Serials

Gaynor Davies has emailed that she is actively looking for serials and although it is something I have not tried, I have sent her a proposal. I intend to re-work a story I sent to Maggie Seed that she turned down. It will be a new discipline for me and I don't know exactly what to expect but I was thinking of having a go before her email.

A while ago I was approached by People's Friend to write a serial. I did a lot of work on my proposal but eventually it was turned down. I did however, go on to sell the story to My Weekly as a pocket novel, so the hard work wasn't wasted.

I feel to have a serial accepted would raise one's profile as a writer and help significantly with plotting techniques, characterisation and things like cliff hangars which you don't necessarily need in a pocket novel. If I get the go ahead I think it will stretch my writing muscle.

I know we have some serial writers amongst our numbers and wondered what are their thoughts on this one. What do those of you, who like me have never had one published, think? Or those with experience? I feel it's a good subject for debate.

Lord Rivenhall Returns – which cover works best?

The Return of Lord Rivenhall was the very first novella I sold to My Weekly Pocket Novel, this was back in 2005. I have since sold another fourteen books to DC Thompson. I have just republished this as, Lord Rivenhall Returns, with another wonderful cover by Jane Dixon-Smith. I have slightly altered the title to fit in with a series of six Lord and Lady books – the second is called, Lady Charlotte's Deception, and this should be out at the end of November

Lord Rivenhall Returns was also the first book I sold to Linford – they have taken all my pocket novels and had ten full-length books as well. Although we don't get paid very much by DC Thomson,the fact that the books can be recycled makes them well worth doing. I also had this title with Regency Reads for several years.

If you were asked to rank the covers in order of preference I wonder which one you would put first – I would rank the Jane Dixon-Smith first: Linford second: Regency Reads third and the My Weekly pocket Novel last. Although this is not the worst cover I've had from them, and the more recent ones have been a lot better. Fenella J Miller

LOVING LUCY on sale

Good news everyone. LOVING LUCY Kindle edition is on sale @ Amazon for 99 cents until 23 October so jump in and get your cheap copy while you can.

 



The Pain of Writing

And I don't mean the mental anguish when often accompanies good writing when trying to get one's plot off the ground or attempting to create the perfect prose.

I'm talking about back and shoulder pain, numb bum syndrome and, more seriously,the joint and muscle aches that can be a warning of Repetitive Strain Injury. 

It's incredibly easy to get wrapped up in writing at the computer without taking breaks. I have in the past had to resort to voice software to be able to write, both for pleasure at home and to do my day job. Through a mixture of extended exercises and physio I've been able to use a keyboard again for quite some while but in the last few weeks I've felt elbow and knuckle pains and have dug out my 'Dragon' software just in case.

What I try to do is have a break every hour from the screen and walk about the house vigorously swinging my arms or doing my stretches. A bit of housework in between writing bursts is also good - it has to be done anyway so why not work it into your health regime!  I also try to have a walk at lunchtime - both on my 'proper' working days and on my writing days.

Does anyone else have any tips on staying fit and healthy as an author? I'm always glad to try new ways to stave off any problems.

To Tweet or Not to Tweet?

That is the question! If you’re a regular tweeter (or is it twitterer?) I have to make my apologies in advance. I’m not a regular ... far from it but on the insistence of one of my publishers, I decided to become a tweeter. Well, I’m saying that but I’m not very successful at it. Apart from the tweets about my new book and odd other messages I’ve put out, I simply don’t know what to say. I can’t think of anything that will remotely interest my ‘followers’. I can’t bear to tell the world I’m making coffee now or maybe mention my family. "I’ve just picked some tomatoes from my greenhouse." Anyone interested? " Caterpillars have ruined the Brussel sprouts." No?

Add to all this, I can’t actually sign in to my account. I’ve got password and everything but it keeps saying nothing is recognised. I’ve discovered Tweetdeck and I can sign into that. When it works, I make some peculiar comment and feel very proud of myself. Ha, I can do all this! I’m part of the modern world.

Then I forget it for a while and revert to my private self. Can’t believe anyone reads it anyway. Why bother with it all? I’d rather be writing anyway and leave all this promotion to anyone who’ll do it.

But then, someone, somewhere may read and reply to a twitter (or do I mean a tweet?) I might even sell a book because I tweeted (or twittered). I’m just not sure if it’s worth it.

Then of course there’s Facebook. Haven’t even looked at that particular can of worms. I evidently have a Facebook page from the days when my granddaughter asked me to be her friend. Of course I’d do that. I even sent her a message and someone faraway sent me a message saying she felt exactly the same. I thought I was replying to my granddaughter and not to the world. The private button or something should have been pressed.

Oh dear, it’s all too much for me. I need to retire to a darkened room and lie down for a while.