publish – Page 2 – Jean's Writing

It’s the Little Victories

Published on August 13, 2015August 14, 2015 by Jean M. Cogdell7 Comments

Yep, it’s those little victories that keep me writing.

I didn’t make the top three, BUT one of my stories was SHORT LISTED!

Congratulations to my fellow writers!

Next time!

Click on the logo to read all of the entries, and maybe you’ll submit and win in the next contest!

First: Six Songs by Catherine Edmunds

Second: Attrition by Emily Devane

Third: Losing the Luck by Catherine Finch

Click on the titles to read the three winning stories

Highly Commended: The Back of Me by Jamie D Stacey

Short Listed Entries — in alphabetical order

A Brief Affair by PJ Stephenson

A Life Lived in Colour by Vanessa Savage

A Woman of Three Halves by Rebecca Kemp

After the Gruffs by Taria Karillion

An Uncommon Occurrence by Amanda OCallaghan

Attrition by Emily Devane

Burying the Past by Sally Rosser-Davies

First Haircut by Liz Jennings

Gretal by Carly Pluckrose-Gates

Her First Steps by Jamie D Stacey

Hold the Front Page by Alyson Hilbourne

Ivy by Dora Bona

King of the Castle by Vanessa Savage

Losing the Luck by Catherine Finch

Lost by Kate Harmond Allan

Not a problem by Nigel Tomlinson

Precious Memories by Jean Cogdell

Secrets by Sylvia Fairley

Signs by Karen Jones

Six Songs by Catherine Edmunds

Special Needs by Sue Uden

Tears in the Sky by Jamie D Stacey

The Back of Me by Jamie D Stacey

The Selkie’s Kiss by Erin Leach

Viennese Whirls and Pineapple Creams by Safia Moore

Are you ready to pitch?

Published on August 10, 2015August 6, 2015 by Jean M. Cogdell2 Comments

WOMEN’S FICTION PITCH SESSION

Hosted by the Women’s Fiction Writers Association

Do you have a manuscript, but don’t know what to do next?

Spit shine your story pitch until it gleams and then head over to WFWA’s Pitch Session.

Wednesday, September 9th, when for a full 24 hours 12:00 am–11.59 Pacific you can put your story out there. (That’s a 3:00 am start time for all you East Coasters, but don’t lose sleep over it. You’ll have all day Wednesday to send in your pitch.)

There’s no registration required and no fee!

WFWA members can pitch their women’s fiction by posting the title, total word count, sub-genre (for example, upmarket women’s fiction or women’s fiction with magical realism), a 50-word pitch and the first 250 words of the manuscript. There’s only one entry per member.

Participating agents will review the posts and respond to those they would like to see more of.

Go to the WFWA’s website for more information and a list of agents. It’s quite impressive.

Please click on the Facebook and Twitter links to pass my post on to your friends.
If you’re not already, I’d be much obliged if you would follow me @jeancogdell on Twitter or https://www.facebook.com/jean.cogdell

Why not turn that novel into a short story?

Published on May 27, 2015May 27, 2015 by Jean M. Cogdell13 Comments

May is almost over and so is National Short Story Month.

Did you submit a short story? Wish I’d spent my time on NSSM instead of reading, studying and ripping my current work in progress (WIP) apart. Now I’m considering just burying it in the back of my closet and denying its existence.

Is Your Idea a Short Story or Novel?

Makes me wonder if my “novel” be better as a short story???

There are three days left in National Short Story Month. Three days, hmm. Not sure I can write something worth reading in three days.

No, let me revise that statement. I can write something, but getting it ready for prime time is the challenge.

Ding, ding, ding! Light bulb moment. Why not try? I love a challenge. What about you?

Did you submit a short story for the month of May frenzy?

Do tell. And do share any success stories.

Maybe it’s too late to get in those submissions for National Short Story Month but it’s never too late for inspiration to strike.

On Twitter check out #ShortReads or #shortstorymonth for a list of people, places and stories. And follow @ShortStoryMonth for more….

FREE contest Alternating Current (There’s still time!)

The Fiction Desk (There’s still time!)

Every Writer Magazine

Fiction Writers Review

Story A Day

Every Day Fiction

Flash Fiction On Line

The Stoneslide Corrective

Nano Fiction

Reading the Short Story

Flavor Wire

Get a FREE trial subscription to Found Press.

Okay, is that enough to get the juices flowing?

No? Then watch a pro – Steven King.

Time to start clicking those keys. Happy writing!

Read How To Think Like A Publisher

Published on May 27, 2015May 25, 2015 by Jean M. Cogdell2 Comments

Hmm, think like a publisher.

Thanks to Writers on the Move for pointing me to the Writings and Opinions of Dean Wesley Smith.

On his website you can read his book Think Like A Publisher 2015, chapter by chapter.

Also, Killing the Top Sacred Cows of Publishing and Indie Publishing.

And this bonus, chapter one of his third book, Killing Even More Sacred Cows of Indie Publishing.

I can’t wait to start reading!

I love comments, tell me what’s happening with you and if you’re not already, please follow me @jeancogdell on Twitter or jean.cogdell on Facebook!