Interview with Author Jamie Rowell

I met Jamie Rowell during my region's National Novel Writing Month meet-ups and we are now both part of the same writing and critique group called Swindon Free Writers. He is 24 and is a very talented writer.

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I come from a family which has been fairly creative, given that a few of my relatives were artists of one form or another, like a screenwriter, or musicians, and I did a degree in journalism at university. I also go on a forum, the Roleplaying and Fanfiction forum of GameFAQs, which is noted to be one of the best forums online for writing, as the criticism is harsh and fair. I also meld my writing with my music at times to create a unique experience for me.

Do you use a pen name? If so, why?

I don't use a pen name any more, though I have written under different aliases in the past. I think that I did so as a way of expressing myself in different ways without losing parts of the identity I had created for myself at the time, so I guess it was like shedding my old identity, putting a new one on and then shedding that one. I've stopped doing that now, because I'm fairly confident in my identity and in what I'm writing on, and having gone through my period of Old Shame, as the trope goes.

What are your writing accomplishments?

I've had some of my poetry published in a book years ago, and I've had a few newspaper articles published. I've also finished NaNoWriMo 2011, and kept a writing project on the RP/FF going for about two years nearly and it has an end in sight. Considering most RPGs on there die quickly or don't finish, I'm proud of that.

What type of writing do you do? What genre do you write in?

I tend to write fiction, and meld genres a lot. I've got a soft spot for sci-fi, though I don't tend to write that much in it any more, preferring a sort of gritty realistic fantasy setting, if that makes sense - like magic married with the modern world. I have been known to write in stereotypical fantasy before, and horror as well.

When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer? What was it about writing that drew you to it?

I'm not sure exactly when I wanted to be a writer, as I've always been writing for as long as I can remember. I do remember though reading Lord of the Rings when I was 8, and thinking that I wanted to go and live in a world like that, and then later realising that the only way I could would be through my imagination, and thus, writing to try and explore my imagination.

Where do you get your ideas for your writing?

This is gonna be weird, but I get my ideas from virtually everything. For example, I'll listen to a piece of instrumental music, and start to think “Yeah, this would fit this kind of scene perfectly”, and then usually run off to scribble stuff down. Film soundtracks work well for me, as does the music of my labelmates on the mrsvee record label, as everyone's music on there usually helps jog the idea process. At other times, I'll be walking outside or doing something fairly mundane, so whilst my body is doing that, my mind will go into overdrive and start thinking about stuff and imagining scenarios and whatnot, and from there, ideas will spring forth.

What books/authors have influenced your writing?

Three authors mainly. Terry Brooks, Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson. Brooks influenced me by showing that you can write archetypal fantasy well, and even though his work is clichéd, it would be fair to argue that pretty much everything is nowadays, so yeah, his influence on writing clichéd stuff and growing from writing the clichéd into developing your own style is a big thing of mine.

Robert Jordan paved the way for a living, breathing world for me. Whilst I've yet to reach the heights that the Wheel of Time series does in terms of making such a creative world, that influence seeps through a lot.

Brandon Sanderson is the newest author on my list, but the man really is phenomenal. His way of making magic systems that work and that are logical is impressive, as is his work ethic. The fact he also takes a lot of existing tropes and subverts them in quite unusual ways and plays with them a lot influences me a lot at times.

What are your current writing projects?

I've currently got my NaNoWriMo 2011 project to edit, as well as the RP/FF Orphans project that is currently ongoing. Those are the two major ones, though I occasionally write short stories and stuff that takes place in the Orphans universe as well as random other stuff, and I think me and a friend are going to try and do a fantasy story that subverts virtually every trope known to mankind soon.

Do you ever experience writer’s block? How do you get through it?

I do experience the dreaded block, and I find the best way to get through it is to just write out a basic scene, like for example, a guy walking down the street, into a restaurant, ordering takeaway and being attacked by something as he walks home. Writing down that much usually allows me to continue the story, both on paper and in my mind, as I'm past the difficult part, and can go back and flesh things out later when I'm happy with writing again.

Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?

It'd honestly have to be mixing a sense of realism with magic. Not just in the sense of breaking the laws of physics on a regular basis, but the smaller things, like the accuracy of firearms and how easy it would be to break them, or the reactions of normal people being told that magic does exist, and so on. I also find it challenging at times to write about the magic system I've made, as I've made rules for it and it would be really easy at times to just ignore the rules I've set out, but then that begins the descent into deus ex machinas being used whenever necessary. So it's challenging to have written myself into a box and then find the way out as well without resorting to ignoring the box.

It's also challenging at times to find a decent soundtrack that I've not listened to a hundred times over and over whilst writing. So sometimes I'll have Celldweller, Clint Mansell, the Resonance Association and a load of soul music on the same playlist, for extra variety, and it does work in a really weird way.

What do you love most about writing?

For me, what I love most about writing is the exploration of everything. The exploration of a new world, if I'm inventing one, the exploration of that world's history, the events that shaped it, and its prominent figures. The exploration of why a character does something, whether it's something good or stupid, the exploration of their feelings and personality, and the exploration of their journey ultimately. That's why I'm not too fussed if I spoil crime thrillers for myself whilst I'm reading, because whilst I may know who the killer is, I don't know the journey how we got there, and that exploration for me is a major thing that I love.

Is there anything that you have learned about yourself through writing/pursuing your career as a writer?

Yeah, I've discovered that writing can be really cathartic at times for me. Though that may be because I tend to put my characters through the grinder at times and have them come out the other side damaged in one way or another, which is oddly cathartic, probably because I can then go “Yeah, I'm not the only one who suffers from stuff like that.” That's probably really weird, but writing really is cathartic.

I guess I also discovered that I love exploration, and can finally put a name on it, as I was always wondering as a teenager and adult why I liked certain things and not others, despite links at times. It's why I can like stuff like World of Warcraft and Mass Effect 2, to cite two random examples, and hate Call of Duty games, because for me, there is no exploration of any kind in Call of Duty games. So yeah, writing has allowed me to put a name to that, finally.

If you could become one of your characters for a day, would you? (and who/why?)

Funny you should mention that. One of my characters, Jamie Kindred, originally started out as a more interesting version of myself that was gifted with magic. I was a teenager when I came up with him, and I've had his character all that time, but he has evolved a lot as a person over the years to the point where him and me only barely intersect nowadays, so I guess it'd be somewhat cool to be him for a day. Well, up until the point where he was attacked by demons.

Do you have any advice for other writers?

As tired and clichéd as this advice is going to be, it really is the best I can give for other writers. Write what you know, or at least, do the research a lot before writing. If you're going to have gigantic explosions caused by guns, try and make sure that they're done realistically, like with tracer bullets or similar, because as a reader, unless you're deliberately aiming for the rule of cool all the time and you're deliberately avoiding realism, stuff that is badly researched and shows it is massively jarring for me, especially if you're trying to be realistic. Even if you're not trying to be realistic, still do the research beforehand so it's believable.

Set yourself writing goals. It may not be for long every day, but as long as you're writing a bit a day, you can increase your output slowly and at your own pace. We're not all Brandon Sanderson, we can't all put in 10-12 hours a day of writing, but an hour or two a day is respectable, and more than that is more than respectable, especially if you're holding a job down at the same time.

Lastly, you should never try to critique your own work and edit it by yourself unless you really have no friends or anybody to show it to. If you can afford to, get a professional editor to look your work over. If you are like the majority of us, get a friend or relative to read it through. It's better than going through yourself, as you'll either not recognise enough flaws, or you'll recognise too many flaws and decide to delete everything. Both extremes are bad, and unless you've worked as a professional editor or proof-reader, you can't help but slide into one extreme or the other. So yeah, get someone else to read it first if you can.


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Where Do You Get Your Ideas?

As a writer, this is a question I hear often. Where do I get my ideas from?

I get them from all over the place. Sometimes, I wake up from a particularly vivid dream and realize that it would make a good basis for a story. Sometimes I hear a song that reaches into me and whispers, "You must write a story to go with this."

The people around me help me to form ideas for stories. I watch the people who take the bus with me, or the people who stand outside the shops in town and try to think up stories to explain the way they dress, the way they move or even why they are on the bus, where they are going, why they are standing outside of a particular store. These ideas can be endless.

Conversations with friends and family sometimes help me come up with ideas. Last night, my husband and I went to see a movie, and after the movie, when we went to dinner, we discussed some of the new movies that were coming out. That discussion became a discussion of how we would write about simlarly-themed stories and then we came up with several story ideas and a way to research even more stories.

My children are wonderful little inspiration-builders. Tonight, my son woke up from a bad dream and told me he couldn't get back to sleep because he was worried that he would have another bad dream. I made up a story to allay his fears, and that story has given me an idea for both a children's story and an adult short story.

So let's hear it: Where do you get your story ideas from?

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Moving On From Rejection

I recently submitted a short story for an anthology and got the e-mail today letting me know that it was not selected. I'll admit, it stings a little. Although I have had a regular article published in a monthly magazine on the subject of health, the writing I would like to see published is my fiction writing. In my first attempt at getting my fiction published, I was rejected. It would have been helpful if a reason had been stated in order to help me to hone my craft, but I wasn't expecting one anyway.

So what am I going to do about it? Am I going to wallow in defeat and decide that my writing isn't worthy enough? Am I going to take it as a sign that I should never even be attempting to write fiction and that I'll never make it as a fiction writer?

Of course not! I will take another look at the short story I wrote and think of ways I can improve it, and then I will move on to the next project in my list of writing projects.

Some points that I think all writers need to learn from rejection are this:

1. All writers receive rejections. Even some of your favorite authors have had their work rejected. That didn't stop them from getting published later.

"No one is asking, let alone demanding, that you write. The world is not waiting with bated breath for your article or book. Whether or not you get a single word on paper, the sun will rise, the earth will spin, the universe will expand. Writing is forever and always a choice - your choice." ~Beth Mende Conny

2. A rejection doesn't mean you are not a good writer. It just means that your writing was not what they were looking for at the time. It might mean you need to improve your writing, but it doesn't mean that your writing has no value.

"If you don't allow yourself the possibility of writing something very, very bad, it would be hard to write something very good." ~Steven Galloway

3. A rejection does not mean that you will never be published. Again, every writer has had their writing rejected at some time. It happens even to the best of writers.

"Our greatest glory is not in never failing, but in rising up every time we fail." ~Confucius

4. You can learn from failure and grow from it. Take another look at the story you wrote and see if you can figure out where it could have been improved.

"Without continual growth and progress, such words as improvement, achievement, and success have no meaning." ~Benjamin Franklin

5. You have only truly failed if you give up. Your writing career is never over until you stop writing, so don't give up!

"Any man who keeps working is not a failure. He may not be a great writer, but if he applies the old-fashioned virtues of hard, constant labor, he'll eventually make some kind of career for himself as writer." ~Ray Bradbury

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A Writing Project Every Month in 2012

In order to keep up with my goal of sumbitting a short story every month to publishers and contests, I have been trying to make a list of projects that are available for me this year, one for each month. I will continue to come back and edit this list to add more competitions and publishing submission openings as I find them. I want to be able to choose which ones I write for each month, and I prefer ones that don't cost to enter.

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January

CHOC LIT SHORT STORY COMPETITION
ENTRY FEE £3
Looking for short stories of up to 1,500 words in
which the central theme is chocolate - eating it, drinking
it, cooking with it, or anything else. Your entry must be
a maximum of 1,500 words. Deadline January 31, 2012. 1st
prize £200, publication here and Choc Lit's authors' corner
blog and a box of chocolates from Plush Chocolates. A Runner
Up will receive £50 and a box of chocolates from Plush
Chocolates.

Glimmertrain Press, Inc. has both competition entries available (at a cost of $15 per entry) and standard submissions available (free and up to 3 entries allowed). For the competition entries, for very short stories, the stories are not to exceed 3,000 words. Prizes are, for 1st place - $1,500, publication in Glimmer Train Stories and 20 free copies of the book, 2nd place - $500 and 3rd place - $300. Closing date is January 31st. Results will be posted March 31st. For the standard submissions, the payment for being chosen is $700 and 10 free copies of the book. Stories must not exceed 12,000 words (but less than 500 words would be much to short). Closing date is January 31st. Results will be posted by April 30th.

Crossed Genres magazine is currently accepting submissions of short stories, poetry, articles, audio/podcasts and artwork. Submissions are to be in the science fiction and fantasy genres, along with the current genre of choice for the month. Short stories are to be up to 10,000 words. Poetry is to be any style up to 5,000 words. Audio/podcasts can be up to 15 minutes long. Articles can be up to 5,000 words. Artwork should be science fiction or fantasy and photo manipulation is now accepted. Crossed Genres takes Exclusive World Online, ebook and print rights for one year. Fiction, poetry, articles, podcasts and inside art that are accepted for publication will receive a flat payment of $10 USD. Contributors will also receive a free ebook of the quarterly publication in which their contribution appears.

SKIRT!
Submissions read year-round. The submission deadline for each issue is the 1st of the month for the following month (Nov. 1st for the December issue, and so on), but we prefer to work two months in advance. Skirt!® magazine publishes 5-6 personal essays every month on topics relating to women and women's interests. A personal essay is a narrative that emphasizes a personal, subjective view. All essays for consideration should be submitted in their entirety and be between 800 and 1,100 words. Essays must fit one of our monthly 2012 print themes. Does not accept fiction or poetry. Negotiates payment. Estimate $100-$200.

February

Glimmertrain Press, Inc. is taking submissions for the Short Story Award for New Writers available (at a cost of $15 per entry) to writers whose fiction has not been presented in a print publication with a circulation over 5,000. Most submissions to this category run 1,500 to 6,000 words, but should not exceed 12,000 words. Enter as many times as you like. Prizes are, for 1st place - $1,500, publication in Glimmer Train Stories and 20 free copies of that issue, 2nd place - $500 and 3rd place - $300. Closing date is February 29th. Results will be posted April 30th.

Crossed Genres magazine is currently accepting submissions of short stories, poetry, articles, audio/podcasts and artwork. Submissions are to be in the science fiction and fantasy genres, along with the current genre of choice for the month. Short stories are to be up to 10,000 words. Poetry is to be any style up to 5,000 words. Audio/podcasts can be up to 15 minutes long. Articles can be up to 5,000 words. Artwork should be science fiction or fantasy and photo manipulation is now accepted. Crossed Genres takes Exclusive World Online, ebook and print rights for one year. Fiction, poetry, articles, podcasts and inside art that are accepted for publication will receive a flat payment of $10 USD. Contributors will also receive a free ebook of the quarterly publication in which their contribution appears.

SKIRT!
Submissions read year-round. The submission deadline for each issue is the 1st of the month for the following month (Nov. 1st for the December issue, and so on), but we prefer to work two months in advance. Skirt!® magazine publishes 5-6 personal essays every month on topics relating to women and women's interests. A personal essay is a narrative that emphasizes a personal, subjective view. All essays for consideration should be submitted in their entirety and be between 800 and 1,100 words. Essays must fit one of our monthly 2012 print themes. Does not accept fiction or poetry. Negotiates payment. Estimate $100-$200.

March

In the Chicken Soup For The Souls series of books, they are looking for short stories on the topic of new friends. Short stories should be around 1,200 words. Heart warming short stories or poems are being looked for and if your story or poem is accepted for publication, you will be paid $200 plus 10 free copies of the book. Closing date is March 31st.

Glimmertrain Press, Inc. is taking submissions for the Fiction Open available (at a cost of $18 per entry. Submissions to this category should run 2,000 to 20,000 words. Enter as many times as you like. Prizes are, for 1st place - $2,000, publication in Glimmer Train Stories and 20 free copies of that issue, 2nd place - $1,000 and 3rd place - $600. Closing date is March 31st. Results will be posted May 31st.

Crossed Genres magazine is currently accepting submissions of short stories, poetry, articles, audio/podcasts and artwork. Submissions are to be in the science fiction and fantasy genres, along with the current genre of choice for the month. Short stories are to be up to 10,000 words. Poetry is to be any style up to 5,000 words. Audio/podcasts can be up to 15 minutes long. Articles can be up to 5,000 words. Artwork should be science fiction or fantasy and photo manipulation is now accepted. Crossed Genres takes Exclusive World Online, ebook and print rights for one year. Fiction, poetry, articles, podcasts and inside art that are accepted for publication will receive a flat payment of $10 USD. Contributors will also receive a free ebook of the quarterly publication in which their contribution appears.

SKIRT!
Submissions read year-round. The submission deadline for each issue is the 1st of the month for the following month (Nov. 1st for the December issue, and so on), but we prefer to work two months in advance. Skirt!® magazine publishes 5-6 personal essays every month on topics relating to women and women's interests. A personal essay is a narrative that emphasizes a personal, subjective view. All essays for consideration should be submitted in their entirety and be between 800 and 1,100 words. Essays must fit one of our monthly 2012 print themes. Does not accept fiction or poetry. Negotiates payment. Estimate $100-$200.

April

MAN ON THE TRAIN WRITING COMPETITION
ENTRY FEE £3
Deadline April 7, 2012. 1st Prize: £150, 2nd Prize: £100, 3rd Prize: £75, 4th Prize: 3 months Creative Competitor Premier1 membership
Using the photo for inspiration, create a story that depicts
a man on a journey by train, but a journey to where? What
happens to him en-route? Who does he meet? What happens when
he reaches his destination? We welcome creative
interpretations of the theme. Limit 2,000 words.

WRITER ADVICE FLASH PROSE CONTEST
$12 ENTRY FEE
WriterAdvice is searching for flash fiction, memoir, and creative non-fiction that grabs, surprises, and mesmerizes readers in 750 words or less. If you have a story or memoir with a strong theme, sharp images, a solid structure, and an unexpected discovery, please submit. Deadline April 18, 2012. First Place earns $200; Second Place earns $100; Third Place earns $50; Honorable Mentions will also be published.

Glimmertrain Press, Inc. has both Family Matters competition available (at a cost of $15 per entry) and standard submissions available (free and up to 3 entries allowed). For the Family Matters competition entries, stories--about family--are specifically invited. Submissions to this category typically run 1,500 to 6,000 words, but can go up to 12,000 words. Prizes are, for 1st place - $1,500, publication in Glimmer Train Stories and 20 free copies of the book, 2nd place - $500 and 3rd place - $300. Closing date is April 30th. Results will be posted June 30th. For the standard submissions, the payment for being chosen is $700, publication in Glimmer Train Stories and 10 free copies of the book. Stories must not exceed 12,000 words (but less than 500 words would be much to short). Closing date is April 30th. Results will be posted by July 31st.

Crossed Genres magazine is currently accepting submissions of short stories, poetry, articles, audio/podcasts and artwork. Submissions are to be in the science fiction and fantasy genres, along with the current genre of choice for the month. Short stories are to be up to 10,000 words. Poetry is to be any style up to 5,000 words. Audio/podcasts can be up to 15 minutes long. Articles can be up to 5,000 words. Artwork should be science fiction or fantasy and photo manipulation is now accepted. Crossed Genres takes Exclusive World Online, ebook and print rights for one year. Fiction, poetry, articles, podcasts and inside art that are accepted for publication will receive a flat payment of $10 USD. Contributors will also receive a free ebook of the quarterly publication in which their contribution appears.

SKIRT!
Submissions read year-round. The submission deadline for each issue is the 1st of the month for the following month (Nov. 1st for the December issue, and so on), but we prefer to work two months in advance. Skirt!® magazine publishes 5-6 personal essays every month on topics relating to women and women's interests. A personal essay is a narrative that emphasizes a personal, subjective view. All essays for consideration should be submitted in their entirety and be between 800 and 1,100 words. Essays must fit one of our monthly 2012 print themes. Does not accept fiction or poetry. Negotiates payment. Estimate $100-$200.

May

Glimmertrain Press, Inc. is taking submissions for the Short Story Award for New Writers available (at a cost of $15 per entry) to writers whose fiction has not been presented in a print publication with a circulation over 5,000. Most submissions to this category run 1,500 to 6,000 words, but should not exceed 12,000 words. Enter as many times as you like. Prizes are, for 1st place - $1,500, publication in Glimmer Train Stories and 20 free copies of that issue, 2nd place - $500 and 3rd place - $300. Closing date is May 31st. Results will be posted July 31st.


The Alchemy Press is seeking submissions for THE ALCHEMY PRESS
BOOK OF PULP HEROES, edited by Mike Chinn. Sports stories, spy stories, aircraft & zeppelin stories, sea & pirate stories, Westerns, medieval romance, horror, science fiction and fantasy, movies and car racing; there's no limit. Successful contributors will receive a copy of the book and a £10 advance against royalties on publication. We are after original fiction, but reprints will be considered if they are exceptional. Contributions must be in the range of 2,000-6,000 words firm, with full contact details on the front page. Deadline May 30, 2012.

Crossed Genres magazine is currently accepting submissions of short stories, poetry, articles, audio/podcasts and artwork. Submissions are to be in the science fiction and fantasy genres, along with the current genre of choice for the month. Short stories are to be up to 10,000 words. Poetry is to be any style up to 5,000 words. Audio/podcasts can be up to 15 minutes long. Articles can be up to 5,000 words. Artwork should be science fiction or fantasy and photo manipulation is now accepted. Crossed Genres takes Exclusive World Online, ebook and print rights for one year. Fiction, poetry, articles, podcasts and inside art that are accepted for publication will receive a flat payment of $10 USD. Contributors will also receive a free ebook of the quarterly publication in which their contribution appears.

SKIRT!
Submissions read year-round. The submission deadline for each issue is the 1st of the month for the following month (Nov. 1st for the December issue, and so on), but we prefer to work two months in advance. Skirt!® magazine publishes 5-6 personal essays every month on topics relating to women and women's interests. A personal essay is a narrative that emphasizes a personal, subjective view. All essays for consideration should be submitted in their entirety and be between 800 and 1,100 words. Essays must fit one of our monthly 2012 print themes. Does not accept fiction or poetry. Negotiates payment. Estimate $100-$200.

June

Kayelle Press is taking submissions for its Tomorrow Anthology. Submissions must be 3,000 to 6,000 words long. “Tomorrow” will be a short fiction post-apocalyptic anthology featuring speculative fiction stories written by established and upcoming writers from around the world. Payment is $20 AUD. Submissions start being accepted as of June 1st. Closing date is September 30th.

In the Chicken Soup For The Souls series of books, they are looking for short stories on the topic of parenthood. Short stories should be around 1,200 words. Heart warming short stories or poems are being looked for and if your story or poem is accepted for publication, you will be paid $200 plus 10 free copies of the book. Closing date is June 30th.

Glimmertrain Press, Inc. is taking submissions for the Fiction Open available (at a cost of $18 per entry. Submissions to this category should run 2,000 to 20,000 words. Enter as many times as you like. Prizes are, for 1st place - $2,000, publication in Glimmer Train Stories and 20 free copies of that issue, 2nd place - $1,000 and 3rd place - $600. Closing date is June 30th. Results will be posted August 31st.

Crossed Genres magazine is currently accepting submissions of short stories, poetry, articles, audio/podcasts and artwork. Submissions are to be in the science fiction and fantasy genres, along with the current genre of choice for the month. Short stories are to be up to 10,000 words. Poetry is to be any style up to 5,000 words. Audio/podcasts can be up to 15 minutes long. Articles can be up to 5,000 words. Artwork should be science fiction or fantasy and photo manipulation is now accepted. Crossed Genres takes Exclusive World Online, ebook and print rights for one year. Fiction, poetry, articles, podcasts and inside art that are accepted for publication will receive a flat payment of $10 USD. Contributors will also receive a free ebook of the quarterly publication in which their contribution appears.

SKIRT!
Submissions read year-round. The submission deadline for each issue is the 1st of the month for the following month (Nov. 1st for the December issue, and so on), but we prefer to work two months in advance. Skirt!® magazine publishes 5-6 personal essays every month on topics relating to women and women's interests. A personal essay is a narrative that emphasizes a personal, subjective view. All essays for consideration should be submitted in their entirety and be between 800 and 1,100 words. Essays must fit one of our monthly 2012 print themes. Does not accept fiction or poetry. Negotiates payment. Estimate $100-$200.

July

Glimmertrain Press, Inc. has Very Short Fiction competition available (at a cost of $15 per entry). For Very Short Fiction, the stories are not to exceed 3,000 words. Prizes are, for 1st place - $1,500, publication in Glimmer Train Stories and 20 free copies of the book, 2nd place - $500 and 3rd place - $300. Closing date is July 31st. Results will be posted September 30th.


Big Bad Anthology is taking submissions of short stories (6,000 words max) that feature a bad guy or evil character as the protagonist. It can be fantasy, urban fantasy, superhero, horror, whatever. Just send in your best bad guy story. Will select 20. Email submissions tojohnhartness@gmail.com as a .doc or .txt attachment. Include a brief author's bio. Paying $50 for one year's exclusive electronic and print rights plus two contributor's copies. After that the antholgy retains rights to publish electronically in the anthology only, and in print in this anthology only, but you can take it and sell it somewhere else, or sell it yourself as a standalone. Deadline July 31, 2012.

Crossed Genres magazine is currently accepting submissions of short stories, poetry, articles, audio/podcasts and artwork. Submissions are to be in the science fiction and fantasy genres, along with the current genre of choice for the month. Short stories are to be up to 10,000 words. Poetry is to be any style up to 5,000 words. Audio/podcasts can be up to 15 minutes long. Articles can be up to 5,000 words. Artwork should be science fiction or fantasy and photo manipulation is now accepted. Crossed Genres takes Exclusive World Online, ebook and print rights for one year. Fiction, poetry, articles, podcasts and inside art that are accepted for publication will receive a flat payment of $10 USD. Contributors will also receive a free ebook of the quarterly publication in which their contribution appears.

SKIRT!
Submissions read year-round. The submission deadline for each issue is the 1st of the month for the following month (Nov. 1st for the December issue, and so on), but we prefer to work two months in advance. Skirt!® magazine publishes 5-6 personal essays every month on topics relating to women and women's interests. A personal essay is a narrative that emphasizes a personal, subjective view. All essays for consideration should be submitted in their entirety and be between 800 and 1,100 words. Essays must fit one of our monthly 2012 print themes. Does not accept fiction or poetry. Negotiates payment. Estimate $100-$200.

SCARE THE DICKENS OUT OF US CONTEST. Entry fee is $20 for an adulkt and $5 for a junior. First prize is $1,000 and a trophy. Second prize is $500 and a ribbon. Third prize is $250 and a ribbon. Junior contest prize is $250 and a trophy. The Scare The Dickens Out of Us ghost story contest and the Junior Scare The Dickens Out of Us ghost story contest share identical rules except the entry fees and the following: Junior contest writers must be age 12-18. Winners will have to provide proof of age. The contest is open to published and unpublished writers alike. All publication rights remain with the author. The ghost story must be 5,000 words or less, in English, and typed double-spaced. Entries accepted beginning July 1, 2012. Deadline October 1, 2012.

August

Glimmertrain Press, Inc. is taking submissions for the Short Story Award for New Writers available (at a cost of $15 per entry) to writers whose fiction has not been presented in a print publication with a circulation over 5,000. Most submissions to this category run 1,500 to 6,000 words, but should not exceed 12,000 words. Enter as many times as you like. Prizes are, for 1st place - $1,500, publication in Glimmer Train Stories and 20 free copies of that issue, 2nd place - $500 and 3rd place - $300. Closing date is August 31st. Results will be posted October 30th.

Crossed Genres magazine is currently accepting submissions of short stories, poetry, articles, audio/podcasts and artwork. Submissions are to be in the science fiction and fantasy genres, along with the current genre of choice for the month. Short stories are to be up to 10,000 words. Poetry is to be any style up to 5,000 words. Audio/podcasts can be up to 15 minutes long. Articles can be up to 5,000 words. Artwork should be science fiction or fantasy and photo manipulation is now accepted. Crossed Genres takes Exclusive World Online, ebook and print rights for one year. Fiction, poetry, articles, podcasts and inside art that are accepted for publication will receive a flat payment of $10 USD. Contributors will also receive a free ebook of the quarterly publication in which their contribution appears.

SKIRT!
Submissions read year-round. The submission deadline for each issue is the 1st of the month for the following month (Nov. 1st for the December issue, and so on), but we prefer to work two months in advance. Skirt!® magazine publishes 5-6 personal essays every month on topics relating to women and women's interests. A personal essay is a narrative that emphasizes a personal, subjective view. All essays for consideration should be submitted in their entirety and be between 800 and 1,100 words. Essays must fit one of our monthly 2012 print themes. Does not accept fiction or poetry. Negotiates payment. Estimate $100-$200.

September

Glimmertrain Press, Inc. is taking submissions for the Fiction Open available (at a cost of $18 per entry. Submissions to this category should run 2,000 to 20,000 words. Enter as many times as you like. Prizes are, for 1st place - $2,000, publication in Glimmer Train Stories and 20 free copies of that issue, 2nd place - $1,000 and 3rd place - $600. Closing date is September 30th. Results will be posted November 30th.

Crossed Genres magazine is currently accepting submissions of short stories, poetry, articles, audio/podcasts and artwork. Submissions are to be in the science fiction and fantasy genres, along with the current genre of choice for the month. Short stories are to be up to 10,000 words. Poetry is to be any style up to 5,000 words. Audio/podcasts can be up to 15 minutes long. Articles can be up to 5,000 words. Artwork should be science fiction or fantasy and photo manipulation is now accepted. Crossed Genres takes Exclusive World Online, ebook and print rights for one year. Fiction, poetry, articles, podcasts and inside art that are accepted for publication will receive a flat payment of $10 USD. Contributors will also receive a free ebook of the quarterly publication in which their contribution appears.

SKIRT!
Submissions read year-round. The submission deadline for each issue is the 1st of the month for the following month (Nov. 1st for the December issue, and so on), but we prefer to work two months in advance. Skirt!® magazine publishes 5-6 personal essays every month on topics relating to women and women's interests. A personal essay is a narrative that emphasizes a personal, subjective view. All essays for consideration should be submitted in their entirety and be between 800 and 1,100 words. Essays must fit one of our monthly 2012 print themes. Does not accept fiction or poetry. Negotiates payment. Estimate $100-$200.

October

Glimmertrain Press, Inc. has both Family Matters competition available (at a cost of $15 per entry) and standard submissions available (free and up to 3 entries allowed). For the Family Matters competition entries, stories--about family--are specifically invited. Submissions to this category typically run 1,500 to 6,000 words, but can go up to 12,000 words. Prizes are, for 1st place - $1,500, publication in Glimmer Train Stories and 20 free copies of the book, 2nd place - $500 and 3rd place - $300. Closing date is October 31st. Results will be posted December 31st. For the standard submissions, the payment for being chosen is $700, publication in Glimmer Train Stories and 10 free copies of the book. Stories must not exceed 12,000 words (but less than 500 words would be much to short). Closing date is October 31st. Results will be posted by January 31st.

Crossed Genres magazine is currently accepting submissions of short stories, poetry, articles, audio/podcasts and artwork. Submissions are to be in the science fiction and fantasy genres, along with the current genre of choice for the month. Short stories are to be up to 10,000 words. Poetry is to be any style up to 5,000 words. Audio/podcasts can be up to 15 minutes long. Articles can be up to 5,000 words. Artwork should be science fiction or fantasy and photo manipulation is now accepted. Crossed Genres takes Exclusive World Online, ebook and print rights for one year. Fiction, poetry, articles, podcasts and inside art that are accepted for publication will receive a flat payment of $10 USD. Contributors will also receive a free ebook of the quarterly publication in which their contribution appears.

SKIRT!
Submissions read year-round. The submission deadline for each issue is the 1st of the month for the following month (Nov. 1st for the December issue, and so on), but we prefer to work two months in advance. Skirt!® magazine publishes 5-6 personal essays every month on topics relating to women and women's interests. A personal essay is a narrative that emphasizes a personal, subjective view. All essays for consideration should be submitted in their entirety and be between 800 and 1,100 words. Essays must fit one of our monthly 2012 print themes. Does not accept fiction or poetry. Negotiates payment. Estimate $100-$200.

November

Glimmertrain Press, Inc. is taking submissions for the Short Story Award for New Writers available (at a cost of $15 per entry) to writers whose fiction has not been presented in a print publication with a circulation over 5,000. Most submissions to this category run 1,500 to 6,000 words, but should not exceed 12,000 words. Enter as many times as you like. Prizes are, for 1st place - $1,500, publication in Glimmer Train Stories and 20 free copies of that issue, 2nd place - $500 and 3rd place - $300. Closing date is November 30th. Results will be posted January 31st.

Crossed Genres magazine is currently accepting submissions of short stories, poetry, articles, audio/podcasts and artwork. Submissions are to be in the science fiction and fantasy genres, along with the current genre of choice for the month. Short stories are to be up to 10,000 words. Poetry is to be any style up to 5,000 words. Audio/podcasts can be up to 15 minutes long. Articles can be up to 5,000 words. Artwork should be science fiction or fantasy and photo manipulation is now accepted. Crossed Genres takes Exclusive World Online, ebook and print rights for one year. Fiction, poetry, articles, podcasts and inside art that are accepted for publication will receive a flat payment of $10 USD. Contributors will also receive a free ebook of the quarterly publication in which their contribution appears.

SKIRT!
Submissions read year-round. The submission deadline for each issue is the 1st of the month for the following month (Nov. 1st for the December issue, and so on), but we prefer to work two months in advance. Skirt!® magazine publishes 5-6 personal essays every month on topics relating to women and women's interests. A personal essay is a narrative that emphasizes a personal, subjective view. All essays for consideration should be submitted in their entirety and be between 800 and 1,100 words. Essays must fit one of our monthly 2012 print themes. Does not accept fiction or poetry. Negotiates payment. Estimate $100-$200.

December

Glimmertrain Press, Inc. is taking submissions for the Fiction Open available (at a cost of $18 per entry. Submissions to this category should run 2,000 to 20,000 words. Enter as many times as you like. Prizes are, for 1st place - $2,000, publication in Glimmer Train Stories and 20 free copies of that issue, 2nd place - $1,000 and 3rd place - $600. Closing date is December 31st. Results will be posted February 28th.

Crossed Genres magazine is currently accepting submissions of short stories, poetry, articles, audio/podcasts and artwork. Submissions are to be in the science fiction and fantasy genres, along with the current genre of choice for the month. Short stories are to be up to 10,000 words. Poetry is to be any style up to 5,000 words. Audio/podcasts can be up to 15 minutes long. Articles can be up to 5,000 words. Artwork should be science fiction or fantasy and photo manipulation is now accepted. Crossed Genres takes Exclusive World Online, ebook and print rights for one year. Fiction, poetry, articles, podcasts and inside art that are accepted for publication will receive a flat payment of $10 USD. Contributors will also receive a free ebook of the quarterly publication in which their contribution appears.

SKIRT!
Submissions read year-round. The submission deadline for each issue is the 1st of the month for the following month (Nov. 1st for the December issue, and so on), but we prefer to work two months in advance. Skirt!® magazine publishes 5-6 personal essays every month on topics relating to women and women's interests. A personal essay is a narrative that emphasizes a personal, subjective view. All essays for consideration should be submitted in their entirety and be between 800 and 1,100 words. Essays must fit one of our monthly 2012 print themes. Does not accept fiction or poetry. Negotiates payment. Estimate $100-$200.

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If you know of any contests, anthologies or magazines that I can include to this list, please e-mail me with the details and I will happily add them to the list.

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12 Picture Books in 12 Months in 2012

I am joining a new challenge that I think will fit perfectly with my goals regarding the children's stories I am writing. It is called 12x12 in 2012. The goal is to write 12 picture books in 12 months (one picture book a month) in 2012.

I first heard about it through Facebook friend and author Jo Hart. She joined the challenge and posted about it in her blog.

There will be monthly prizes for participants and guest posts from others in the picture book industry. What's not to like?

If you want to join too, just go here and follow the instructions.

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My Goals For 2012

I recently submitted a short story to Kayelle Press for their Night Terrors anthology. It is part of my new determination to start sending my work out into the world. Until now, I've been keeping my writing private, not sharing much of it with others. I've been letting that nasty, deceiving voice in my head whisper into my mind and tell me that I might not be good enough. That voice has made me afraid to really try, afraid to let my work be exposed in a way that will tell me one way or another whether or not my writing is good enough.

But I know that voice is a liar. That same voice used to tell me, when I was morbidly obese, that I would never be able to lose all of that extra weight. And then I did. I lost over 145 lbs. and reached a tiny and healthy weight, despite that voice telling me that I couldn't do it. So I know that voice lies.

So I am going to be taking risks with my writing now, letting my writing be sent out there into the world and into the publishing industry and we will see what happens. The worst that can happen is that my writing isn't good enough yet, and that just means I will have to continue improving it. It doesn't mean I will give up, because I never will.

So I am setting myself some goals for 2012, goals that will keep me writing.

1 - I am going to submit and average of one short story a month to publishers or competitions.

2 - I am going to finish writing and editing at least one of the four novels I have started writing.

3 - I am going to share some new writing here on this blog, maybe one new piece a month (more if I can swing it).

4 - I am going to be publishing a little bit on my own. I have three cookbooks in mind that I intend to complete for Kindle and ebook formats.

5 - I am going to make writing a priority and write a minimum of 500 words a day.

6 - I am going to start sending my children's stories (I have written four) out to agents and/or publishers.

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Dream Big

A new year is upon us and people all over the globe are making new year's resolutions, deciding what they want out of the year that stretches ahead of them. People everywhere look at the new year as a new beginning, a chance to make themselves into something new and change their lives.

There are also some people who say that it's a ridiculous practice, that anything you want to achieve, you should already be planning for and working towards, and that waiting for a new year to begin is just silly. But who is to say what is the right time for you to begin a new goal? And why can't you use the beginning of a new calendar year as a starting point?

Some people will also say that you shouldn't make resolutions, or goals if you'd rather call them that, that overreach. You should make practical goals that are easily attainable through a bit of hard work and effort.

Again, I ask why? Why do your goals, your dreams, your new year's resolutions, have to be small? Why do they have to be things that you already know it is possible for you to achieve? Why can't you think bigger, dream bigger? There's a saying that goes something like, "Reach for the moon because even if you miss, you'll still land amongst the stars." Why shouldn't you reach for the moon?

Maybe, if you dream big, you risk not achieving your dreams. But maybe, if you dream big, you will find yourself accomplishing things you never thought possible before, whether or not you actually make that one dream come true.

And maybe, if you dream big, the journey you make while reaching for it is worth more than the dream itself.

Just some things to think about.

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Last Minute Gift Ideas for Writers

Have a writer friend who you forgot to buy a Christmas gift for or just couldn't figure out what to buy? There are some simple last-minute gifts you can do for them, and many of them don't cost anything but your time.

1. Comment on their blogs.

2. Share their blog posts on Facebook and Twitter.

3. Stumble their blog posts.

4. Write about their blogs on your blog, or review their books on your blog.

5. Leave reviews of their books on Amazon and wherever else they sell their books on-line.

6. Offer to beta-read their current writing project.

7. Buy them some Facebook advertising or Adsense advertising.

8. Write them a poem. (No one appreciates the effort and beauty involved in writing a poem more than another writer.)

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The Craziness Of The Holidays

Is craziness even a word? If not, that's too bad because I'm leaving it in the title. It fits!

December has been busy, busy, busy for this mom of seven. There have been school Christmas plays to attend (and costumes to buy for them), treats to buy for school Christmas parties, a Christmas tree to put up and decorate, baking to do for the neighbors' Christmas gifts, Christmas gifts to buy for seven children and a son-in-law, Christmas gifts to buy for my husband, Christmas cards to sign and mail, Christmas decorations to put up around the house and Christmas lights to hang in the windows, presents to wrap and then more presents to wrap, and the list goes on.

I still need to take my younger four chidlren to go and see Santa. And I am praying that they dont ask him for anything difficut to find. (I've already taught them not to ask for anything expensive. I told them that if Santa brings them something expensive, then some other child won't get a good present because Santa only has a certain budget to spend on each child. I know, I'm evil, right?)

Where, you might ask, am I finding the time to write during all of this Christmas madness? The answer is, shamefully, I am not. I haven't even finished my paranormal short story for a competition that I was hoping to enter. And it's due soon. I could blame the fact that several of my children have taken ill at various times, my husband has been ill a couple of times this month so far and illness has struck even me during this cold month. But it would still just be another excuse.

The truth is that if I really want to, I can find the time to write. I've just been lazy and I've been procrastinating. I keep putting it off in favor of other things. And while tending a sick child is more important than getting my writing for the day done, there are a thousand tiny things that I spend time doing during my day that I could easily set aside to spend time writing instead.

SO no more excuses. I am back to my writing as of today.

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Free ebook through the 18th!

In the spirit of Christmas, my friend Barbara Mack has made her historical romance ebook, Chasing the Sunset, free through the 18th of December. It's available on kindle through a free download, so go and get your copy today! Check out her other books while you're at it.


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Wiltshire NaNoWriMo 2011 - The Third Meet-Up

We had a third NaNoWriMo Swindon meet-up, with even more Wiltshire participants joining us this time. We saw again (in no particular order) Andrew, Sophie, Rob, Nick, Jamie, Scott, Briony, and Victoria, and this time we were joined by (Irene (not pictured) and Tesni.

I showed up late and was sat on the wrong side of the group to get to chat much with Irene and find out about her book, but I hope I get the chance to talk with her next time.

I love getting the chance to meet-up with so many talented writers, and we all had a great time chatting and laughing. Some of us (not me) even did some writing on our stories.


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How To Write 50,000 Words In 14 Days

This is my third year participating in NaNoWriMo. In the two previous years, I have managed to finish having completed my 50,000 words and "winning" based on my word count, which both times was two or three thousand over 50,000 words.

This year, I thought I would try somethign different. I wanted to challenge myself even more, so I set a goal of writing 10,000 words every three days until I reached 50,000 words. I actually beat that goal and reached a word count of 50,020 words within the first two weeks of National Novel Writing Month.

You might be asking how I did it? To be honest, I'm not entirely sure how I did it, but I will share with you some of the strategies I used while writing my novel for NaNoWriMo.

1. Split your focus between different parts of the story-line. I decided this time that, instead of writing a one-story-line novel, I was going to write a novel of short stories. Because of this, whenever I felt stuck on what I was writing or just needed a break from it, I was able to switch to a different story to write about. This can work when writing a one-story novel as well. When you get stuck on a certain part of the story or just need a break from what you are writing, start on a different scene within the story. You can always go back to finish the one you started with and when you do, you will feel refreshed and full of new ideas.

2. Set aside as much time as you can spare for writing. You may find, as I did, that you can sneak more writing time into your day than you originally thought was possible. I wrote when my kids were at school, when my youngest napped, and again when all of the children went to bed. Sometimes I had to stay up late, but it was worth it.

3. Get rid of distractions during your writing time. Many things constitute distractions. My kids are very distracting, so I wrote when they were in bed or at school. The tv is distracting, so I made sure it was off when I was writing. Facebook and Twitter are distracting, so I told myself that I would reach a specific word count before allowing myself time on either site.

4. Challenge yourself. Try and beat your best record for word count in a day. Or look at how your friends are doing and try to beat their word count. Think of a daily word count that seems slightly out of reach for you and then challenge yourself to find a way to reach it that day.

5. Believe in yourself. No matter what obstacles seem to be in the way of you reaching your word count goal, believe that you will overcome them. Because you can.

6. Make writing a priority. There may be a lot of things that have to be priorities in your life, but if you are reading this, then there is at least a part of you that wants to make writing a priority too. So do it. Make writing something you will not allow yourself to set aside.

7. Get rid of your internal editor. Just write without looking back. When you finish your novel, you can go back and edit what you have written, but just let it go while you are in the middle of writing.

8. When you are not writing your novel, talk about it with others. I used to talk to my husband about my story while we walked the dog every evening. Not only was he helpful in coming up with new ideas or ways for me to think about my plot, but also, just the act of talking about it helped me come up with new ideas on my own.

9. And the one thing I think it the most important is to have fun with your story! Enjoy every second of the world you are creating!

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Wiltshire NaNoWriMo 2011 - The Second Meet Up

Today's meet-up of the Wiltshire NaNoWriMoers was a lot of fun! Pictured above, in no particular order are Sophie, Briony, Jamie, Scott, Nick, Rob, Robert, Becky (me), Victoria and Josh.

It was great meeting more writers from my area, and it was fun to hear how we are all doing with our novel writing. I hope to see everyone again at the next meet-up (and hopefully even more will show).


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One Week Into NaNoWriMo 2011!

We are now one week into the 2011 National Novel Writing Month. It's been crazy and fun and sometimes difficult so far.

One day, I was really sleepy in the evening. I kept dozing off while writing. I'd wake a few seconds later and keep typing. Once I caught myself waking with my hand on the "a" button. I had typed several rows of aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa - You get the idea. Later during that same typing session, I found myself in and out of dozing off and typing up absolute nonsense, the kind of nonsensical stuff I say in my sleep when people try and talk to me while I'm asleep. (My daughter remembers when she was a teenager and asked me, while I was asleep, what she should have for dinner and my sleep-talking answer was "Eat the liquid stuff on the chair!")

So yah, it's not been easy sailing. But my word count is the highest it has ever been this far into NaNowriMo! I have written 25,534 words so far! I'm very excited about this! (And yes, I deleted the sleep-posts and rewrote them when I was more awake.)

I've learned that writing while I am suffering from fatigue is not my best plan ever, and that if I keep at it, I can write more than I dreamed possible. I just have to continue to make writing a priority. I have also learned that I struggle when it comes time to conclude a story or a subplot of a story.

But best of all, I am LOVING my story so far!

So how is everyone else doing? What have you learned so far while participating in National Novel Writing Month? What have you struggled with? Is this your first go? Your second? Let me know in the comments!

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Wiltshire NaNoWriMo Kick Off Party!

Today, we had our Wiltshire NaNoWriMo Kick-Off Party! It was a lot of fun and it was great meeting some of the other writers who live in our area.





Joining us were my co-ML Sophie, Andrew, Tim, Victoria, Josh, Kayla and Gabriella. Victoria, Kayla and Gabriella are my daughters and Josh is my son-in-law, but they are all participating in NaNowriMo this year. (Gabby joined the NaNoWriMo Young Writer's Program.)

There were stickers handed out, writing plans discussed and really bitter coffee that was had. Well worth the time! So if you are a Wiltshire NaNoWriMo participant, make sure you get yourself to the next meet-up!

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National Day On Writing

Today is the National Day on Writing. How are you celebrating?

I am writing this blog post, have written a poem and am writing some more of one of my recipe books. I am also working on one of the children's stories I have in mind.

It never feels like I have enough time to fit writing into my daily schedule. I know I have to make time for writing. I know I have to make writing a priority. Yet, I still find it a challenge.

But whatever else happens during the week, today, I am writing.

I write because I have stories to tell and it's no fun keeping them to myself!

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Fundraising for National Novel Writing Month

I am fundraising for the Office of Letters & Light. They run National Novel Writing Month, the Young Writer's Program, Script Frenzy and several other programs to inspire and ignite the imagination of writers everywhere.



Here's a little video that the Office Of Letters & Light created to explain what your donation will help with.




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Interview With Children's Author Giles Paley-Phillips

I met Giles Paley-Phillips on Facebook. He is a 33 year old children's author and he was kind enough to let me interview him for this blog. He also sent me a copy of his book "The Fearsome Beastie," and my children loved it. You can watch their video review of it over on Children Review.



Tell us a little about yourself.
My name is Giles Paley-Phillips. I'm a children's author and work part-time in a book shop. I was born in 1977, and I live and work in East Sussex with my wife, Michelle and two sons, Elijah and Sonny. I currently write picture book stories and play in a rock band called Burnthouse. I am also Patron for FSW Family Support Work Charity and I'm represented by Annette Green Agency. I can also be found on Twitter and through my blog.

What are some of your writing accomplishments?
I have two books out: The Fearsome Beastie is a picture book and There's a Lion in My Bathroom is a book of nonsense poetry.



What type of writing do you do? What genre do you write in the most?
I'm a picture book author, but I do also writing nonsense poetry!

When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer? What was it about writing that drew you to it?
I started writing for children when my first son was born, I wanted to write something specifically for him, and I couldn't quite work it out, then I stumbled upon a book of nonsense poetry by Shel Silverstein, and it was my eureka moment.

Where do you get your ideas for your writing?
I get ideas from lots of places really, things the children do, things they are interested in, could be something in the news, or just something that I've heard people talking about.

What books/authors have influenced your writing?
Shel Silverstein's work got me first hooked in, but I've always loved children's books, especially writers such as Roald Dahl and the work of Tim Burton; things that are macabre always draw me in.

What are your current writing projects?
I'm working on another dark picture book for Maverick Books and a humerous book about dinosaurs for Gullane.

Do you ever experience writer’s block? How do you get through it?
You just have to leave your work alone and do something else, and come back to it later.

Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?
I'm terrible at editing.

What do you love most about writing?
When an idea comes, it's so exciting when you start figuring it out.

Is there anything that you have learned about yourself through writing/pursuing your career as a writer?
I've learned that I'm tenacious; I think you have to be and thick skinned too!

If you could become one of your characters for a day, would you? (and who/why?):
I'm not sure I've written a character I'd like to be yet, my protagnists tend to be a bit horrid!

Do you have any advice for other writers?
If you are trying to get published, then just stick to your guns, it only takes one person to like your work to make it happen.



Giles was kind enough to send me a copy of his book The Fearsome Beastie, and my children loved it. I loved that the heroine of the story was a grandma, and I even enjoyed the fact that it had some slightly gruesome aspects to the story. My little princess Isabella was less impressed with the gruesome bits, but the rest of my children loved that aspect of the story and over-all, each of them were entertained by the story. My son Connor had me read it to him several times on the day it first arrived.



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Are You Ready for NaNoWriMo 2011?

It is almost November and now, with just a little over 3 weeks left until November, it's time to start thinking about joining National Novel Writing Month for 2011! I have participated in NaNoWriMo for two years now and have achieved and surpassed the 50,000 wordcount goal in both years. I am definitely going to be participating again this year! Will you? Here's a little bit of advice for those of you who will be participating this year. (This is from an e-mail I sent out as one of two municipal liaisons for my region.)

Before we all start writing in all of our free time, I thought I'd ask you all what your plans are. Do you have a plan for how you are going to get 50,000 words written? Have you outlined your novel already? Are you just planning on winging the whole thing?

I'll let you know a little bit about my experience with doing this for the past two years. In the first year, I mostly winged it, but I had a very clear idea in my head for the story I was going to write. I didn't have an outline or all of the mini sub-plot details all worked out ahead of time, but I had an idea of who my main characters were, what they would be facing and where I wanted the story to end. I managed to write over 50,000 words that year (2009), and I really enjoyed writing it.

In my second year of doing NaNoWriMo (2010), I completely winged it. I knew what my story was called and who the main character would be, but I hadn't really fleshed her out in my mind. I knew that she had a certain ability emerging and that the story would be based around that, but I hadn't even figured out my supporting characters or what the conflict in the plot would be. I still managed to complete the 50,000 words, but I struggled through it more, and although I enjoyed the writing, I did not enjoy it as much as I had the previous year.

Looking back through my 2010 NaNoWriMo manuscript, there is very little that is usable from that writing, while the manuscript of my novel written for the 2009 NaNoWriMo is one that I will be completing, editing and sending out to publishers. The writing on it is better than the writing on the 2010 NaNoWriMo story and I believe that is because I had a bit more planning and thought behind the story before I began writing.

Of course, you will take on the NaNoWriMo challenge in whatever way works best for you, but if you're not sure what way that is, I suggest that you brainstorm a bit about what you want for your story before you begin. The more ideas you have and the more you flesh out what your goal in this writing is, the smoother things will go for you and the better your writing will be. You won't have to stick to any rigid plot ideas, but thinking about it in advance will give you a starting point and a direction. The rest can be played around with as you write.

And let me just add that I hope you all have a smooth and easy time writing your 50,000 words and make it to your goal for the 2011 NaNoWriMo!


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Interview With Author Malcolm McDonough

Malcolm McDonough is a a friend of mine and we keep in touch over Facebook. He is a 45 year old dad and author living in Australia. He has a very creative personality and a terrific sense of humor!



About: I live in Melbourne with my partner and five children. I was born in Melbourne, but have also lived in London and Glasgow. I love travelling and have visited over 60 countries. You can learn a little about me from my new Google+ profile.

Writing accomplishments? I started writing professionally in an ad agency when I was 17. In the following 20+ years I wrote everything from four-word billboards to brochures, websites and TV commercials. My work won a few local awards and I was a finalist in some national and international awards too. Once, a campaign I wrote was chosen from a national competition to promote an Australian tour by His Holiness the Dalai Lama of Tibet. I’m not Buddhist, but it was still an honour to meet him at his Melbourne appearance.

What type of writing do you do? What genre do you write in? I now write full-time for my local government. My title in my day job is ‘Writer’ but it involves informative writing mostly, rather than creative writing. I have to write as clearly and concisely as possible, which I think is a good practice for most kinds of writing. My personal writing is mainly t-shirt slogans, with a focus on pregnancy and families. Just recently, my daughter and I co-wrote two tongue-in-cheek books. I would classify them as ‘ridiculous’ if that’s a genre. If it isn’t, I guess we just invented it.

When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer? What was it about writing that drew you to it? When I was a kid I often wrote silly poems or songs for my friends. One friend said I should get a job writing jingles and I immediately thought, “Yes, that’s what I’ll do.” Since writing was something I enjoyed doing, it seemed like an ideal career.

Where do you get your ideas for your writing? You know how sometimes a conversation moves so fast that later you think “I wish I had said…”? Rather than waste those thoughts, I make a note of them to turn into a t-shirt slogan or a headline.

What books/authors have influenced your writing? I love the way Bill Bryson makes even the most technical subjects engaging. Now that my kids are reading a lot, I’m also rediscovering Enid Blyton, J.K. Rowling and Tolkien.

What are your current writing projects? Apart from my day job, I continually write slogans, product descriptions and tweets for my pregnancy announcement websites:
• Pregnant By Design
• Materni-Tee
• PregnancyNews

I also write posts for two Facebook pages to promote the books I recently co-wrote with my daughter:
• Totally Funny
• Terrifying

Do you ever experience writer’s block? How do you get through it? Once my daughter and I had the idea for our books, the words came very easy. So writer’s block was never an issue. But then, they are very silly books ;-)

With serious projects I am happy to write then revise. So even if I’m feeling less than 100% motivated, I just start writing.

What do you love most about writing? There’s no enforced down-time when you’re a writer. I love being able to write, or at least create and clarify my ideas, any time, anywhere.

If you could become one of your characters for a day, would you? (and who/why?) I’m sure it would inspire a lot of pregnancy slogans if I was actually pregnant for a day! But to be honest, I’m not sure I’m cut out for it. Luckily I’ve been able to share five pregnancies with my inspirational partner.

Do you have any advice for other writers? Don’t be shy. It’s so easy to blog, tweet or self-publish these days. There’s no reason not to share your writing with the world. Plus, you’ll get to know so many wonderful and creative people in the process (Yes, I’m looking at you Rebecca).





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