Haven't much to report today, have been working on my short stories again. Think I might have something suitable for The People's Friend competition but not 100% decided upon my title. The story was inspired by a news story I saw on the web about an escaped exotic animal, then the weekend after I actually saw someone walking around with the same type of pet. It's strange the way those coincidences happen so I took it as a good omen to put pen to paper.
I've also started a short story which was inspired by my calender in the kitchen again featuring exotic animals. I knew exactly what I wanted the title to be this time - a play on Dancing with Wolves, but the story is a bit stuck at the moment. I've written about 500 words but it feels like I'm having to tell the story rather than it just playing out like a movie. I'm hoping if I keep mulling it over something will click into place.
Have also decided to try sending my 'walking the dog' Writing Magazine story out elsewhere seeing as a month has passed since the competition deadline. The Talkbackers site says winners usually hear within 2 to 3 weeks. I was very pleased with this particular story but there was a slight deviation from the little description they give for inspiration. I've decided to send it out to a woman's magazine having given the main character a new name - she's gone from Emily (that the competition gave) to Ruth and I've slightly altered her age. I wonder if the magazines get sent a lot of WM competition stories that didn't make it. Hopefully that deviation will set it apart if they've been inundated with 'walking the dog' stories.
Finally I've started writing a short story for The Lady competition, I would really like to try the comedy category but I haven't a clue where to start. There's something really intimidating about trying to be funny. Two of the judges are crime writers Minette Walters and Val McDermid so I'm sure a lot of people will go for the crime category. At the moment I'm trying the historical one and have put a few paragraphs together. They're about a teenager and written in the first person, I can hear her voice clearly and I know what the story will be about but I need to figure out the plot in more detail. They also want a copy of your story on CD or floppy disk so I keep scribbling a reminder to myself everywhere about it.
* Don't forget I love to hear about what you're writing and which competition you're having a go at. You can post a comment (they are screened before being uploaded) or email me at www.drmidas@hotmail.co.uk
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