More than Writers

  Two weeks ago (17 May), I was at the Zoom ACW event on ‘How To Get Your Book Published’.   Our speakers included Nicki Copeland (Instant Apostle), Amy Scott Robinson (Kevin Mayhew), Natasha Woodcraft (Broad Place Publishing) and authors Rachel Knowles (Christian historical fiction), Wendy H Jones (author in several genres)… and many others.   At the Writers Day we were provided with a very useful all-round refresher about the publishing industry:  traditional; hybrid; self-publishing… and also the dreaded vanity publishing and how to spot a vanity publisher. We writers learn a lot from each other and what I appreciated at that event was seeing and hearing speakers speaking, not exactly in the flesh, but in real time through our computer screens – and answering questions.   To keep in touch with my fellow writers at other times, I follow several writing blogs/newsletters.   At one time I followed a lot more, but I came to find much of the advice giv...

  At least Goldie is calm and has a clear head... It’s my son’s birthday, the last one before he is a teenager as well. Life has been ‘interesting’, my favourite English word that covers all kinds. I thrive on chaos and slight madness, but the last months have taught me that there is a level of chaos where I no longer thrive, or even do fine. Writing has been extremely sporadic, and on a need-to-do basis, like this blog, which is like a little oasis, to be honest! When I do sit and write, I realise how cleansing and healing it is, determined to do it more often, but through the madness, weeks will go by before starting my laptop again… But there’s light at the end of the tunnel. Therapy has been applied for, school places have been granted, support is being lined up. And my mind is slowly emptying of excess chaos, and for the first time in ages I found myself reading books again, and buying books… Headspace is in very short supply as is energy, and some days, the idea of ha...

Image Credits:  Images created in Book Brush using Pixabay images. As well as writing flash fiction, I wear a non-fiction hat too. I write for two online magazines ( Chandler’s Ford Today where I have a weekly column and Writers’ Narrative , where I contribute monthly). Online magazines are another way of getting your work out there.  As with any publication, you should know your intended audience. Writers’ Narrative is written by writers for writers. Other online outlets like Chandler’s Ford Today have different columnists, so when you come across a magazine like this, look at the columns that most interest you. This will show you what the online magazine thinks its market is. My column is aimed at other writers (though there is a gardening column, a local history one and so on here). Can you write something which would fit in with the chosen online magazine? Could you produce work for them regularly? Consistency matters. You need to consider presentation. Huge blocks of t...

  TIME TO SAY GOODBYE by Olusola Sophia Anyanwu This month, I say goodbye to MTW blogging. I also retire in July. It has been God’s grace upon my life, both as a blogger (with 49 posts over 4.5 years) and an educator (with 23 years of experience) in the UK. Where did the inspiration and strength all come from?  Thank You so much, Papa God. When I retire fully, I hope to give quality time to my writing career. I say a big THANK YOU to everyone who read or dropped their comments on FB or on the blog. Thank you so much.  I’m sure, too, that I’m not the only one who eagerly checks to see the number of engagements their post attracts both on Facebook and the blog. Self-evaluation. Below is a table showing my best MTW post each year!  It makes me wonder what attracts readers to our post. Is it the title, the topic, the blogger or what?   YEAR POST ENGAGEMENT VIEW COUNT POSITION Nov 28, 2021 SMIL...