I have a 'time machine' feature (it's a Mac thing) which means that, as long as the drive is plugged in, automatic backups will be made, and I can go back to an earlier version if necessary.
How do you make sure you don't lose your work?
It's made me think about what I want from my writing life and I'll be making a few changes. Nothing drastic, more a change of focus.
Maybe with the way the womag market is going, I'm not the only person considering a few changes?
Here's a free to enter poetry competition. They're looking for something funny. You can submit text or a video and the prizes are book tokens.
This competition is for short stories. Entrants must have previously had work published. £2,000 is on offer to the overall winner.
Thanks to Alyson for mentioning this one in the comments. "Another free to enter comp here but note "Entrants must be amateur writers, and not selling their work on any platform."
I'm taking part in some more group promotion thingies with other authors - being self published means I need to find ways to reach readers. One way is through a newsletter. The promotions here and here are to, hopefully, entice more people to sign up. Potential readers are offered free ebooks for doing that.
Is writing books something you do, are considering, tried and stopped, or something you don't fancy at all? (No wrong answers! – it annoys me when people assume short forms of writing are somehow inferior to novel length works.)
A) Do you use the database?
B) Is it important to you that it's regularly updated, or would it still be useful largely left as it is, with just occasional updates, as a reminder of markets to consider?
Do you know any market news? Have you heard about any free to enter writing competitions? Or come across calls for submissions or other opportunities?
Are you researching, writing, subbing? Had any acceptances or rejections? Still waiting to hear back on outstanding submissions? Do you have a question? Can you offer tips or encouragement to other writers?
Any other writing related news, questions and comments are also welcome and appreciated. As well as allowing us all to share information, help and encourage each other, comments show editors, competition organisers and others that the blog is read and will therefore be more likely to answer my questions, or provide information for me to share with you.
Free entry writing competition
Thanks to Alyson for sending me the link to this short story competition. You have 2,000 words to write a historical or mythology inspired short story and win 'some great prizes' (it really is an interesting selection).
I've said this before, more than once, but something has come to light which makes me think a reminder might be a good idea ...
When offered a publishing contract, whether for short stories, poems, articles or books, it's your responsibility to read it and make sure you understand and agree with the terms before you sign. You need to keep that contract, as a reminder of what has been agreed, both to ensure you comply with it, and you are able to challenge the other party if they don't.
Any rights you give up, whether you sell them or give them away, are gone forever (unless otherwise stated in the contract).
Thanks to Fiona for sending the link to this competition. The Scottish Wildlife Trust are looking for short stories, poems, essays, articles or letter and can be fiction or non-fictions, but must feature a real wild animal native to Scotland. There are some excellent prizes and as Fiona said, I've collected suitable ideas for this recently, so if I can find the time I'll give it a go.
Womag/competition news
Congratulations to Ruth who was a runner up in the Best summer competition - and thanks to her for passing on the details of the current Best competition. As Ruth pointed out to me, the T&Cs have now changed. By entering you grant Hearst all rights to your story - that means they'll own every entry and whether you win or not, you can't ever do anything with that story. I think it's deeply unfair and urge you to think very carefully before sending anything in.
Do you know any market news? Have you heard about any free to enter writing competitions? Or come across calls for submissions or other opportunities?
Are you researching, writing, subbing? Had any acceptances or rejections? Still waiting to hear back on outstanding submissions? Do you have a question? Can you offer tips or encouragement to other writers?
Here's a competition with categories for poetry, short fiction, non-fiction and unpublished books. There's a prize pool of $1,000.
This competition is for stories of 550 words or fewer which include a character with a print disability. The prize is an echo dot (that sounds familiar, but I'm not sure what it is) and a voucher.
My news
Yesterday our wedding anniversary, and launch day for Dependable Friends and Deceitful Neighbours in Little Mallow, the second book in my cosy mystery series. I'd very much appreciate anything you can do to spread the word e.g. sharing my social media posts, or this very short video.
The picturesque seaside village of Little Mallow is suffering a spate of robberies. Arnold Stewart, verger of St Symeon's interrupts a burglary in progress and saves the church's antique silver. His friend, schoolteacher Ellie Jenkins, is another victim. Who can be responsible? And are they also guilty of other, far worse, crimes?
Naturally, police officers Crystal Clere and Trevor Harris are investigating, and young Adam is asking many, many questions. Arnold's kind-hearted employer Reverend Jerry Grande is praying for answers, and for those involved. Cameron isn't so much interested in solving the crime as keeping Arnold safe and showing him the beauty the world has to offer. All those people are old friends of Arnold's.
His new friend Aurora is more interested in solving the mystery of Castle View. There's definitely something odd going on at the house next to Arnold's flat. Against his better judgement Arnold finds himself involved. He's even more suspicious of the neighbours to his other side. They're hiding something – he really hopes he's wrong about it being a body!
Can Arnold and his friends untangle the lies being told in Little Mallow?
As with all my books, Dependable Friends and Deceitful Neighbours in Little Mallow is available as an ebook or paperback, can be read via kindle unlimited, ordered in bookshops and requested at your library.
Here's a little film of the cute little beaky creatures.
On The Premises have a short story competition - 1,000 to 5,000 words, with an expert as one of the characters. First prize is $250.
