Any market news? 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.
In case you missed it, there's some quite vague, but positive sounding news from The People's Friend here. What do you think they're up to? I'm guessing anthologies, or maybe audio books or a podcast ... OK, I have no idea!
Sorry that I'm not responding to comments or tracking down much info for the blog at the moment. I'm totally fine myself, as is Gary, but a family member has problems and doing what we can for them is taking up a lot of our time. I've managed some writing, and have tweaked my website a bit.
I changed hosting companies so was forced to sort it out or have it offline until I did. Luckily two brilliant friends have been helping me with reassurance and technical advice.
Thanks to Fiona for the link to the Love Letters to London competition. There are four prizes of £500 on offer – which makes me feel suddenly fond of the place! There are classes for poetry and not poetry.
23 comments:
I hope your family situation sorts itself out satisfactorily, Patsy. It's always a worry when things take time out of your own life too.
I've been working on a pocket novel. First draft just finished. Now to leave it a while and hope it edits itself!
I sold a couple of very short stories to TPF two weeks back, but nothing else...
Alyson
Mind yourself Patsy, these sort of situations can be mentally & physically draining so take some time out for yourself. Thanks for keeping blog going through it all and thanks to Fiona for competition news.
I had an acceptance from TPF yesterday so pleased with that. I've no idea what they are planning but all news of further writing opportunities is good news in my books. I'm doing a bit of regular writing so that's good too.
Sorry to hear about your family issues, Patsy. Take care of yourself too.
On the writing front, I had a nice surprise this week. I'd submitted a short story to WW in April 2022, and in July 2022 Andrew Shaw said they'd like to publish it 'when a suitable slot comes up'. This week he wrote to me to say that they'd like to publish it in WW in February 2024! Good things come to those who wait! :)
Well done Maisie, that really does feel like one of those 'hens teeth' situations, I have a few stories with them under the same 'if we can find a slot' unfortunately they haven't found too many slots for them, one in 2023. So savour the moment!
Alyson, good luck with your pocket novel, I'm always in admiration of anyone who can produce anything longer than 3000 words.
Congratulations to those who have had acceptances... especcially the delayed and probably not likely ones: an extra treat!
I have been busying myself with 'The Spreadsheet' and writing a one-liner about the story alongside the dates sent etc..,. I needed to do that and it's taken too long but I will now keep it updated as I go.
I did London Love Letters last time - enjoyed doing it even if I got nowhere. Thank you, Fiona. Not sure if I could find another angle.
As several people have already said, Patsy - look after yourself.
Congratulations, Maisie. I have a story that’s been ‘on file’ with WW since Sep 2021, so it’s good to see that Andrew’s delving right back. I’ve just subbed a story to him this week. Nice to learn he’s still acknowledging submissions - the standard sixteen weeks timescale. I dropped April from BOWW an email over two months ago about a couple of submissions I sent earlier this year, to which I’ve had no reply.
Glad to read that TPF are now considering grittier stories. ( I might be in with a chance of acceptance now).
I picked up the latest copy of Yours magazine, a bumper fiction issue, which doesn’t name any of the authors! Very strange.
And Patsy, take care.
Michael
@Michael - I flicked through Yours mag in the shop last week and noticed that too. I presume they are reprints but not sure why they can't acknowledge the authors.
Alyson
Well done to all who have had acceptances and Patsy, take care of yourself.
The writer names in the Yours fiction festive extra are there.
It's just in small print at the side. You need to peer and look closely. I know that one story was taken from fiction feast.
I've heard that Ireland's own will now only take stories of 2,000 words and to increase your chances, they should be set in Ireland or have an Irish theme.
The pay is £40 or £50, which isn't a lot for a 2,000 word story. Their specific requirements make it more difficult.
I feel another short story competition is on the cards for TPF. If they take all rights again, I'm afraid I won't be entering it.
I hope the situation with your relative is resolved soon, Patsy. It sounds stressful, so take care of yourself.
My news is that I had an acceptance for a mini-mystery from Woman's World in the US yesterday. It's my second acceptance from them - the first one was also a mini-mystery. This one was for a Christmas story, which will be in their 25 December issue. So, very exciting.
I haven't written very much fiction at all this year - three stories all up, and a couple of serial instalments. I thought this was simply because I've been so busy with the day job, but actually I now realise I pretty much froze after making a New Year resolution to pitch a 6-part serial to PF. I've only ever written 3-parters and wanted to challenge myself. Unfortunately, it's hung over me like a cloud and not only have I not done it, I've hardly written anything. So I'm giving that the flick, and going back to pitching 3-parters. Hopefully, letting that plan go will mean I relax and start writing more regularly again.
I've no idea what PF are thinking of, but really hope it isn't something that's going to add to the already high workload of the depleted fiction team. My guess is it's either a serial-writing contest or maybe a call-out for instalments and synopses for a series or second soap opera.
Thanks for continuing the blog with everything going on, Patsy. Hope things improve.
Congratulations to everyone who has had acceptances.
I have nothing to report but rejections and disheartening silence!
HB
Congratulations Liz, that really is a coup by all accounts, well done, may you have many more successes with them
THANK YOU FOR ALL TH INFO PATSY, AND THANK YOU TO ALL WHO SHARE USEFUL INFO. WELL DONE ALSO TO THOSE WHO HAVE HAD ACCEPTANCES.HOPE THERE IS SOON A POSITIVE WAY FORWARD FOR YOUR FAMILY SITUATION, PATSY. BE KIND TO YOURSELF. NOT MUCH TO SHARE EXCEPT I HAVE TAKEN NOTE OF THE TPF ADVICE ON MORE 'GRITTY' STORIES AND AM HAVING A LOOK AT SOME OF THE STORIES I'VE YET TO FIND A HOME FOR TO SEE IF THERE IS ANYTHING I COULD SUBMIT. ON A DIFFERENT NOTE, I'M TRYING TO TRACE SOME OF MY PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED STORIES - PURCHASED BY MY WEEKLY FOR THEIR ANNUALS. SO, IF ANYONE OUT THERE ACTUALLY HAS ANY MY WEEKLY ANNUALS FROM SAY 2022 TO 2024, I'D REALLY APPRECIATE IT IF THEY COULD HAVE LOOK TO SEE IF THERE ARE ANY STORIES IN THEM BY KATE HOGAN. MANY THANKS..
Just to add my good wishes to those from everyone else to Patsy. And well done to everyone with good news to share. I too had a publication date from Andrew Shaw at WW. A story he accepted in 2021 is to be published in February 2024! He's still got a lot of mine accepted and awaiting dates so fingers crossed.
Congratulations to everyone with their acceptances, especially those who've had such a long wait! And well done to Liz - I've heard that it's really difficult to get an acceptance from Woman's World, so that's amazing.
I'm going to try to submit a poem to The People's Friend and apart from that, I'm just writing as usual.
I hope things get a bit easier for you, Patsy, and thank you so much for keeping the blog going in spite of everything else.
I hope things improve for you Patsy and the person you are supporting, make sure you take time for yourself it's important for your own well being.
Huge congratulations to everyone who has had acceptances, or made submissions, well done for keeping the torch burning and giving us all hope. :)
Congratulations to everyone who has good news on the writing front - it's really encouraging to hear from you. Liz, your success in the U.S. is particularly exciting and food for thought. I have had a couple of acceptances in recent weeks, for which I'm very grateful, and my name appears on the cover of this week's issue of 'The People's Friend, which is a huge thrill. Patsy, I'm sorry to hear that your loved one is struggling - I hope the situation improves soon. As others have said above, look after yourself in this, too. As before, I have not even attempted NanoWriMo (is that correct?) as this is just the wrong time of year for me to attack such a project, but I hope to try something similar in the new year. Meanwhile, my novel of this time last year has just been published in (cheaper) paperback format. It is called 'Closing In', with author name E.D. Thompson, published by Hachette Books Ireland, and retails at £9.99 or less; it is set in December, is a suspense/mystery and has a fifty-something, female main character. I'd love it if you took a look. Happy Writing to all.
I've just sent off 3 poems to TPF - on the offchance!
Well done everyone on your acceptances. Sorry you are going through a difficult time at the moment Patsy. I hope the situation stabilises and you get the support you need, too.
I have been doing a lot of script and screenplay writing recently, all of it on spec so keep everything crossed for me. Comedy/horror themed - not womag territory at all :)
Congrats to all those with acceptances - especially Liz. I managed to read your first mini-mystery in Woman’s World when it came out as for some reason my library included it in online mags (not now unfortunately), but that one was SO clever!
And Patsy, so sorry to hear of the tough time your loved one is going through. Hope things improve very soon.
I’ve been sending out more poetry than fiction recently but nothing to the PF yet. Not really my style, but might have a go. I have a poem in Magma’s Islands issue and another accepted for Grey Hen Press’s Two Ravens anthology.
I attended a free poetry workshop at Birmingham Uni’s Classics Dept on Saturday as part of the national Being Human festival. It’s to encourage us to connect with university research and their collections. Absolutely fascinating. I came across it by chance online but apparently it takes place every year, so next time, if there’s an event in your area, I’d definitely recommend going along (and free lunch!)
Next weekend I’m going to the London launch of the Gifted anthology from Bridge House Publishing (free comp from earlier this year) as I’ve a story in that. Good excuse to visit some exhibitions and see the Christmas lights!
Happy writing everyone!
Just seen this months BOWW, well done Elizabeth and Sharon (wow, 3!). Great to see.
Thank you Sheelagh, I haven't been out to get my copy yet, waiting for a parcel arriving, so delighted to know it's actually in print :)
Looking forward to reading Sharon's stories too, three in one mag that's quite an achievement, well done Sharon!
Thanks for the kind comments re. my acceptance from Woman's World. @Fiona, I'm so pleased you enjoyed my previous Woman's World mystery. My library also includes Woman's World in their online mags, and I hope they'll continue to do so, as it's really the only way of reading it.
Thanks for being a constant source of motivation, encouraging growth and exploration.
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