AN ADDICTION?

Some may call it an addiction while others, an obsession or even a fetish. Whatever you want to call it I have been craving an acceptance fix. I had all the symptoms: frustration, restlessness, grumpiness, desperation etc. Although I am still writing short stories (something I will always do) that acceptance has not been forthcoming! Over the last few months I decided to think outside of my usual box and write articles as well. The good news is my efforts have been rewarded. Writers Voice, the quarterly bulletin of the Fellowship of Australian Writers, accepted my fourth article in a row today – giving me my acceptance fix. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh!

So, if you’re craving your acceptance fix why not think outside your usual box? Use your creativity to expand your chances of getting something published (trust me, the boost in confidence it gives you makes it worth your while) – try a letter to a magazine, poem, article or enter a writing competition. To get you started there is this 100 word story competition with a chance to win ₤1000. I was excited about this until I found out my geography was all wrong. So if you live in the UK give it a go!

I’m off to do some more writing…

IT'S A BIG BOAT

I thought I was in a little row boat lost in rough seas – all alone – no life jacket. I felt like I was sinking in my disappointment and despair and it was only a matter of time before I was drowning in all those rejections BUT then I read some blogs and got a few emails. I’m not in a little row boat at all; I’m on an ocean liner! There are a lot of us in the same boat.

There are many writers expressing my own concerns:- the amount of rejections must be some kind of record, long time between acceptances, I’m feeling inspired and think I’m writing well but not a crumb of good news or a hint of some hope.

I am finding that reading how other writers deal with rejection is motivating – even the simple fact that other writers experience rejection and go through the emotions of being deflated as they question their abilities and wonder whether they will ever sell another piece of writing is comforting to me (to know I am not alone) and makes me more aware that rejection is part of the process of writing – perhaps it is what sorts out the real writers from the wannabes? I’m thinking rejection is what makes us question how we can do things better and eventually this is what makes us become better writers.

So if it’s been a long time between published stories climb on board, and as we cruise along we will become better writers and sometime soon that island of acceptance will appear on the horizon.

Keep on writing….

RECHARGING THE BATTERIES

It was a glorious spring day today. I was stuck on a short story I was working on and my head was buzzing with ideas that were going absolutely nowhere. Deciding it would be a shame to waste such a beautiful day I took 'the boss of me' - my four year old daughter - to the beach.

There wasn't a cloud in the blue sky, the yellow sands stretched far on either side of us and when I saw the smile on Jessi's face, I knew I'd made the right decision. Jessi jumped up and down in the waves, squealing with delight as though she'd never been on a beach before. I suppose to a little one last summer was a life time ago. I did venture out knee deep and thought either of two things were happening here; an enormous iceberg somewhere far beyond the horizon has melted or my little angel had no feeling in her small body - perhaps she was numbed by the cold? The water was freezing!

It was a calming day (for the both of us) - listening to the waves rolling in, with one eye on Jessi and the other taking in the beautiful surrounds:- golden sands, shells glittering in the sunlight, sea birds diving into the depths of blue to catch their feed, water crashing against the rocks of the headland and sailing boats appearing and disappearing behind the islands.

I did do some writing on the beach. I wrote a shopping list. Does that count as writing? Perhaps not.

But the beauty of it all was that I made a little girl very happy (hopefully she sleeps early and sleeps all night) and when I came home my mind wasn't buzzing and swirling around. I was able to finish writing that short story and am pleased with the result.

So do take some time out for yourself or for someone else and recharge those batteries. It is truly worth it....

DANGEROUS DECEIT

I have read many novels in my time but Dangerous Deceit by Romy Gemmell was my first historical romance. And what a fantastic introduction for me to this genre!

This novel is an entertaining read from beginning to end; a real page turner. It has everything from romance, humour and suspense to of course danger and deceit. I was transported back in time to the early years of the nineteenth century. I was impressed with the skilful use of imagery, the portrayal of the attitudes and beliefs of that time, the smooth transition of viewpoint change and the talent to evoke emotions. The conflict leads to a resolution that leaves the reader feeling completely satisfied.

Dangerous Deceit definitely gets the thumbs up from me!

THAT'S LIFE FAST FICTION

It warmed my heart when I read how Anthony Lambert, the Editor of Fast Fiction opened the Spring Issue. I just had to share this with you. Anthony Lambert wrote:

“Writing might be a solitary profession, but it doesn’t necessarily have to be so. As editor of Fast Fiction over the past few years I’ve slowly become aware of a vast and intricate network which writers use to support themselves. Not financially, but with constructive criticism of each other’s work, news about who’s buying what and when, writing tips and simple friendly chat. It was odd, but barely would I begin buying stories for a particular issue of the magazine, than contributors from Cornwall to Cairns would seem to know. It was uncanny. And I think I was all the more shocked because I’m a man. I believe this spirit of cooperation and support is a mostly female phenomenon, an immensely positive thing which gives women short fiction writers quite an edge over their male counterparts. I hope to bring you more news on this informal network in future issues. But certainly, if you are a writer, or thinking of writing, it must be heart-warming to know you’re not on your own, that it’s not a collection of individuals that makes Fast Fiction, but a community, a real community.”

Anthony Lambert’s words warmed my heart because what he wrote is so very true and because he was moved enough with his findings to make mention of it. In my experiences writers celebrate each other’s achievements, help wherever we can and encourage and support each other when it’s needed – How special is that?

Keep writing….