Category Archives: Successes

First Lines (again!) And ‘Sunlounger’ Short List

Posted on May 21, 2013 by

Last week in my class we talked about writing a gripping first line – ‘a hook’. Whether you’re writing a short story or a novel, the first line is pretty important. On that recent BBC Radio 4 programme, ‘Suspended Sentence’ … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Competitions, Poetry, Short Stories, Successes | Tagged , , | 9 Comments

Interested In Writing Short Stories For WW?

Posted on April 26, 2013 by

Woman’s Weekly Writing Workshop If you’re interested in writing stories or serials for Woman’s Weekly (and, by the way, yesterday I broke a long ‘duck’ with them and had a story accepted. Hurrah), then you might like to consider this … Continue reading →

Posted in Competitions, Magazines, Short Stories, Successes | Tagged | 10 Comments

Reader’s Digest 100 Word Story Competition – Results!

Posted on April 18, 2013 by

Just a quickie to say ‘well done’ to two ‘friends’ of this blog – Tracy Fells, who blogs as The Literary Pig and Clare Banks, now a member of my NEW class, which started today. Hurrah! Clare and Tracy are … Continue reading →

Posted in Bonnie, Competitions, Successes | 3 Comments

Me And Jeffrey Archer

Posted on April 8, 2013 by

(yes, I know that should really be ‘Jeffrey Archer and I’ but it doesn’t sound as good, imo). You know how sometimes you spend hours and hours fine-tuning a piece of writing and by the end you’re quite pleased with … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Competitions, Short Stories, Successes | Tagged , | 13 Comments

‘Prima’ Now Taking Short Stories

Posted on April 4, 2013 by

We are up to our eyes in doggy toys, bedding and a stair gate! It looks like we’re having a (very- advanced- already-able-to- walk) baby! Next Wednesday is B-Day when we’re picking Bonnie up. Very excited. If you don’t like … Continue reading →

Posted in Competitions, Magazines, Short Stories, Successes | Tagged , , , | 16 Comments

A Doggy Dilemma

Posted on March 18, 2013 by

We’re looking for a puppy, as some of you know (and actually, there isn’t really a ‘dilemma’ – I just liked the alliteration of that title!). After much research, talking to people-who-know-about-dogs AND a recent trip to Crufts, we have … Continue reading →

Posted in Magazines, Short Stories, Successes | Tagged , | 17 Comments

Short Story News

Posted on February 26, 2013 by

1. The Bad News I’ve not had much luck with my stories in the last couple of weeks. For example, THREE rejections on one day from Woman’s Weekly, in what can only be described as an ‘email-of-doom’ and then, just … Continue reading →

Posted in Competitions, Short Stories, Successes | Tagged | 25 Comments

Mumsnet Short Story Results

Posted on January 29, 2013 by

I had some good news yesterday. Remember the Mumsnet children’s short story competition? Well, my story is one of the twenty shortlisted! Hurrah! Originally the 10 finalists were going to be chosen by a public vote but I’m pleased to … Continue reading →

Posted in Competitions, Events, Short Stories, Successes | Tagged , | 23 Comments

A Little Minnow In A Very Big Pond

Posted on January 4, 2013 by

Here I am, writing my first post of 2013 and I’m having an ‘eeek’ moment. Firstly, the good news: yesterday Woman’s Weekly accepted a story that they’d asked me to rewrite before Christmas (I added 500 words for good measure!). … Continue reading →

Posted in Short Stories, Successes | 20 Comments

Review of My (Writing) Year

Posted on December 31, 2012 by

I originally started this post with: “2012 was rather ‘bitty’ and a not altogether successful year for me, writing-wise,” but then I realised, that I still have over 40,000 words ‘out there’ (that’s 8 stories at various women’s magazines and … Continue reading →

Posted in Blogging, Books, Competitions, Moving House, Short Stories, Successes, Tweeting | Tagged , | 23 Comments