Short Stories as a Path to Literary Success

As all my writing is founded on scenes and short stories I jerked into life when I saw a reference to this post.

Click here for short stories blog

Thanks to Gary Smailes at Bubblecow for this reference and to Ploughshares.

Douglas

Economist Essay about book publishing

Peter noticed this ... worth a read.

Click here for Essay

Douglas

Point of View

At the last Inkplotters meeting there was a discussion about publishing and the likely views of editor's about 'point of view'. I made a comment on the Aliventures blog in September 2013. Coincidently this blog came up on my e mail this week as someone else had made a comment this month 14 months later.  

http://www.aliventures.com/choosing-viewpoint-fiction/

Worth a read.

Douglas

Last and next meetings.

At the October Inkplotters’ meeting Pam Kelt was welcomed. She has just published a new fantasy book ‘True Haven’ for young adults. On the topic ‘an argument about nothing’ contributions were read out and commented on - Norman who did not speak on Tuesdays, reading of a will and a domestic misunderstanding. Calvin read out an early chapter of a follow up book to 'Turning Point' published in August. The next meeting is on 12 November at 19.00 Topic – Synaesthesia eg The scarlet blare of trumpets gushed from the bandstand.

 

Douglas

Pam Kelt's new book True Haven

True Haven ...

… is a period fantasy adventure story for a Young Adult readership. It's set in a Regency-style world where a lively young seamstress escapes from a grim workhouse in the beautiful but deadly city of True Haven.

Meet Claramina Dart, a young seamstress. She thinks of herself as a tailor's apprentice, however.

Independent, smart, questioning ... she adapts quickly to circumstances and uses her wits to survive.

She lives in Mudwells. Overcrowded, foul-smelling, corrupt. But it's home. 

‘Mina' has to take care of a young assistant, Barley Spindle. But then he is unfairly arrested and she steps in to save him.

Mistake.

They are both thrown into a workhouse far away in the city of True Haven. But Barley is ill and she realises they must both escape, for the city is not what it seems.

Elegant on the outside, True Haven is run by cruel Childmongers while the youngsters do the hard labour. Worse, there are rumours that it is infested by mysterious giant creatures that prey on the children.

After a close shave, they are rescued by Otto Karussel, a clockmaker, and discover the scale of their plight.

Despite their efforts to escape, they are swept up in even more dastardly plots and counter-plots between Mudwells and a rival city state as the ruthless Custodians of Mudwells use True Haven and Otto’s devices in a deadly struggle for power.

Nothing is quite what it seems, especially True Haven itself.

Intrigued?

Read on. 

See http://truehaven-pk.blogspot.co.uk/

You Tube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4SaOu6_SGw

That which does not kill ...

If you are siting comfortably in your warm home ... spare a thought for Russell whose gritty articles I have passed on in earlier posts.


http://russellblake.com/that-which-does-not-kill/#comment-18607

There are also some pictures of the wrecked town from searches on the web under his home town name or Hurricane Odile Cabo eg -

Hurricane odile pictures



Douglas

How to rekindle your love of writing

Found this today ...
 
 
Writing is a lonely process.

It takes a lot of courage to sit down and write day after day, week after week, month after month. The struggle can continue for years, while self-doubt, criticism and fear bully you like a gang of thugs.As if that’s not torture enough, you may want to move beyond writing for yourself, and pursue publication.

 

Then, the real challenges begin: losing writing contests, diminishing support from family and friends because you’re gasp…still unpublished?

 

Don’t forget rejections from agents on stories you’ve slaved over, pouring your heart into each word. That is, if the professionals bother to answer you at all. Silence is the new rejection.

 

If you aren’t careful …… you might destroy your love of writing.

 

 

To read the rest go to -  http://writetodone.com/love-of-writing/ 

 

About the author:

 

Marcy McKay is the Energizer Bunny of Writers. She believes writing is delicious and messy and hard and important. If you’ve ever struggled with your writing, you can download her new, FREE eBook, Writing Naked: One Writer Dares to Bare All. Find her on Facebook!