For those who have little idea what I'm about, I'm in my fifties with three grown-up children, who are all really incredible in their own ways. I'm also lucky enough to have two amazing grandsons. Since 1994, I've been writing fiction for a number of UK women's magazines (Take a Break, Bella, The People's Friend and My Weekly). I have always concentrated mostly on DC Thomson because they publish more fiction than other magazines (PF and MW). They were wonderful when I first started writing. Always so patient and encouraging, despite what I originally sent them being so dire! Nowadays, MW only accept manuscripts from their pool of regular writers, but PF still accept submissions from new writers. Here's a link to a very useful webpage which explains required story lengths, etc, for anyone who's interested. https://www.thepeoplesfriend.co.uk/2019/01/14/peoples-friend-fiction-by-numbers/ The page links to other pages which are treasure-troves of advice and ideas.
It's been a busy week writing-wise. I've sent two new stories to The People's Friend, and refreshed an old story and sent that too. It was rejected by MW about six months ago, but experience has taught me that you can often alter the length for another magazine and retry. They don't always sell, of course. Sometimes there is an inherent flaw with it that I've overlooked, or perhaps it just doesn't work that well, but sometimes it's just that they have recently bought something with a similar theme, or it's just a subjective decision by one editor - another might love it.
I have another complete story idea, too...I just need to write it. In addition, I've just received a part-rejection via email as I write - a previously-submitted story is a bit too long and needs a few changes. If I can get the changes right and cut it well enough, I can resubmit and keep my fingers crossed. So plenty to do this week before I go away on Saturday to visit my sister and go to a dear friend's mother's funeral on the 16th. It's such a relief to be writing as I've barely done anything for months. I have arthritis in both thumbs, the right one being the worst, so I think my brain was trying to avoid the pain for me. I was struggling to type at all. My first steroid injection was in the summer of 2021, which worked but eventually wore off. I had another injection last September but it had absolutely no impact. Then I had another one in November and, thank goodness, it seems to be working. I can feel the pain now as I type, but it's nothing compared to what it was. It will wear off, of course, so I need to make the most of it right now.
I thought I'd include a few photos. The older ones, Take a Break, Bella etc, are in the depths of the loft somewhere in boxes. Over the years, I think I've sold approximately 200 short stories, won a few competitions and had a pocket novel published with MW. I then sold this on to a large print company and it went into libraries. I'm seriously thinking about attempting to write something for Mills&Boon because that's basically what Secret Santa was. Perhaps I can sell Secret Santa to them as well one day as I now have the copyright back, but you have to sell Mills&Boon something new first. Like DC Thomson, they are very good to their writers and can provide you with a great writing career if you break through.
I'm sure I've bored you enough for today. Apologies that it's not as funny as the first blog post. Tasha has now returned to university and so you're stuck with me. :-) (PS In case you're confused by the pocket novel by-line, Anne Ryan was my pen-name because it was my name before I was adopted).
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