Thank you to everyone who sent me birthday wishes. I can't believe we are already well into May, and still with daffodils in flower here. (This is not my garden, sadly, but photos from Darley Park in Derby, my old hometown, where I went for a visit last week.)
I spent much of April working on a story that's been floating around in various versions for over a year. Sometimes I thought that one would sink without trace (possibly in the River Derwent), as it was quite an emotional and challenging story to write. Finally I have something I'm happy with, after a long and often draining process of writing. Now it's in the drawer for a week or two, so I can do the last polishing with fresher eyes. In the meantime I have several newer stories at first draft stage that need further work.
Once again I had the luck to see something unusual, practically on my doorstep, and within what seemed like seconds a whole story had formed itself around the incident. At the time I rushed to write the beginning and the end, so now I've been able to fill in the middle. In a different story, I decided to remove a cat and add a husband. (Some of you may prefer to do things the other way round!)
I'm not doing many competitions this year, although I again reached the longlist for the recent Flash 500. I have yet to be placed anywhere in this one, but I continue to enter with optimism. 500 words is a nice length to write, and I always enjoy it.
If any readers of this blog supported the Ifakara Bakery competition, you may be interested to know that the organiser, Sharon Bradshaw, now has her own blog here with details of the winners and forthcoming anthology.
And lastly, a quick mention for Rosemary Kind of Alfie Dog Fiction, who has a lovely piece on Womagwriter's blog today. It's all about the Alfie Dog website, and very informative for anyone who wishes to submit or download stories.
With the sun shining outside, and the blossom trees all pink and pretty, I am today working on a Christmas story. Right - back to the land of snow and tinsel!
13 comments:
Thanks for the useful info, Jo. I shall check out the Alfie dog and Sharon's website. Good luck with writing the Christmas story.
Thank you, Joanne, for this helpful information and I loved your beautiful photographs. I'm glad to hear about this lovely-sounding story coming together so well and good luck with the Christmas story too. And congratulations also on your longlisting. x
Getting to the long list of Flash 500 is really good. Put on some carols to help you get in the mood for the Christmas story!
Thanks for mentioning me, Jo, and for the interview last year when I did the writing comp. I love having people visit the Hope and Dreams blog, so please drop by. There's details on there now of how to buy the Charity Anthology if you'd like a copy. Good Luck with all your writing projects, Jo, and the Christmas story too. I guess you'll write about somewhere warm, in the winter x
Sounds as though you're getting on well with all the writing tasks, Joanne! Good luck with all you've submitted, still to send out.
Congratulations on the long list, Joanne.
The photos are lovely :-) x
Lovley Joanne!!! You are amazingly prolific and so inspired!! Please may I borrow your muse for a wee while? I promise to give her plenty of chocolate! LOL!!
But seriously! Huge congratulations with finishing your stories and getting long-listed!!!! I'd love to be long listed! LOL!! One day! LOL!
Glad you had a most brilliant birthday!!! Have a wonderful week! Take care
x
That's a great achievement Joanne. Good luck with the Christmas story.
Thank you for all your comments. Sorry I am late in responding to them, but I was having a problem with logging in. Oh - Blogger....! Things seem OK today, so I can catch up with you all again now. x
Hello Joanne!
I am such a poor reader, I thought it was YOU who had lost a cat and gained a husband!!
I had a birthday in April too, but I like to keep my birthdays quiet!
Hope you had a happy one and I hope you enjoy your Christmas writing! xx
Thanks Kay, I hope you enjoyed your birthday. x
I have nominated you for a Leibster blog award, Joanne - no obligation to accept :-) x
Thank you Teresa, that's very kind. I will try and get to it soon, although life has been quite busy as you can tell by my continued absence from blogging!
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