September 5, 2016
It's never a good idea to respond to rejections. By all means whip off a page of scathing comment if you've had one that you feel totally misses the point or that's full of spelling mistakes, but don't send it. I repeat: DON'T SEND IT! Of course, if you really think the editor's an uneducated moron you aren't going to submit anything else to them, so it won't matter–or will it? You have no way of knowing where that editor might move to in the future, or who they might tell now. You absolutely do not want to get a reputation for being rude. The chances are that once you calm down you might find some justification for their comments. If the editor's missed the point, could it be because of the way it was written? Everyone has their critics, and arguing with them really is pointless.
When you don't get a reply to your submission, by all means wait until the stated response time has elapsed, then query whether your work's still under consideration, but don't complain. You may receive a standard rejection, which is frustrating, as you have no way of knowing why your work was spurned, but don't be tempted to write to the editor for an explanation. The reason editor's use standard rejections is because they're too busy to go into details on each individual submission. Often there really is nothing to say other than that they already have enough stories, poems or whatever, or they simply liked another one better.
Not all rejections are like used tissues. Sometimes they come with positive comments and constructive criticism. They're still disappointing–so near, and yet so far–but at least you know you got close, and you have some pointers on how to get that step further. That must be worth a thank-you note, surely? NO! As I've already said, editors are busy, so the chances are they'll have forgotten about your submission already. Do you really want to remind them about work they've turned down? It might seem impolite not to reply, but if you do, you'll make yourself look like an amateur.
When it comes to rejections, the least said the better.
Posted by K. S. Dearsley.
August 26, 2016
For the past few weeks it's been impossible to miss the Rio Olympics or the upcoming Paralympics. The competitors are national heroes whether they win or not. Reporting on the games heads the television and radio news bulletins and it's splashed across the front pages of newspapers instead of being confined to the back. You might find it strange then, that I wish there was more.
There is another Olympiad that I had never come across until about 12 years ago, and I only heard about it then ...
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Posted by K. S. Dearsley.
August 19, 2016
Searching for an Olympics-free zone? Perhaps you've sought refuge in music and found inspiration for the Proms contest I mentioned in my last blog. If you're a television fan, the likelihood is that some of your favourite programmes have been replaced by sport. It's also the time of year when many series come to an end too, so you could be feeling withdrawal symptoms. In my case, it's missing The Musketeers and Versailles. But you know what they say: 'If you can't beat them, join them.'
T...
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Posted by K. S. Dearsley. Posted In : Inspiration
August 12, 2016
There's still just time to enter the BBC's contest for a poem of up to 25 lines inspired by your response to a piece of music included in this year's Proms concerts. The closing date is 14th August. There's no cash prize, but the winning poem will be read on air and the winner will be invited to one of the concerts. Details are on the BBC's website: http://www.bbc.co.uk/proms/features/poetry-competition.
There should be plenty of food for ideas in the concerts. Music calms or excites, com...
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Posted by K. S. Dearsley. Posted In : Competitions
July 27, 2016
With the centenary of the birth of Roald Dahl, what better time to celebrate twist-in-the-tail tales? These days most praise is heaped on Dahl for his delicious, wickedly funny children's books, but in the 1970s he was equally famous for his Tales of the Unexpected, the TV series of his short stories that was prime-time viewing.
There's still a thriving market for stories with twist endings. Many women's magazines have a special slot for them, but they can belong to any genre or none. Desp...
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Posted by K. S. Dearsley.
July 14, 2016
'No man or woman have' or 'no man or woman has'? The first didn't sound right to me, but you know how it is, once you question something, you're no longer sure of the answer. I had to look it up to be certain.
If I hadn't had access to a copy of The Oxford Manual of Style, what could I have done to avoid making an embarrassing mistake? There are numerous grammar and spelling websites, of course, but you need to be careful that you use the right country's English e.g. not US English when yo...
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Posted by K. S. Dearsley.
July 4, 2016
What are the similarities between them? Sometimes you can go ages without one and then several arrive at once. I seem to have hit a plentiful patch.
My feature on taglines: how to write them and why you need them, is now online at
http://www.wow-womenonwriting.com. I also have a story, retitled 'Ready, Steady, Chop!' in the July issue of Take a Break's Fiction Feast. There's news of two other publications I can look forward to. 'The Enchantress's Pets; has been accepted for Horrified Pres...
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Posted by K. S. Dearsley. Posted In : Coming Soon
June 10, 2016
Alfie Dog Fiction is no longer taking short story submissions.
This is sad news. The site, which carries six of my pieces, has stories and books to download in every genre. Readers can pick and mix as the mood takes them, buy one story or dozens. If you just want something to read that will while away the time as you wait for a bus or eat your lunch, you can download a story for a few pence, assured that the standard of writing is high. Until now, writers could find a home for previously publ...
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Posted by K. S. Dearsley.
May 17, 2016
Last time, I wrote that I would celebrate the anniversary of William Shakespeare's birth and death by writing a sonnet inspired in some way by the Bard. Rash promise! Once again, real life intervened, and I've spent much of the last few weeks sitting beside my elderly mother's hospital bed. She's slept through most of it and she isn't in any imminent danger, apart from being old, so I found myself with nothing to do.
The time wasn't wasted, however. I don't feel able to concentrate properly o...
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Posted by K. S. Dearsley. Posted In : Competitions
April 20, 2016
You might have heard this already: on 23rd April it will be 400 years since the death of William Shakespeare, arguably England's or even the world's greatest playwright and poet. It seems everyone in the arts world or who is interested in it will be doing something to celebrate. I don't want to be the exception, so what am I going to do?
The most obvious and easiest thing would be to go and see one of Shakespeare's plays or read some of his poetry but, let's face it, I can do that at any ...
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Posted by K. S. Dearsley. Posted In : Inspiration
