We're back now and getting on with work. I'm writing short stories about cakes (I blame Marguerite and Sheelagh!) and plotting out the 4th book in my Little Mallow cosy mystery series.
Free entry competition news
Thanks to Sharon Boothroyd for the link to this short story competition for W&AYB. You have up to 2,000 words and the theme is 'play'. The prize is an Arvon residential writing week. Is that something you'd like to win?
Other writing opportunities
Gary S Thomas (writer and director) is running a free online masterclass on creating characters tonight. You'll need to register to take part.
If you liked the sound of the writing retreat Fiona discussed in the last post, but would find that too much of a commitment, how about a one week online version? Thanks to Vivienne Moles for telling me about this 'Winter Writing Sanctuary'. Vivienne says, "I've been following these courses now ever since their inception during the pandemic. There really are no catches: absolutely free. The material she uses is original and new every year and inspiring and it sort of boosts your creativity without judgement."
My news
If your library membership gives you access to Hoopla, or Overdrive, you can use it to read some of my books for free. (Not sure why it isn't all - hopefully more will be added.) Do any of you use either service? If you do, please consider borrowing one of my books - I'd really appreciate it.
Can you help?
It would be very helpful if anyone who notices errors with what I currently have, or who sees fiction in any magazine lets me know. Obviously if you can supply all the relevant info about subbing that would be great, but even just the name of the publication where you saw a story would help.
Thanks for all the info, Patsy. I think Liz mentioned mag called Simple Things that had a paid story slot. I don't know the details.
ReplyDeleteNo news for me, I'm afraid apart from poems in a local paper and stories in an e-mag. Both are non- paying slots.
Well done to all with positive news.
Beautiful autumn colours here, too, Patsy, although the leaves are now the bane of my life.
ReplyDeleteThanks to Sharon for the A&WYB comp. I've entered those in the past. I might try again.
Re the magazine listings, I'm not sure I know anything that you don't already. The My Weekly pocket novels are no more and My Weekly changed its word lengths recently but since its a closed shop its not of much interest to most people.
TPF now want exact word counts or under. No longer the 10 percent over leeway.
Thanks for keeping it all up to date. I used the mags information a huge amount when I first started writing when Kath did the site and much appreciate it.
Alyson
Meant to say I am getting the 'follow it' emails telling me you've made a new post, Patsy. This one came in mid afternoon.
ReplyDeleteAlyson
Another packed and interesting post, Patsy. I'm intrigued by the Aquila opportunities. I don't have any additional knowledge about the 'womags', but have noted, like Alyson, that The People's Friend no longer want submissions to run over the stated lengths, although a bit under seems to be fine.
ReplyDeleteThanks Patsy for all the interesting info and to everyone who had so generously shared info with Patsy for the blog. I've just caught up with the interview with Fiona about the retreat and it was fascinating. I've just signed up for the follow it emails so hopefully I've done it right and don't miss anything. Love the photos Patsy, good luck with your writing now you are home. Good luck everyone else with writing and submitting :)
ReplyDeleteI’m sure I only know the same as everyone else, but The People’s Friend have given some useful tips on submitting in posts on X in the past few days.
ReplyDeleteThe only news I have is an acceptance for the next Micromance anthology. It’s not a paying market, but I was very pleased because I did try hard with the story.
Also, I got the ‘follow-it’ email too, Patsy.
The People's Friend long crime read word count is now 7500 words - quite a hefty cut from 9500.
ReplyDeleteWoman's World's solve-it-yourself mysteries are now 400 words plus an 85-word solution (down from 500 words plus a 50-word solution). I don't know about the romance word count as I don't write romance.
The Simple Things does have a short story in every issue and it is a paid slot, but it's commissioned. You can't send stories in on spec.
I won the Mystery With History Award at the Scarlet Stiletto Awards on Friday night. I was really chuffed. The writer friend I sat next to also won a prize, so it was a great night for us. The winning stories will be published in an anthology (ebook only), but I don't have the details yet.
That’s brilliant, Liz! Congratulations!
DeleteOh, what wonderful news Liz! you must be over the moon.
DeleteDee
Ooh well done, Liz, fantastic news
DeleteThat's great, Liz! Enogh to be shortlisted, but a win! :)
DeleteThanks Patsy, Sharon & Vivienne for all the writing opportunities, I'm afraid I know of none to add to list.
ReplyDeleteI'm delighted to be a joint cake short story muse alongside Marguerite though, if it goes well you'll have to pay us in cake!
I had a short story accepted by TPF this week, one rejected too but that's okay, was great to hear back.
Love the photos as ever.
The continuation of the cake story is to be called: The Lost Cake Decorations - I put them in a "safe place" when we were moving...
DeleteCongratulations Liz, that's great news! Congrats to Shelagh and anyone else with good news. 400 words for woman's world -crikey! That's a big ask. I certainly won't be attempting it.
ReplyDeleteThank you everyone for all the information, so pleased to hear there will be a return to Little Mallow, Patsy!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations Sharon and Marian.
Dee
Congratulations Sheelagh on your TPF acceptance.
DeleteDee
@ Sharon – Your 'no news' has more content than mine! You're very good at finding alternative ways to make your stories available to readers.
ReplyDelete@ Alyson - I'd forgotten the MW PN's stopped - I'll update the database. If I don't do these things immediately, and it's not a market I submit to, then I'm very likely to forget before it gets done.
I too found this blog, as run by Kath, extremely helpful when I started writing for womags. That's why I agreed to keep it going when she was no longer able to devote enough time to it.
It appears the notifications do arrive, although there's often quite a delay. Fortunately little of what I post is so time sensitive that it makes much difference if people don't read it for a day or two. Having said that, I did 'attend' the online workshop yesterday, and found it really interesting.
@ Eirin – It's probably in our interests to stick as closely as possible to word counts, even if we know there's some leeway. If it doesn't fit the fixed slots all magazines seem to have, then someone will have to stretch or cut it, and we'll have no control over what's added or removed.
@ Elizabeth - Thank you. I'm just about settled back into my 'at home' writing routine again now.
@ Marian - I no longer use X, so unless someone tells me, I don't know what gets posted there.
Well done getting into the microromance anthology!
@ Liz - thanks for all that info. I'll go and do the updates now before I forget....
Congratulations to Sheelagh: TPF my goal NEXT year. Not much going on here but thank you for the opportunities this week. The only things I hear about are every now and then, not regular magazines.
ReplyDeleteOK. some database updates don. Now, where was I?
ReplyDelete@ Liz - Wow! Many congratulations!
@ Sheelagh - Congratulations on the acceptance. I agree that, although we don't actually like rejections, it's good to get them and know where we stand.
@ Marguerite - A safe place? Oh dear. You'd better get new ones - that's the only way to get the old ones to turn up.
@ Sharon - that really is tight, isn't it? I can't see there's room for much story, just the puzzle details.
@ Dee. Thank you. It's slow progress with the Little Mallow book, but that's better than no progress.
@ Marguerite – That kind of info is very welcome too - it just won't go on the database.
Thanks for a really great selection of news, both in the blog and in all the comments (Patsy, I got my email about the new post at 7.30 this morning).
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to Liz - what a brilliant win - and everyone else who’s had successes.
Thanks too to everyone helping Patsy to update the magazine database - really appreciated.
Thanks so much, everyone. It was a great night. Buses replaced trains on my way home from the ceremony and even that drama couldn't wipe the smile from my face!
ReplyDeleteI agree about the mystery word length for Woman's World. I've had two mysteries published by them - the first, published in 2022, was 700 words including the solution. The second, published in 2023, was 550 words including the solution. That word count was more challenging to write to than the first. The 485 including solution looks incredibly difficult.
Liz, this is a wonderful achievement - a triumph for one of us on this blog is surely heartening for all of us, so thank you, as well as congratulations.
ReplyDelete