Friday 16 August 2013

Here comes the weekend!

Let's celebrate the small things with VikLit and Co. Details here. I'm celebrating:
  • A four-day week because I was away in Chester and didn't come home until Monday
  • Managing to get all my work done on time
  • A nice email from someone who'd read something I'd written and enjoyed it
  • Live music: off to another house concert this evening
  • Family: off to Staffordshire in the morning for the gathering of the clans
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Just had this from the mumsnet academy (who knew there was such a thing). Haven't explored it: might be worth a look,might not.

Looking to take your writing to the next level, and perhaps even make a living from it? Then do check out MN Academy’s Starting Out As A Freelance Writer course, which is designed to help kickstart your writing career. Joanna Moorhead, who freelances for the Guardian, the Independent, Good Housekeeping and more, will guide you through the entire process - from coming up with sellable ideas, to working out your market, to the somewhat scary prospect of pitching to commissioning editors.

Or, if you think you’ve got a novel in you but find yourself blocked when you sit down to write, do have a look at MN Academy’s Start Writing course. It's a 2-day workshop course, held at MN Towers, and is led by best-selling authors Esther Freud and Raffaela Barker. They'll help you find your authorial voice - offering tips on character creation, marking out a plot line and creating a convincing story - in the supportive and collaborative company of other aspiring writers and journos.
Incidentally, am I the only person who HATES the use of 'looking to' (see above). 'Are you looking to take your writing to the next level?' No. Am I wanting to? YES. Grrr.

13 comments:

  1. One could have fun with that advertisement. They aren't very clear on who is doing the 'looking to', you know. Perhaps they're saying that THEY are looking to take your writing... Or your next door neighbor... Most imprecise (and I needed the chuckle!) Have fun with the Gathering of your Clans, and congratulations on a productive (and short!) week.

    Diana at Diana Wilder – About Myself, by Myself

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    1. Thanks, Diana. I'm to the 50th wedding anniversary do of someone who is (I think) a cousin on my maternal grandfather's side. Not sure! I'm going as my mum's plus-one.

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  2. It's always worth celebrating getting one's work done on time. =) And how amazing it must have felt to receive a nice email from that person who read your work and enjoyed it.

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  3. An email from a fan, how lovely. Enjoy your family get together.

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  4. You obviously haven't enough to worry about !!

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  5. 'Looking to' always sounds so fusty.... It really irks me too!

    Sounds like you have some fun things to celebrate this week.

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  6. MJ,Suzanne, Tim and Kate: thanks for your comments.

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  7. Sounds like you've had a great week, glad you got your work done on time :)

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  8. Your week sounds really busy and really fun. I hope you had a good time at the concert and that you'll enjoy the visit to Staffordshire. :-)

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  9. Hurrah to feedback from somebody who enjoyed your writing - and to live music. Enjoy!

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  10. Laura, Lexa and Vikki, thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment. I've had a lovely weekend - don't feel a bit like work this morning.

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  11. Four day weekends are the best. Thanks for posting the links, the courses sound cool.

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    1. Let me know if you sign up for any courses. Thanks for stopping by.

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