Tag: The Best of Cafelit 5

One of the best ways to escape is with a good book. Image via Pixabay.

THE MAGIC OF WRITING

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FAIRYTALES WITH BITE

The Magic of Writing shares what I love about writing and writing get-togethers such as the Bridge House Publishing/Cafelit joint book launch I went to last weekend.  It was huge fun meeting up again with some I met from last year and others who were new to me.

And we all got the chance to practice our networking skills with the speed dating exercise.  You get to chat to a writer or reader for three minutes and ask them for marketing tips (if speaking to a writer) or discuss books in general (if speaking to a reader).  Once the three minutes are up, you then talk to someone else.

The only thing I dislike about this is you inevitably stop half way through an excellent conversation and there isn’t always time to get back to it at the bar again later. However, it does get you mixing and talking and you inevitably learn something really useful.

(Baubles – the Bridge House anthology for this year – and The Best of Cafelit 5 are available in print and on Kindle and via Amazon, as well as from the publishers directly.  I have a short story, Helping Out, in Baubles and a flash fiction piece, Telling the Time, in Cafelit 5).

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THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

Writing Books shares some non-fiction how-to-write books I wouldn’t be without.  I deliberately kept this to a short list. Can you add to my list?  I wouldn’t dare list the fiction books I’d hate to part with as I’d be writing that list till Doomsday!

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I discuss the joys of swimming tonight.  I always thought I would end up working out stories as I swam but it hasn’t worked out like that.  I’m more likely to do that when doing the ironing!

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One of my favourite book images. They really are magical. Transportation into other worlds and around this one in a few hundred pages. Brilliant! Image via Pixabay.

One of my favourite book images. They really are magical. Transportation into other worlds and around this one in a few hundred pages. Brilliant! Image via Pixabay.

 

 

 

 

 

The Best of Cafelit. Image by me.

A GOOD DAY FOR A FAIRY GODMOTHER

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FAIRYTALES WITH BITE

A Good Day for a Fairy Godmother lists what someone like my rebellious Eileen would consider was a “good day in the office”.  You just don’t want to be the other side of the metaphorical desk when she has a really good day…  Oh, and if you happen to be a monster or other foul fiend, you can rule out having a long life expectancy.  Her good day is your nightmare.  She prides herself on it after all.

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

High Days lists some of the special steps I’ve experienced as a writer.  Where you know you are going to face rejection after rejection (it is in the nature of writing), being able to have positives to refer to can help enormously.  And the nice thing is even if you are just starting out, as long as you keep going, get feedback and not be afraid to change/get rid of what’s not working in your fiction, then those positives will happen to you too.

CHANDLER’S FORD TODAY

The Writer’s Journey shares what has happened writing wise since I went to the Swanwick Summer School in August.  This period has easily been the busiest and most productive writing time I’ve known – so far anyway!  I also share a new flash fiction story, The Magician, and I suspect all pet owners will be able to identify with it.  Hope you like it.

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I share news of my CFT post and look forward to the Bridge House/Cafelit joint book launch/celebration event (Baubles and The Best of Cafelit 5) in London on 3rd December.  Last year’s event was huge fun.  I love this sort of event as I get to meet new people and it is lovely talking with folk who love writing at least as much as I do.

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Baubles - the new anthology by Bridge House Publishing. My story, Helping Out, is in there. 2016 has been my most successful year for acceptances to date and I hope I can build on that. Image supplied by Gill James of Bridge House Publishing.

Baubles – the new anthology by Bridge House Publishing. My story, Helping Out, is in there. 2016 has been my most successful year for acceptances to date and I hope I can build on that. Image supplied by Gill James of Bridge House Publishing.

 

Come sunrise the fairies (and fairytale witches) must vanish. Image via Pixabay.

OFFENDING A FAIRYTALE WITCH

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I love writing a  mixture of funny posts and those that share writing tips/thoughts about writing, hence tonight’s billings!

FAIRYTALES WITH BITE

Offending a Fairytale Witch is full of hints and tips for anyone brave or insane enough to give this a go.  It’s not something I’d do but then I like (a) living and (b) going to bed the same shape and species with which I began the day.  Call me fussy and all that but we all have our lines we won’t cross and this is one of mine.  Still the great thing is even if you’re not brave or insane enough to offend a fairytale witch, like me you can always enjoy reading about what you could do but for health and safety reasons have wisely chosen not to indulge in!

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

Turning from the ridiculous to what I hope is the more sensible (and maybe sublime?), What is a Good Story shares what I think makes for a truly gripping tale.  Do you agree with my findings?  Can you add to them?  I’ve deliberated not named any specific stories but the principles of my list apply across all genres and word counts.

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Today was lovely in that I sent back the proofs for my short story, Helping Out, which will be appearing in Bridge House Publishing’s annual anthology soon.  This year’s anthology is called Baubles and I am looking forward to going to the launch event in London in December.  It will be a joint launch with Cafelit and I am thrilled I have a flash fiction piece, Telling the Time, in their compilation, The Best of Cafelit 5.  It has been a good year for my short stories and I very much hope to build on this in 2017.

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A way into the magical realm, perhaps? Image via Pixabay.

A way into the magical realm, perhaps? Image via Pixabay.

The Hayes Conference Centre, Derbyshire.

THE DANGERS OF REVIEWING MAGICAL BOOKS

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FAIRYTALES WITH BITE

There are some jobs that the sensible would avoid at all costs.  One of these is being a magical book reviewer.  Tonight’s FWB post looks how a magical book reviewer might set about their task – and yes, carefully is one answer!

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

Spreading the Word discusses (briefly) the need that all authors have to do what they can in this regard.  I do take my own advice (!) and share news of the latest anthology my work appears in on my News page.  (The Best of Cafelit 5 published by Chapeltown Books and available in print and electronically.  There!   I’ve taken my own advice again – links on my website!).

From a fictional viewpoint, this post discusses how your characters might spread the word.  The post asks how technology has developed in your story worlds and, if it hasn’t, asks why not?  Is the media controlled in your settings?  Are stories still told in the oral tradition?  Answering these questions could trigger some really good stories.  (Orwell’s 1984 being the ultimate re the media control one I think).

CHANDLER’S FORD TODAY

I discuss what makes a good writing conference in tonight’s CFT post and share my thoughts based on my experience of attending the Winchester and Swanwick conferences.  I share some of my photos taken at Swanwick.  The conference there is held at The Hayes Conference Centre in Derbyshire.  The grounds are lovely and the accommodation very comfortable.  Only trouble?  I ate far too much when I was away there!   Still it is a nice trouble to have…and I certainly wasn’t the only one!

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My FB author page tonight shares the link with my Chandler’s Ford Today post where I discuss good writing conferences.  I share what I have learned about what to look out for, based on my experience of the Winchester Writers’ Festival and, for the first time this year, the Swanwick Summer Writers’ School.  Hope the post helps those who are considering going to a conference for the first time.

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One of the lakes at The Hayes Conference Centre, Derbyshire, which is home to the Swanwick Summer Writers' School. Image taken by me this year. Lovely place to walk around.

One of the lakes at The Hayes Conference Centre, Derbyshire, which is home to the Swanwick Summer Writers’ School. Image taken by me this year. Lovely place to walk around.

 

THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY

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FAIRYTALES WITH BITE

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly are all found in classic fairytales, probably the best example is Beauty and the Beast.  The good is Beauty, the bad is the witch who cursed the prince and Beast is the ugly one, though I’ve always loved this tale for its message that what you look like should not be the be all and end all.  (A side message is be careful when offending someone who looks harmless as they might not be and turning someone else into a monstrous being is one of their specialities!).  How can you use these elements?  I have a look at that in this post.

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

I look at rituals and habits in At the End of the Day and ask what do your characters do at the end of their day?  Do they follow their own habits or is everyone expected to follow a set routine?  (If the latter, you know the world you’ve created is run by a control freak!).  How your characters wind down for the night (or day as appropriate) can reveal much about them and how they differ from others in stories.

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Today saw one of those lovely moments in the life of a writer:  that moment when you open a parcel of books you’ve ordered but your story is in them!  My flash fiction piece, Telling the Time, is in The Best of Cafelit 5 (available in print and electronically).   The link takes you to the Amazon page.  My story is one of my 100 word stories but there’s a lovely mix of very short stories like that and longer ones so there should be something to suit all tastes in short story length!

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The old way of writing a story! Image via Pixabay

The old way of writing a story! Image via Pixabay

 

 

Heavenly books. Image via Pixabay

MIXING IT UP

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FAIRYTALES WITH BITE

Tonight’s post is called Mixing It Up where I discuss variety in writing in terms of what you write and also in terms of short stories. After all there are markets and competitions now for the very short story and the much longer one so have a go at both!   I also share news of a flash fiction piece of mine, Telling the Time, which first appeared on the Cafelit website now being available in their annual anthology, The Best of Cafelit 5. 

THIS WORLD AND OTHERS

Not the most imaginative title I know but my post tonight called Ten Writing Tips I’ve Found Useful sums up this blog nicely!  Hope you find at least some of the tips useful.

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Again I share news of The Best of Cafelit 5 on my Facebook Author page tonight but I also refer to Baubles, the upcoming Bridge House Publishing annual anthology, where I’ll also have a story appearing.  More details on that when that book comes out.

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A world of technologies means more places for stories to appear! Image via Pixabay

A world of technologies means more places for stories to appear! Image via Pixabay