Tuesday 31 August 2010

Strong Scenes Contest

So, while on holiday it was a nice surprise the receive an email saying I'd made the last four of the Strong Scenes Contest. This came as a welcome shock, especially as its a popular competition with over a hundred entries.

Whether I can blame my failure to win on my holiday, as in not enough time to organise friends authonomy style to vote for it, or whether it was just crap I don't know.

But thanks to the one person who did vote, whoever you are. (No, it wasn't me.)

There's nothing better than going back to work after a two week holiday is there? Nothing quite like the feeling. Your brain's fried within seconds, everyone's nicked your coffee while you've been off and there's a mountain of unsorted papers on your desk.

Anyway, I'm wondering whether to try and rush new book #1 for the Terry Pratchett contest or stick with New book #2. Tough choice. Writing 70,000 words by the xmas deadline for new book #1 would be tricky to say the least, but I might have a stab. It's 573 words a day (ignoring editing.) I like a challenge.

No piccies today I'm afraid, sorry.

Wednesday 11 August 2010

Offensive Material

So, all those hours spent writing haven't been wasted. A site called the Flash Fiction Offensive have used one of my short stories. Needless to say, I'm well chuffed.

Called Double Trouble, it's one of those niggly little stories that just comes to you and hacks at your brain until you put pen to paper, or finger to keyboard. I've got loads more filed in the To be written part of my brain. At some point, when the niggling becomes to much and I'm stuck on new book#2 I'm sure more will come out. I should probably post some of these short stories or flash fiction here, I'll try to when I get the time. However some folks don't like submissions that have already been posted elsewhere, which you can't really blame them for.

Work still continues on new book #2, which still has no proper name, 30,000 words have now been written. Still no sign of interest for Spies Lies and Pies either.