The search is on

I had to pick myself up a little last week after my novel was rejected by another publisher. However, it was still encouraging as I received such positive feedback which has spurred me on to go down the path of trying to find an agent.

My novel Red Kite has only been rejected six times which is not a lot really, based on the fact that 'Gone With The Wind' by Margaret Mitchell was rejected dozens of times before going on to be a best seller. There are of course countless others of writers that have not got there straight away, after all if it was easy, everyone would be doing it!

I have found it difficult with the timescale and that some publishers only want to see it in isolation, they may hang to it on for months only to reject it, leaving me back at a very low square one.

As I am on holiday this week, I shall begin my quest to search for an agent instead as after reading an interview in ALCS News with Stella Duffy, novelist, playwright and actor, I felt that this was the best way forward when writing fiction.

I have found quite a few agents to approach by searching the Writer's Market and Writers' and Artists' Yearbook, and hope it will increase my chances of eventually publishing my novel. I was running out of publishers who will accept submissions without an agent anyway.

There is also a great article on using agents in the October edition of Writers Forum.

Snakes and Ladders

Over the last few days, I feel like I have been playing a mad game of snakes and ladders as far as my writing is concerned.

I was heading up hill with so many ideas and submissions out there. I posted a story on Monday and was full of hope. But then the first snake sent me slithering back a few steps as my novel 'Red Kite' was rejected. It had been with a publisher for six months and so when I received the huge manuscript back, it was a bit of a blow this time. I felt I was so close as they had asked to see so much of it and gave me wonderful comments, they like my style but alas, it was not to be, apparently it is not commercial enough for them.

Then a wonderful ladder appeared in the form of a phone call from a local farm shop who have been stocking my book 'One Hundred Ways For A Chicken to Train Its Human' they said it had sold out and so needed more copies, wonderful news and I have had to order a new supply to give to them.

True to the game my next snake came only a few hours ago when reading a magazine about up-and-coming Children's books. I discovered that a character I had created months ago was already out there and doing very well with a major publisher, I felt deflated to start with but then thought to myself at least it was a great idea! I just didn't get there first.

It's quite magical in a way, I was born in the year of the snake according to the Chinese calender, and I really am fascinated by the creatures.

The picture above is of Sabby, my little wooden snake who sits on my coffee table every day just watching the mad life of a struggling writer who hopes that one day her snake will become a ladder to success.

So what! It's raining!

I know this dreadful weather is getting on every one's nerves, but today it really worked for me. I had originally booked this day off work in January in the hope that I would get a day pottering about in the garden and sunbathing with the chickens, but it was not to be. When I saw the pelting raindrops beating against my window first thing this morning, I decided I would turn it into writing day.

I started by re-working a children's story and getting it ready for submission next week.

I have also had a go at my first 'Writers CV'.

Working in a Jobcentre, I am looking at CV's all the time, but to produce a 'Writers CV' of my own was so hard. It's so different to a work CV but with the much appreciated help of Simon Whaley, I have now come up with something that I hope to use in the future when sending off a submission that requires one.

Most places don't even ask for a CV but I was thrown the other day when I wanted to send an idea to them and they asked for one.

I am quite pleased with my result ( it even went over two pages!) and hope that it will get longer in time if I enjoy more writing success.

So, I guess this post is about using the weather to help our writing. If you enjoy sunshine,snow,wind or even rain - let it inspire you to come up with ideas - on the other hand it may keep you inside to get those ideas onto paper!

Interviewing chickens

I enjoyed a wonderful week off work recently and met up with Robert Green from Talking Newspapers for the blind.

He came to interview the hens and have a chat with me.

It was a wonderful experience and we talked about why I had been inspired to write my book 'One Hundred Ways For A Chicken To Train Its Human'

The reason soon became clear and as soon as I let my hens out, they were more than happy to meet Robert and tell him in their own way why chickens are so inspiring for people to write about.

I was worried that they would not be too vocal or would get shy at being interviewed, but Robert, armed with microphone in one hand and corn in the other soon had them eating out of his hand as you can see in the photo above.

It was a wonderful experience for me too. I am looking forward to hearing the interview on CD at some point as Robert hopes to record extracts from my book along with the interview and put it onto the talking newspapers for the blind as a small humour feature.

It is often said that we should never work with children or animals - but in this case, it certainly went according to plan.

Talking Newspapers

I had a lovely bit of news today which was most welcome after the rejection I received last week for one of my children's stories that has been with a publisher for six months.

I felt very deflated to start with, but at least it was another positive rejection, with very nice comments about the main character and gave me hope for the future.

It's strong competition in the children's book market and sometimes I feel it's almost impossible to break through. However, I am on holiday for a whole week and will be sending it off to many more publishers in the hope of it finding it a home.

The news I had today really lifted my spirits as it was so different from the crazy and competitive world of book publishing.

Talking Newspapers for the blind are coming to interview me next week. They want to include a little humorous bit about chickens and my book on a future CD.

They make an audio CD for the blind with features and news, just like any other newspaper. What a wonderful thing! To give pleasure to those people who are unable see the words of a newspaper, book or a magazine that many of us take for granted. I can't wait to find out more about it. ( It may be a future article for me to write)

The Editor said he would like to hear the chickens talking - I just hope they don't get too nervous being interviewed - unlike me who will probably be a nervous but very excited wreck!

Tears, laughter and a great deal of talent

I went to see 'An evening of One Act Plays' last night, held by Horsehay Amateur Dramatic society. What a fantastic evening! I was captivated throughout the whole evening with such a variety of talent.

The first play 'Chain' reduced me to tears. It was a moving story set in Horsehay and Cradely Heath in the 1800's. It touched on life down the coal pits of Dawley and surrounding areas and then linked to the tragic lives of the women of Cradely Heath who worked as chain makers.

The second play 'Business is Business' was written by Mike White, fellow member of Wrekin Writers and directed by Susan White his wife. I have to use this post to congratulate them both.

It must be an amazing thing as a writer to see your own work brought to life with real people acting out every word you have created.

The whole act was set in a hotel garden at lunchtime. It didn't need any more scenes as it moved with such a wonderful pace that kept the interest of the audience.

The actors were superb and made the characters come to life, but of course those characters were created by Mike in the first place. It was he who made them believable.

He achieved within minutes what I guess was the desired effect for his two first characters Valerie and George.

As the audience enjoyed the opening scene, they recognised instantly what Mike was wanting to show in their characters and chuckles rippled throughout the village hall like a Mexican wave.

The third and final play was a wonderful farce and had everyone laughing once again as the 'Last Tango in Little Dawley' was acted out by yet another brilliant cast.

Good dialogue is so important. It really is the key to the 'show don't tell' motto and Mike along with the other writers certainly achieved this last night, along with the excellent actors who played their parts so wonderfully.

It's really made me think about the characters in my novel Red Kite. I now want to re-visit some of the scenes to make sure if the dialogue shows what I am trying to get across to the reader.

It's great to experience other things like this. I could never hope to achieve what Mike has done, but this was a wonderful experience and one that will hopefully bring a new way of looking at my own writing.

365 days

This rusty old horse shoe has been hanging on the gate post next to my drive for more years than I have known. Through every season, and whatever the day brings, it is there for 365 days of the year, hopefully bringing a little bit of luck to someone.

Last night's football game must have been devastating to the England team. They only have the chance every four years to try and win the World Cup.

I tried to imagine how awful it would feel, if I could only send my novel off every four years if I got a rejection! It certainly made me sympathise with our lads out there in South Africa. And this is true for so many other massive competitions or events that some people have to endure if they want to compete and win. If they fail they have to wait a long time before trying again.

As writers, I think we are the luckiest people of all. You may not think that when you get that horrible envelope back in the post rejecting your work. It may be something you have been working on for years, work that you and others thought may get off the slush pile and get published, but some reason it just didn't happen.

But we have 365 days of the year to try again, send something off and even if we get a knock back, we can try again instantly.

Hope my old horse shoe brings a bit of luck to some of you!