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Welcome to The Literary Pig's blog - a safe haven for all those afflicted with
the unbearable urge to write.

Saturday 7 September 2013

August round up


As the temperate plummets it feels like autumn is preparing us for cooler times to come. The Indoor Writer is on daily alert for spider removal (Handsome Hubby keeps dropping the darlings when they start sprinting - some of them are HUGE!) and making the most of any sunshine by working in the garden. Before we settle indoors to hibernate ...

Here are the stats for August:

Write 1 Sub 1:
New - 2 x short stories, 1 x filler, 1 x reader's letter
Total subs - 11 (including 1 x short play and an application for apprenticeship scheme with The Word Factory)

Income: 3rd Prize in Northampton Writers' Group Flash Fiction comp (£15!). Won FREE annual subscription to Writers' Forum (worth >£30)

The Good News: 
3rd Prize and Highly Commended in Northampton Writers' Group Flash Fiction Comp. 2 fillers published in Writers' Forum. Letter published in WOTV. Shortlisted in GKBCinc Crime short story comp (final result out end Sep). Shortlisted in another short story comp (still being judged anonymously so can't mention name).

The Not-so-good News: unsuccessful in the following ...
Words With Jam novel opening, Little Pieces of Gold (10min play), Almond Press dystopian short story. Have to assume not a winner in Lightship Flash or Short Story comps as the prize giving ceremony is on 9th Sept and I've not received my invitation...

Other projects:
Have been listening to R4 Afternoon Drama (whilst gardening) and researched radio play formats from BBC Writers Room. Now working on converting an existing short story into a radio play.

Heard about an opportunity to submit comedy sketches for a new show on R4. 2525 is being produced by Matt Lucas (Little Britain) and John Stanley Productions, which starts recording shortly. The deadline for submission of sketches (up to 5) is 13 September. Over the last two weeks I've been writing comedy sketches and finally submitted my chosen 5. Don't care what happens next because the writing was so enjoyable I'd do it all over again. At least I made the proofreader laugh!

What have you been up to? Any successes to shout about? Please share.

Keep writing and submitting...

15 comments:

  1. Wow, you've been busy! Congrats on the successes - I'd love to write a comedy sketch but I can never put into words what I want, I can only see it in my mind. I'm more of a director on that front than a writer I think - save it for the school drama club! Great post and a round up is a good idea, it highlights our successes which we tend to ignore in favour of dwelling on our perceived 'failure' so often!

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    1. Thanks Linda. Yes, it does help to write these things down and the good and the bad seem to balance out!

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  2. You've been busy, busy, busy as usual Tracy and such a diversity of writing. I've just been doing the usual mags, mags, mags. Oh, except for the Just Back article. Must try something new!

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    1. I think you're doing brilliantly with the mags, Wendy. Don't complain! Terrific news that you have 2 stories in TABFF - your mum will be wondering who you work for...
      Try again with Just Back and let me know how you get on.

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  3. Not bad going at all, Tracy.

    I've written and sent out some short stories for magazines and have done a bit towards my new novel - mostly research and planning, but I've got some words down too.

    Mostly I've been gardening though. I wanted to make the most of the nice weather. Usually I write more in the winter and I think that'll be doubly true this year.

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    1. It is a challenge to focus on writing when the weather is so good - I've been out for lots of long walks. Definitely feel more like hunkering down and writing as the cooler weather sets in.

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  4. I have a story in The Weekly News this week. Also one in Yours 2014 yearbook which has just become available on Amazon. But your workrate puts me to shame.
    Good luck with the comedy sketches. I've submitted some before but without any success. Let us know how you get on.

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    1. Well done on story in TWN - I've never had any success and given up on that one! I know the comedy sketches will have a lot of competition, but I enjoyed writing them and it was a good learning experience.

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  5. Once again, your industry leaves me breathless.

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  6. Congratulations on all those successes, Tracy!

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  7. Hmm not sure I feel that industrious, Julia but thank you!

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    1. Thanks Sally! Congratulations on your recent win too - oddly similar happened to me with a story originally entered in Mogford prize without success but went on to do well eslewhere Never give up on a story!

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  8. What a great selection of writing success and submissions, Tracy! You're doing well. I love this time of year as it lends itself to writing.

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    1. Thank you Rosemary - yes it is a perfect time of year to hunker down for some serious writing!

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