I have today received confirmation that one of my favourite short stories is to be published in an anthology. This is a proper book that can actually be bought in an actual bookshop, and can even be borrowed from an actual lending library.
I have had my draft contract detailing my royalty rates and my advance.
I am speechless.
Until I can speak again, fair reader...
Tuesday 15 January 2008
Sunday 13 January 2008
The second week of January, and a request
Well, second week in Jan already hasn't the time flown. I was all geared up and enthusiastic last week with my shiny new blog and all, but I am getting increasingly discouraged as my Google Analytics tells me the only person reading my blog is me. And I know what it says!
Which brings me on to a rather philosophical question- if I am writing this blog in the knowledge that no one else is reading it, does that make me slightly unhinged or just an egotist? Or am I hoping a future reader will stumble across this blog and be so intrigued by my ramblings that they will scroll back through all the archives? Am I trying to add my own stamp on the world, that if nothing else, there will be this blog as a record of my time on the planet?
Of course not, because by the time I depart this mortal coil I will be a world renown author (snigger)
Talking of which, I finished my entry for the redbubble competition, and the piece, 'The Moment of Madness' can be accessed on the forum here http://www.redbubble.com/groups/in-the-moment/writing. If you have any plans to enter, you'd better hurry as you have a little under three hours to do so.
So, next week will entail trying to finalise a piece for the BBC Short Story competition, but at an 8000 word limit, and up against published pieces, this may be a tall order.
Finally a plea- if you ever do stumble across this page, PLEASE leave a comment, however small, so you can make your mark on me. Thank you.
Which brings me on to a rather philosophical question- if I am writing this blog in the knowledge that no one else is reading it, does that make me slightly unhinged or just an egotist? Or am I hoping a future reader will stumble across this blog and be so intrigued by my ramblings that they will scroll back through all the archives? Am I trying to add my own stamp on the world, that if nothing else, there will be this blog as a record of my time on the planet?
Of course not, because by the time I depart this mortal coil I will be a world renown author (snigger)
Talking of which, I finished my entry for the redbubble competition, and the piece, 'The Moment of Madness' can be accessed on the forum here http://www.redbubble.com/groups/in-the-moment/writing. If you have any plans to enter, you'd better hurry as you have a little under three hours to do so.
So, next week will entail trying to finalise a piece for the BBC Short Story competition, but at an 8000 word limit, and up against published pieces, this may be a tall order.
Finally a plea- if you ever do stumble across this page, PLEASE leave a comment, however small, so you can make your mark on me. Thank you.
Sunday 6 January 2008
This week's entries
Well, this week I entered a competition to write a very short story where the title must contain a London Street name, full details are available here http://www.timeoutwriteupyourstreet.org.uk/. My title included Savile Row, and here's hoping...
I am also rewriting my draft for a very interesting sounding competition run by a fantastic new site called www.redbubble.com. The theme is 'in the moment' and entries can include short fiction, poetry, photographs and artwork. Full details are here http://www.redbubble.com/publication/competition. No beating me though- I quite fancy these prizes!
Anyhow, these close this week, so you, and I, had better get our skates on....
I am also rewriting my draft for a very interesting sounding competition run by a fantastic new site called www.redbubble.com. The theme is 'in the moment' and entries can include short fiction, poetry, photographs and artwork. Full details are here http://www.redbubble.com/publication/competition. No beating me though- I quite fancy these prizes!
Anyhow, these close this week, so you, and I, had better get our skates on....
Saturday 5 January 2008
To bring you up to date
I thought I had better let you know where I am up to in my quest for international recognition.
I have always loved writing but never really took it seriously until August 2006 when I happened to spot a short story competition in my local paper, which I entered. Unfortunately I was unsuccessful in that attempt, but I persevered, and fortunately, did not have long to wait. The second competition I entered was a micro fiction competition, and the jolly people over at Leaf Books (see helpful links) judged my entry 'Playground' Highly Commendable, and it was duly published in 'The Final Theory and Other Stories', which is available from Leaf Books or Amazon, and is well worth the measly few pennies it costs. Honest. I am not biased.
However, after the first flushes of success, despite continued efforts, my beginner's luck wore off. I entered many competitions in the following 12 months, including more Leaf competitions, Fish competitions, US and Australian contests. All without success. Sniff.
However, there was a light in the pitch. I submitted a very very very short story to one of the most unusual and interesting publications I have ever seen, namely The Orphan Leaf Review (http://jpwallis.co.uk/orphanleaf/). When I say short, the brief (geddit) was to write a story in 70 characters or less. It is harder than you think. Don't believe me? Try it. My submission, 'A Nasty Taste in the Mouth' was accepted by the editor and was included within issue seven of the magazine. Sadly, the magazine is on hiatus at the moment, I think due to the editor needing a break and some semblance of a life, but all issues can still be purchased from the site, if you fancy a more original read.
Anyway, I took a bit of a break last year. I was having a baby, which is good enough excuse for me, even if JK Rowling was criticised for the delay to the Harry Potter series due to her selfishly having not one but two babies. Until the end of last year I made only paltry submissions but am intending to make a concerted effort again this new year.
That isn't to say that I didn't get anywhere last year- I am currently waiting to hear whether another story has been accepted into the final list for a horror anthology. The story was short listed last year, so I have my fingers crossed, and anyone out there with spare fingers to cross- your help would be appreciated.
Next post will tell you what I am doing at the moment- and if you want to crib details of contests, that's fine by me- I am your humble servant in web searching for contests.
samxx
I have always loved writing but never really took it seriously until August 2006 when I happened to spot a short story competition in my local paper, which I entered. Unfortunately I was unsuccessful in that attempt, but I persevered, and fortunately, did not have long to wait. The second competition I entered was a micro fiction competition, and the jolly people over at Leaf Books (see helpful links) judged my entry 'Playground' Highly Commendable, and it was duly published in 'The Final Theory and Other Stories', which is available from Leaf Books or Amazon, and is well worth the measly few pennies it costs. Honest. I am not biased.
However, after the first flushes of success, despite continued efforts, my beginner's luck wore off. I entered many competitions in the following 12 months, including more Leaf competitions, Fish competitions, US and Australian contests. All without success. Sniff.
However, there was a light in the pitch. I submitted a very very very short story to one of the most unusual and interesting publications I have ever seen, namely The Orphan Leaf Review (http://jpwallis.co.uk/orphanleaf/). When I say short, the brief (geddit) was to write a story in 70 characters or less. It is harder than you think. Don't believe me? Try it. My submission, 'A Nasty Taste in the Mouth' was accepted by the editor and was included within issue seven of the magazine. Sadly, the magazine is on hiatus at the moment, I think due to the editor needing a break and some semblance of a life, but all issues can still be purchased from the site, if you fancy a more original read.
Anyway, I took a bit of a break last year. I was having a baby, which is good enough excuse for me, even if JK Rowling was criticised for the delay to the Harry Potter series due to her selfishly having not one but two babies. Until the end of last year I made only paltry submissions but am intending to make a concerted effort again this new year.
That isn't to say that I didn't get anywhere last year- I am currently waiting to hear whether another story has been accepted into the final list for a horror anthology. The story was short listed last year, so I have my fingers crossed, and anyone out there with spare fingers to cross- your help would be appreciated.
Next post will tell you what I am doing at the moment- and if you want to crib details of contests, that's fine by me- I am your humble servant in web searching for contests.
samxx
Hello and Welcome
Hello world, if there's anyone out there?...
Welcome to my shiny new blog! The aim of this blog is to keep a record of what I am doing in my pursuit of official authordom.
I plan to detail which competitions I am entering, which submission calls I am answering, and give full, excruciating details of my rejections!
Until next time, fair reader
samxx
Welcome to my shiny new blog! The aim of this blog is to keep a record of what I am doing in my pursuit of official authordom.
I plan to detail which competitions I am entering, which submission calls I am answering, and give full, excruciating details of my rejections!
Until next time, fair reader
samxx
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