The Mail on Sunday Novel Competition results were published last Sunday (thanks to Viv on the Talkback forum for the list) and congratulations to the winner, Catherine Roberts - there was a tie for 4th place between three entrants.
So you might want to know the details of the competition now running - winners announced Autumn 2013.
The word to be included in the new competition is TRAIN.
Closing on 29 October.
Write the opening to a novel to include the word in any form - train of a dress, train of thought, railway,etc. Whatever inspires your plot. 50 - 150 words.
Send to: The Mail on Sunday Novel Competition, 84 Drayton Gardens, London, SW10 9SB.
Typed or clearly written, with name, address, tel and email all on same page. Results next summer. Usual prizes - Arvon course for winner, plus book tokens for all 6 finalists.
And a few more competitions you might like...
Erewash Writers' Group recently announced the winner of their short story competition, and they have now opened two FREE competitions.
Flash Fiction competition
Up to 500 words on the theme 'twins'. This is being judged by Author Rosalie Warren- you may have seen or read her book 'Coping with Chloe'.
Prizes: A signed copy of 'Coping with Chloe' and £10 cash and web publication for the two winners.
Closing date is the 8th November 2012.
The second competition is the Creepy Christmas Chiller.
This is for a seasonal scary short stories up to 2,000 words. There are two categories, adults and 12-16.
"We want to read stories set in the festive season which contain all the necessary ingredients to scare the Santa suits off us.
Many an excellent ghost story has been written for Christmas, yet whether you include a ghost in your story or not is entirely your choice.
Your story could be held on any of the three main days of Christmas, or set in a couple of months running up to the big event, or specifically within the twelve days of Christmas. Your story will include tension, suspense and all the elements needed to make us feel we are sharing the frightening experience of your character (or characters)."
Prizes for six winners, three in each category: First £40, Second £15, Third £5 (plus a charitable donation will be made). Web publication.
Closing date: 8th November 2012.
All details, address for entries and terms and conditions (please read) can be found on the Erewash Writers' Group website, here.
And if that isn't enough for you then buy the latest issue of Writing Magazine- October 2012 issue, out now. Not only will you get a copy of Writers News, but you'll also receive the annual Competition Special supplement, with 203 competitions to enter.
Plenty of opportunities to spread your writing wings. (I will be doing a few of the competitions mentioned.)
If you enter any of the competitions mentioned, then good luck, and happy writing.
Carol Bevitt's blog on her writing and inspirations, along with occasional literature related news...
Friday, 7 September 2012
Tuesday, 4 September 2012
Sock Puppetry - It's Bad...
I doubt there are many writers who haven't seen the news about fake reviews posted by authors to praise their latest book. Or others buying bulk reviews.
But the admission by crime writer RJ Ellory that he'd been posting fake reviews for his books, and making adverse comments on reviews of novels by fellow writers is unacceptable.
I don't think any of us are naive enough to believe that fake reviews don't exist. You only need to look at Amazon and after a while you can pick out the dubious reviews because they sound wrong.
Yes, your book might be brilliant, but there will still be readers who don't like it and will say so.
I try to be realistic about the business. But I can't help but be irritated that a writer, who has been fortunate enough to be taken on and published by a mainstream publisher, with the publicity advantages that brings, feels the need to big up their books by fake reviews.
If he had stopped at fake reviews, I could have understood; but to make adverse comments about fellow writers books is beyond the pale. Especially when there are enough readers around to say completely the opposite.
He's apologised and admitted that he's in the wrong straight away. (Always a good idea to admit you've made a mistake when it becomes open knowledge.)
Sadly there will be long term consequences on his reputation as a writer, and as a colleague of numerous other crime writers- what will be their attitude toward him next time they meet?
(See this piece on the Bookseller website.)
And the reading public? Will they now think they can't trust anyone's reviews, and will other writers suffer a drop in sales? (Especially those who have self-published and rely on good reviews and word of mouth recommendations.)
When I leave a review on Amazon, I have read the book, and if I've liked it, I'll say so-if I haven't I'll say why. Even if the book is by a friend, I won't give it a great review just because they are a friend.
Okay, I've not got a novel out vying for sales against numerous other competitors within my genre. But if I did, I wouldn't resort to buying reviews, or creating identities to review my own book. It's unethical and dishonest.
My work has to stand on it's own two feet and take the knocks that may come to it.
A writer once said at a talk I attended, if you can't take criticism then don't go into publishing.
It's a tough business...
But the admission by crime writer RJ Ellory that he'd been posting fake reviews for his books, and making adverse comments on reviews of novels by fellow writers is unacceptable.
I don't think any of us are naive enough to believe that fake reviews don't exist. You only need to look at Amazon and after a while you can pick out the dubious reviews because they sound wrong.
Yes, your book might be brilliant, but there will still be readers who don't like it and will say so.
I try to be realistic about the business. But I can't help but be irritated that a writer, who has been fortunate enough to be taken on and published by a mainstream publisher, with the publicity advantages that brings, feels the need to big up their books by fake reviews.
If he had stopped at fake reviews, I could have understood; but to make adverse comments about fellow writers books is beyond the pale. Especially when there are enough readers around to say completely the opposite.
He's apologised and admitted that he's in the wrong straight away. (Always a good idea to admit you've made a mistake when it becomes open knowledge.)
Sadly there will be long term consequences on his reputation as a writer, and as a colleague of numerous other crime writers- what will be their attitude toward him next time they meet?
(See this piece on the Bookseller website.)
And the reading public? Will they now think they can't trust anyone's reviews, and will other writers suffer a drop in sales? (Especially those who have self-published and rely on good reviews and word of mouth recommendations.)
When I leave a review on Amazon, I have read the book, and if I've liked it, I'll say so-if I haven't I'll say why. Even if the book is by a friend, I won't give it a great review just because they are a friend.
Okay, I've not got a novel out vying for sales against numerous other competitors within my genre. But if I did, I wouldn't resort to buying reviews, or creating identities to review my own book. It's unethical and dishonest.
My work has to stand on it's own two feet and take the knocks that may come to it.
A writer once said at a talk I attended, if you can't take criticism then don't go into publishing.
It's a tough business...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)