The Bristol Short Story Prize

It's done.  I am just about to send it.  Well, in a minute anyway.

Its my longest story to date.  The limit was 4,000 words and although my story doesn't hit the maximum word count, I feel good about it.  After all 4,000 words is the limit not the target and I cannot see the point in adding words or padding out just for the sake of it.  It wouldn't be my story then.  Its going to be a long wait though - results, well the long list, will be published on the website around mid-July.  At this moment that seems so long to wait.

The story which was rejected from TABFF last week I have tweaked and changed a few things and have decided to send it to That's Life Fast Fiction (Australia).  Along with another short story which I crafted with that magazine in mind.  It's quite scary though.  Sending something to Australia.  Okay I send them via email so that's not the problem I just hope they are accepted.  Its no different to submitting to TABFF, it just feels different somehow.

Once that is done I have my eye on a few minor short story competitions but need to get my skates on as  both the deadlines are mid-May.  I am feeling very positive at the moment and wish there were more hours in the day to write.

Oh, almost forgot to thank my talented proof reader for all her time; thank you Helen.

Crying

Should your own stories make you cry? and is it a good thing or a bad thing?  The story I'm working on at the moment is almost completed.  Ok, it's quite emotional and very sad in places but when I was reading it through this morning I actually had a little cry.  Now either that means it is so bad it doesn't deserve to see the light of day, which I'm sure cannot be the case or I have managed to insert just enough emotion into it without is being gushy, slushy etc.  But seriously, that's never happened to me before.  I mean I know exactly what happens and when so its hardly a surprise for me.  It's actually for a competition so fingers crossed and who knows?

I have moved out of the conservatory because of the heat.  I actually felt quite sick this morning with the sun beating down on my head.  So I am now back in the lounge - nice and shady.  I know I've spent weeks moaning about the damp dark weather but honestly its stifling in the conservatory like working in a small green house - yukk! 

As usual I have several stories on the go, so once this competition entry is done and dusted I really must get on and finish some of those who have been calling me from deep within the desk drawer.

It's Good To Be Back

Wow, that must have been the longest Easter holiday ever!  The kids went back to school/college yesterday and normality has returned, well, almost.

Over the holiday's everybody at sometime or other (in this house) was ill i.e sore throats, colds, sticky eyes.  I had a nasty flare up of tendonitis which inhibited me from getting much work done.  At one stage I was convinced I had broken my wrist, which of course was me just letting my imagination run away with me.  Well, hey I'm a writer - I'm allowed to.

Anyway, so my 4000 word story is behind schedule now so I need to get on with it.  I suppose not being able to type much made my brain work harder and I do have some fresh ideas which should bring my story to life a little more and get rid of any wooliness(?).

The sun is shining despite the showers and I'm ready to get down to it !!

Loving It

My new story mentioned in my last post is coming along better than I expected.  Its a longer story up to 4,000 words and I think this has allowed me to open up and use masses of detail I usually would have omitted.  I have also opted for a far off destination, also something I haven't done before.  Thus I have been up to my eyes in factual research which I have really enjoyed.

It's often easier to stay in your comfort zone for various reasons but to step out of it occasionally can also be exhilarating,  this story is so different for me and honestly, I can picture each detail in my head and feel I know my two main characters very well.  Some of you may say, that should be the case anyway but that depends on how short the story is and what genre you are writing for.  I know some writers refer to 'the rules' but the rebel still living inside me. tells me that rules are there to be bent and broken !!  After all, if nobody had ever challenged them all out literature could have been very dull.  Now that's not to say that out classics are dull after all didn't we have some female rebels then?  I'm sure we did, just think about it.

Again, I suppose it's a matter of choice but for me, paddling away from the safety of my comfort zone feels good and very liberating - wish me luck.