Maybe I am a writer ????

I'm still in shock. Received an e-mail telling me my flash-fiction 'Penitence' is going to be published in the NFFD 2013 Anthology http://t.co/CHB04FRHBD and my other story 'Salsa' is shortlisted for 1000words flash-fiction competition http://t.co/NByphFs3r7

It's all happening now I've turned sixty :)

99words published another one of my little tales 'Vanity' on their new site  http://t.co/MnOANddZJi
Had a couple of nice encouraging comments.

Vanity 

“I didn’t hear any of that. Did you Betty?”

I shook my head. My hearing wasn’t as sharp as it used to be.

I was too vain to ask the Doctor to speak up. George was too vain to wear his hearing aids. 

“Do you think it was bad?”

I shook my head. He looked alright. He still made me mad with his forgetfulness and whinging on about his aches and pains. I always thought I was going to be a merry widow but he’d see me out for sure.   

We both missed the Doctor saying it was terminal.

 

 

 

My friend Tessa always asks is it a happy story? Sorry Tess this one isn't .... but Salsa and Penitence both are. :) 

How Old?

On Friday, the last day of May I will enter my sixties. I'm feeling uneasy, why I don't know? I have never before bothered about the big '0' birthdays apart from when I was about to be twenty and I would never be a teenager again. Then, I shed tears.

Is it because the majority of my life is behind me? God willing I might have a good 30 years in front of me, both my parents are 87 and only now are they showing signs of age. I have been reminded that I should count myself lucky to get to this age, many people don't.

So on Friday I will wake in Brighton, enjoy a hearty breakfast in the hotel, walk on the pier, shop in the Lanes, people watch in the cafes. Speak on the phone to my son in Poland, my daughter and grandson here in the Midlands and look forward to my next big 0 birthday. The next ten years I promise myself will be as interesting as the last thirty.  

Walking to Work

Wow... I'm thrilled, my story Walking to Work has been long listed for the WoWfest http://t.co/naiCbqhuN9 .... Twenty stories will be whittled down to ten on Wednesday evening, 8th May 2013 and will be read on the night and the winner announced. Unfortunately as the evening happens in Liverpool and I live in the Midlands I wont be able to attend. It will be a great night I'm sure and I'm sad to miss it. If I am short-listed I hope someone will read it for me :)

I'll let you know the winner as soon as I know. Good luck to the other nineteen Long-Lister's.

Not a winner but they want my Flash-Fiction

Nice surprise in my e-mail box this morning. I'd entered a flash-fiction competition and already knew I hadn't been placed. But they want to publish my little 99 words on their new social network site which they hope should be up and running in May. I'm so thrilled when any of my little tales are thought worthy of being published. When its online I'll post a link.

My friend Tessa keeps saying "Please write a happy story". Sorry Tessa this one isn't a happy one either :)

FlashFlood: 'T-Shirts' by Stella Turner

FlashFlood: 'T-Shirts' by Stella Turner: When he needed luck he would always wear his Jack Daniels T-shirt. For university exams, his first job interview, making love to her. She’...

Rejection

Had a nice rejection e-mail this morning. Sent off a tiny flash fiction which wasn't suitable but was told "I like it but it doesn't feel quite polished" I can see my good friend Sal nodding sagely. I just don't edit enough. I write, think its brilliant, send it off, sometimes it works but mostly it doesn't. 3pm on Friday my flash-fiction 'T-Shirts' will be on http://t.co/BQis59Hrag . That one has been re-jigged a little after sending it off to a previous competition.

Initially I was going to delete that e-mail but then thought no. So I printed it off to go into my writing portfolio. It was good advice that one sentence. I need to polish my words till they shine bright.  Thank you Mr Zero.

Great week for my flash fiction

This week I found out my flash fiction Food  was long listed in the Fish publishing flash fiction competition. It's a great competition to win as the prize is 1000 euros! I've been long listed for the last two years. I'm hoping next year I'll write something that might get short listed. So I need to keep writing, editing and sending my stories off. Also on Wednesday my 75 word story Sharp Scissors was featured on Paragraph Planet.

I'm thinking now where to send Food next? I think its a good story. Have a few more things out there been considered in competitions. Love it when results are announced and for a split second I think I'm in with a chance. :)