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This month we have expert advice from Rob Innis on how to ensure your work is stored safe and sound, Ten Top Tips advises on how to make your dialogue convincing. Useful websites helps in that area too as well as offering some markets and a research site. And hopefully, you’ll find some fun and something to inspire you in the end note.
The Writers Bureau
Student Stories
‘You don't think you're a bit old for this kind of thing?'
My husband was not encouraging as he surveyed my black and blue legs.
And I have to confess that when I wrote that first assignment, nearly two years ago now, I didn't think it would lead to crawling knee deep in freezing water through the nether regions of Peak Cavern (more crudely known as The Devil's Arse). Nor was I expecting to spend my 50th birthday on a snow-bound January day, peering through dense fog, desperately searching for a menacing looking, life-claiming hole in the ground on one of the highest and most quarried hillsides in Derbyshire.
Why on earth hadn't I taken the photos in summer? The truth is I never really believed when I received a positive response from the carefully selected publisher to whom I'd sent the fruits of my labours for assignment N10 ( a synopsis and example chapter for a non-fiction book ), that they'd ever really want to publish it.
So, some six months later, when I received an e-mail from them one September morning saying ‘Is it nearly done? Can we see the whole thing yet? Will we be able to publish it in April?' I was unprepared. Shocked and unwilling to confess that I'd hardly made any progress whatsoever, I sprang into action. And with a lot of early mornings and late nights, I got the text done. But then there were the photos. Aimed at the ‘discerning tourist, who wants to get a bit more out of their visit,' the book ‘Wonders of the Peak District - Revisited', would obviously need a lot.
‘The best solution ...' I read as I consulted Writers Bureau book six ‘... is to take your own photographs. Not only will you save a great deal of money you'll also obtain exactly the right pictures to support the words you've written.' So, armed with a borrowed camera and pushing away severe doubts about my photographic skills I headed out.
‘Two Fonts, two Caves, one Pallace, Mount and Pit' - Thomas Hobbes had summed up the seven ‘wonders' of the Peak District in 1678. The sun shone co-operatively for the two ‘fonts' (St Anne's Well in Buxton and a no longer flowing Spring in Tideswell). I managed to squeeze in the ‘Pallace' (Chatsworth) on the last day before closed season. But, the delicate layer of snow on the backs of the deer who obligingly posed for me in Chatsworth Park (and eventually made the front cover of the book), was a foretaste of what was to come. I had to wait another four weeks before even attempting Mam Tor (the Mount) and then crampons would have helped considerably.
Surveying the fruits of my labours over a life saving hot toddy in a Castleton pub, I had to admit that the weather certainly added atmosphere to the photos in a book that includes strange, mysterious and sometimes sinister ancient happenings and beliefs.
So, to other students on The Writers Bureau Course, I would say ‘be prepared and believe in yourself - it does happen, probably when you're least expecting it'. I am still writing a bi-monthly column based on the fruits of my labour for assignment two and have had several features published in various magazines. After a nine month break (which I needed to get the book done) I am returning to The Writers Bureau to do the second half of the course - the fiction part. And, if I get as much fun out of it as I have out of the first half, I will be delighted!
Janet Ross, Derbyshire.
From the forums:
Teresa C - April 15, 2010 writes:
Hi my article about knitting has been accepted, by ‘Knitting Magazine'. I will get paid!
Alison S - April 14, 2010 writes:
I've just received an email today from ‘Woman's Own'. They want to use my blog that I sent way back in February in the May issue, so am quite excited!
Julie R - April 12, 2010 writes:
My name is in print twice in the May edition of the Oldie. I first found I was runner-up in the competition which prompted a triumphal dance in Sainsburys. It wasn't until I got home that I found my letter had been printed too!! I'm hoping for £25 for the competition. Just about to photocopy them to send to the entire family. Perhaps I should retire now while I'm at the top.
Vanessa C - April 11, 2010 writes:
I started the Article Writing course in January. For a while, understandably, there were no successes to report. Then I started to get a reasonable hit rate with letters and fillers. Finally, after a few rejections but mostly silences despite chasing, last week I got both an article (paid) and a book review (unpaid) accepted by two different magazines. It's been a hard slog getting there but worth it for the boost in confidence it gives you when an editor finally says yes. Good luck, everyone else.
Tina B - April 11, 2010 writes:
I started the WB course about 5 years ago, but I haven't completed it yet as I stopped after a few assignments to concentrate on writing short stories. In the last couple of years, I've sold several twist in the tale short stories to ‘The Weekly News' and also sold one to Australia's ‘That's Life' magazine. I've sold to ‘Real People' magazine and ‘The Lady'. I've had a story published in ‘Twisted Tongue' magazine, an article in a wedding magazine, several fillers in various women's magazines - ‘Woman's Own' etc, and I won the star letter in a card making magazine and got £80 worth of craft goodies.
I had a regular column on a website for older people called Agenet - I wrote articles on a variety of subjects - www.age-net.co.uk/Social_comment/ - scroll down and you should see my articles under Tina Burton Columns - and I've put together a 'how to' article for three other websites, as well as copywriting for the Anthony Nolan Trust, which involved interviewing people who had donated bone marrow, and writing up their story, which the Trust then used in their publicity campaigns.
When I first started submitting work, I got a lot of rejections, but after a while, my writing must have got better, because people wanted to buy my work, and I can't tell you what a buzz that gives you. I still get that buzz when I sell something now. So, I guess what I'm saying is, don't give up. Even if you are getting rejections at the moment, one day someone will accept your work, and it will have all been worthwhile.
Lisa W - March 26, 2010 writes:
I have had my article about the death of my dog Ben accepted by ‘Dogs Monthly' and they are paying me as well!! I am so excited.
Amy B - March 18, 2010 writes:
After having my first paid article accepted about a month ago, I have had another one accepted! This time it is for ‘Book and Magazine Collector' magazine. The article is a bibliography of author Neil Gaiman, and if the editor likes the finished article it is worth £200 to me, so it's worth submitting to them if you can write bibliographies about authors (although study of the magazine if very much recommended). I am also working on a book at the moment so let's hope the success continues! Very pleased.
Thanks, as always, to Janet and the forum users for sharing their inspirational stories with us. If you would like a prospectus for any of our courses please email us here with your full name and postal address. Or, to share your success stories with others, just send an email to ezeewriter@writersbureau.com with 'Success Story' in the subject line.
