Writing Updates

Time flies...when you write

I have a 3rd draft of my first YA novel completed, it is now 'breathing;' in other words, waiting until I re-read it and wonder what the hell I wrote it like that for.

My second YA is underway, and I am experimenting with genre (thriller) and narrator, trying 3rd person for a change.  I'm finding it challenging, but it's early days yet.

The good thing about YA at my comfort length - ie, 40-45k, is that I can write two concurrently.  Work on the other while the first rests.  It still feels productive to do this.

One thing I've noticed that since I have been going hell-for-leather on the novels, is that I have nothing left for flash or short stories.  Just haven't got the time!

I like the look of Molotov Cocktail online magazine though - excellent horror collection on there.  the standard is very high.  Will have to come up with some ideas to give them a try...

As for Castlecroft Writers - HUGE exciting news.  Skylark Literary Agency are going to come and visit us, giving us a talk on the competitive world of children's writing.  It's booked in for September 25th, so lots of time for us to prepare the event.  What an opportunity for local writers to come and hear directly from the experts!

One last thing...a tweet I wrote got broadcast on channel 4seven yesterday.  Sadly, it wasn't funny or clever, but amusing to see it on the screen! #BeCarefulWhatYouTweet

Lockjaw Choose Your Own Adventure - my bit is now live

DO YOU:

1. Face the bathroom intruder with the glass shard?

2. Climb out of the window to try for the balcony beneath?

no wait, i want to choose the other thing

this installment was written by carolyn ward

 

 

Cool eh!!   http://www.lockjawmagazine.com/minutiae/part1/

is the start for the whole bonkers thing.

Hint: If you want to find my bit...you may have to talk to the scary shark man

 

 

 

Flash! Friday Special mention

Old Dog, New Trick

That’s the ticket, Arthur! The successful spy must remain hidden in full view. Now, I have here your instructions, should you choose to accept them- ha! That was the old way, yes indeed.
Right-o. You must make contact with a Mrs Shoemaker. She will be wearing a red wig, so you should spot her easily. She will lead you to the Leather Storeroom, where your next contact will…
Hey man! You can’t write these details down! This is all top secret! Think of your training.
Now, where was I? Ah, yes. The second contact will make himself known, and give you a package. It is that which you must carry to Bolivia. Your tickets and passport are in the usual lockbox at the airport.
It goes without saying that this mission is of crucial import to England: Why, I spent many years of my life chasing around doing similar.
Must say old chap, your costume is very clever, the detail…even smells authentic…
Hang on? Are you Arthur?
Wait! No! Please… They told me to pass the mission to the beggar on the cobblestones…I… I’m dying! Call someone, man…don’t just stand…. I’ve made a huge mis….




SPECIAL MENTIONS
For visions of aging James Bond actors and reflections of a tired 007: Josh Bertetta, “The Manliest of Man’s Manly Men“
For cheeky reference to St. Peter (the keeper of heaven) as “Pete’s a good guy”: N J Crosskey, “Heaven’s Gate“
For mischievous reference to judge Shoemaker (but it’s judge King that has the red wig in reality): Carolyn Ward, “Old Dog, New Trick“
For giving us the chills: Joidianne4eva, “Suffer the Little Children“
For a Special Brew of dietary delight: A.J. Walker, “Alas Smith and Jones”
For the art of keeping it simple and doing the best things in a story really well: Valerie Brown, “The Thaw. ” '



Huzzah, got a special mention for this flash... only for cheekily using a judge's name mind you.....
Follow @FlashFridayFic for a weekly flash competition with a great community



All else is quiet on the writing front, a number of stories have been submitted and am awaiting results.

The first session of Castlecroft Writers is 11 days away! Need to plan some 'Chairperson' stuff to say.
Follow @CastlecroftWriters for updates

Irons in the Fire

#AmWriting for a lot of cool new projects, spotted on twitter and around the internet.

Follow @AuthorCrowd for their modern way to get your writing seen.  You simply submit the next chapter of one of the books they have going.  They pick the best, and then when the book is published, if it makes any money, the take gets split between the writers.

They occasionally do short story compilations, but these are super popular so only send your best stuff.  They want 3000-6000 generally, so had to push myself to reach that with a story, as generally mine sit at 1-2k words.

I even had a go at a poetry competition, where the theme was 'Home' which inspired me to write about my kids.

I've been listed as a Choose Your Own Adventure writer for Lockjaw Magazine, @lockjawmag for info; absolutely LOVED those books as a child - still do!
They are creating a crowd written CYOA; which is a new genre for me as it seems very science-fiction-y so far.  My piece will be added to the continuing adventure on April 15th - keep your eye out!

Finally a Flash Win!!! February 2015 99 Words

Can't believe my horrid little flash ''Fur Fiends'' won for February 2015. 
Thrilled!! Went immediately and spraffed the Amazon voucher prize on a cool t'shirt.  Thank you 99fiction.net :-)

http://99fiction.net/page/winner-22

Fur Fiends by Carolyn Ward

 

They met through coded messages left on lampposts; fake missing kittens with backwards phone numbers.  

If any cat was out alone, it was considered fair game.  Neither man had a job, so both were free to hunt all day and night.

Peter sometimes kept the yowlers for a while, before skinning them and sewing beautiful fur coats and gloves, which he sold on the internet.  Gerry practised unlicensed taxidermy; his flat was full of badly built specimens with wonky glass eyes.

Together they halved the strays in the area.  The local people knew, but chose not to see.

Busy Creating

We have launched a new writing group for Castlecroft, to find other word-addicts in the locality and share ideas.  It is so exciting! I'm Chair <preens> and Em is the secretary, organising online presence and all the clever stuff.  T'will be brill.

Follow us on twitter @CastlecroftWrit

and if you're local, come on by.*









*there is sure to be cake, maybe even port. 

Wild Bytes Cafe Experience

Today my fellow local writer Emma Finlayson-Palmer and I trekked into the big city (Wolverhampton) to visit Wild Bytes café and see our work in the Black Country Writers project.

We were too early though...so wound up visiting Nero's for a caffeine fix while we waited.
It did not start well.  The assistant dropped my chocolate twist (the last one) and Emma's choice of red velvet cake was bizarrely still defrosting. (at 10.15am? Really?!)

We scored a good table; in the window.  The baby got to work demolishing my chocolate muffin.  Emma noticed there wasn't a spoon to be seen... so we improvised with a straw.  Which filled up with hot tea and burned Emma's leg.

Next, baby decided he was thirsty so I pulled out his sippy cup.  While chatting away, I flipped the lid...which spurted a waterfall of cold water straight into my contact lenses and up the window.  It amused the hell out of the morning clientele.  Soaking wet, I dried off on the inside of the baby's hood.

At last Wild Bytes opened and we wandered in...ready to drink yet more coffee.
The welcome was warm and the coffee was hot.  We read the excellent stories and poetry as baby head-butted Emma and tried to steal her pin badge.

It's a great café with a huge menu. Baby beat Emma with his shoe while I admired the art.
Hooray for encouraging local creativity.  Meant a lot that they were very child-friendly too.

check out @WildBytesCafe or https://www.facebook.com/WildBytesCafeAndLounge?fref=ts

and follow @FinlaysonPalmer as well as @Viking_Ma