The garden, which seemed so springlike just a few days ago, now looks very sorry for itself. I'm trying to think of it as a first draft. Once the sun shines again it will reveal the true beauty – just as a good edit does to our writing. And just as I wouldn't distress you with a jumble of my ideas and typos, I'm sharing pictures from last year which show how the garden will look after it's warmed up a little.
Here's a competition for a single author short story collection. Self published books aren't eligible and authors must live in the UK or Ireland. There's a £10,000 prize.
If you know any writers under 18 who live in the British Isles, they might be interested in this competition. (Having written that I realise I'm assuming that nobody under 18 reads this blog – please put me right if I'm in error!)
Pin Drop have a short story award. It's free to enter, but you have to sign up to their mailing list to get the details of how to do that.
The Scottish Book Trust have another wee competition with nice little prizes.
Womag news
My story, If The Shoe Fits, is in The People's Special issue number 204 which is on sale today.
My News
As promised/threatened here's an update on what I'm doing towards being more businesslike about my writing...
I'm gradually publishing all my books through Ingram Spark. There are two reasons for this – one is so that I'm not solely reliant on Amazon for book sales. The other is that it will make it much easier for libraries and bookshops to stock copies. They're unlikely to do that automatically, but will do so if anyone orders a book.
So far only A Year Of Ideas: 365 sets of writing prompts and exercises is available this way, but several others are part way through the process.
In order to publish with Ingram Spark I've bought my own ISBNs (this is essential) joined ALLi, the Alliance of Independent Authors, (recommended both for all the advice and news, and for the very worthwhile discounts on lots of things, including publishing with Ingram Spark). A blog post about the benefits of joining ALLI is coming soon. I could do one about ISBNs – why you might want them and how to get them, or about publishing through Ingram Spark, if anyone is interested.
I'm also having all my novels made into audio books. That's going to be a long and slow process. So far I've found a narrator and publisher for one, and am auditioning for another.
As this is a fresh start, I'm taking the opportunity to have all my novel covers updated too. This is how the audio cover of Paint Me A Picture will look.
As promised/threatened here's an update on what I'm doing towards being more businesslike about my writing...
I'm gradually publishing all my books through Ingram Spark. There are two reasons for this – one is so that I'm not solely reliant on Amazon for book sales. The other is that it will make it much easier for libraries and bookshops to stock copies. They're unlikely to do that automatically, but will do so if anyone orders a book.
So far only A Year Of Ideas: 365 sets of writing prompts and exercises is available this way, but several others are part way through the process.
I'm also having all my novels made into audio books. That's going to be a long and slow process. So far I've found a narrator and publisher for one, and am auditioning for another.
As this is a fresh start, I'm taking the opportunity to have all my novel covers updated too. This is how the audio cover of Paint Me A Picture will look.
8 comments:
That's probably really smart not to rely on just Amazon.
Sorry the snow was just a dusting.
Nice covers, Patsy!
Good to be story buddies in TPF. Thanks for the competitions.
Alyson
You're so lucky that you only got a dusting of snow. It is snowy and super cold in Michigan. We'd probably love your weather. Congrats on your story being published!
Under 18 - I wish! The Pin Drops looks a good one to explore...,. The business side of writing looks really complicated but I am sure you can do it, Patsy! Not much snow down here in the south - tho' we seem to have had our fair share of icicles.
Love the new cover to Paint me a picture :)
Loving the new covers. We've had quite a fall of snow here and it doesn't look like thawing anytime soon. Congrats on the story in TPF and thanks for the comps. I've never connected auditions as being part of going audible, hope all goes well.
Well done your story in the People's Friend, Patsy. Nice illustration! Yes,d ove l to hear anything on Ingram Spark and your journey into new pubishing opportunities. Getting your books into libiraries and on their e-book register would be great. Good wishes, Kate Hogan.
@ Alex – Sometimes I do the smart thing!
@ Penny – Thank you. I'm pleased with them.
@ Alyson – It is. I always like sharing the pages with people I sort of know.
@ Natalie – I'm sure I'd get fed up with snow if I got more than a couple of days of it every five years or so.
@ Marguerite – I can't remember the last tike I saw an icicle!
@ Elizabeth – Auditions makes it sound grander than it is. It's just their term for me listening to samples from narrators and deciding which voice I think is the best fit.
@ Kate – I love libraries and really hope to get my books into more of them. I'll let you know how I get on.
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