In view of my
previous, gloomy blog, I have to tell you there has been some light.
It arrived in the
form of short lists. I was
short-listed in three competitions, namely:
the Memoir section of Fish Publishing's annual
competition;
the International Short Story Competition of Chapter One Promotions; and
Fish Publishing’s Flash Fiction section.
I threatened, in some earlier blog, to post some of the memoir if it did well. However, with the advent of light, I have decided to enter the memoir in another comp, the Elizabeth Jolley Short Story Competition, so I can't do that just yet. And the flash fiction – which I’ve had to reduce to 250 words – is going to the Bridport Prize in England, both closing at the end of this month. I’ve also entered a short story which I wrote earlier this year in the Bridport. Don’t hold your breath – results are only out in September – but crossing your fingers every now and again when you think of it might be good.
I’ve also been
proactive. I applied for and got into Down the Rabbit Hole, which is a weekend
of frenetic writing with other writers (rabbits?)
organised by the Queensland Writers’ Centre. And I’ve asked for an application
form for their Novelists’ Boot Camp, which is run by (Dr) Kim Wilkins, author
of lots and lots of books, ie she knows what she’s doing and clearly never has
to publish blog posts about bleeding at the typewriter. There’s a photo of Kim Wilkins on the QWC website and honestly if I were as attractive as that I would
forget about writing and be a model. It would have to be less painful. And more lucrative. Discuss.
I should mention, too, that Stilts Journal is currently open for submissions (closing 31 July). They want stories of journey, abandon and the unknown. I think I might be able to drum up something for that, anyway I am thinking, which is a good start.
I should mention, too, that Stilts Journal is currently open for submissions (closing 31 July). They want stories of journey, abandon and the unknown. I think I might be able to drum up something for that, anyway I am thinking, which is a good start.
And in the
meantime, like a tired fat pigeon, on I plod.
And yes, I have written some words on my novel but I am not sure if this is cause for celebration.
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Photo courtesy Lesley George |
And yes, I have written some words on my novel but I am not sure if this is cause for celebration.
*This is also the title of a book by M.J. Hyland
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