A small success

The latest copy of Salopeot Magazine (Salopian Poetry Society) arrived a few days ago. This was my consolation prize - a free subscription to their magazine for the year. Flicking through it I noticed the title of a poem, and thought hey? I have a poem with that title. Looked again, yes it's mine! They've used one of the entries I sent to their competition! I guess every little helps. However, it was a surprise as I didn't realise they would do that.

I am trying to put together poems for pamphlet competitions with deadlines at the end of the month. They are very different collections but with both I have that business of trying to order the poems right. Certainly the first collection I have edited, moved, taken out, inserted new ones and rearranged them so many times. I think I am there now, but I want to let them sit for a few more days before looking at them again. All the poems have been written in the last year as part of my poetry challenge to write one-a-day. I wonder if that's good or too soon?

I wondered whether after I finish my challenge - I have eight weeks to go - whether I might move on to something different. I've been thinking about the novel and whether I can save it. I sort of know what I have to do but not sure how to do it. The thought is daunting as I have so many drafts, it's all got rather messy.

Maybe I should try some flash fiction again. Certainly there are some short stories that could be edited, but somehow I can't quite work myself up to tackle them. For now I shall just concentrate on finishing my challenge and getting the pamphlets put together and submitted. Then I shall see how I feel.

Two acceptances in as many days!

I have a couple of things to brag about today....oh do let me brag! Actually, I'm thrilled because it's been a super week. A short story of mine has been accepted by a magazine which is available digitally and in print (details later in the year), and a poem I submitted at the weekend is available to view on Visual Verse. Do go over and have a look. You will need to scroll down a fair way.

These are new outlets for my work and it's all down to the Mslexia Small Press Guide. That's where I found these presses, along with many more. I had to wait for their submission windows to open and now they are. Over the last three or four days I've gone submission crazy and I've had two acceptances in that time. Mad! The poem is the first one I think I've actually had accepted this year. I've had much better luck with my fiction - flash and short stories. I'm feeling a little crazy right now. It's such a good feeling!

Another success to share and the Myers Briggs Personality Profilfing for Writers

A small success to brag about (oh let me brag?!). I have just had another 75 word piece of flash fiction published on Paragraph Planet. This piece was in fact edited down from a 250 word piece which I sent somewhere else and was not picked. Just goes to show what editing can do while still keeping the concept.

This year I have submitted six pieces of flash fiction to Paragraph Planet, and this is the fourth success! Not bad.

photobucket.com

Changing the subject, while on Twitter this morning I came across an article about writers and Myers Briggs Personality Profiling - something that has interested me for a few years now. This is the first time I've seen anything about how it affects writers. My type is INTJ and what I read was interesting. However there was another link which detailed how each type thinks and write. That was even more fascinating and quite insightful. If you click here you can find out all about how Myers Briggs works and follow other links to discover even more.

Flash fiction published! (Success)

See my 75 word flash fiction  piece
on Paragraph Planet

I've realised that there are only a few more days left for this blog-a-day challenge in November. Where has the month gone?

I'm not sure that I've done a lot of blogging about writing but today I have a success to share with you. Paragraph Planet has published a 75 word piece of flash fiction of mine today on their website. I was thinking this one wasn't going to make it as quite often I get a reply quickly (though they say it can take up to several weeks and they only reply to those successful). Anyway, I'm thrilled to be featured on Paragraph Planet again. What makes this rather good is that it is a true story! The item was found shortly after I submitted the piece, washed and reunited with sporty son! Happy endings all round.

Another poem in print!

Just heard from Victoria at What the Dickens? magazine that the poem I submitted recently is to be included in the next issue which comes out in December.  The theme for this one is journeys.  Looking forward to seeing it.  Am now aiming for a hat trick as I sent a new poem in last week for the February issue but will have to wait until the end of December for the verdict.

Poem published and I'm on a high!

A cheery picture from my garden

I'm buzzing...I really am.  I've had a poem published in What the Dickens Magazine.  Do go and have a look.  My poem is on page 35.  It's a fab magazine, glossy colour and each edition is themed (this one is Pumpkins).  I had to write a little piece about myself and there is a link leading directly here.

Since this news I have been writing like crazy!  Remember the short story idea?  I have found a plot and yesterday I wrote about 1,200 words and in the afternoon drafted out the next part in long hand.  I think I'm getting a little sidetract with one character who seems to be making herself known.  Weird!

I felt very guilty that I was spending so much time writing or thinking about my story.  I remember what it was like years ago when I wrote stories and just drifted into a the world of my characters.  I'd not be bothered about eating or anything.  Of course then I was single and living at home.  Now I have many other commitments as well as other hobbies!  Then I started wondering about what I was writing.  Is this taking me from my poetry?  After all poetry is my first priority as I love writing it and it actually gets published!  So many thoughts going round my head.

Anyway, my magazine submissions has got me thinking a lot.  WTD magazine encourage you to tweet.  I've never done this but I asked my youngest son to help me set up a Twitter account this morning.  Heck it's like a new world!  I haven't the foggiest what I'm doing.  I had to ask my son how to compose a tweet.  When I have more idea of what I am doing I will try to link this blog to twitter.  Don't hold your breath!

Now I have to get myself dressed......oh shame...blogging before I am even decent.  I have an appointment with the dentist and hygienist.  Anyone like to take my place?

Three in one publication

Just heard today that I will have three things published in Areopagus' Christmas edition (Christian Writers Magazine).  They are a combination of three types of poem (one free verse about Advent, one with rhyming stanzas and the other a Haiku).  Of course, I am thrilled!

My last Villianelle was well received and now that course is finished.  I will write more in this form but right now I'd quite like to give it a rest!

I had my two poems printed in the OU Poets workbook and now I wait to see if I get any votes.  I have just done my voting on the poems from the last two editions.  Poems with the highest votes will be published in their Anthology next year.