Writing

CS Lewis on Writing

10 January 2012
Edoardo
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Categories: Writers, Writing

Also from the excellent Inklings blog:

I am sure that some are born to write as trees are born to bear leaves: for these, writing is a necessary mode of their own development.  If the impulse to write survives the hope of success, then one is among these.  If not, then the impulse was at best only pardonable vanity, and it will certainly disappear when the hope is withdrawn.

C.S. Lewis to Arthur Greeves,
The Letters of C.S. Lewis, (28 August 1930)
I have, I think, gone past the hope of success.

Deep Time

28 December 2011
Edoardo
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Categories: Archaeology, Geology, Northumbria The Lost Kingdom, Writing

Writing the chapter on the geology of Northumbria, it’s apparent that the reaction of 19th-century geologists against ideas of catastrophism went far too far. Yes, many processes occur constantly and gradually, but the history of the earth in general and Northumbria in particular is punctuated by catastrophic events: most recently the tsunami unleashed by the Storegga Slides, when huge sections of the continental shelf off Norway slid into the abyssal depths and set off giant waves down the east coast of Britain in 6100BC.

Writer’s Resource

13 October 2011
Edoardo
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Categories: Writing

Following on from the recent rejections, it meant I had some stories to send out on the road again. Any writers out there, can I recommend Duotrope, the single most useful resource for working writers I’ve found. It features a fully searchable database of fiction and poetry markets, plus the ability to track and record all your submissions, and statistical feedback from other writers on the length of time each market takes to respond, and how picky it is. What’s more, it’s all free (although donations are welcome, and seeing how useful it is, we really should contribute towards the costs).

Rejection Notes – No.3 in a series

9 October 2011
Edoardo
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Categories: Rejection Notes, Writing

Unfortunately, while we liked your submission, so far we have not found a place for it … and it is against our policy to hold onto a story indefinitely. Much as we’d like to, we just don’t have the room to print all the stories we get — not even all the good ones. So sadly, I’m going to have to very reluctantly let this one go.

If it got this far, you can rest assured that your story is of high quality and you should be able to find a home for it. I look forward to hearing from you again.

Better luck next time!

Drought’s Over

17 August 2011
Edoardo
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Categories: The Big Yes, Writing

After a long period of getting stories rejected – must be about four months now – ‘Julie and Mr Henderson’, a foray into chick lit that started off as a writing exercise has been accepted for publication. If you will just pardon me for a moment – wooohoooooooo!

Ah, that’s better. Normal service will now resume. Thank you for your patience.