Freelance Writing

Well - it's back to real life and hard work now that the weekend conference is over for another year. Very enjoyable as always. This one was different for me as I was adjudicating the Woman's Short Story Comp (55 entries), and doing a seminar on markets. It was very good for me to have so many stories to read and consider, although extremely tiring. It's always a slight worry as to how the winning story will sound when read out, as opposed to being read on the page, but I still think I made the right choice. And it was beautifully read. The seminar was well attended and I shared lots of market information with those present. Daughter won third prize in the novel competition - so both very pleased.

One of the highlights of the weekend was the evening talk and day seminars of RJ Ellory - a shining light in the crime novel world. What an inspirational and motivational man. While working an 80 hour week, he wrote 22 novels but wasn't published until his 23rd - and now he's among the top authors. No procrastination for him, and his study is very organised so he can spend time writing instead of searching for things. What a good idea!

So, after a much needed catch-up sleep on Sunday night, I began yesterday full of good intentions in the organising department. Then I received an email from B Higgins at The Weekly News, to whom I had sent a story near the beginning of February. Could I change it from first person to third person and he would consider it again as he liked the story, but doesn't like 1st person. Well, of course I could - especially when I was getting this chance. So I dropped everything and rewrote the story. Emailed the new version just before lunch and by mid afternoon I had an acceptance from him! Very nice man. Ended up sending stories to three other publications, and did ironing and washing!

Also had an email from Richard Bell at Writers' News the day before the conference to say I've won second prize in one of their story competitions. Hurrah! It's a new one and I like it because it's quite different from my usual kind of story. Hope the successes keep coming, so I can really earn a living from my writing.

Rosemary