The stage is set...

http://www.carersuk.org/how-you-can-help/creative-writing/2016-competition/landing/5357-the-decision

Mother's Milk Books Anthology 2016

This morning was spent checking the proofs of my two winning entries in this anthology. A short story and a poem. The latter was written in response to a tragedy that affected much-loved friends and was moving to read again at the proof stage.

Getting back into the writing groove.

I don't know where the last few months have gone. It seems as if one minute I was working on a short story about the Essex coast, inspired by a trip there in May, and the next minute summer, and its whirlwind of festivals, holidays and birthdays, was behind me. Start of term work has taken up every minute of every day and I didn't even get round to blogging about my trip to Dublin, City of Literature. No time for writing at all! The only consolation is that my mslexia writers diary shows that a number of submissions I have made haven't reached their closing dates yet and last night I had that wonderful moment of realisation that an email from a competition was good news, not rejection!
A short story, in fact one could describe it as a short short story, has been awarded 3rd place in the UK Carer's writing competition and will be published in an anthology. This is a story I have a particular fondness for, having a written in Norwich, another City of Literature, so all the gadding about must pay off!

Looking around.

Its been a horrible week, with the Referendum result and all the ensuing, and ongoing, angst. This isn't the place for discussing that but I find it painful that I am currently polishing a short story about a trafficked Eastern European woman who is willing to risk her life to get to the UK and to try to improve her lot once here.

That particular story didn't meet with any success in Mslexia's short story competition but that's an extremely tough challenge and I have a good feeling about entering it into another competition.

Which brings me onto the topic of identifying suitable markets. I have invested in a rather expensive little directory  from Mslexia entitled Indie Presses. I can't wait to have a proper look at it!

PS At least I had a few mildly witty words in Mslexia's summer issue, on the Forum page, extracted from a comment I made on their Facebook page.

Busy times. My writing has been more or less put on hold due to work commitments and family events. However, just over a week ago I attended a workshop held by Norwich Writer's Centre at the beautiful Dragon Hall in Norwich. The day had two topics - Crossing Genres, which the workshop leader Emma Healey did in her debut novel 'Elizabeth in Missing', and Writing the Big Concept. Most of the other participants had, or are doing, a Masters in Creative Writing at UEA and were interesting and entertaining. I came away feeling inspired, with what I feel to be a pretty good  understanding of how to cross genres (and why one would do it). Now I just need to think of a Big Concept that inspires me - sometimes I feel quite glum that the topics that I am naturally drawn towards Asperger's Syndrome and Alzheimers have been the subjects of many writer's work.

Where next? Emma Healey, quite naturally, didn't reveal the concept of the book she is currently writing. My guess is that it's illness related. Lisa Genova is working on a book about Motor Neurone Disease, after her stunning books on Alzheimer's ('Still Alice') and Huntington's Disease '(Inside the O'Briens').

Thought, and inspiration, required.

In the meantime, I need to get back to a half written short story and , yes, there is a medical fact at its heart.

In high spirits following a weekend at a festival so even the rejection of three pieces of work by a Literary magazine couldn't dampen my spirits too much. One has to look on the positive side, which is that these three pieces of work are now free to take flight to new destinations.
One thing that did strike me though was how useful Submittable is. I don't know much about its background but organizations are increasingly using it to receive submissions. Once one has rememberd one's password,  all one's current submissions  through Submittable can be tracked and show up as Received/ In-progress or Declined.
Note that I haven't yet seen what shows up on Submittable if a piece of work is accepted! Fingers crossed I will find this out soon!

"Careful or you'll end up in my novel." Great notebook...but is it a threat or a promise!

Quiet week on the writing front. The only writing news I received was that whilst a Flash fiction submission did not make it into Issue 7 of Bare Fiction magazine, the editor would like to keep it to consider for Issue 8. As, he tells me, they publish less than 2% of the submissions they receive, that is better than an outright rejection.

Weary and wheezy!

After five days of fighting off a fluey feeling whilst not missing a moment of the Cambridge Literary Festival, I have succumbed and taken to my bed. As ever, lots of inspiration at the festival, particularly at the Debut Writer's event. But today, all I can do is watch TV (the whole series of London Spy in one go!) as holding a book and focusing is too tiring!
Pleased to say, I've got a quieter few days coming up so I'm going to have a look at the Winchester Writing Competition  and decide what to enter.

Looking for inspiration for writing!

On Saturday I visited The Poison Garden at Alnwick Gardens, Northumberland. It was the day's must-see for me. In some ways it was disappointing - this early in the garden year (or the poisoner's year?) there was very little showing through the soil and the Guide stuck to talking about what she could point out. The plants that require a Home Office Licence were locked away in greenhouses although they are displayed in 'cages' later in the year. But some of the Guide's stories relating to the plants stirred up some memories of things I have read and heard in the past, particularly in rural Essex.
What amazed me most was that the Guide told me that I was the only person who she had ever seen making notes! Its left me questioning whether other writer's don't see the link between places like this and inspiration. Maybe some writer's find out about nature, science and folklore online. But of course it could be that others have better memories and don't need to make notes!

Mother's Milk Books

I had some great news this week from Mother's Milk Books - my heartfelt 'Poem for Imogen' and  lighthearted short story  'My Gadabout Gran' were both commended in their 2015 Writing Prize Competition.. Its great to receive such positive feedback from the judges Sarah James (poetry) and Zion Lights (prose).
 
http://www.mothersmilkbooks.com/index.php/easyblog/entry/results-of-the-2015-mother-s-milk-books-writing-prize

I recommend that friends who write keep an eye on the Mother's Milk Books site for submission and competition opportunities. Here's a bit of background:

"Mother’s Milk Books is run solely by at-home mother and founder Dr Teika Bellamy (although husband Tom helps in spare moments – he’s an especially good proofreader!). Mother’s Milk Books receives no grant funding and the press survives purely through sales of books, cards and prints. The press was set up in 2011 and our first title Musings on Mothering, edited by Teika Bellamy, was published in September 2012. This charity anthology of art, poetry and prose about pregnancy, birth and breastfeeding continues to raise funds for La Leche League GB, a breastfeeding support charity."

http://www.mothersmilkbooks.com

Words and Women Three is available from Amazon. It will also be available from Unthank Books but isn't listed there yet.



It's full of amazing stories...my contribution is meagre compared with the wide range of talent but I'm proud to be included. .http://www.amazon.co.uk/Words-Women-Three-Lynne-Bryan/dp/1910061344/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1457700084&sr=8-1&keywords=words+and+women+three

Words and Women 3

Feeling highly chuffed to see Atacama in print in this anthology.

An inspiring peek into the world of picture books...

When my friend Janet Bingham (writer of a number of very successful children's picture books) invited me to go along to Anglia Ruskin's Children's Book Illustration MA show today, I was very keen. I have been to this show a number of times over the years and always love it! Today was no exception. Amazing talent on show! My only gripe is that there was no information readily available about the illustrators. I am sure previous MA shows had better labeling - more than just the illustrators name. Perhaps there had been a catalogue but as today is the penultimate day of the show, copies had run out. Glad to have been though and to have had a nice lunch in CB2 with Jan talking mainly about our own current projects and books in general. The encouragement that Jan gives me is immense and I'm very grateful to her. In return I'm trying to talk her into blogging!

Four more sleeps until International Women's Day

Looking forward to the launch of Words and Women's latest anthology containing my short story 'Atacama.'

A great thought from Freelance Writing Jobs to start the week...

Finding inspiration

This weekend I've been at the Textiles in Focus Show in Cambourne, Cambs. As well as learning to make gorgeous little sheep, I have been thinking about where artists of all sorts find inspiration. Many of my poems are based on childhood recollections of life in Colchester and others have been inspired in places I have visited recently such as Edinburgh. But how did I come to be thinking from the point of view of a Chilean woman?*
That was as a result of a video I watched at the Forensics exhibition at the Wellcome Institute last year. A story I am currently working on was inspired by a topic in the recent States of Consciousness exhibition there and in one of my many notebooks, I have a short story about an item displayed in the Pitt Rivers Museum, Oxford.
I find it incredibly interesting to go to a creative textiles exhibition and see, read and hear what sparks felters, quilters, embroiderers and so on.
Have I found a writing idea this weekend. Yes, I have - watch this space!
P.S. It isn't sheep related!

  * 'Atacama' soon to be published in the anthology 'Words and Women 3', by Cameo, an imprint of Unthank books.

Little ms February

I often enter short pieces of writing to Little ms, Mslexia's online newsletter. This month I was successful with a 'filler' item, a 'Literary Critter.'

Looking for a freelance non-fiction writer?

I recommend Maria, an established writer who can be found here:
 https://www.facebook.com/mariahopwoodfreelancewriter/

Reading about writing

Just finished reading Ian McEwan's Sweet Tooth, written in 2012, which features Serena, a bishop's daughter who loves reading but is channeled by her teachers into studying maths at Cambridge. There she begins a number of affairs and becomes aware of the world of espionage. She enters the Civil Service as a secretary, hoping this will lead to more exciting opportunities and is recruited into a team within the service cultivating subversive writers. That's how she meets Tom Haley. One of the things that inspires me most about this book is accounts of stories that Serena reads in her mission, creating stories within the story.

I haven't started Disclaimer, by Renee Knight, yet but the 'sticker' on the cover claims that it is 'An addictive novel with shades of Gone Girl' and the blurb on the back is by Val McDermid. The premise is 'Imagine if the next thriller you opened was all about you.' Looking forward to reading this!

Words and Women introduce the anthology contributors...

http://wordsandwomennorwich.blogspot.co.uk/

Words and Women Writing Competition 2015 Results announced!

Feeling very honoured to be one of twenty or so runners up. Looking forward to meeting the winner and other runners-up and reading their work.  My story, Atacama, is now being proof read for inclusion in Words and Women's  third annual anthology which will be launched in Norwich on International Women's Day.http://wordsandwomennorwich.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/sarah-evans-wins-our-prose-competition.html

Words and Women Competition - made the long list!

Thrilled to get an email last night with a link to the long list for this prestigious competition - and there I was. Now to wait for further news!