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Post by Shirley on Feb 7, 2007 23:33:56 GMT
They have some of the main tips from today's session up on the site alright. They wasted no time - fair play to them!
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Post by megan on Mar 4, 2007 19:47:16 GMT
I began working on my story for the competition today. It's not easy to write such a long one. I'm used to just 2,000 words. At the moment I am amalgamating three short stories on the same theme into one - a bit tricky and I may have to re-think this! So far not so good but I'm hoping I will get a breakthrough idea over the next few days. How are the rest of you coming along?
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Post by Shirley on Mar 4, 2007 19:57:08 GMT
Megan, mine is not coming along too well - my problem is the same as yours. The story I started to write was a snappy, twisty one that would work well as a short story of about 1,000 words, but I'm finding it isn't working when I have to flesh it out. The twist part seems to be getting lost when I extend the story. I'm actually thinking of just writing something completely different and just keeping this idea for a shorter competition, as I have another idea in my head at the moment that might be more suitable for Seoige and O'Shea. Time is ticking away though, so I'm freaked at the thought of starting a new one!
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Post by megan on Mar 6, 2007 14:01:10 GMT
Thanks for letting me know how you're getting on, Shirley. Mine is still a bit of a disaster but I shall plough on. I really want to get this story written! I have the last line of it, now I just need to work my way backwards!
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Post by susanmay on Mar 6, 2007 17:56:33 GMT
I could never write a short story over a 1,000 words!
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Post by megan on Mar 6, 2007 19:36:47 GMT
Why not Susan?
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Post by susanmay on Mar 6, 2007 19:41:58 GMT
I've just no patience. Always rushing to get it finished!
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Post by megan on Mar 6, 2007 19:54:43 GMT
What about four or five stories in a row - each with a different character linked in someway. That might work for you??
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Post by Shirley on Mar 6, 2007 20:00:23 GMT
That's good thinking, Megan! And you could have a twist of some sort at the end - you're excellent for the twists, Susan!
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Post by susanmay on Mar 6, 2007 20:06:04 GMT
Lol!
Good idea Megan. Maeve Binchy done took that approach with her last book.
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Post by megan on Mar 9, 2007 21:17:45 GMT
I'm still slogging away at this story. Are you, Shirley?
I've got to within the required amount of words, now I just have to put them in the right order and add a few new ones so that it makes sense!
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Post by Shirley on Mar 10, 2007 22:59:16 GMT
Yep!!!! It'll be a busy day tomorrow!!!
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Post by megan on Mar 11, 2007 16:31:24 GMT
I am on to the editing stage now - with the help of my wonderful mother. Best of luck Shirley. Wouldn't it be just fabulous if all us Irish Girls who enter got stories in together!
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Post by Shirley on Mar 11, 2007 16:33:45 GMT
It would be just fab! I'm still on the writing stage here - I am enjoying the story though. It's a brand new one - the other one I was writing just didn't suit a longer story.
And thanks for your good wishes Megan!
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Post by fionnuala on Mar 11, 2007 17:53:56 GMT
It would indeed be wonderful if we all ended up being published together Megan!
I sent my story in about three weeks ago but can empathise completely with you and Shirley when you say that you found it difficult to write within the required amount of words! I thought I would never make it and then ended up having to condense it at the end as I had too many!
It's hard when you're used writing novels to write a short story Patricia Scanlan said that on the very first day. My hat comes off to writers who write short stories all the time.
Fingers crossed girlies!! I hope some of us get recognised.
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Post by Shirley on Mar 11, 2007 18:43:37 GMT
Best of luck to you Fionnuala! It will be exciting (and excruciating!) for us to wait for the results! And even if we don't make it into the book, it's still good practice. That's what I'm telling myself anyway! I have the fingers pounded off myself here today, as I won't get a chance to finish it tomorrow or Tue due to work - my poor little fingers are like stubs at this stage! ;-)
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Post by fionnuala on Mar 11, 2007 19:17:57 GMT
Oh best of luck Shirley!! I remember what that was like! Your fingers will have plenty of time to recover once its in the post - believe me there's nothing like the sound of the envelope hitting the bottom of the letter box and you breathing a sigh of relief knowing that its finally completed and as you so rightly point out if it doesn't get anywhere the practice was good!! Let us know when its finished! x
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Post by megan on Mar 12, 2007 9:03:03 GMT
I can't wait until that posting stage Fionn! Mum and I were working on the editing until after 10 p.m. last night. I will print it out again today and go through it ONE LAST time - I hope! It's worth it though, and if we don't get into this book we can hopefully use it for other long, short story competitions! I love that there are a few of us entering together - great comeradery!
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Post by Eve on Mar 12, 2007 10:17:29 GMT
good luck girls! You've all worked so hard you deserve loads of success! Somebody should publish a book of stories written by the Write on girls, wouldn't it be brill?
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Post by Mary on Mar 12, 2007 12:36:01 GMT
Best of luck to everyone.........let's hope writeon girls will get loads of slots in comp! Mary
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Post by fionnuala on Mar 12, 2007 12:39:05 GMT
Now that is an idea that I like Eve!! There are enough member's short stories on the web to already fill a book! Somebody should seriously look into that - it would be a great way of advertising the site and giving it the recognition it deserves as an aid to women writer's!!
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Post by claire on Mar 12, 2007 13:13:19 GMT
- the other one I was writing just didn't suit a longer story. any chance of you putting it up on the site. We haven't had a new one for ages
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Post by Shirley on Mar 12, 2007 21:08:42 GMT
I didn't finish the shorter story Claire because I knew it just wasn't going to work out for this comp - I have to write an ending to it, and even though I know what the ending is (because that's the twist), I had to abandon it to write my current short story for the comp. I'm just editing it now to send it off tomorrow morning!
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Post by claire on Mar 12, 2007 21:10:06 GMT
well if you finish it would you please put it up
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Post by megan on Mar 13, 2007 14:08:57 GMT
Am off to post my story now - at last! Then I shall treat myself to a slap-up lunch!
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Post by fionnuala on Mar 13, 2007 21:08:48 GMT
Good luck everyone! Can't wait to see Seoige and O'Shea tomorrow!
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Post by megan on Mar 14, 2007 15:50:19 GMT
The deadline for this competition has been extended to March 15th. I hope that helps Shirley out but I am a bit put out - I wouldn't have spent extra money on Swift post yesterday if I'd known.
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Post by megan on Mar 14, 2007 16:45:00 GMT
I've just realised that March 15 is THIS Friday (I thought it was Friday next week) So that is Okay and fair enough. Not narky now.
Ciare Conisdine from Hodder Headline is one of the judges. Does anyoneknow who else is judging this?
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Post by Shirley on Mar 14, 2007 20:31:27 GMT
Well, I finally got mine done and sent off today (by Swift Post too!).
No idea about the other judges - would be really interested in finding out though!
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Post by Oonagh on Mar 14, 2007 21:13:55 GMT
i wonder is she any relation to me??
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