Well I’ve tightened up the opening five pages to Flyht and its now within spittings distance of making the 1000 word deadline (hopefully, as long as it *feels* the right length, the competition organisers won’t be too fussy?!). I must say, I’m also pretty pleased with how it’s looking. When I read them back now, both Flyht and Blood & Fire, as much as I know what one is, do feel like *crossover* novels…
The question is though? Is there anyone out there who is enthusiastic enough to give an honest opinion of what I’ve written, if I send them to you? Helen? …or are you too busy? Kelly, maybe…?
How soon would you need it read? Do you want a line-edit as well?
BTW – don’t even *think* about entering something that’s even one word over 1,000 – believe me, these people know what 1,000 words looks like, and they *will* throw out your entry if you’re over the maximum number of words allowed.
I’ve been through it now so many times with both an author’s and editor’s eye I’ve probably spotted everything that I can spot (at least for a while) – you know what its like when you’re trying to find mistakes in your own work and your eye just keeps reading past them because you know what’s supposed to be there?!! …so yes, if a line-edit is offered then yes please! ^__^
And if you can tell me if it conforms to *their idea* of 1,000 words…? As for time, the deadline for submissions is the end of September, so a week (or two) maybe?
Send it over, then 🙂
(PS It would be easier as a Word document than PDF, if you could…)
Word document is what I had in mind anyhow… *grins*
Did you get the email? Just the webmail was running slow and although it says it sent it…?!! There should be three attachments. ^__^
Did get it – just sent email reply to you – but there were only 2 attachments!
When would you need it by? I would love to help (I do care!) but am in bed with dreadful flu right now (got back on Friday but have been too sick even to write an LJ post!) I will be off work for at least another ten days 🙁 (Have to be extra careful as I have had ME in the past.)
I also wrote you a postcard but got sick on hols before I could post it. When it arrives it will have a Dutch stamp 😛
Sorry to hear you’re sick!
You have no idea how sick, either … I think I need it (the flu I mean) every now and then to make me feel more sympathy for people who fall ill regularly. I am so grateful that I generally have quite good health 🙂
I am hoping that this means I won’t have to worry about getting sick this winter – fingers crossed!
Ha, well at least you get a moral education from your sicknesses! 😉 Fingers crossed for you too.
Without wishing to sound all Pollyanna-ish, even the very worst things which have happened to me have reminded me that I really don’t have much in life to be complaining about. I think it’s just an odd part of my personality though, as I have friends (well, make that acquaintances) who never shut up about how bad their lives are, and they really don’t have any serious problems. Though my family isn’t religious (but my school was actually), I was brought up to believe that I was very very lucky, and I guess that’s stuck with me all my life.
It’s a good policy, I think. Life’s too short for grumbles!
Ah, Rachel, apologies for not including you on the direct offer of reading my work – I figured that you were probably up to your ears with dissertations but if you want some light relief just say the word!
Aww, I’m sorry you’re sick – and you’re right you don’t want to go overdoing things with a history of ME (my sister-in-law had/has it so I know a little of what it’s like). The deadline for submissions it the comps are the end of September, so sometime in the next two weeks…? Don’t worry if you don’t feel you can, I’ll still invite you to the book launch… *grins*
And as for the postcard, it’ll still have a *foreign* stamp on it wherever you post it from so I’m happy! ^__^
Hope you feel better soon…
Postcard is on its way!