Off to a slow start— I have written very little over the last few months, shame on me. I really want to have it ready for publishing before Christmas. Soon I will be going to Canberra for a month or so and hope to finish Book 5 of Beaufort’s Landing. I have the cover picture (not showing it yet, keep an eye out though) and once the cover is complete I will put it up for you to have a squiz at. Here are some possible titles — Murder in the Mist, Misty Mountain Murder, Gumbarru Gamble, Paluma Poisoning, Poisonous Paluma. Which one do you like? Do you have any other suggestions?
Organising myself—I’m not reaching many people with this website so I will be instituting some changes in the coming weeks. Have, in fact, started but progress is irritatingly slow because organisation is not a strong suit for me. Don’t judge, I’m very busy thinking … and writing other stuff … and excuse-making, if I’m honest. How do you get yourself geared up to concentrate on your next story.
Have done something—I’ve entered a short crime story competition with a story that I pulled up and dusted off. It’s a couple of years old , so I re-edited it and read it out (well, part of it) to my writer’s group, who made some helpful suggestions. You never know your luck, I might win or place. I never have before with a short story (allowed 5000 words) but unfortunately hope keeps rearing its stupid, gormless head. Sigh…Probably more money down the drain.
Speaking of competitions—when I was running a small rural writer’s group we had annual competitions in multiple genres. For the judging, I made up a set of questions with space for comments for the primary judges. There was a score out of a hundred (if I remember correctly) out of which the short list was decided and sent onto the final judge. Each entrant received these feed-back forms, which was found to be most helpful and made entering worthwhile even if one didn’t win. I think it should be mandatory for competitions requesting money, and sometimes lots of it, to supply this feedback. What do you think? The only group who does this that I know of is CYA and I’m always grateful to hear what they have to say.
Facebook—I’m having trouble getting these blogs posted automatically to Facebook. It’s so annoying everytime they alter some part of their stuff I’m stuffed and can’t access things easily. Not only that I recently got a notice that my Percy Rose page was being closed down for lack of compliance with some rule or other BUT I closed down that page a couple of years ago, so I could concentrate all my work under the Rosa’s Work page. What on earth is going on? I suppose it will all be sorted out eventually, but in the meantime…soooo annoying.
Oh gosh! what a whinger I am being. I’ll close now and do some actual work.
Ciao for now,
Percy Rose - Author 