Writing endeavours

Well I am underway with the start of my fiction writing.  But where is my faith?  I read a few completed paragraphs to hubby and he says he likes it - does he or is he just saying that so he can go back to reading his book?  I have tried to show and not tell, but is the quality good enough to send off as a submission to a competition?  I want to take my work to open mic at my writers group, but what if they all think it's crap?  They won't tell me-will they?  No, I think they will just say - thanks Meredith and quickly move on to the next reading which is sure to reinforce the very reason why I am having reservations right now. 
I have even gone to the length of buying the latest editions of some anthology's I aspire to submit to.  This was in hope that I would gain a better appreciation of the style and quality of writing.  I read some stories, in particular the winning entries- there great, no question; can I do better - probably not with a big PROBABLY NOT!  Then I read some other stories, some good, some a bit out there and they lose me, or I lose them, I'm not sure.  Then I read some more, keeping the rules of writing in the back of my mind.  What voice or point of view would be best to tell my story, have I chosen the right voice?  And hang on I don't have any conflict in my story - what!  What conflict?  And dialogue; can't I write a story without dialogue? Would that still be okay, after all the story still moves in pace?
So now I don't know if my story sucks or not.  And I have just finished reading an article from the latest Writing magazine which tells me if I publish my story on-line for you all to comment on, then I can't submit it for any competitions, because quite simply I have already published it?
What should I do?  A little help please!

Project list

I have started the year off as I intended.  Although I am quite happy in having sent my first submisssion for the year off, I am not too sure what will come of it.  Unfortunately the timing of my submission couldn't have been any worse, as my submission was to the Capital City of Brisbane, and as we are all very aware, the devastating blow and affects that part of our wonderful country have just endured could put an indefinite holt on this planned anthology.  

I send my heart-felt sympathy to all those affected in Queensland and hope as a nation everyone will get passed the heartache they are experiencing.  As a Victorian and seen the recent flood waters hit parts of our own state (including local regions), the sight of flood waters certainly brought with it the reality that those in Queensland experienced ten fold.

                                                         HERE'S TO BRIGHTER DAYS!            

Breathe by Tim Winton

I have to make it known that I have fallen in love with Tim Winton's writing.  My introduction to his world of writing was 'Cloudstreet,' were I found myself lost in the lives of the Pickles and  Lambs.  His wit in charactisation is just out of this world; or more accuractly so much within this world.

Having just read 'Breathe,' I once again was absorbed in the lives of Pikelet, Sando, Loonie and Eva. 
I have become a Tim Winton follower if you may; now having brought his compilation of short stories 'The Turning.'  Don't we wish we too could be so talented in crafting stories so close to home; so realistic and fulfilling that you just wish the story will never end?  Here's the beginning to my short story writing I think.

Back on track

Yes, I am back on track.  I have to admit I did fall off the wagon for a short time there, and probably due to that terrible first rejection thing, but hey, we all must move on and persist after all we are writers.
I have to confess I didn't even scratch the surface towards the NaNoWriMo.  Foolishly I thought I could whip up some 50,000 words out of nowhere, and you guessed it I couldn't, or for a better reason I just didn't get motivated to do so.  Bad timing is my excuse and I am going to stick to that.  Anyway, I am now going to pursue my writing projects and complete some of the anthologies I am keen on submitting.

First Rejection!

Yes, I am dissappointed to say that my manuscript has returned following an enduring 5 months of waiting to hear a verdict. 
I have to add that although the manuscript was eventually turned down, the publisher did find merit in the concept and did intitially show interest, asking for additional information in supporting the marketing of the book. 
Unfortunately, for me of course, the publisher needed to tap into a concept which would have a larger audience.
So all is not lost; my idea is still sound, I just need to grab the right publisher which can afford to take on a concept that perhaps doesn't target the largest of audiences.  In my opinion I believe my concept would address enough interest to warrent publishing.  Now my job is to seek and send once again.

All Aboard the NaNoWriMo!

Well here's a challenge!  We all need a little push from time to time and so here it is, and if we all weren't already under enough pressure with Christmas just around the corner along with all those other writing commitments. However, I feel I would be cheating if I didn't give this a go at least.

Yes I know, I can hear my husband say I must have rocks in my head, but hey I've joined anyway.

With less than 30 days I need to produce a 50,000 word draft for a novel.  Any ideas? Only kidding!

The lucky thing is it can be crap.  Not that I like writing crap, but fortunately for me I don't have to be to hung-up on grammer, punctuation and spelling - although I don't know about anyone else, but I hate red words appearing amongst my writing, it becomes a bit distracting and off-putting.

Interested:   Visit http://www.nanowrimo.org/ and get started.

Lucky!

It's really funny I post this message to you.  Only a few days ago I was congratulating my friend Tracee of farmgatecreations.blogspot.com for her win, and then out of nowhere I recieve this parcel in the mail.  At first I thought it might have been something from a  publisher I have been waiting with baited breath on - but don't get too excited it wasn't.  What it was however was a book pack valued at $155, after winning an online competition with Nurofen for children.  Books from Beatrix Potter, Peter Rabbit to Roald Dahl; a great surprise.