The first thing to report is that Chapter One Promotions have been in contact. It was my first professional-ish phone call as ‘a writer’ and I have to say it was quite an experience. They apologised for the delay (they were moving office at the time) and we discussed what to do about my intentions to publish a version of the story. I’m glad I got to someone speak directly rather than go through a process of lengthy written correspondence as it meant we got to iron things out there and then and negotiate a solution.
The result is
that my story will be included as
part of the anthology. I wasn’t fully sure so it was nice to find out I’m going
to have my first piece of writing up in print! Making the anthology can be a
lengthy process though and I’ve been warned it could take up to two years to
see it. The knock on effect is that I’ve agreed to give them first publishing
rights. It makes sense, seeing as the competition was for previously
unpublished works. If I were to put the story up on my blog before they
produced the anthology it only takes one person to then read the anthology who’d
already previously read my blog to start asking validity questions that could
easier be avoided. Consequently it’ll be a while before you guys get to read
it. Sorry about that.
It was an
incredible feeling when I did eventually put the phone down. My heart beat was
crazy and I was proper light headed, I just sat there for a long, long time
trying to calm down! I think I managed to hold it together for the duration of
the call though! Hopefully!
In terms of
writing this month I’ve been going through a lengthy process of transferring my
notes from my Blackberry. I’m the kind of person who’ll whip out his phone and take
the note at the time inspiration strikes. You have no idea how many notes I’ve accumulated
over the two years I’ve had this phone, it’s unreal – at least I’ll never have
that problem of not having something to write about, I genuinely think I’ll die
before I get to use half of it. Now of course you might say I’m being an idiot,
and that I could just email it to myself or take the files off via usb, but you’d
be wrong. As I’ve entered the last month on my contract my Blackberry has
started to fall apart at a rate of knots and I’m basically losing functions by
the hour! It’s a miracle I can even use the notepad, it’s one of the only
programs that still opens without causing the phone to crash. Opening each file
and transferring it by hand is the only way. I’m sorry Alicia Keys, but
Blackberry? Never again.
Part of the
reason it’s taking so long though is my own fault, looking over old notes and
ideas causes one powerful nostalgic trip, from visually remembering the dreams
they came from to working out if they could be applicable to a current piece of
writing. I must look so dozy as I do it, sitting there all dream like, and it’s
definitely taking at least five times as long as it would anyone else. It’s
really quite enjoyable.
Then there was
a sad point this month to hear that James Herbert, author of ‘The Rats’ series
has passed away. When I was first getting back into reading he was one of the
first authors I took a liking too. If I ever write any good horror stories he’ll
be one of the reasons for it. His stories about David Ash, the paranormal
investigator, have had a direct influence on a series I plan to write myself (It’s
come from one of the ‘Three Words Post’ suggestions, see if you can guess which
one.) and have been my favourite of his works. Sleep easy fella.
Also this month
in non writing news I’ve been deep in training for the Bracknell Half-Marathon.
It was going really well until a few injury problems started to crop up and at
time of writing I’m not one hundred percent sure where I am. Injury has come at
a crucial time because the race is only two weeks away so I’m tapering and can’t
run the full distances. It’s all a bit of a mystery as to whether I’ll be able
to finish it in my target time so wish me luck. I only mention it of course
because I’m knackered and time writing has also coincided with time potentially
sleeping... I like an excuse me.
And finally I
got an email last night informing me that my Flash Fiction attempt didn’t make
the short list (there goes the one hundred percent record) so at least you will have something new to read! I’ll
be posting it on here May 1st so be sure to check back for that! Needless
to say I was pretty down about it, after all it was my first formal rejection,
but one man’s junk is another man’s treasure right? Hopefully a few of you may
enjoy it. I’m probably only so chirpy about it because I received a copy of the
contract from Chapter One Promotions this morning, which turned out to be a particularly
good remedy! Until next time, buh-bye!
__________
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