away Weeks, we found ourselves on a tour of the Flodden Field, I say we, but my older sister and her husband, the Blue Badge Two,  don’t do walking, so they were left in the car whilst the other four of us trekked round with a very knowledgeable guide. This week,  I’ve been  rereading all the notes I made at the time and discover that actually, it’s possible, if your words are chosen wisely, to be both interesting and amusing even when the subject matter is the detail of an horrific medieval battle. So, first lesson, I need to work on retuning the funny button. The next thing I notice is that I have masses of material about the battle. This is the 500 Anniversary and it’s big news. So, second lesson, never throw anything away, because you never know when it might come in handy.

Sheila