Freelance Writing

I am absolutely delighted to discover that one of my stories, 'Reshaping the Past', is to be included in the fundraising book 100 Stories for Haiti. This will be published as an e-book and in print to raise funds for the Red Cross, to help with the work in Haiti after the devastating earthquake. Hopefully, it should be available for purchase during the next week or two. I shall update with details of where to buy when I know the publication date.

I was also delighted to have a short story accepted by New Love Stories magazine in the US. They take longer stories and this is my first one for them. Good rates of pay and authors have to sign a contract with them. Can't wait to see both my stories in print!

Meanwhile, it's back to the enjoyable, but difficult, task of adjudicating other writers' stories. Now well through the second reading of the 55 SAW entries and it's all the more difficult because of the good standard of stories. Also have 15 stories to read and critique for another group - these are more general stories rather than for the women's magazine market.

On with the work!

Rosemary

Delighted to be told that I've evidently won the December txtlit competition (see link to their website on my reading and writing blog). Had to write a tiny story with beginning, middle and end in only 160 characters, including the word Story, with the theme of 'snow'. Great fun and quite a challenge - now there's an instance where no word should be wasted!

On the same day, I found out I'd won the writing group One Act Play competition, with my first attempt at writing one. Not many entries but the adjudicator, Joyce, said she may be able to put it on with her AmDram group, if I add another 5 minutes to it. What a buzz and encouragement.

Have received 55 stories for the SAW adjudication (first weekend in March). Wow - a lot of reading, and writing of critiques! And I've still to receive stories from another group to be adjudicated during February. It really is a privilege though. I'm enjoying the stories I've read so far, which makes it a pleasure, but more difficult to choose at the same time. Long way to go with the reading yet, and then I'll read the best ones again. Also doing a seminar at the SAW, so have to prepare for that, and the adjudication presentation. What an excuse for reading lots of stories.

Finally finished the husband's travel website and it's now live, but it will be updated regularly. Guess I'm now his P/T admin assistant and webmaster!

On with the show,

Rosemary

This must surely be one of the coldest winters for a very long time. It's so beautiful, with the snow and ice covering the grime and decay of autumn, but fairly lethal underfoot at times. Our village hill has been more or less gritted regularly but getting from our house to the hill was like crossing a skating rink for a few days, once the snow turned icy. And the pavements are still not a good idea.

The new blog is going well - with six postings to date and some information to encourage other writers to send out work. I entered a couple of the flash fiction comps myself. I love sending things by email as it's so much easier than having to post things out and wait for the reply.

Received an email back from the agent I'd approached and she doesn't think she could find a market for my novel. I'm not too disappointed as I know it's a difficult time. Think I'll start sending it straight to publishers from now on. Also want to finish rewriting two children's novels - and to do some more articles for Suite101. Husband's website nearly finished, but I have two big story adjudications to start later this month. I do like being busy!

Rosemary

I've finally taken the jump and started a new, separate blog! For a while, I've wanted somewhere to write practical information for anyone else who might be interested in trying to get published, or who is looking for new markets. Since I do talks about market research, it makes sense to share some of this with a wider audience (hopefully).

But I also love books and reading, so decided to combine the two in one blog - that keeps it fun for me and, again, some of my choices might encourage others to read a book or author they might not know. I'll see how it goes!

I'm still intending using this page as a more personal update - the other blog will be more practical. The new blog is about reading and writing - just click on this link.

Hope to see you there!

Rosemary

A Very Happy and Healthy New Year!

What a week for snow and ice - made getting around very difficult. The family managed down (just) for Christmas and we had a good time together. However, there was a mad rush for son and girlfriend to get back down the hill on Boxing Day before being snowed in - and they had a long drive. We did manage an icy walk in the village late on Christmas afternoon!

Still working on husband's website in between the festivities - new business about to start very soon! Also have church newsletter to do for this weekend; almost forgot about it in amongst the holiday comings and goings. Managed to do one article for Suite101 and it has been given an Editor's Choice Award! Really delighted as it's about writing romantic short stories, using the five senses.

Daughter, son and girlfriend are coming for Hogmanay (meal at local restaurant) and New Year's Day, when I'll do my usual home-made steak pie.

Looking forward as always to beginning a brand new year. There is such a sense of expectation in wondering what it will bring. And I love getting organised with a new diary - if only I could attain all the the writing goals I set with such optimism!

Rosemary

A Very Happy Christmas and Successful New Year to one and all!

It's been a mixed time since last I blogged. It was our friendly and happy writing group Christmas 'party' to end our sessions for 2009. Only tea/coffee and mince pies and such like for a couple of hours in the afternoon, but it put us in the right spirit (non-alcoholic!). Then I had a scrumptuous Christmas lunch with my good friend - an annual event we both look forward to at a local restaurant.

In between, husband's computer died on him - always a fraught event! Since he's finishing up one job by the end of 2009, and trying to start a new business by the beginning of 2010, it was not good timing. However, we did promise ourselves a laptop between us for Christmas, so it came early. Only problem is it has Windows 7 and Word 7 - why on earth does it have to be changed quite so much? Quick lesson in finding the essentials and we can now carry on working happily in our separate rooms! Glad I still have XP.

Wonder if we'll get a white Christmas? It's been snowing so much here that we've been snowbound twice since Sunday and it's almost worse tonight. Beautiful up here, but a nuisance when trying to get all the food shopping done. It did let me get on with sending several competition entries away over the last couple of days (by email). And I did manage to get the turkey and all the trimmings this morning while the hill was gritted, and before the next heavy fall of snow this afternoon, so Christmas dinner is still on!

Best of everything to all,

Rosemary

A great day out last Thursday with lots of writer friends at the unique Babbity Bowsters in Glasgow. Most of us are part of a friendly online forum of writers from different areas of Scotland, offering support, advice and empathy in a difficult market. It's even more invaluable when egos are left behind and writers of different genres and levels of publishing can appreciate the frustrations and disappointments that are an inevitable part of the writing life. And what pleasure we take in each other's successes! The food was brilliant too.

Last Saturday, I went with a friend to watch the finalists of the primary school children's story competition arrive by limo for the Christmas celebrations in a local town. The overall winner got to switch on the Christmas tree lights and all four were VIPs for the day. Our writing group spent a few enjoyable hours choosing the finalists and overall winner, and the standard of writing was so high. It's good to know that young writers are being encouraged to use their imagination in this way. We're going to publish the four finalists in our writing group anthology of children's stories in March. Something for them to remember as they grow up.

Also managed to go and see New Moon with my lovely, adult daughter during the week - we both like the Twilight books and now the first two films. A peaceful interlude in a busy week. Had to get the monthly church newsletter finished and printed to hand out on Sunday. Then there's hubby's new website to finish... better go and get on!

Rosemary

Writing: Managed to get another article on Suite101 this week to keep up some kind of momentum. Also rewrote and emailed a short story to a US market, New Love Stories. Meanwhile, I'm completely rewriting a children's novel to make it first person rather than the third person it was before. The hero is a young boy and I can't believe the difference it's making to the 'voice' by writing as the character. Think I'm often better at first person so I can get right inside the character's head. Delighted to have my adult novel away at an agent just now as it's encouraging to know that someone is willing to read it.

Talking: Enjoyed giving a markets talk at a writing group in Glasgow last Monday. Left them lots of places to try with their work and some magazines to check out. I'm often surprised that some of the markets are not already known, but perhaps other writers don't enjoy researching them as much. It's always been one of my particular pleasures - I just don't follow all of them up enough. Or I go through phases of trying new markets.

Listening: Attended an interesting workshop and talk in Glasgow on Saturday, given by the editor/publisher of Bridge House Publishing. They produce the anthologies my children's stories are in. It was more about writing for young adults and one of the most fascinating things was hearing about how the teenage brain develops. Scary stuff! I don't know how everyone survives that stage. But it was certainly good information for anyone writing for that age group.

Rosemary 

Just as well I thrive on being busy. It's a strange thing, but I'm far more productive, energetic, inspired and focused when there are lots of things happening, or to do. Mostly finished my part in editing the writing group anthology stories, unless we get more before Tuesday. A few more children's competition stories to read (from primary schools in Erskine) before we choose the winner and finalists. It's lovely to read some great writing from youngsters who have plenty of imagination.

The new Bridge House Anthology of children's stories, An Advent Calendar of Stories, which contains one of mine, is almost ready! We have just received the cover and it's brilliant. It would make me want to get stuck into the great stories so hopefully it will attract lots of attention. One of my writing friends is also in it this year so we're hoping to have a launch, if we get it in time, before Christmas.

I've been given the name of an agent to approach about my novel, The Highland Lass. It's exciting to have it ready to send out but I know it could take a while... On with all the other writing meanwhile. Really keen to get my young teen novel out there but need to change a few things first.

Almost finished preparing lots of material to give a talk on market research and markets to a writing group on Monday. Love sharing all the information I have, in the hope of inspiring other writers to actually send their work out! Nothing ventured, nothing gained, especially in the competitive writing world.

Must carry on!

Rosemary

Nasty visit to the dentist this morning - no the dentist is not nasty, he's very nice. Part of a back tooth broke (with an old filling from youth) and there was nothing for it but to submit to the torture. Okay, it wasn't that bad, but I was so numbed up that it's taken me the rest of the day to smile straight again. And that's when the pain hits! Anyway, that's it done and the rest of the teeth and gums are great. Another six months, hopefully, until the next check-up.

On a happier note - I've been interviewed for an American website by a lovely writer on Suite101. She kindly sent me some questions and I had to provide the answers - good fun. It's online today with photograph, if anyone wants to check it out - that's if anyone reads this (apart from my dear friend)! The link is on the Published Work page.

We had a great writing group dinner on Tuesday evening at the Erskine Hotel. Best food so far and the company was excellent as always. Received two certificates: 2nd in the article competition and commended in the poetry! All the prize winners are evidently going to be in the Paisley and Erskine Gazette, as the photographer came and took our photo. Publicity for the group, I suppose.

Also had an interesting day yesterday, at the Disability Centre. This was a new venture for me for a couple of hours and it was good to talk to them about writing and being published. They all tried the writing exercise I gave them, to write a poem from one of the cards I brought (with lovely or interesting scenes on them). Worked very well.

Better get on with finishing the novel edits and proofing some of the anthology stories before daylight disappears and it's time to cook dinner!

Rosemary