Category Archives: thoughts on writing

the WoMentoring Project

Posted on by Marie Dentan
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Today browsing, more or less aimlessly the world wide web, I came upon this wonderful project.

In short, it’s a project where established women authors mentor other women authors. The catch is that the mentees are authors that could never have access to paid feedback and mentorship.

I love that project for many reasons. First, it’s a project where people are taking time for others, and for no ulterior reason then just help. And I’m truly impressed by that.

Then it’s a happy leap of faith. It proves that some people out there still believe that they are good people, good authors, that just need to be discovered. Call me a sinical european, but I find that unusual, yet truly wonderful.

So, go check out the website. It’s definitely worth a look.

The WoMentoring Project

Short stories competitions and more

Posted on by Marie Dentan
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So here are a few short stories competition and openings for writers, I came upon when brousing the world wibe web – sorry, I just love saying that.

 

The Burning Eye Books is looking for submission!

 

The Frank O’ Connor has opened its international short story award.

 

The Royal Society of Literature is offering a grant for work in progress.

 

I’m not sure these apply to children’s short stories, but it’s always worth a look.

 

Now as I have blatently and ruthlessly stolen those from another fellow blogger, Paul Mc Veigh,  I suggest you go and visit his sites. It’s full of great reads and ideas. Thanks Paul

 

A Good concept

Posted on by Marie Dentan
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So I’ve sent my manuscript out to agents !!! Hay!!

And within 24 hours the responses came pouring down. No, no and no thank you. Not say “Hay” anymore.

But I’ve decided not to go the self-crushing route because that would be just too soul destroying and I’m not ready to be beaten down yet.

Instead I’ve decided to analyse those rejections.

Continue reading →

sending out your work to agents

Posted on by Marie Dentan
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Lots of blogs have talked about that. I’ve probably have read them all. And one thing that annoyed me was that they all said: “Do your research and most of all make sure you send your query exactly how a particular agency wants it.”

I thought: “Come on! How hard can that be!”

Well if you’re only sending out one query at a time, which you shouldn’t do because as I’ve read, life is too short, it’s pretty easy. But if you are sending many queries than it gets a little tricky. Continue reading →

Formatting a manuscript

Posted on by Marie Dentan
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When writing a manuscript, I must confess I concentrated a first on the story the characters and the setting. But as the deadline to send my dissertation for my Master was coming closer I realised there was something had grossly over looked:

The formatting.

I’m not talking about typos, because those have a way of creeping behind your back. And so I believe that you need to have someone else read your manuscript to try and erase as much as you can because when you read a text you know, your brain does a silly thing and corrects the letters as you read, so you basically cannot spot any typos in your own text.

 

What really got me stressed was the use of coma, speech marks and so on.

 

So here are some basic rules, that apply to my Master at MMU and I believe in most places. Continue reading →

synopsis writing

Posted on by Marie Dentan
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After the dreaded cover or query letter, here is the as much dreaded synopsis.

You would think, you’ve written the whole book you should know what happens in it. Thus it should be easy to summarise it in a page.

Oh, no! Not to me.

So as always, when I don’t know how to do things, I browse the internet. I found numerous post, that set out to be useful but in the end, they’re not, as they just say, be concise, don’t tell too much, yet let the reader know everything. I may be ironic but that’s how I felt when reading those blogs.

Fortunately for me I came upon this one.

Continue reading →

the hunt for the perfect agent

Posted on by Marie Dentan
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So here I am, hunting for the perfect agent. I’ve going over hundreds of blogs and sites, and I don’t think I’m exaggerating. And the first advice I get from them is:

“Do your research”

Which is pretty basic. Don’t send my upper middle grade novel to a non-fiction agent. This seems pretty much common sense.

Continue reading →