Just a quick note to say that I had a short story I submitted to a publisher accepted a week or so back now. Not sure when I can say more about it but it was great to have someone enthused enough by something I wrote to want to put it in an anthology.
It's been a while since I've actively been putting short story submissions out there but it really helps with that lonely working away at a novel which you know no-one will see for several months until finished to get that boost. Without it you can get to wondering if your writing is any good or not.
Will give more detail when I can.
Sunday, 5 May 2013
Friday, 29 March 2013
Writing since The Prediction
Well, it was a tough decision to give up on hosting The Prediction, having loved every single word presented by the vast array of talented writers that would visit my humble blog each week. My reason was to concentrate more on my own writing. So, was it worth it?
I do have to say that I have missed being host but, in the end, it is looking like it was the right decision. In the time I hosted The Prediction I managed about 14,000 words over about nine months on my novel. In the two months since, I have added another 12,000 words; a total of 26,000 against my target of between 80k to 90k. Whilst word count can be meaningless, it's more about how good the writing itself is, I do feel like I am now making progress on something I have put to the side too often.
I plan to be finished writing my novel by summer 2013 (see the way I avoid naming a month there) and then start the lenghty process of trying to find a publisher willing to take it on.
In the meantime, for anyone reading this, do take the time to visit the new home of The Prediction (http://www.predictionfiction.blogspot.co.uk/) and catch up with some of the writers who used to grace these pages.
Keep writing friends!
I do have to say that I have missed being host but, in the end, it is looking like it was the right decision. In the time I hosted The Prediction I managed about 14,000 words over about nine months on my novel. In the two months since, I have added another 12,000 words; a total of 26,000 against my target of between 80k to 90k. Whilst word count can be meaningless, it's more about how good the writing itself is, I do feel like I am now making progress on something I have put to the side too often.
I plan to be finished writing my novel by summer 2013 (see the way I avoid naming a month there) and then start the lenghty process of trying to find a publisher willing to take it on.
In the meantime, for anyone reading this, do take the time to visit the new home of The Prediction (http://www.predictionfiction.blogspot.co.uk/) and catch up with some of the writers who used to grace these pages.
Keep writing friends!
Thursday, 31 January 2013
The Prediction - thank you my friends, thank you
And so it is here, my last time to judge the entries, a task made so hard week in, week out through the sheer quality of writing which has been poured forth onto these pages.
My winner this week is an absent friend who returned this week. That friend is Crimson Archer with his entry Try and Try Again. Paul - I thought that the writing was exquisite. That opening line "A whole shattered into fragments becomes an enigma." was just beautiful and there were so many other phrases to admire. And then that shock of an ending. Wow. I do hope you won't be a stranger to The Prediction at Colleen's place with writing like that.
No runners-up but, and this is the second time of me doing this, a more than honourable mention to RR Kovar and Colleen for their Nate and Seth series. I have become seriously addicted to this series and am not sure if it will continue at Prediction Fiction. It feels like there is still a bit more to come and I would love to read it.
Now this is where I would normally pluck words forth but Colleen will be doing that in a matter of hours so I want to use this space to say a few words if you will allow me before you go to Prediction Fiction (http://predictionfiction.blogspot.co.uk/) to continue playing this addictive little game of ours (and do remember that there is a time difference as Colleen is based in the USA whereas I am in the UK.
So, my final words to you, my dear friends.
What I have loved most about The Prediction is the community which Lily built and I have been pleased and honoured to be able to host over the past months. And what an international community it is. We have had visitors from the UK, USA, Russia, Bulgaria, Germany, Canada, Australia, Ukraine, Poland, Spain, India, Latvia, Sweden, Romania, China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. Maybe not all writing but definitely reading the wonderful tales that are presented here every single week.
And the writing which has poured forth for our visitors to read, let us talk about that, such sweet, sweet writing. I would like to recognise each and every person who has submitted a tale, the writers, my friends, who come here to play, all who I mention in no particular order and forgive me if I have missed anyone:
David Barber, Shaun Adams, Sandra Davies, Lily Childs, Nick Robinson, William Davoll, Veronica Marie Lewis-Shaw, Antonia Woodville, John Xero, Marietta Miles, Helen Howell, Dex Raven, RR Kovar, Colleen Foley, Zaiure Grey, Geraghty10598, Chris Allinotte, Anthony Cowin, Cindy Vaskova, Matt Farr, Zoe Farr, Dion Winton-Polak, Andrew Clark (aka Keehar), Kevin G Bufton, MuckieDuckie, A J Hayes, Aidan Fritz, Asuqi and Paul Richardson.
Everyone is so incredibly talented and so inspirational to each other. It has been a privilege to read your words, follow your writing outside The Prediction (several of you have published books) and an honour to choose a winner each week. I give you all my most heartfelt thanks for visiting and playing with the simple words I poured forth each week. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Before I go, a few months back I met up with Lily at FantasyCon in Brighton. I promised I would post a picture of the two of us together on this site and I have failed to do so up until now. If you look below you will see two former Prediction hosts who both know that it rests in the safe hands of Colleen going forward.
My winner this week is an absent friend who returned this week. That friend is Crimson Archer with his entry Try and Try Again. Paul - I thought that the writing was exquisite. That opening line "A whole shattered into fragments becomes an enigma." was just beautiful and there were so many other phrases to admire. And then that shock of an ending. Wow. I do hope you won't be a stranger to The Prediction at Colleen's place with writing like that.
No runners-up but, and this is the second time of me doing this, a more than honourable mention to RR Kovar and Colleen for their Nate and Seth series. I have become seriously addicted to this series and am not sure if it will continue at Prediction Fiction. It feels like there is still a bit more to come and I would love to read it.
Now this is where I would normally pluck words forth but Colleen will be doing that in a matter of hours so I want to use this space to say a few words if you will allow me before you go to Prediction Fiction (http://predictionfiction.blogspot.co.uk/) to continue playing this addictive little game of ours (and do remember that there is a time difference as Colleen is based in the USA whereas I am in the UK.
So, my final words to you, my dear friends.
What I have loved most about The Prediction is the community which Lily built and I have been pleased and honoured to be able to host over the past months. And what an international community it is. We have had visitors from the UK, USA, Russia, Bulgaria, Germany, Canada, Australia, Ukraine, Poland, Spain, India, Latvia, Sweden, Romania, China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. Maybe not all writing but definitely reading the wonderful tales that are presented here every single week.
And the writing which has poured forth for our visitors to read, let us talk about that, such sweet, sweet writing. I would like to recognise each and every person who has submitted a tale, the writers, my friends, who come here to play, all who I mention in no particular order and forgive me if I have missed anyone:
David Barber, Shaun Adams, Sandra Davies, Lily Childs, Nick Robinson, William Davoll, Veronica Marie Lewis-Shaw, Antonia Woodville, John Xero, Marietta Miles, Helen Howell, Dex Raven, RR Kovar, Colleen Foley, Zaiure Grey, Geraghty10598, Chris Allinotte, Anthony Cowin, Cindy Vaskova, Matt Farr, Zoe Farr, Dion Winton-Polak, Andrew Clark (aka Keehar), Kevin G Bufton, MuckieDuckie, A J Hayes, Aidan Fritz, Asuqi and Paul Richardson.
Everyone is so incredibly talented and so inspirational to each other. It has been a privilege to read your words, follow your writing outside The Prediction (several of you have published books) and an honour to choose a winner each week. I give you all my most heartfelt thanks for visiting and playing with the simple words I poured forth each week. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Before I go, a few months back I met up with Lily at FantasyCon in Brighton. I promised I would post a picture of the two of us together on this site and I have failed to do so up until now. If you look below you will see two former Prediction hosts who both know that it rests in the safe hands of Colleen going forward.
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Thursday, 24 January 2013
The Prediction - shall we dance one last time?
Well, this time next week I shall be posting up the winners for the final time before rushing on over to Colleen's place at http://predictionfiction.blogspot.co.uk/ to find out what the new words will be. Exciting times. I for one cannot wait to continue the party over at her place!
But, before I announce this week's winners, I have some news to share. I was greeted with a rather wonderful package in the post today. Sandra Davies has collated her tale The Blacksmith's Wife, crafted at The Prediction (both under Lily's and my watch), into a wonderfully illustrated printed version and more can be found out about it on Sandra's blog. Thank you so much Sandra - a pleasure to be re-acquainted with her and to see her in print.
Now this week's winner I suspect will not come as much of a surprise to anyone looking at the comments made. With a runner-up spot in his last visit, David Barber goes one better this time round with God's Work. Dave - you made me weep at the end of this tale of a man cursed to live out each day as the last, all for the crime of saving his wife's suffering. And yet I think he would do it again without a second thought. I feel sadness just thinking about it again. Such a great tale in 100 words.
Just the one winner this week, I fear that I would have six runner-ups easily this week otherwise, so comparably well written were the other entries!
So, congratulations to Dave and my continued joy at reading the amazing entries from everyone else which we see week in, week out. Such inspiring writers, the lot of you.
Now, onto next week's words. But, oh my, what is this? For those who read this blurb, you may recall a gluttony had crept upon my tome recently, his body slowly threading with gossamer. I went to disturb him for the words one last time but all I was greeted with was a cocoon of some kind. Oh well, I shall package it up and send on to Colleen. I wonder what form he will take from now on - especially as this is the book's first time overseas.
So what about the words? Well, on 7 May 2011 I posted my first Prediction entry at Lily's place. As always, we were given three words and here are the very same words I was given then for you to play with. Thought it might be kind of poetic:
You have until 9pm (UK time) Thursday 31 January to get your entries in and the winners will be announced shortly thereafter on this site. New words will spill forth at Colleen's place on Friday 1 February but remember that there is a different time zone to contend with. Speaking of time, my time as custodian of the tome has passed now and I look forward to seeing what new words Colleen will pluck forth when she takes ownership.
If you can, please tweet about your entry using the #fridayflash #100words or #flashfiction hashtags and blog if you feel like it. Please tell your friends and do give feedback to your fellow Predictioneers - everyone appreciates it!
Let's see what tales you can piece together at Phlambler's World for one last time!
But, before I announce this week's winners, I have some news to share. I was greeted with a rather wonderful package in the post today. Sandra Davies has collated her tale The Blacksmith's Wife, crafted at The Prediction (both under Lily's and my watch), into a wonderfully illustrated printed version and more can be found out about it on Sandra's blog. Thank you so much Sandra - a pleasure to be re-acquainted with her and to see her in print.
Now this week's winner I suspect will not come as much of a surprise to anyone looking at the comments made. With a runner-up spot in his last visit, David Barber goes one better this time round with God's Work. Dave - you made me weep at the end of this tale of a man cursed to live out each day as the last, all for the crime of saving his wife's suffering. And yet I think he would do it again without a second thought. I feel sadness just thinking about it again. Such a great tale in 100 words.
Just the one winner this week, I fear that I would have six runner-ups easily this week otherwise, so comparably well written were the other entries!
So, congratulations to Dave and my continued joy at reading the amazing entries from everyone else which we see week in, week out. Such inspiring writers, the lot of you.
Now, onto next week's words. But, oh my, what is this? For those who read this blurb, you may recall a gluttony had crept upon my tome recently, his body slowly threading with gossamer. I went to disturb him for the words one last time but all I was greeted with was a cocoon of some kind. Oh well, I shall package it up and send on to Colleen. I wonder what form he will take from now on - especially as this is the book's first time overseas.
So what about the words? Well, on 7 May 2011 I posted my first Prediction entry at Lily's place. As always, we were given three words and here are the very same words I was given then for you to play with. Thought it might be kind of poetic:
- Jigsaw
- Capture
- Pimento (and yes, I had to look it up at the time too)
You have until 9pm (UK time) Thursday 31 January to get your entries in and the winners will be announced shortly thereafter on this site. New words will spill forth at Colleen's place on Friday 1 February but remember that there is a different time zone to contend with. Speaking of time, my time as custodian of the tome has passed now and I look forward to seeing what new words Colleen will pluck forth when she takes ownership.
If you can, please tweet about your entry using the #fridayflash #100words or #flashfiction hashtags and blog if you feel like it. Please tell your friends and do give feedback to your fellow Predictioneers - everyone appreciates it!
Let's see what tales you can piece together at Phlambler's World for one last time!
Thursday, 17 January 2013
The Prediction - opportunity knocks
Gosh, it's getting closer with every day now. In two weeks time I shall be switching off the lights for The Prediction at Phlambler's World before passing the baton to Colleen Foley over at http://predictionfiction.blogspot.co.uk/ from 1 February. If you've not visited or favourited her site yet then do so (but not until you've seen who the winners are this week). Before we do that though, a couple of opportunities to plug.
Kobo are holding a competition to win free enrolment to a Curtis Brown online novel course. The Jeffrey Archer Short Story competition requires entry of a 100 word piece (hmmm, sound like something you guys can manage). More details here and thanks to Chris Allinotte for flagging it to me. Do take note of the eligibility criteria as it is restricted to certain countries.
Secondly, check out the post below this one for details of how to submit to Siren's Call Publishing for their female horror writer's month in their monthly publication. A possible substitute for February Femme Fatale maybe if Lily doesn't run it this year? Men can enter pieces in April.
So, this week's winner and runner-up. Who will it be from the delicious entries this week?
My winner is.....well, I'm trying to decide between three pieces and I just can't make up my mind so have made up a larger winner's platform instead.
In first place is Helen Howell with A Misunderstanding. Helen - I really loved the malice and threat seeping through this piece. At first we thought our protagonist the victim but I suspect he will be the one sitting pretty at the end of it. One of those pieces that deserves to be expanded upon.
In first place is Matt Farr with There is always a reason that we do what we do. Matt - a cold, calculating piece with the feel of a ticking clock. At first it felt like a narrative on the human condition and then it became something much more sinister. Very good sir.
And in first place is John Xero with Rise. John - this just grabbed my imagination with it's steel plated crabs crawling across the rooftops. A wonderful piece of sci-fi that had me picturing far of planets ravaged by war waiting for a saviour to come. Excellent stuff.
So, my congratulations to this week's winners and my gratitude to everyone else for sharing your wonderful tales with us for another week.
Now, onto this week's words. My tome has stopped his gorging, for which I am grateful as he was eyeing me up funnily earlier in the week, and seems to have some light covering of gossamer. Hmmm, I wonder... But enough pondering, let us see what words he will share us this week. And we have....
You have until 9pm (UK time) Thursday 24 January to get your entries in. New words will spill forth for the final time at Phlambler's World and winners will be announced by 9am Friday 25 January. If you can, please tweet about your entry using the #fridayflash #100words or #flashfiction hashtags and blog if you feel like it.
Please tell your friends and do give feedback to your fellow Predictioneers - everyone appreciates it!
I am looking forward to reading your works. Let's make history together!
Kobo are holding a competition to win free enrolment to a Curtis Brown online novel course. The Jeffrey Archer Short Story competition requires entry of a 100 word piece (hmmm, sound like something you guys can manage). More details here and thanks to Chris Allinotte for flagging it to me. Do take note of the eligibility criteria as it is restricted to certain countries.
Secondly, check out the post below this one for details of how to submit to Siren's Call Publishing for their female horror writer's month in their monthly publication. A possible substitute for February Femme Fatale maybe if Lily doesn't run it this year? Men can enter pieces in April.
So, this week's winner and runner-up. Who will it be from the delicious entries this week?
My winner is.....well, I'm trying to decide between three pieces and I just can't make up my mind so have made up a larger winner's platform instead.
In first place is Helen Howell with A Misunderstanding. Helen - I really loved the malice and threat seeping through this piece. At first we thought our protagonist the victim but I suspect he will be the one sitting pretty at the end of it. One of those pieces that deserves to be expanded upon.
In first place is Matt Farr with There is always a reason that we do what we do. Matt - a cold, calculating piece with the feel of a ticking clock. At first it felt like a narrative on the human condition and then it became something much more sinister. Very good sir.
And in first place is John Xero with Rise. John - this just grabbed my imagination with it's steel plated crabs crawling across the rooftops. A wonderful piece of sci-fi that had me picturing far of planets ravaged by war waiting for a saviour to come. Excellent stuff.
So, my congratulations to this week's winners and my gratitude to everyone else for sharing your wonderful tales with us for another week.
Now, onto this week's words. My tome has stopped his gorging, for which I am grateful as he was eyeing me up funnily earlier in the week, and seems to have some light covering of gossamer. Hmmm, I wonder... But enough pondering, let us see what words he will share us this week. And we have....
- History
- Oak
- Eccentric
You have until 9pm (UK time) Thursday 24 January to get your entries in. New words will spill forth for the final time at Phlambler's World and winners will be announced by 9am Friday 25 January. If you can, please tweet about your entry using the #fridayflash #100words or #flashfiction hashtags and blog if you feel like it.
Please tell your friends and do give feedback to your fellow Predictioneers - everyone appreciates it!
I am looking forward to reading your works. Let's make history together!
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