Writing stuff *EDIT* in OD

So, I’ve got a contact for the police part of the research for my crime novel. Which is good. (It’s not actually anyone in Cleveland Police though, interestingly enough.) She’s read the synopsis and already flagged up one problem I genuinely hadn’t actually thought of. I’m emailing her a list of questions later.

I’ve also submitted the first 3000 words of the novel for the New Writers North Northern Promise award. They offer support and possible financial help. I know they got my submission in time, so I will hear if they are going to help me at the begining of July. So, it’s time to cross those fingers and pray to the deity of your choice.

Also, if I am sucessful with this, I have to attend two launch nights in Newcastle and one in London, where, as far as I can remember, I will be reading. So, not so much with the looking forward to that. I hate reading stuff out on front of a large crowd. Might have to see if I can get some friendly faces for those ones.

I’m also entering a competition that I entered last year and just found out about two weeks ago. I was thinking of leaving it, but I came up with what I thought was a really strong idea for it, so I’m hoping to get that finished today, edited tomorrow so I can submit it before the deadline midday Sunday.

There’s also a competition being run in a local newspaper for a story about an iconic person, place or building. After asking some friends for their ideas about where I should write about, I have a couple of good ideas for that one. I have to admit though, seeing as the winner gets and iPad and the runner up will win either vouchers or a cash prize, not sure I actually want to win. Depends on where the vouchers are for, I suppose.

And there is the one I found on facebook today. It’s for something called Machine of Death and the starting point for all the stories is that there is a machine that can tell you how you’re going to die by testing your blood. You know I love the idea of that. If accepted, I’ll get $200, which is cool but not as much as actually getting published. I’m starting to form ideas for that one but have some time before it has to go in.

So, between all that, Year of Creativity, my creative writing class and my stuff for The Terrible Zodin I’m writing a lot at the moment (but possibly not as much as I should be). I’ve decided it’s time to stop pissing about and actually get proactive about my writing.

Wish me luck.

Will

*EDIT*

Just found out that the newspaper that’s going to be printing parts of one of my book reviews is going to start printing short stories on a Saturday. Great thing is because it’s an ongoing thing, there’s no deadline. Bad news is that I’ll have to watch the language.

Thing is, I’m not sure if I should email and ask if I can submit more than one story at a time or if I should wait to hear about one story and then submit another.

Fuck it. I have something else I need to ask them anyway, so I’ll ask now.

Will