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I've been creative writing all my life, though with various haitus(es) along the way. IFrom 2010 I started this blog and enjoyed sharing writing and other information with everyone. illness and bereavement supplied the more recent hiatus.

Thursday 17 February 2011

Writing Etiquette


Hello to all my new followers and Hi to all my established followers.
Do leave a comment to tell us something about yourself and your writing.

  
Okay so my Away Day post told you I was attending a writing course on Saturday.

I absolutely loved it!  Della was lovely too.

The course was primarily a chance to find out how to get published in the Womag Short Story Market, although we did also discuss novels.

The course covered:
Of course you would need to attend Della Galton’s Workshop to find out more about it all. Or buy her book:

Apparently my editor’s letter was ‘a better class of rejection’ which was interesting.
I can tell you that the Bad Luck option is where you've sent in a story that has the same theme as so many others they've had that they won't publish any more of them for now.



All the ladies attending were of an equivalent standard to me, which was wonderful (because I once attended a writing group where competitiveness and jealously created lots of problems)

We each read out a 1400-2000 manuscript for critiquing. It was all very positive and helpful and I only wish I lived near enough to attend her regular weekly workshops. I got some great feedback on a short story I've already submitted that will need reworking! 

Also she advised us not to bombard editors with several MS's all at once because they can at best only publish a couple of your pieces twice a year and may then just chose a couple and send the rest right back to you. 


BTW Della said she'd happily arrange courses in other parts of the UK if there was a demand. Would you be interested?
Posted by scribbleandedit.blogspot.co.uk at 07:00

14 comments:

  1. Lindsay N. Currie17 February 2011 at 12:49

    I would LOVE to go to a conference, class or retreat sometime in 2011. I keep telling myself that if I get an agent, I'll treat myself:) Lovely blog BTW, I'm a new follower.

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  2. Old Kitty17 February 2011 at 13:22

    I have now put Ms Dalton's book on my TBR asap!!! This course sounds like it was so so helpful - thanks for sharing your experiences here!!! Gosh - reading out my story would have scared me lifeless though!!! Well done you! take care
    x

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  3. Margo Benson17 February 2011 at 13:32

    Thanks for sharing - I'd love to go to a writers workshop. I don't mind reading my work aloud, it really gives another dimension to the work. Happy to see you feeling better today.

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  4. Maria Zannini17 February 2011 at 16:06

    I'm so glad your group was a good one. Every once in a while I fall into one where there are too many big egos in the room.

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  5. Stina17 February 2011 at 16:45

    This sounds like a great workshop.

    I'm not into short stories (I love novels), but this is something a friend of mine would benefit from (though I loved her last SS I critted). Too bad she doesn't live in the UK. ;)

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  6. Janet Johnson17 February 2011 at 17:07

    Sounds like a great workshop! Love to get instructive feedback on my work. Best of luck with your story!

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  7. Hilary Melton-Butcher17 February 2011 at 17:57

    Hi Madeleine .. great that it was so helpful as well as fun and as you say when people are selfish it's a pain .. so also finding everyone was mixing and matching - must have been good news indeed. Cheers Hilary

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  8. Megan K. Bickel17 February 2011 at 19:29

    Oh that sounds very interesting! I hope to graduate to short stories for women someday. But I figured I better focus on one genre for a while. : )

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  9. The Blogger Formerly Known As17 February 2011 at 20:43

    Great, Madeleine, I’m glad it went well. I’ve been looking forward to hearing all about it.

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  10. Susan Fields17 February 2011 at 21:24

    I'm glad you had a great experience at the conference and you didn't have to deal with competitives and jealousy - what a downer that would be!

    I'm a fellow group 8 crusader, just stopping by to say "hi!"

    ReplyDelete
  11. Dominic de Mattos17 February 2011 at 23:38

    I wonder how many men write for womags!

    I think I'd better stick to SF/F mags for now, although no doubt the same reasons for rejection apply.

    So glad you enjoyed the course. Hope you are feeling better now

    :Dom

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  12. Susanna Leonard Hill18 February 2011 at 00:49

    Glad you had a good experience! I had to laugh at your "better class of rejection letter" - I wrote a post on levels of rejection on January 28 - after I got three in one day!

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  13. Cathy19 February 2011 at 00:59

    Hi fellow Crusader, stopping by to follow. I'm glad it was a good conference!

    ReplyDelete
  14. scribbleandedit.blogspot.co.uk20 February 2011 at 13:40

    Dom you asked; I wonder how many men write for womags!

    My answer: More than we may actually think. Della mentioned that some men do write short stories for womags. :O)

    ReplyDelete

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