Monthly Archives: November 2010

NaNoWriMo Is Over!

Posted on November 30, 2010 by blogaboutwriting

Hurrah, I completed my 50,000 word ‘novel’ at 8.45pm tonight and am therefore a ‘winner’ of NaNoWriMo!   “What do you win?” I hear you cry. Well, … er, nothing, actually, except the satisfaction of having ‘done it’ . Oh, … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments

Mslexia: 2011 Short Story Competition

Posted on November 26, 2010 by blogaboutwriting

Mslexia, the women’s writing magazine, has launched its new short story competition, to be judged by Jackie Kay. It’s an open theme and the maximum word count is 2,200. Although the entry fee is a fairly steep £10, there are … Continue reading →

Posted in Competitions | 8 Comments

Writing for Writers’ Forum

Posted on November 24, 2010 by blogaboutwriting

The January 2011 issue of Writers’ Forum popped through my letter box today, which was a surprise, for two reasons: 1. January seems rather a long way away (I haven’t even finished the November mag yet!) 2. I clearly remember … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 4 Comments

Win Some Books For Christmas!

Posted on November 21, 2010 by blogaboutwriting

To launch my new Blog (yes, this!) I’m running a competition! Just leave a comment anywhere on the site (it doesn’t even have to be full of praise but, in the words of Big Brother’s Davina McCall, “please, do not … Continue reading →

Posted in Competitions | 26 Comments

Writers, Remember: You are not Michelangelo!

Posted on November 20, 2010 by blogaboutwriting

At the risk of sounding smug, I must say, it’s very good, sometimes, to live so near to the UK’s ‘Second City’. Last week I went to another great Birmingham Book Festival event: writer and actor (not ‘actress’ – she was very clear … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 6 Comments

Woman’s Weekly Short Stories

Posted on November 17, 2010 by blogaboutwriting

I had an email today from Woman’s Weekly, turning down a story. Ouch, it stung! I was half expecting it, though. I can usually tell if there’s a ‘rejection’ in the pipeline because they take several weeks, rather than just … Continue reading →

Posted in Short Stories | 5 Comments

Writing: It’s Supposed To Be Fun!

Posted on November 16, 2010 by blogaboutwriting

I was given free tickets to a classical concert last week in Birmingham’s beautiful Town Hall. I’m not musical but I thought I might like to hum along, or tap my foot. It was a string quartet. They came on … Continue reading →

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National Short Story Week: November 22nd – 28th 2010

Posted on November 14, 2010 by blogaboutwriting

Did you know that the first ever ‘National Short Story Week’ starts a week on Monday? According to its patron, writer Katie Fforde (love that double ff! ), ‘National Short Story Week’ “has been created to bring this underrated form … Continue reading →

Posted in Short Stories | 2 Comments

Remembrance Day – 11th November

Posted on November 11, 2010 by blogaboutwriting

Nipping over to Simon Whaley’s Blog as I did this morning, I realised, to my shame, that I’d missed the 2 minute silence at 11am. (I was writing but that’s no excuse). He’s written a really thought-provoking piece on Remembrance … Continue reading →

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What To Do If Someone Gets Your Goat

Posted on November 10, 2010 by blogaboutwriting

Ever been tempted to use a real person in your fiction, as ‘therapy’? That bullying boss (I’ve had a few of those), that interfering mother-in-law, that lover who dumped you for your best friend? I bet, like me, you’ve thought … Continue reading →

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