Persuaded by writer friends that I should try writing a blog- and if I didn't like it I could always delete it- it was with a big amount of trepidation that in September 2010, I set up Carol's Corner.
The appearance of my blog has undergone a few changes, and I'm going to be looking at adjusting a few minor things soon, but my blog will continue to be a mixed bag: my writing and research, my travels, along with book related news, and competitions of course.
I won't be changing the wallpaper either as I really like it. :D
Over the years my writing life has undergone a number of changes too.
Quite a few of my writing plans got disrupted by the accident I had just over three years ago, and it has resulted in my slowing down and re-evaluating how I'm going to handle my work-load in future.
I'm not going to say I'd never try for a publishing contract, but for the moment self-publishing is going to be my likely course.
I know it's a lot of work, but at least I'm in control and as anyone who knows me will tell you, I get a little bit edgy when I see stuff going wrong, but I can't do anything about it.
So, in these past four years:
- I've won a couple of the annual competitions at the writers' club; most importantly the Romance Novel trophy, and in January this year, the Writer of the Year trophy to add to earlier successes: the Manuscript of the Year (a 250 word story voted by the audience on the competition night) and The Little Moe trophy for a Drama.
- Four of my very short stories- 200 words each- originally written for the One Word Challenge competition on the Writers Online,Talkback forum- were published by small publisher Alfie Dog Fiction, in the 'One Word Anthology' as both an e-book, and a paperback via Amazon's Createspace.
- I launched the existence of my pseudonym, Serena Lake.
- I've read some of my short stories and flash fiction in front of the public at the Lowdham Book Festival's 'Fringe at The Ship' event.
- A few months ago I heard that my short, 'A Tight Squeeze', will be in 'The Best of Cafe Lit 2014'.
- I have the first draft of my historical romance novella completed.
- A synopsis and first three chapters for my Dorset novel.
- And the current WIP which is a contemporary romance, which I will eventually self publish.
- Numerous other ideas, characters and notes for further stories.
- I've found what works for me- at the moment.
- I've been Chairman of my local writers' club- my three year term finishes in April 2015.
Best of all I've made new friendships both personally and professionally- thank you all. :)
So what are my plans for the rest of 2014 and into 2015?
'Just keep writing' is going to be my motto.
I've found life tends to throw curve-balls when I make too definite plans, so I'm going to be flexible and take up the challenges as they approach, and aim for getting one of my projects published sometime next year...
I hope you'll continue to pop in and read my posts- I'm certainly intending to read more blog posts by others too.
So do continue to leave comments as it's good to know you're there.
Meanwhile, full steam ahead... :D
12 comments:
Congratulations on all your achievements, Carol! :)
marion
Thanks Seaview.
And thanks to you for the wonderful cover of the One Word Anthology you created. :)
You've certainly had a lot of achievements since you started your blog Carole.
Thanks, Wendy.
It's surprising how many individual events add up when I look back. :)
What a lovely idea to look back like this, Carol. I'm very glad you were persuaded to start a blog. Congratulations on your achievements :-) x
Thank you, Teresa. :-)
I'm amazed at how much I have actually done, and I think it's only when you actually stop and think about it, you realise how much has been achieved. Mine have mostly come about since I began blogging.
You work extremely hard to make Nottingham Writers' Club the success that it is. I don't know where you get the energy from. Well done in all your achievements and good luck with the future projects.
Well done on all those achievements, Carol - I've enjoyed reading your blog over the years. If you wanted to try a small independent publisher with your novella, let me know and I'll suggest some you could approach. Otherwise, all the best with doing it yourself - I can understand your wish to keep control!
Thanks for the kind words, Keith, but I get a lot of support from a number of NWC members- including you- which does help a lot.
I hope you'll look and see how much you've also achieved over the past years too. :)
Thanks, Rosemary, and when I'm nearer completing the projects and have a better idea of their publishing potential, I'll take you up on your kind offer. :)
You've done well, Carol, not least because you also keep a maternal eye on TB. Self publishing will have to be my route too, I suspect, but not till I'm back in the UK.
The achievements you list are wonderful! I know that part of writing is the enjoyment we get from it, but it's also lovely to be validated 'independently' and your various awards are something to be really proud of. I agree that when you make plans, life itself often decides to completely ignore them. It can be hard to adjust when a major event causes your life to not go the way you planned it but finding the best way to make the new situation work for you seems the best, and perhaps healthiest, way to go. It's not that we are letting go of our original dreams, more that we are just adjusting them a little. Thank you for continuing your blog, and keeping us all up to date and inspired, as well as your frequent comments on my own. As you say, it's good to know someone is out there! Good luck with everything and I look forward to reading many more posts :)
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