Longing

Double publishing success is my excuse for two postings today.  My story, Longing, has at last found its niche on a Canadian ezine, commuterlit, http://commuterlit.com/2013/04/thursday-longing/  It might make your mouth water!
One or two poems should also appear in an e-anthology to be published by the Workers Educational Association, in the future. Our creative writing class, where I was a student, joined up with another to perform at this year's Headingley LitFest. The pieces we performed are to go into the anthology.  So watch this space.
Amendment: sadly this publication did not come to fruition.

Tell it how it is - with respect!

Knaresborough Railway Station plaque

It's a bit corny but  ... New Year, new writing.  New teaching too perhaps, cuts allowing.

New inspirations: MsLexia short story competition which I have once again entered. The story itself was shortlisted three years ago for the Knaresborough Festival (FEVA).  Then I took the advice on the MsLexia website to spruce it up - quite a bit.  Then I sent it to a new writing contact (more in later blogs with her permission) which produced some really helpful comments.

What kind of comments are useful for a writer?  First they should be respectful of the work that the writer has put in, and that means: be polite.  It doesn't mean that everything you say should be flattering!

Then, begin by saying what you like about the writing: the subject matter, particular words, phrases, metaphors, paragraphs that touch you in some way, and why.

Next you could suggest ways of improving the work.  For instance (and this is often true of my work) the story might need filling out with more detail about a character, a scene, or a relationship.  Perhaps there is a point where the writer should show more and tell less.  Try framing your suggestions as questions to the writer e.g. 'Do you think this paragraph might be better missed out as you have already told us this on page (number), paragraph (number)?'

At this stage you could mention any grammatical or spelling errors, known as proof reading.  Again I find it useful to couch these in terms of 'perhaps', as some grammatical points are contentious, not set in stone, or accepted by everyone!

Back to one of my older posts: Adeline has now made an appearance on the Headingley LitFest blog site as they have kindly included the whole story.

The 4th Headingley LitFest will take place in March this year, 2011.

Does Adeline rhyme with 'nine' or 'mean'?

Adeline is my name.  My spirit has materialized from the Victorian and Edwardian era.  I am a titled lady (two titles - one must be accurate).  Find me, in bits, in a new story by MoiraG set in Headingley, famous for its cricket ground these days but also known as a suburb of Leeds, and once considered quite 'select'.

This month sees the 3rd annual Headingley LitFest and I have been invited to read a story (as yet untitled), at the Cafe Lento on the evening of 17th March.  As well as the story of Adeline you will be able to listen to several other stories for a Short Story evening at my favourite Headingley Cafe.  It's the second time I've done this and it's a thoroughly enjoyable evening, reading, and listening to other stories too.  However it will be quite intimate as Cafe Lento is small (and exquisite of course!).

So it's been down to the grindstone to get the story completed on time - another deadline!