Normality Returns, hurray

Today I return to normality, well what is normality for me at least. For the next three days I shall enjoy my regular routine, after that it is off on the road again until September. It has been awhile since I have had the opportunity to put pen to paper due to other commitments, family and otherwise. I got to my library this morning where I penned these few words and oh boy does it feel good. I feel refreshed and eager to go with so much trapped inside me aching to get out. It is a shame my fingers cannot keep up with my thoughts. It also brought home to me how much we are creatures of habit. Take shopping for example, (what has this to do with writing I hear you ask?) well, nothing but stick with me and I shall explain. When you go to the supermarket, everyone starts in the same aisle and go around a certain route of the shop. I wanted to be different so I started at the further side of the shop and oh God was it a nightmare. It felt alien to walk against the flow plus it made me so disorientated that I had to start at the usual side before I finished. See, that’s what I mean we are creatures of habit. And like this morning my very presence in the library meant my fingers were dancing with joy to hit the keyboards. I never said what they wanted to say would be interesting after all they are a little rusty. So habit/normality call it what you will, oh the joys to be back in it. Happy writing !

And then I read the Guidelines...

It happens, not only does it happen to other people but it happened to me. I, who live by guidelines and rules in my writing life, had fallen and oh how had I fallen. Allow me to explain although the title of this post is probably self explanatory.

One Friday evening, tired and emotional (in my defence) from my week I realised the closing date for a competition I wanted to enter was upon me and I had not sent in my story.

So out came my laptop, competition site opened up and a few finger taps later my entry was sailing through cyberspace, on its way to winning me a wonderful prize (positive thinking people, it’s the secret).

Now I have a wonderful writing buddy who has chastised me for being quick to tap buttons on my laptop. This long suffering friend, let’s call him Dan, answers all my Internet questions. So I couldn’t wait to tell Dan the next time we met how good I was at figuring out this online site by myself.

Well, having sent my story, I sat back to relax. As the automatic answer thanking me for my entry popped up before me, it was then I noticed it. Yes, you have it, the bloody guidelines, in more detail, a full large paragraph of the do’s and don’ts but BELOW the competition entry form.

Well I was now in a pickle because I had not scrolled down the page fully. I hadn’t copped the bloody things. Surely though, again in my defence, should the guidelines not have been placed ABOVE the entry form? Anyway off I sent an email to the hosts of the competition and explained my predicament, admitting my silly mistake. Telling Dan was also not so bright and beautiful anymore. When I did he just laughed, what could he do? He has lost hope with me a long time ago. Yes, it’s sad.  

So people take note, scroll down the full page and read everything and (as Dan silently screams at me each day), stop being tap happy with the keyboard when it comes to form filling etc.

Happy Days

I have been so busy lately that all things writing was pushed to the side. So it was with great pleasure that I received a request asking me for an interview about my writing and other bits about life. It was a light hearted chat that I really enjoyed and got me focused again on my writing. I shall be putting up the link for the interview with author Daniel Kaye when it is published.
I have since completed a short story and started another, both for an anthology that is planned for September 2012. Also acheived was some work on the agenda for a workshop that is taking place on April 21st by our writing group in our local library which is titled, 'An Introduction to Creative Writing'. This is free to the public and will take place on a Saturday morning.
I got some tagless dialogue completed which is part of an exercise for our writing group so it feels good to be back in the writing zone. So Happy Days  :)

Time is running out !!

You have until the 26th October to avail of a FREE download of my Ebook, A Baker's Dozen. It is a mixed bag of short stories for you to read on your coffee break or when waiting in a queue. Dip in and pick a story while you wait for your special someone or as you travel to and from work by train, bus or chauffeur !! 
The coupon code you require is WD64U and the link is,
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/90709
Reviews and comments are welcome so please do so when you have time, thanks!

Check out this fab new author

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/85666

This author is well worth checking out. His stories tease all the senses with great pace and tension and good storylines thrown in. The Ebook is a collection of stories worth putting in your E-library and for those of you who like the feel of the physical book in your hand, well the paperback version is due out shortly.

SUBMITTING GUIDELINES A HELP-SHEET

SUBMITTING GUIDELINES

Firstly, make sure your story is polished and proofread.

The following are general standard guidelines when submitting a short story

• Paper size: A4 white
• Font: Times New Roman, although this is a serif font, each letter is proportional to the space it takes up. Courier New is also a serif font where each letter takes up the same space as each other: the i takes up the same space as the m (used mainly in US market and for novels).
• Font size: 12 (both in Times New Roman and Courier New)
• Spacing: Double spacing
• Justification: Title is centred. Story is left justification, this means Right side staggered.
• Get familiar with the magazines you wish to submit too. Buy at least two copies of the magazine and study them. Go to the website of the magazine and check their guidelines, if it’s not on the website then e-mail for a copy of guidelines.
• Think in advance: Magazines work roughly 12 weeks ahead of an occasion and sometimes more, e.g. Christmas, Valentines, centenaries etc. Submit in time.
• Competitions: Read The Rules

The word count varies for each magazine, roughly one A4 page magazine is up to 800 words. The following are a rough guide for fiction in magazines,

Flash- 1000 words              Short story- 1000-3500                   Serial- 4000-8000. 

Cover Sheet (used for novels and competitions): this page has the Title, Author’s Name, Postal Address, e-mail Address, Contact number and Word count.

GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR SUBMITTING AND LET ME KNOW HOW YOU GET ON!

Dialogue Help-Sheet

DIALOGUE:

Dialogue is a conversation between two or more people.

It brings characters to life and adds interest.

Functions of Dialogue:

• Provide information
• Describe place/person
• Create a sense of time
• Create conflict/suspense
• Move the story forward
• Reveal a character’s thoughts

Quotation marks  “ ”

·        Start new line for different speaker.

·        Thoughts are not put in quotation marks.

·        Single quotation marks for quotes from someone/book.

            Quotation marks are outside all that is said

Take Note:

• Be aware of local slang terms, accents, etc.
• It must suit the story and the era the story is set in, (1) A teenager speaks differently from an older person, (2) A northerner speaks differently from a person living in the south.
• Consistency: if you use Isn’t - Can’t, then continue to use it and do not change it to Is not- Can not
• Must listen to how people talk
• Don’t give too much information to your reader, let the story unfold.
• Use profanity and slang sparingly.