I was at work this morning when completely out of the blue the name of a character came into my head. Then a sentence followed that. Lucky for me it was almost lunch time and I remembered it. So I just went with it and probably did about 300 words or so before it was time to get my nose back to the grindstone. I'm not sure where the character or the idea will go because at this stage there's been no planning just some flowing juices. I'll keep you informed.

Happy Birthday dear blo og...

This blog is one year old today. I was looking at the first things that I wrote and I'm amazed how much hs changed since then. There was that whole very dark time that I went through towards the back end of last year and on a better note all the things that I've sold. The cherry on the cake of course is all you guys that I've met along the way. Thanks, it's good to know you.
x

Ideas Anyone?

An editor I have worked with a few times has suggested that I should have a website. I've been reluctant to have one before because I'm not sure what I will put on there that is of interest to people. I know that it's a way of promoting my work but do I have enough experience to need a website. Isn't that just for established authors? I will do it but I'm struggling with myself about what should be on there. Ideas anyone?

Advice anyone?

Some time ago (and I mean some time ago - several years and a few more probably) I bought a correspondence writing course safe in the knowledge that if I completed the course without earning what I'd paid I could get my money back. I'm sure you can guess that I haven't completed the course in fact, it must be over a year since I completed the last assignment. I think me next assignment is to write a radio play but I'm not sure, it's that long since I looked at it. I'm sure that I'm not the first person to lose my enthusiasm for a writing course so has anyone any advice on how to get back on track? I have paid for the course, I would like to finish it.

Random thoughts etc

Heard overnight that a story I wrote and entered into a competition has made it through the first stage of judging. I know that doesn't really mean a lot at this stage but I've not had a lot of luck with competitions in the past so at least it's something.
I thought I hadn't done much this week but on reflection its been okay. I've written a couple of articles, submitted a story and come up with a couple of ideas to be developed. That's not bad.
I was just thinking yesterday how great it would be to have a writing mentor. A bit like a driving instructor, someone to tell you what you are doing wrong until you get it right. It was just a random thought that I had and anyone who has been with me since the beginnning knows that once its written on here it stays on here.
Speaking of which, thanks to womag I looked up when I started this blog and it will be a year old on Thursday 26th June. I'm nearly one year old.

Our Dad's

If you are a father - Happy father's Day
If you're seeing your father today - look after them.
If you're remembering your father today - remember them fondly.

Today is a special Father's Day for us and I hope it's a good one.

Oh Woeful Week on the Learning Curve

Don't know why I feel the need to share my misery with you but I do. This has just been the worst week of my writing life so far.
I have had three rejections (it might be four but I don't want any more misery so I'll stick to three if it's all the same to you.) On top of that I've discovered that I didn't win three competitions that I entered. So much rejection. AAARRRGGGHHHH!!!!
I know that you have to risk rejection to gain acceptance but does it all have to come in such a short space of time?
If this is not a cake afternoon I've never had one. Actually it's nothing like that at all. I don't feel the least but like heading to the cake tin. It's just one (or six) of those things and I've already put it behind me.
I know that one of these days I will make get more success with my writing and this is all part of the learning curve.

The production line

I've managed one new short story this week, well in the draft form at least. On a good week I might manage two. I was wondering what the average is amongst you guys. Also if any of you use writing as your main source of income, how much do you produce a week? I am seriously impressed by anyone who uses writing as their main source of income. If I did we would be in a lot of trouble. Maybe one day.

Hourly rates.

There's a fab thread on womag's blog at the minute about what an author is worth. I wanted to make a point but I didn't want to hijack that thread so here goes.
I was paid £50 today for a 2000 word story. Some might think that this is derisory but I was quite happy with it. First of all that might be because I knew what the fee would be before I submitted. Also, when I thought about it, it took me about three hours in total to write, edit and submit that story and as an hourly rate thats darned sight better than the day job pays.

End of this particular road.

Topsy reached the end of this particular road - but thats okay.
Regular visitors will know that my Topsy project was started to get me through the worst time of my life last year which is hopefully behind me now. Writing generally but writing this in particular helped me get through. So if for no other reason, this project has been a huge success. When I recently decided to pitch the idea to publisher I wasn't sure why I did it but it did seem like the right thing to do and I was thrilled when they wanted to see more. They decided that they didn't want to persue it but I'm okay with that. I was in a bit of a panic that they would want to see the full manuscript because as I went through it again I realised that there was more work on it that I wanted to do.
So I'd just like to say thanks to Dan (the publisher) for his encouragement and his kind words both when he delivered the bad news and afterwards. I now know what I need to do and I'm thinking that it is something that I will do.

Lovin' those emails

It really cheered me up on what has to be said was a very dreary morning yesterday to hear that I've sold another story. I love getting the emails saying that someone wants to buy what you have written.

My week

Despite a couple of rejections, I'm quite pleased with my writing week.
As well as my early start on Wednesday which saw me getting a lot done I was up early yesterday, long before anyone else got up and wrote about a thousand words or so. I also wrote a short story, well the first draft anyway. Then there's the publisher interested in my Topsy project. I'm not sure how much further their interest will go but even if this is it at least it's made me finish it. I submitted a couple of stories to magazines too.
I think that was all.