Since the New Year, I've been doing a rewrite of Save The Last Dance For Me, to make it shorter, tighter and, hopefully, better. Already I've cut three chapters that I didn't feel were contributing much to the plot. Any sections that I felt were necessary, I've included as flashbacks in another chapter. Already it seems to be working better with a smooth transition between chapters. I have rejoined the New Writers' Scheme of the Romantic Novelists Association and will resubmit the typescript for a further opinion.
A lengthy letter based on some family history research I have done has appeared in the February issue of Family History Monthly. I haven't seen it myself yet, but someone has told me it's there. Hopefully, the same magazine will be printing a short article of mine this summer based on my experience of working in a cotton mill. Now I just have to write the article ...
Saturday 21 January 2012
Friday 13 January 2012
Facebook - and some good news
I've been struggling with Facebook for the past week or so as the 'Facebook for Dummies' book that I bought second hand doesn't seem to bear any relation to what's on the computer screen before me. I will sort it but I guess it will take time.
I had two bits of good news today. A couple of months ago, I submitted a letter about a breakthrough that I'd had in my family history and I learned today that it is to be featured in the February issue of Family History Monthly, a national genealogy magazine. While submitting that, I mentioned a couple of ideas for articles to the editor. She didn't want either of those because they had more more less been covered in previous issues but she did ask me if I could put together a social history article on my experiences working as a weaver in a Lancashire cotton mill in the distant past. Today, I received confirmation that she definitely wants the article and that it will be in the May issue. These two bits of good news have boosted me no end. The fiction market is a harder nut to crack!
I had two bits of good news today. A couple of months ago, I submitted a letter about a breakthrough that I'd had in my family history and I learned today that it is to be featured in the February issue of Family History Monthly, a national genealogy magazine. While submitting that, I mentioned a couple of ideas for articles to the editor. She didn't want either of those because they had more more less been covered in previous issues but she did ask me if I could put together a social history article on my experiences working as a weaver in a Lancashire cotton mill in the distant past. Today, I received confirmation that she definitely wants the article and that it will be in the May issue. These two bits of good news have boosted me no end. The fiction market is a harder nut to crack!
Friday 6 January 2012
I'm on Facebook!
Hey, I'm on Facebook! I always swore I would keep clear of Facebook and Twitter but having read that these are essential tools in 'getting your name out there', I decided sign up, first of all for Facebook. I'll try Twitter later. Just now, I'm still finding my way round the site.
Had a quiet Christmas, just the two of us, but enjoyable just the same. That's how it's been for the last four Christmases, since my elderly mother died in 2008. We'd always spent Christmases with first, in the first place, my Dad, then after he died, just with my Mum. Even after three years (she died just before Christmas), we still miss her and the Advocaat doesn't taste the same without her! Neither of my children live close by but I spoke to both of them on Christmas Day. Having said that, I don't think I could cope with a noisy Christmas!
Had a quiet Christmas, just the two of us, but enjoyable just the same. That's how it's been for the last four Christmases, since my elderly mother died in 2008. We'd always spent Christmases with first, in the first place, my Dad, then after he died, just with my Mum. Even after three years (she died just before Christmas), we still miss her and the Advocaat doesn't taste the same without her! Neither of my children live close by but I spoke to both of them on Christmas Day. Having said that, I don't think I could cope with a noisy Christmas!
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