None the wiser

I am congratulating myself on managing to add a photo at the side etc. This is a simple task yet has baffled me since I started blogging. Eeh. Oh well, I hope you like the piccy of Mischa on the back seat.

On another subject, I emailed Fast Fiction magazine as they've had two stories of mine for a while now and I wasn't sure about whether to consider them rejected. I got an email back straight away (which is always nice) saying, a definate 'no' to story one, but that story 2 had not yet been written off, which of course was good news for me. However, it was also mentioned that six months should be considered the cut-off point. Well as story 2 has been there for seven months, this is obviously a rather loose cut off point. So yes, I'm really none the wiser!

I entered a flash fiction comp at Spikethecat, the winners were announced last week, Congratulations to them! Then, I just had a look at the artwork for the Flash Fiction stories and lo and behold, my story seems to have been selected for the anthology!
I know I've mentioned the writers website before, but really I think Spikethecat is great for giving new writers a chance at publication. It is generally detective stories, murder stories and sci fi, so if that's your cup of tea and you haven't already had a look, I'd recommend it.

This is the life

Here I am, beautiful summer's evening. Laptop on blanket in garden, me also on said blanket. Writing away. Lovely chilled orange juice beside me. I have also eaten a 'feast' ice cream, yum!
*********
OK Laptop battery went flat. So that was that.

That was yesterday eve, it is now Friday afternoon, no sun in sight. You really have to make the most of it don't you, blink and it's gone!

Anyway, I'm in a very happy mood because I got an acceptance from The Weekly News!!
Yay, the first time after many, many attempts. I was so chuffed to read it, I was expecting the usual thank you but I'm afraid it's not really for us type thing...
But no, it was a YES. Happy, Happy.

I also went to the library to stock up on some junior fiction , but everything I went to get wasn't available so I came away with just one, at least it will get my undivided attention, so I'm off for a good read.


Have a lovely weekend everyone.

Attempt No. 2

Thank you all for your kind words about the dreaded submission dither!
Anyway I finally did it on Friday, but got an email from Ms. Agent straight back, saying sorry it wasn't for them, although it had some 'nice' points. She spoke of the increasingly competitive market and the need for her to feel a high level of conviction about a story.
Oh well, at least she got back to me quickly, I suppose they know exactly what they want and my story just wasn't 'it'. Not this time anyway. Well, not to be disheartened I am about to send elsewhere.
I was of course disheartened, especially after reading a very cyncial (or realistic) post elsewhere about the chances of having a debut children's novel published. They were miniscule. Well ok, I know it's hard, highlu unlikely even and incredibly competitive, but some people make it, and you have to at least try your best don't you?
So, an email sub is flying out to 2nd Ms.Lovely Agent. Fingers crossed :)

submission fears

I have spent the best part of the week writing, then tweaking, then tweaking some more an email query to an agent. This query contains a brief synopsis and the first five pages of the novel as their guidelines advise.
I have now got to the point where I'm thinking 'Yes, this is it, going off my query letter, this sounds like a great book. How could Ms. Wonderful Agent refuse?'
But, what if the agent doesn't think so. This will be about the fifth attempt with this novel, 2nd time to an agent, although it has been rewritten extensively and is much better(I hope). But, I'm suddenly really nervous about pressing 'send'.
So, my email is still in 'drafts' and will remain there until I find some courage from somewhere. I just keep thinking if it's turned down again, I'll run out of places to send it and I don't want that to happen. Boo, Boo hoo hoo. :(



In case you're wondering, this is a chocolate fondant sponge, which is going to cheer me up when I eat one...in a minute.