Finally Email Access and News on Publications

I am FINALLY back in my email account, after getting locked out on Tuesday! By the amount of postmaster failure messages I presume my account was hacked. I certainly haven’t sent any from that hotmail account since Monday. I had lots of emails and over 200 to sift through in the junk mail. In amongst all my emails I found two waiting for me that I was really excited to open!

I had 2 emails from recent submissions. One I made in February and the other sent earlier on in March.

Bitter sweet really, the periodical didn’t want to use the poems at this time, although they’ve encouraged continual submission, the others (From Feb.) were accepted for publication in a book, yeh!

First success of this year so far, hopefully the first of many!

  

Dusting the Crampons off Again

I spent Thursday evening carrying the book proposal in my head, instead of working on the laptop. I was tired and fell asleep at 6pm, I woke up about 7 and set an alarm for 9pm (to get up and write) I slept through the alarm. Waking up @ 10pm I had to make the decision stay (in bed) or go (get up & write)… I was still in my work clothes and hadn’t eaten so I got up. I couldn’t be bothered to cook I just ate some rice cakes and read a couple of articles to wake up fully.

Things (writing) have started invading now. I wanted it this way, I am not complaining. Some days (even with the schedule) I struggle to keep focus on 1 project at a time. My mind wanders onto other simultaneous writing ventures. I am scribbling lots of notes in an attempt to keep the mind track rolling in one direction.

 Again if any of you want to share your experience, tips or advice here, please do. Although I have recently read articles which suggest this is common for freelance writers as is the need to work on a range of writing at the same time. We are unlikely to have the pleasure of just working on one piece until it is completed and submitted.

I managed to complete a short writing time and also redraft the writing schedule for the weekend in detail. This will be the 1^st writing weekend in March as I have been too ill to manage not having some time off. (I still have lingering cold germs but not as bad as they were and besides my schedule is just to full to be ill this weekend!) I am working on 2 big projects with March deadlines and a few other submissions due before the end of the month. I need to make this weekend count.

Friday morning was a success… falling asleep at teatime yesterday certainly proved I needed to rest. My body was still in shut down mode this morning, sleeping through alarms and phone calls. I eventually woke up and after half an hour (breakfast & coffee) was at my laptop working on the proposal (proud of myself!) I have managed 1.5 hours and now need to get ready for work. I feel I have left it all in a good place to carry on with it this evening.

I lost some time working on the proposal Friday night, as I really wanted to see the programmes marking the closing of BBC Television Centre, so sad!

I was up bright and early (for me on a Saturday) to go and work on the life project, I think it went well and I was back and sitting behind my laptop by10a.m. I spent 2 hours researching and this afternoon I am hopefully adding lots of meat to my example chapter and reach may even reach completion! I can then edit and proof it all tomorrow before I make my next submission. Exciting! I am STILL locked out of my hotmail account (since Tues) I hope to have access to the writing I need by tomorrow.

 It is really cold today as it has snowed for the past 2 days (in March!!) the clocks go forward soon and I can’t believe I need to get my Wellies out of the car boot again! The rooftops are pretty with Christmas card snow, the main roads are clear at least but as I found out this morning the pavements are deeply covered and slippery.

I’m wrapped up warm as I sit in one position typing away at the keys, my trusted Slanket – or Slanky as I call it!

 

 

 

Matador Survey for Charity – Book Cover of 2012: Please take part

I know authors who have gone down the Self-publishing route – usually as a result of writing specialist books which just don’t have the commercial value of mass publication. Although it is not a route I am considering, I read about this survey and liked the opportunity to gift to charity just through a simple vote.

The following text is copied from the Matador site, please CLICK THE LINK to vote & support  Arthritis Research UK.

Thank -you

________________________________________________________________

Matador’s team of cover designers has been busy again in 2012! We want to recognise good cover design in self-published books, so we’d like you help us choose the best in-house cover design from one of our books.

Good cover design can make or break a book, so our designers aim to match a good cover to the correct book genre and produce something that forms a part of the book’s “brand”. All our book and ebook covers are designed in consultation with the author and our Marketing Department to give a book the best chance of commercial success in a crowded market.

We’ve selected our twelve favourite covers from titles newly published in 2012, but are throwing open the decision as to the best one to the public.

By voting in the survey you’ll be helping to raise money for Arthritis Research UK; when we reach 100 votes we’ll donate £100 to the charity. The author of the book with winning design will also receive a £25 book token.

If you would like to view other Matador book and ebook covers, please visit our online bookshop. Details of the self-publishing services we offer authors can also be found on our website.

Thank you for taking part!

http://freeonlinesurveys.com/app/rendersurvey.asp?sid=fbsxzqa7xs0s6bt173137&refer=