#WritersCoffeeClub 6 Oct: Self-published or trad-published? How's it going?
I write short stories and poems mainly and they've appeared in magazines and anthologies so I guess trad published? (Full list here: https://sarah-i-jackson.ghost.io/writing/)
I am thinking about self publishing a collection of my short horror stories though, as I'm finding it hard to place them anywhere as reprints.
#WritersCoffeeClub 5 Oct: What are your writing project goals?
Get to a complete second draft of my novel which I can share with beta readers. That feels such a long way off I am struggling a bit, even having broken the work down into small tasks. I know I'll get there, it just feels daunting 😐
Sharing chapters regularly with my novel group was helping a lot, but that has fallen apart slightly (due to unfortunate life stuff happening to multiple members) and I've drifted away from it again. But I'm down to share another couple of chapters in December, so I'm hoping to make some progress before then 💪🏻
#WritersCoffeeClub 3&4 Oct
Book jacket photos: if you like?
How I write the time: I think I'd probably write it five o'clock or 5pm but not than 5 o'clock or five pm, but I don't think it has come up yet
Oh nice, two drabbles accepted for Shacklebound Books 'Programmed Hearts' anthology! On one of my favourite topics, too: robots and feelings 🤖❤
(Submissions are still open as far as I can see https://shackleboundbooks.wordpress.com/submissions/)
#MicroFiction #ScienceFiction
I'd love to get a few more sign ups for my metaphor course before we kick off in 3 weeks ✨✒✨
As well as looking at what makes a really good metaphor, we'll explore the opportunities (and challenges) offered by speculative genre tropes 🧝🏼♀️🧟♀️👩🏿🚀
More info and booking here: https://crowcollectiveworkshops.com/2021/11/15/metaphor-2/
#WritingCommunity #AmWriting #CreativeWriting #WritersOfMastodon
#WritersCoffeeClub 1 Oct: Shameless self-promotion. What's your WIP? What's it about?
My big WIP is a historical fantasy novel set in 18thC London, in which a siren teams up with a tailor's apprentice to steal a fortune, using magic, murder, and impeccable manners 😊
#WritersCoffeeClub 30 Sept. What foolish things do people say when you tell them you're a writer?
None so far! Everyone has been really supportive, which I'm grateful for; I know that's not everybody's experience.
Erk, all my library audiobook holds have become available at once! 😅 Currently working my way through The Goblin Emperor, She Who Became The Sun, and A House With Good Bones at once
#WritersCoffeeClub Day 28 Do you practice “kill your darlings” in your work?
Yes, as needed. If I particularly like something though I'll usually save it in another document in case it might become something else later.
This week is very densely packed with work and errands because I'm away to the seaside on Friday for a friend's 40th. We're staying in Scarborough, which is one of my favourite places! Not least because it has a castle, a funicular railway, and a geology museum 🤓
#WritersCoffeeClub Day 27:
What's the strangest research you've done for your writing?
Probably reading a bunch of property surveyor reports 🤣 It was for a horror story about London property developers which is told through a series of documents.
It appeared in issue two of Archive of the Odd, which is a lovingly created 'found fiction' horror magazine https://archiveoftheodd.bigcartel.com/
#WritersCoffeeClub Day 25: Have you used a MacGuffin in your writing? Be honest.
Yes, there's one in The Willingham Bay Witches and in my novel WIP. Although in the novel the characters kind of know it's a MacGuffin, if that makes sense? It's a means to an end without much inherent value for them, as well as for me.
#WritersCoffeeClub Day 25: What keeps you striving concerning your writing goals?
I was going to type out a long complicated answer but really it boils down to pleasure and curiosity.
@8b01cb79 I love this 😊 I had to stop striving for mental health reasons and it turned out to be brilliant. Now I'm in a phase of softly striving, but I still try and prioritize joy
@eb8b9cc4 ha ha! I think that's your prerogative 😁 I suppose if there were any general observations you'd like to make about them that could be a compromise?
#WritersCoffeeClub Day 17: How do you promote your writing?
Haphazardly! I'm much more organised at promoting my writing workshops, and @169d24d6. But I do share anything new I have coming out on here and in my newsletter. Here's all of it so far, anyway! https://sarah-i-jackson.ghost.io/writing/
I'm extra pleased because both of these are science fiction, which I still feel a little nervous about writing, as someone who nearly failed Maths and didn't study any STEM subjects after GCSE. I won't stop though!
#WritersCoffeeClub 16. Do you have prologues? How do you feel about them?
Another brief, boring answer today: I haven't had the opportunity to use one yet, and I have no particular feelings about them 😊
While you're here, can I interest you in @169d24d6 magazine? Opening for submissions for our first issue in two weeks! 😮
There's an absurdly good selection of affordable, inclusive writing workshops and courses open right now at Crow Collective, and I'm not just saying that because one of them is mine!
Take a look: https://crowcollectiveworkshops.com/category/workshops/
#WritingWorkshops #WritingCommunity #AmWriting #WritersOfMastodon
She described it as 'dreamlike', which I can absolutely see. And she was fascinated by the audience's relationship to Columbo, as we're so often with the murderer's POV rather than his, and he's so enigmatic. We know him completely, but also know nothing about him. At one point she asked 'where has he come from? is he even with the police? is he real?' Immediately picking up on that slightly supernatural quality which makes Peter Falk's role in Wings of Desire so perfect! 😊
@b5855444 Exactly! I offered her a choice of terrible rich person to see not getting away with murder: a retired general with a yacht (Dead Weight) or a smug art critic (Suitable for Framing), and she chose the general. I was tempted by Blueprint for Murder though, because it has such a great 'trap' at the end
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