Writer Problem#11: INCOMING RANT - Entry Fees

Okay, so I've done a few of these 'Writer Problem' posts in the past just as little throwaway thoughts on things that impact us writers. One that bugs me is entry fees.

So you want to get your work out there, maybe you're considering entering a competition which could lead to your work being published. Okay, entry fees may cover some costs for the publisher, but can you imagine forking out money for all the competitions out there? It would be crazy. Some of them are almost £20. I don't want to pay just to not be published. Now okay, I get it. Sometimes the payment and the risk is worth it and it leads to good things, but I know some people who have paid a lottttt of money entering competitions and never winning, never being chosen. It's not something I've resorted to yet, but I'm sure I'll try to avoid it at all costs.

Hello my little pixies,
It's Wednesday!
Wednesday means one thing!Actually... Wednesday means quite a few things.
Okay, but here on this blog, Wednesday means it's time for recommended reads. Recommended reads is a segment where I suggest a few things from around the internet and share them with you in the hopes that you'll enjoy them too.

Here are my picks for this week:

• How To Spot A Misogynist
• Kiss Me With Those Red Lips: An Essay on Gender and Inversion in Bram Stoker's Dracula
• Fancy feeling a little nostalgic? This is a website called I'm Remembering and it throws together things from the past that will get you thinking about things you thought you'd forgotten.
• This is a great little comic strip called After High School and it's about higher education and the struggles you go through during your studies. If you ask me, it feels pretty accurate. 
• Here's a handy article on how to market your self published book

Over Halfway Through Camp NaNoWriMo!

So we're now over half way through Camp NaNoWriMo and I've got to say, I'm feeling cautiously optimistic at this point...

I'm pretty much on target with my word count and feel that I definitely could write 50,000 words by the end of the month. I feel my first draft of the novel will definitely be longer than 50,000 words but that's fine. That's what redrafting is for.

So far it's going well. A few of my Camp Buddies are doing really well too. I'm very proud of them.
I may even do NaNoWriMo in November as well.

Are YOU doing Camp NaNoWriMo?
How are you doing so far?

One Week Into NaNoWriMo!

We're one week into NaNoWriMo and so far, I'm doing well. I'm writing steadily and am currently about 24,000 words into my 50,000 word goal. Do I think my novel will be completed around 50,000 words? Certainly not! The first draft will most definitely take up a lot of space and hundreds of pages. Then again, that's what editing is for. I'm starting to think that, at this rate, I'll be able to have my first novel done by the end of the year. I'm feeling very optimistic right now. I suppose, for the next three weeks, I have to just keep on writing and encouraging my fellow cabin mates.

I absolutely love the notion of NaNoWriMo cabin mates. They're all wonderful strangers. I'm the oldest of all of them at the age of 22. Everyone else is a teenager. I find it so thrilling to see young writers taking such a leap. It's a real inspiration. They're all beautiful little nerds and I'll be so proud of them when they reach their goal. I'd urge any of you to try Camp NaNoWriMo next year or NaNoWriMo itself later this year. 

Camp NaNoWriMo Begins!

Camp NaNoWriMo begins today and so this month I'm going to try to write at least 25,000 words of my novel as I want to have it finished by the end of the year. I'll be posting updates of my progress on this blog as well as trying to keep regular posts going up.

I'd totally urge anyone interested in writing to give it a go and I'm sure you can still sign up by clicking here.

Wish me luck!

Camp NaNoWriMo!

Shout out to all of my fellow scribblers out there.
Are you hoping to finish a novel this year?
Always wanted to write that story you've had stewing in your head?
Got a project you want to write but need some support?

Tomorrow is the start of Camp NaNoWriMo - the summery cousin of NaNoWriMo. The idea of Camp NaNoWriMo is to set you up in a team of other writers to support each other as you set your own writing goals and try to work on a written project through the month of July. I will be taking part and have already been set up with some lovely cabin mates. I tried NaNoWriMo last year and got about 20,000 words in so perhaps this could be what gets me to the finish line? Who knows! I'm really looking forward to take part - if you're interested too then click here to sign up before it all kicks off tomorrow!

Write.

Lately I've been writing as much as possible. With a job it makes it harder to get anything written but I've been writing to NaNoWriMo standards of almost 1666 words per day. I hope to have up to 10,000 words by the end of the day.
 I'm so determined to finish my first novel by the end of the year.

Have you been writing lately?

Writing Weekend.

So having just had my first full weekend off in quite some time I can safely say that I put it to good use. I didn't leave the house, but I did manage to send off many job applications and I got a pleasing amount of writing done.

I've stayed up the past two nights and have written a few thousand words. If I can keep writing at this pace each night then I'm sure that I'll have a novel done in no time. In fact, at this current trajectory, it could be written within two months. That said, I doubt I'll be able to do that, but we shall see. I'm just very hopeful at this point in time.

Absence.

You know what they say:
Absence makes the  heart grow fonder. 
Have you missed me?

I know I've been rubbish at updating this blog lately. I've even been slack at posting up song of the day posts. I mean, that's 365 blog posts per year and, although they're quick to put together, it requires a great deal of my time. I promise to write a bunch of blog posts over the next few days to provide some sort of blog content. I'm just trying to juggle work, writing, my social life and everything else around that.

Sending you love.

The Book Launch

Hi guys!
I know I've been super quiet lately and have been terrible at actually writing blog posts which has left you with just song of the day updates each day.
I know, I know. I am so sorry. Between no electricity at my house, work and events there's not been much online time. It feels like forever since I last properly updated this blog.

I realised that, although I document everything to do with my writing, I haven't written anything about my recent book launch and wanted to discuss the experience with you.

It has now been two weeks since the book launch so I'm here to share my thoughts and to recount the experience.

So I left work around 4:30, returned some library books and grabbed lunch, and got on a train to London around 5:30. I got into London and got on my coach at 7:30. I was on that coach until almost 1:30AM the next morning. It was a long, gruelling trip. It was just  six hours of driving in the dark. I managed to chill out and listen to an audiobook whilst sending a ridiculous amount of Snapchats to pass the time. My partner collected me from Huddersfield station in the early hours of the morning and when we got back my head hit the pillow and I slept like a mad woman.

When I woke up later that morning, the day of the launch, I was filled with excitement and dread. The dread came from the knowledge that I would have to do a reading of my work later that evening. I hadn't even held a copy of my book yet. I was terrified of opening it and finding some terrible error that none of us had actually noticed until that point. I'm very good at thinking up new and utterly irrational worries at the last minute.

I had the day mostly to myself and so I tried to do all the things I'd missed about Huddersfield: I walked along the canal, visited my old university, had a pint in some of my favourite bars. I was heartbroken to find out that my favourite book store had closed down which took about half an hour of sad pining and then I moved on to the Huddersfield Art Gallery. It was a beautiful day. I even had to buy sunglasses because it was a rare day of warmth in Yorkshire.

Then the evening came. I was in a bar around the corner from the cafe that would host the book launch. I was waiting for a few friends to arrive. I had time to catch up with two of them before I had to dash off to rehearse. What came next was all a bit of a rush. I was introduced to the marvellous editing team who had overseen all the behind the scenes stuff for my book. I was re-united with my publisher and my university tutors. Not long afterwards a reporter came down needing photos of all the authors and a copy of my book was handed over to me so I could be photographed holding it. That was it. That was the moment I first held a tangible, real copy of my book. I'm sure the photographer has some photos of me looking really stupid holding that book. I was so utterly dumbstruck. It was a "dream come true" kind of moment. I turned to my author friend Simon Crump and asked "Is this what it's like to hold your first born child?"
He replied "No."
Safe to say neither of us have kids...

The readings went well. I started with a joke as I went up:
"I only got to see my copy of the book today so I don't even know which page the story is on."
People laughed at my jokes and when I read my stories they would "Ooh" and "aah" in all the right places. I feel the event was a success. The place was packed. I even spotted a few of my old university tutors from other modules. It meant so much to me that so many people turned up. I was supported by a small crowd of friends I'd met through university and I felt so blessed and so thankful for their presence there that night. I got to sign a few copies of my book and speak to fellow writers whilst watching my pile of books slowly decrease as the night went on.

In the end my editor, friends and university tutors all went out for dinner and drinks at my favourite bar and talked away until the early hours of the morning. It was magical. I had to call it a night at around 2am because I had to make a university appearance the next day.

That morning I went into my alma mater to speak to creative writing students about my student experience, getting published and my work. I then got to read from my book. It was pretty cool and probably the closest I've ever really felt to being a celebrity. Then I spent the day with my partner, drinking coffee and making bad puns, until I had to get a coach down south. It really was a whirlwind trip.

Since the release I've had so many kind, positive reviews and comments from people and it has truly warmed my heart. It may be a little while longer until the book is released onto the Kindle but that's kind of out of our hands. I'm not sure how to feel knowing that my grandparents and family members have all read my book. I feel so blessed to have had this opportunity and am now working on my next project: a full novel. Expect it to be finished by 2015. Thanks go out to everyone who has bought my humble little book, you are helping to make my dream come true.

Click here to buy a copy of 'A Call In The Night'
Click here to read the first review of the short story collection.
ISBN Number:

• ISBN-10: 095630995X
• ISBN-13: 978-0956309952

Oh, and if that didn't do it, click here for this blog post in vlog format.

One Month To Go!

It is now just under a month until the release and book launch for my short story collection.
I am so thankful, so excited and just waiting until I can hold my own published work in my hands and have something I wrote up on my shelf. At the book launch I'll have to do a reading and maybe answer some questions. The idea of talking in front of people about my work is a little scary but I'm so, so thrilled for the experience.

I can't wait to change my Twitter bio where it says "soon to be published author" to just "author"

Judging A Book By Its Cover

So the publication of my chapbook draws nearer and I'm getting pretty excited.

Today an email came through from my editor: they'd sent over the potential final designs for my collection of short stories and I could choose from my favourite and give suggestions on how to change, tweak or improve them. I went through them and instantly found one that I liked. Now, I shan't show you. I'd like for it to remain a surprise. I just wanted to share my excitement, especially since I've blogged my way through this entire process so every little emotion is date marked and sealed within written memory like an archive of my first published work. The deadline is getting close, everything will be sent off to the printers soon.

I'm very excited.

Alrighty, we are now into February and I'm getting down into writing. In January I didn't do much writing because I was so busy with work and all the behind the scenes stuff for the publication of my chapbook but I'm now ready to get down to work. Lately most of my writing has been non fiction as I've been writing articles and columns for different magazines but fiction is forever my first love. In February I'm going to do some more work on the novel that I started during NaNoWriMo. Ideally I'd love to finish that novel within this month because I have another novel I'd really like to work on also. I think from this point on in my life I'd like to write a novel a year for as long as I have ideas to scribble down. The only place I can really start is at the end of a novel and therefore completing my first novel is utterly imperative. Sorry if you don't hear from me much this month but I simply have to get a novel done now or I fear I never will...

Thanks.

One thing I've been doing lately is finalising the stuff to do with my short story collection outside of the stories themselves. As a writer I have the chance to put dedications and acknowledgements in my work to thank people who have helped me artistically in some way. Whenever I write a dedication or acknowledgement for my work or elsewhere there's the worry that it'll turn into a full blown Oscars speech. You want to thank people and it's hard not to get emotional. I've thanked my nearest and dearest and those who have helped me along the way but once more I just wanted to pause to thank you, the readers, who support my daily scribblings. It's certainly boosted my confidence along the way.

NEW LAYOUT!

Well look at this! It would appear that the blog has a snazzy new layout. The new layout is to celebrate my soon to be published collection of short stories. I just thought that the blog had previously been so dank and dark that it needed a reboot. OK, we've only really moved from black to brown but it fits the theme. It's textured like parchment because I'm an author. It features birds because it fits in with the blog title. I think it's gorgeous. I'm still working on it so if there are any problems, glitches or issues then please let me know in the comments section of this blog.

Otherwise...

What do you think?

I'm a BLURBerring wreck!

Guys, I am so happy I think that I might cry.

I just got to read the blurb for my collection of short stories and it's all starting to feel real. I feel like I'm going to cry happy tears. Sure, it's only a little chapbook but this is such a wonderful first step as an author and I'm so utterly grateful for this experience.

The next stages are getting the final, FINAL copy and looking over the cover. I've had no say in the cover artwork and I'm actually really excited to see how it looks. It's all happening so fast and soon it'll be off to the printers. I'm so happy.

Suffer And Serve

So now that we're into 2014 I'm going to be doing some work at tweaking my first anthology/collection of poetry whilst beginning work on my second collection. My first collection of poetry is called "Suffer and Serve" and may be released for Kindle and e-readers later this year. 

My second collection of poems, entitled "Anthropology" will be one of my major works this year. 

Writing in January.

I've been slowly, slowly getting back into writing. It's hard to make time for it when I have a job and I'd been busy working on the master edit for my collection of short stories. I've started outlining stuff for future script projects and in February I'll work on a novel again in NaNoWriMo style. I'll sit down and try to write around 50,000 words in a month. It's not going to be easy but I'll certainly try. If you're a writer then I hope you're writing. It's not easy but it's worth it.

The Master Edit

So today I submitted the Master Edit for my collection of short stories that is set for publication this year. I'm going to be honest, I kind of left a bit of the editing work until the last minute. I have a job and since receiving the Master Edit I've spent probably a grand total of two days in my own house. I've been so frustratingly busy and so last night I poured out the coffee, sat down and combed through every sentence and really worked at it. The fact that I had a deadline (the deadline was today) was scary. I thought that after university I wouldn't ever be writing fiction to a deadline again. I was wrong. I'm not very good when it comes to deadlines. I spend a lot of time thinking about it before actually doing it. Then in the final few days I'm cramming in all the work and really hammering everything out. Hey, if it's what got me through university and earned me a good degree... Of course I can't go through my whole life like this but it definitely seems to be how I get things done.

I had to work through the night last night as I had to work a six hour shift today which was a little stressful to juggle both. I'm really happy it's submitted. Hopefully it's just smooth sailing from this point onwards and we can talk about fun things like marketing strategy and what the cover will look like. It's literally only just hit me that my collection of short stories will have a cover... Wow, that's actually very exciting. I've only been thinking of the literary content until this point.

I suppose I'm writing this blog entry more for myself. It's a way of documenting honest feelings and then sharing them with other people. I've noticed that quite a few authors/aspiring authors have clicked onto my blog so it's important to write about writing as an art and as a process.

Once this is out of the way I'll be entering the planning stages of another hardcore writing month much like NaNoWriMo. Throughout February I'll be sitting down and trying to finish the novel that I started in NaNoWriMo. Yes, even on my birthday. Swiftly after that I have another novel that I'm itching to get started on. It'd be really cool to have a collection of short stories published in the year and two novels completed at the end of it. I'm about 25,000 words into the first novel and ideas are coming thick and fast for the second. I'll just be happy to finish one at this rate.

I'm very thankful to have this current experience of having a collection of short stories published. It's like having a full book/novel published but on a smaller scale which has made everything a lot more manageable and is a wonderful first step for me as a writer. I'm thankful to the publishers, to my editing team and everyone who has been involved in making one of my biggest dreams come true. It has been such a wonderful learning curve. Much like having children, I don't think anything really prepares you for stepping out into the world of publishing. It feels a bit like being a fish in a shark tank: you feel a little vulnerable and exposed, sometimes you can go by totally unnoticed, you're worried about making a bad move, sometimes you're snatched up perfectly...

See.
I'm an author now.
Look at me churning out vague metaphors on the spot.

So yes, to summarise: I am grateful, I am thankful and I am sleepy but I think 2014 is going to be a pretty rad year. Let's keep writing.

How to write a book WITH SCIENCE.

Fellow writers, the jig is up.
Apparently science has cracked the algorithm to writing the perfect novel. The Telegraph reports that to create a novel with the ultimate potential of financial success you must avoid cliché and use verbs sparingly... well duh. The article makes for an interesting read for any aspiring authors.