Great Support for Writers
What would we do without our family and friends who provide us with their continued support? They pick us up when we are down, tell us how good we really are when we think we couldn't string a word together, never mind a sentence. They wait without toe tapping as you just have to make a note of something that flashed into your head and don't mind your 'absence' as you people watch. They bring you hot tea, cake and a large G and T waits tinkling at the bewitching hour. Well my Man Friday does anyway, so on this Friday I'd like to say thanks. I know that not every writer has such dedicated and committed support.
Also just in case it hits the main news, a little bird tells me that my Dad has been reported by WH Smiths for causing a ruction in his local store - fighting through the crowd of friends he'd ordered to purchase copies of the Peoples Friend. The less said ,better. But thanks Dad too!
This Week
I have submitted two short stories and one chapter of a novel for competitions and one short story to a magazine. I have also uploaded my latest article on Condiments for Curries to Suite 101. The rest of the time I have been editing, it's a slow but necessary job, but my eyes are spinning (and no, I haven't had that drink yet - won't be long yet!
Chin Chin!
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My Copyright
26 March 2010
22 March 2010
The Lady and The Revamp
Just a Cheap Publicity Stunt?
I don't know if you watched the Channel 4 programme on the 'modernisation' of The Lady. Now we all know that The Lady is one of the oldest publications and most probably looks it. It has a dwindling but loyal readership (dwindling because I suspect of the grand ages of the readers) and the family which owns the old dowager has decided that they need to make it more business like. So they recruit Rachel Johnson - sister of Boris, London Mayor. Now Ms Johnson doesn't have much of a CV as an editor, she does write a regular column for a Sunday paper and has penned a novel, but I imagine she was probably hired because of her celebrity status and the potential for a sack load of publicity.
It wasn't a pretty programme, the lack of basic human management skills (or even just basic communication skills) were astounding, I sat there with my mouth open for most of the time. I'm not saying that things don't need to change, but there are ways and means and throwing out the baby along with the bathwater has never, ever been effective. And I've read an old mag and the new 'modern' version. Neither really turn my bat at all; the old one was stuffy, vaguely musty and the new one is just full of celebrity women who have it all and yet have very little to offer the reader. And they are doing away with the short story.
To top it all, Ms Johnson accused her employers (oh yes, this was like watching as episode of Big Brother but should have been called Big Business) of not being in the 'real world.' I wonder which world she belongs too? It certainly wasn't familiar to me. But in this day and age of celebrity and five seconds of fame, it wouldn't surprise me if Ms Johnson turns it round in her favour. Rather shallow and rather a shame I feel.
Just a personal opinion I might add.
Don't Think Just Write
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I don't know if you watched the Channel 4 programme on the 'modernisation' of The Lady. Now we all know that The Lady is one of the oldest publications and most probably looks it. It has a dwindling but loyal readership (dwindling because I suspect of the grand ages of the readers) and the family which owns the old dowager has decided that they need to make it more business like. So they recruit Rachel Johnson - sister of Boris, London Mayor. Now Ms Johnson doesn't have much of a CV as an editor, she does write a regular column for a Sunday paper and has penned a novel, but I imagine she was probably hired because of her celebrity status and the potential for a sack load of publicity.
It wasn't a pretty programme, the lack of basic human management skills (or even just basic communication skills) were astounding, I sat there with my mouth open for most of the time. I'm not saying that things don't need to change, but there are ways and means and throwing out the baby along with the bathwater has never, ever been effective. And I've read an old mag and the new 'modern' version. Neither really turn my bat at all; the old one was stuffy, vaguely musty and the new one is just full of celebrity women who have it all and yet have very little to offer the reader. And they are doing away with the short story.
To top it all, Ms Johnson accused her employers (oh yes, this was like watching as episode of Big Brother but should have been called Big Business) of not being in the 'real world.' I wonder which world she belongs too? It certainly wasn't familiar to me. But in this day and age of celebrity and five seconds of fame, it wouldn't surprise me if Ms Johnson turns it round in her favour. Rather shallow and rather a shame I feel.
Just a personal opinion I might add.
Don't Think Just Write
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19 March 2010
SWEET TASTE OF SUCCESS
Perseverance Pays...(and with a little help from my friends)
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It has been a good week. After my flush of excitement on Monday (received a copy of my short story in The Peoples Friend) the next day I had another welcome surprise. I've begun just lately, to get a little reluctant to open my in-box for 'Louise Charles'. Nothing but rejection ever seems to be sitting there. But on Tuesday the sun shone! A short story of mine has been accepted for an open anthology which will be published by Bridge House Publishing. The email said that there had been many submissions which makes it feel all that bit sweeter, although I did spare a thought for the poor writer, like me who was poised with a finger over the 'open mail' button. All I can say to them is keep on going, keep on writing. If you enjoy it why not? Life is full of good times and not so good times and everyone gets a wee fed up at times. Okay, sometimes we get very fed up. But little steps make a long journey and sometimes its hard to keep focused on the writing. But your time will come, if your'e determined and if you love what you are doing and you do it professionally.
This particular story had been critiqued by the group from Writers Abroad, so a word of thanks must go to them too. And if you can find yourself a writing group or at the very least someone who can comment constructively on your writing. It's worth a weight in gold.
Oh and check out my latest edition to Suite 101,recipes for two lovely spreads for your breakfast table - Three Fruit Marmalade and Peanut Butter
Don't Think Just Write
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.jpg)
It has been a good week. After my flush of excitement on Monday (received a copy of my short story in The Peoples Friend) the next day I had another welcome surprise. I've begun just lately, to get a little reluctant to open my in-box for 'Louise Charles'. Nothing but rejection ever seems to be sitting there. But on Tuesday the sun shone! A short story of mine has been accepted for an open anthology which will be published by Bridge House Publishing. The email said that there had been many submissions which makes it feel all that bit sweeter, although I did spare a thought for the poor writer, like me who was poised with a finger over the 'open mail' button. All I can say to them is keep on going, keep on writing. If you enjoy it why not? Life is full of good times and not so good times and everyone gets a wee fed up at times. Okay, sometimes we get very fed up. But little steps make a long journey and sometimes its hard to keep focused on the writing. But your time will come, if your'e determined and if you love what you are doing and you do it professionally.
This particular story had been critiqued by the group from Writers Abroad, so a word of thanks must go to them too. And if you can find yourself a writing group or at the very least someone who can comment constructively on your writing. It's worth a weight in gold.
Oh and check out my latest edition to Suite 101,recipes for two lovely spreads for your breakfast table - Three Fruit Marmalade and Peanut Butter
Don't Think Just Write
Visit Writers Abroad
15 March 2010
PUBLICATION
Feels Soooo Good
Yep, I've just received my copy of Peoples Friend where my first short story 'Friends in High Places' has been published. I'm absolutely chuffed and even though they've changed the title (it was originally called A Room of My Own) but I'm not complaining. This story was actually accepted some time ago last year, lost and then resubmitted. I got paid in January and the story will be published in the March 27 edition of the magazine (under my fiction writing name of Louise Charles - page 47).
This is what makes my gremlin - who I talked about on my last blog - vanish into thin air. I know he'll be back but now I've got something to wave under his nose!
And there are lots of members on Writers Abroad having lots of success so check out their stories at our great site.
Picture Courtesy of WebWeaver
12 March 2010
WRITING WOBBLIES
The Gremlin on My Shoulder
There have been a few of us on Writers Abroad this week who have had the writing 'wobblies'. You know the feeling? When you've put everything into a submission, a short story or an article and you do so many times, every week, day in and day out. And those weeks pass by without as much as tickle of interest. You check your email box, look in the trash can - just in case - wonder if you really did send that piece off and scroll through your sent list. But nothing. That's when the writing gremlin comes and sits on my shoulder. It (for I can't believe a gremlin has a gender, though I could be wrong and doesn't it look so sweet? Don't be deceived,) whispers in my ear - not good enough... you a writer? Humph... Why did you think that was a good story?.... You will never be published... - at this stage I usually sit back and take a few minutes out. I may sulk a little, maybe even a lot and am probably short and bad tempered with My Man Friday (who always forgives me) and I more than likely utter one or two expletives. But at the end of the week I always look back at what went well. Something must have gone well, because next week, indeed even tomorrow, I will continue to write and hope that this time things will be different...
So my three key highlights this week are:
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There have been a few of us on Writers Abroad this week who have had the writing 'wobblies'. You know the feeling? When you've put everything into a submission, a short story or an article and you do so many times, every week, day in and day out. And those weeks pass by without as much as tickle of interest. You check your email box, look in the trash can - just in case - wonder if you really did send that piece off and scroll through your sent list. But nothing. That's when the writing gremlin comes and sits on my shoulder. It (for I can't believe a gremlin has a gender, though I could be wrong and doesn't it look so sweet? Don't be deceived,) whispers in my ear - not good enough... you a writer? Humph... Why did you think that was a good story?.... You will never be published... - at this stage I usually sit back and take a few minutes out. I may sulk a little, maybe even a lot and am probably short and bad tempered with My Man Friday (who always forgives me) and I more than likely utter one or two expletives. But at the end of the week I always look back at what went well. Something must have gone well, because next week, indeed even tomorrow, I will continue to write and hope that this time things will be different...
So my three key highlights this week are:
- Completed and edited three short stories for submission for various deadlines this month (a total of around 10,000 words)
- Written two book reviews on Louise Charles - check out the link on the right.
- Submitted an article on the Battle of Britain to Suite 101
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10 March 2010
THE RIGHT WORD MATTERS
If You Want Your Book to be Read
Have you ever been reading a book and come across a word that makes you want to spit? I'm mean figuratively speaking that is, not wishing to be crude. I had just started a new novel by a very gifted (so I'm told) writer who is sadly now longer with us so I will endeavour to pay some respect. However, I got to about the third or maybe fourth page, just getting into the characters and the style - I've not read any of this particular author's series before but they are raved about. And I came across this word 'waitperson'. It wasn't hyphenated like the spell checker is telling me it should be. Ever heard of that term? Well I Googled it and apparently it was a word much to my disgust. I know that this is all to do with gender and being 'pc' but it's not the right word. It will never be the right word. The 'waitperson' had a gender, so they were either a waitress or a waiter for heaven's sake. Since when did we have to read such clumsy and ridiculous words just in case the alternative offends someone? And how could being a waiter or a waitress offend anyone? This in a book where, apparently, there will be murder and mayhem. I shall never find out, for it's on my blacklist. I shall only pick it up if I'd desperate. And that will be a long time coming.
Forgive my rant, it's now over. Why not check out my latest book review on Louise Charles?
Don't Think Just Write
Visit Writers Abroad
Have you ever been reading a book and come across a word that makes you want to spit? I'm mean figuratively speaking that is, not wishing to be crude. I had just started a new novel by a very gifted (so I'm told) writer who is sadly now longer with us so I will endeavour to pay some respect. However, I got to about the third or maybe fourth page, just getting into the characters and the style - I've not read any of this particular author's series before but they are raved about. And I came across this word 'waitperson'. It wasn't hyphenated like the spell checker is telling me it should be. Ever heard of that term? Well I Googled it and apparently it was a word much to my disgust. I know that this is all to do with gender and being 'pc' but it's not the right word. It will never be the right word. The 'waitperson' had a gender, so they were either a waitress or a waiter for heaven's sake. Since when did we have to read such clumsy and ridiculous words just in case the alternative offends someone? And how could being a waiter or a waitress offend anyone? This in a book where, apparently, there will be murder and mayhem. I shall never find out, for it's on my blacklist. I shall only pick it up if I'd desperate. And that will be a long time coming.
Forgive my rant, it's now over. Why not check out my latest book review on Louise Charles?
Don't Think Just Write
Visit Writers Abroad
9 March 2010
International Women's Day
A Celebration
Yesterday was International Women's Day. A day where in many places of the world, the achievements of women and the struggles they face are recognised and debated. Here in Italy it is used as an opportunity for women to be pampered, by their men and fellow women. Husbands will take time of work, look after the kids, cook, and generally make every effort to show their woman how much they love them. Very apt for the Latin man don't you think? Women will go out together for lunch, to chat and gossip and just have a bit of time out, away from their everyday life. Mimosa, is a pretty shrub with yellow flowers like tiny fluffy balls. It is the national symbol of female solidarity here in Italy and whilst out and about, I saw a sprig of it being carried by all women of all ages. But March 8th is also another special anniversary in our family. It is the birthday of our two grandchildren, Caitlin (5) and Ivy (2). Two girls born on the same day within different but connected families. Some coincidence. I wonder what they will contribute to the life of women as they grow up? Such a blank page waiting to be filled. A journal yet to be written. Exciting.
5 March 2010
MY WRITING WEEK
Has Been a Good One
I've dedicated most of March to my fiction projects and I'm hoping that as the saying goes for the month that 'it comes in as quiet as a lamb and goes out with the roar of a lion.' So this week I have finally finished the first draft of The Good Life. This story is loosely based on our trials and tribulations which led to our first year here as residents of Italy. It has been co-written with my Man Friday and although has taken us some time and may never see the light of a publication, it provides us with many giggles. So it's a kind of therapeutic thing. I've also started work on a new fairy story having found loads of information about Italian fairies and maybe think I've been bewitched! Having completed my submission for the Writing Magazine Ghost story as this weeks short story target, my fingers are now itching to start on my third novel based in Saxon Times.
But it's not all been fiction. I have just published an article on International Women's Day on Suite 101 and have produced my first book review On Writing by Stephen King on my new blog/website for Louise Charles - my fiction face. All entries on this site can be accessed via the panel on the right, as well as a the feed for Writers Abroad.
Following my grey day on Wednesday, today is bright, but only because we've had about 4" of snow. Roll on Springtime...
He looks a little like our Bertie... the lion that is, not the lamb. And Bertie is a dog, not a lion... time for that G&T methinks...
Don't Think Just Write
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I've dedicated most of March to my fiction projects and I'm hoping that as the saying goes for the month that 'it comes in as quiet as a lamb and goes out with the roar of a lion.' So this week I have finally finished the first draft of The Good Life. This story is loosely based on our trials and tribulations which led to our first year here as residents of Italy. It has been co-written with my Man Friday and although has taken us some time and may never see the light of a publication, it provides us with many giggles. So it's a kind of therapeutic thing. I've also started work on a new fairy story having found loads of information about Italian fairies and maybe think I've been bewitched! Having completed my submission for the Writing Magazine Ghost story as this weeks short story target, my fingers are now itching to start on my third novel based in Saxon Times.
But it's not all been fiction. I have just published an article on International Women's Day on Suite 101 and have produced my first book review On Writing by Stephen King on my new blog/website for Louise Charles - my fiction face. All entries on this site can be accessed via the panel on the right, as well as a the feed for Writers Abroad.
Following my grey day on Wednesday, today is bright, but only because we've had about 4" of snow. Roll on Springtime...
He looks a little like our Bertie... the lion that is, not the lamb. And Bertie is a dog, not a lion... time for that G&T methinks...
Don't Think Just Write
Visit Writers Abroad
3 March 2010
WEATHER AND WRITING
Seasonal Factors?
Does the weather affect your writing? I'm asking the question on yet another unusually grey and wet day here in Le Marche. Like many places around the world at the moment, we seem to be experiencing odd weather systems mixed with the normal play of things. On Friday night /early Saturday morning we had such a storm that it blew open the door on the chicken coop - much to the delight of Mr Fox. We came down to a mass of feathers and no sound nor sight of our beloved 3 Degrees. We've moved on and replaced them rather quickly along with a fortified door that would defy the keenest predator.
What is clear to me is that on a grey day, I feel grey and therefore my writing is grey. On a sunny day, I may battle with the need to be out in the garden, but I'm quite happy to allocate some time to writing and approach it with a much more positive 'tap' of the keyboard. I know that writing is like any other activity. If it needs to be done, it doesn't matter what is going on outside the window. It just seems to take more effort (well, it's always an effort but an enjoyable one), more deliberation and the continual reminder to myself that the sun will shine again and therefore so will my writing. Perhaps I should dig out my 'light box' - a great relief for grey days and stick it by my PC, along with a CD of waves breaking gently over the shore... If I close my eyes, I'm there...
Don't Think Just Write
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Does the weather affect your writing? I'm asking the question on yet another unusually grey and wet day here in Le Marche. Like many places around the world at the moment, we seem to be experiencing odd weather systems mixed with the normal play of things. On Friday night /early Saturday morning we had such a storm that it blew open the door on the chicken coop - much to the delight of Mr Fox. We came down to a mass of feathers and no sound nor sight of our beloved 3 Degrees. We've moved on and replaced them rather quickly along with a fortified door that would defy the keenest predator.
What is clear to me is that on a grey day, I feel grey and therefore my writing is grey. On a sunny day, I may battle with the need to be out in the garden, but I'm quite happy to allocate some time to writing and approach it with a much more positive 'tap' of the keyboard. I know that writing is like any other activity. If it needs to be done, it doesn't matter what is going on outside the window. It just seems to take more effort (well, it's always an effort but an enjoyable one), more deliberation and the continual reminder to myself that the sun will shine again and therefore so will my writing. Perhaps I should dig out my 'light box' - a great relief for grey days and stick it by my PC, along with a CD of waves breaking gently over the shore... If I close my eyes, I'm there...
Don't Think Just Write
Visit Writers Abroad
1 March 2010
MISSING DEADLINES
Is so Frustrating!
I bragged in my blog last Friday how much writing I had achieved that week. I had got one last competition entry to submit to by the end of the month - or so I thought. So I worked on it all day Saturday (so I could have Sunday off) and at around 4pm went on-line to make the necessary arrangements. Only to find out I was too late... the competition had closed the day before - 26th February not the 28th as I had in my head. And I have a lovely leather filofax which I carry about and write all these important dates in. Helpful if you look in it to check then, I hear you say. Yep! What a numpty I am. And only myself to blame. One consolation is that I still have the story to submit to another market. So all is not lost. But deadlines are now going to be written in a week early, so that if I do get the date wrong, I have a bit of leeway... if I check the diary that is.
Don't Think Just Write
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I bragged in my blog last Friday how much writing I had achieved that week. I had got one last competition entry to submit to by the end of the month - or so I thought. So I worked on it all day Saturday (so I could have Sunday off) and at around 4pm went on-line to make the necessary arrangements. Only to find out I was too late... the competition had closed the day before - 26th February not the 28th as I had in my head. And I have a lovely leather filofax which I carry about and write all these important dates in. Helpful if you look in it to check then, I hear you say. Yep! What a numpty I am. And only myself to blame. One consolation is that I still have the story to submit to another market. So all is not lost. But deadlines are now going to be written in a week early, so that if I do get the date wrong, I have a bit of leeway... if I check the diary that is.
Don't Think Just Write
Visit Writers Abroad
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