Three Days!

Posted: February 20, 2014 | Author: | Filed under: Thoughts, Wicked Words Quarterly | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Wicked Words Quarterly has now been open for three days, and in those three days visitor numbers to the site has exploded (thank you all 🙂 ), the magazine has received more than 10 submissions a day and the Twitter feed [@MyWickedWords] has started to gain followers…

This is all down to my resolution to visit The Daily Post and start writing, the writing is still happening but the Quarterly seems to have taken on a life of it’s own and I’m learning something new everyday.

The hard part comes now, I’ve set some time apart today to start reading some of the submissions and this is where I have to harden up a bit and write nice acceptance or rejection emails. The acceptance ones aren’t going to be too hard, but the rejection ones will be, right now I can see myself giving personal rejections but if it gets any more popular it may have toe be a form (which I really don’t want to do) with some personal comments.

This is fun, but hard work. I didn’t realise it was going to be such hard work, though when the first issue is done I should have all the tools and skills for the next issues.

So any horror, sci-fi or fantasy stories you want to submit there is still over a month to get them in for the June issue.

Quicker Than I Thought

Posted: February 16, 2014 | Author: | Filed under: Drabble, Flash Fiction, Thoughts | Tags: , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Two days later and it’s done!

Wicked Words Quarterly is open for business (well submissions anyway) and hoping to get the first edition out by June 2014.

Here is the front page blurb:

Wicked Words is a new quarterly magazine on the Kindle that will publish short stories and flash fiction.

Wicked Words will publish science fiction, fantasy and horror themes and we are looking for high-quality stories that surprise the reader and play with the genres.

So if you have stories that fit these criteria why not submit them to be considered.

If you like reading short stories in this genre why not sign up to the newsletter where you will be kept up to date on how the project is progressing.

Wicked Words first edition is scheduled to be published at the start of June and then quarterly after that (September, December and March).

Each Winter Edition will also include a previously unpublished Novella alongside the usual flash fiction and short stories.

So if you know anyone with stories that would fit the criteria why not send them over my way 🙂

Scribophile

Posted: February 5, 2014 | Author: | Filed under: Thoughts | Tags: , , , , , | 3 Comments

After reading the recommendation at The Daily Post in the Need Feedback? Hone Your Blogging with a Workshop post. I decided to join Scribophile.

I initially spent several hours just exploring the different features, forums and aspects of the site.

From my initial overview the site and community seemed really friendly, supportive and constructive. A great place to post your writing and have it honestly critiqued by like-minded people.

So I started out by introducing myself on the forums and favouriting a few people, joining a few groups. This just let me get a better feel of the site.

I then though ‘bugger it’, I had nothing to lose and went to do my first critique!

The system of critiques built into the software at the site are relatively easy to use and help guide you through the complexities of giving a constructive and well-mannered critique. I’ve started by giving critiques to relatively short pieces of flash fiction as that is what I like writing at the moment.

The process was very easy and hassle free, and afterward the people that I critiqued were able to comment on how I had done, nobody seemed to get their knickers in a twist and all saw the critique as what it was meant. A constructive and helpful look from the outside on their writing.

The process of being able to upload your own work is that you have to earn Karma before you can post, this is done by making critiques, easy really 😉

After a few critiques I had earned enough Karma to upload one of my pieces, a drabble, 100 word story with a twist or unexpected conclusion.

Two of the three critiques I received were excellent and even pointed out problems with the tense that I hadn’t noticed even though I had read it several (hundred) times previously, the third critique didn’t understand the drabble form and therefore critiqued it as a short story. What he said was excellent for a different form, but wasn’t applicable to the form I used. I wasn’t worried as it was all meant to help.

Joining in the groups is also a good idea as this is where the more personal form of support can come in and you can get regular small reading group together to mutually critique work and join in together on discussions about writing and the industry.

Overall I’ve really enjoyed my less-than-a week there and have gone for the premium option as I think it really deserves to flourish.

Wicked Words

Posted: January 20, 2014 | Author: | Filed under: Drabble, Flash Fiction, Prose, Writing Prompts | Tags: , , , , , | 1 Comment

Prompt: One of the books in the library glows

A glimmer, a glamour, that’s what it was.

Sparkling words, spiralling worlds.

Both equally fascinating, both equally dangerous.

A crack, just a quick peek, curiosity and the cat be damned.

Silvered edges, golden letters, honeyed words.

Seductive siren call, a bargain from beyond.

Knowledge, insight, offerings from within, worth it?

From the page, looking out, I see you do the same.

Bargains and whispered words, part of the chorus, singing to you.

Inside the book we are all stories waiting to consume the stories of others, two in one out.

Leather and ink, glamour and geas, your life as written.