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

Blue Sky Thinking

Clouds Over Corn - Wayne Kelly

So, October is upon us and, if you saw my post in September, you will have an idea of what I was hoping to achieve - my main short term goals being:

To submit 2 short stories for competition by the end of September.

To submit at least 3 pieces of flash fiction for competition by the end of September.

I am thrilled to say that I achieved both goals, having submitted 2 short stories and 5 pieces of flash fiction. I will update you if I have any success. I am keen to keep up the momentum in October, but will be shifting emphasis a little. For October I aim to:

Submit 2 more short stories - 'Inkling' and 'Still Life'

Edit 'Beach Hut Monsters' to create another draft ready to submit to the Dark Tales competition in November.

Produce rough outline of my novel, 'Let Sleeping Gods Lie' to allow me to solve current structural issues.

The novel outline will require some serious blue sky thinking and lots of help from some of my fellow writers to allow me to get back on track with my first draft. If all goes to plan, I will be hammering out the final chapters with fresh vigour in November - working towards one of my longer term goals of finishing the first draft by January.

Watch this space and feel free to take a look at my personal blog Kelly's Eye for more writing inspiration and comic asides.

Stick to the Plan

 

Stalag Luft 111 - Image USAF Academy Library

Just over a month now since I posted. The days slip by – merge into one another. Progress is slow. The end of the book is in sight, but I’m finding that the words are stumbling and the writing is flat. So close, yet so far. The escaper holed up in a safe house in Seville must have felt frustration. Not out of danger, but so near to Gibraltar. The last leg – maybe one more journey? He had no choice. Stick to the plan, follow advice and instructions, maintain focus. I did the same.

The scant notes and anecdotal information I had on this part of the escape were insufficient for the writing to fire. I needed to see and feel Seville as it really was in 1943, I had to walk the streets, live the scenes, hide in that safe house. Stick to the plan. Cue – books, images and old film footage of the city = result and kick start.  

My goals are pretty steady, but they’re challenging, realistic and achievable. I’ll stick to the plan.  

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 – On course at 27,500

•Win prizes in Flash Fiction Writing Competitions

Short Term Goals

•Draw up a timetable and targets for short term goals (September-December 2013) by 31 August 2013.   Done

•Complete manuscript by 31 October 2013 - A fortnight behind schedule.  Catching up

•Submit to agent with accompanying letters by 30 November 2013

•Continue to blog weekly – Done

•Enter 2 Flash Fiction competitions by 31 December 2013   One down. One to go

•Write 2 Flash Fiction pieces a month – Done and ongoing

 

Keith