Thursday, February 23, 2006

Fish!

Great news.



We've just heard that there are TWO
Boot Camp stories in the last 44 stories
(from an original 1800) at Fish.



Yeehah!




alex

Wednesday, February 22, 2006

53 Hits!


Just received a bollocking for missing three posted hits in BC



(this is the kind of bollocking I like...)



Total for the year is now 53 Hits and $1,545




Plus a couple more photos from Ross Moyes


Rush of First Places for Boot Camp





Hazera Forth announces a little "First" in ""Doorknobs" but right on the heel of that comes another first for a Boot Camper, this time $80 in Seventh Quark's Tenth Frantic Flash. (It's a BC top-three).

That comp was poorly supported and just three non-BC entries were received, but we can do no more than write the flashes and send them in.

Third first was 300 Euros in an Irish Comp run by Pencil, Bantry

That takes us to 50 Hits for 2006, 8 First Prizes, three seconds, two thirds and ten more finalists.









Thanks Ross.

Ross Moyes (with a very VERY sexy 12m wide-angle lens on his Canon 10D) shot some excellent photos this weekend in Wales and here are a few.





We were SO lucky with that weather.




As for my writing, another 4,950 today so far...

Tuesday, February 21, 2006

Back on Track!



After a lean writing time while away, and then a blank day on my return, a brilliant day today, over 8,000 words getting me back on track, 61,000+ for the month.



Meanwhile Boot Camp grinds on

98 Subs for the month, 276 for the year

21 Prizes or Places, over 180 Flashes written

and we are just about to get our 50th Hit of the year





Bridie & Daisy!

A Few Flash Prompts









Here's this morning's Boot Camp Flash Prompts


Floodlight Appeal

Bug

The Difference Between a professional and a Hammer-Chewer

Sailing to Katmandu

LACW Hall. S, Can't You See Your Tattered Dress?

1001 Things to Read Before You Die

Shroud, Shrewd, Shrove Tuesday

What Really Happened That Easter

Small Planets

His Estranged Wife

The Difference Between Chees and Politics

Denying His Denial

BlackBerries, White Berries, & the Raisin Relation Board




Alex

Monday, February 20, 2006

Ex-Sprinter



Back from Wales with a pulled hamstring and the back of my knee black. Serves me right for catching a rugby ball and sprinting down the line without first warming up!

Back to a number of hits and separate publications from the Boot Campers.

Hits for February are now 15 with one nice payer ($100) taking us to 47 Hits in 2006 earning (so far) $1,345. Publications are now 28 Web 8 Print, total 36



We were brilliantly lucky with the weather in Wales. It rained all the way there and most of the way back but it didn't rain on us while we were there (though it did at night).

Visited the Chapel (we complete on that first week of March)




Then went on a very pleasant walk in bright sunshine, just a little north of Dollgellau (called The Precipice Walk)




Lost out on the writing side (wanted to sleep most of the time I was there) but managed 2,050 words so pushed the February total on to 52,927.

Have let a chalet go now, but looking foward to renovating the Chapel!



Alex

Thursday, February 16, 2006

On Fire!

Much quieter on the subs front, but hey, don't knock it, I've hit a purple patch writing-wise.

A little while back I said never give into the idea of block, just write something, anything. Well, I felt empty of good ideas, ideas for a serious longer short, so rather than have a fallow time, I decided to write up some biographical stuff.

And despite one full day away, and other calls on my time, I am so far up to 50,877 for the month, of which 39,650 is this autobiographical work.

The good thing is that high-activity tends to fire off other stuff.

Meanwhile a few more small hits and the Boot Campers are now on 12 for the month, with 6 Prizes, the level of two of them still TBA



Keep Writing!




Alex

Saturday, February 11, 2006

More Hits!

Heard today that Boot Camper JoelW has made it into the next Route Compendium and that Colin has placed his seventh (so far) Children in Need Flash, this time at Identity Theory.

Also pleased to discover we have two, not one story in the Fish final, plus a couple of ex BCers (we don't count their figures!) are in the running there too.

That takes this years hits to 41, a solid start.

Another publication, too, our 33rd of the year.


As for me, not placing much and trying to study poetry.

I didn't realise it was so hard!



Oh, and take a look at the weird bug we had in our lounge.


Alex

Friday, February 10, 2006

Fishing

Well done Boot Camper Lexie Fox for making the last 7.5%
in the Fish Prize, down to the last 140 from 1800.


Results TBA



alx

Another Boot Camp Win

I'm delighted to announce that relative newbie Boot Camper "Cally" has recorded her first ever prize and it's a First Place ($60) at Dark Tales.

That's our Fifth First Place in 2006 and prizes and finals now total 16 for the year and $1,285.

This from 12 BC PRO Members and 6 Associates.

It's amazing what steady hard work can achieve.



Alex

Monday, February 06, 2006

Another BC Finalist

Heard today that another BC story is in a final, results TBA. They keep trickling in...




Miserable today because my computer is acting up. I find that particular "problem" the worst. I simply loathe DOUBT and deal with it very badly. If a car lets me down I get rid asap. Wish that wasn't so expensive. Last year I lost a load of stories (Back-up? What's that?) and after a lot of searching was still "out" half-a-dozen.

Studying other arts recently, and discovered some interesting "eye-openers" concerning painting. Now this weekend discovered more (still to be fully realised) about music.

My daughter is learning piano and saxophone and studies music theory. We were driving back and discussing all those extras in music that mean "play sadly", "play happily" and so on.

And I asked, "but why isn't that on the page as the music itself?" and my daughter explained that you can play a scale sadly or happily. Oh!

But this made me realise that what I call "creating a mode of acceptance" (in the reader) (who we can hardly instruct) is so important.

Watch this space for how music, painting and writing might yet come together in 1-2 articles.

Reading Frantic Flash Entries today. Finalists soon


Alex

Sunday, February 05, 2006

FF Prompt, 2100 Sunday

Frantic Flash 10, February 2006



PROMPTS

SUNDAY EVENING 2100



75 Minutes to write your story inspired
by one or more of these prompts.
An extra 5 minutes if you email and say "I'm in!"

Superman is Unwell

Dream Team, Nightmare Coach

The Loan Arranger and Tom Toe

The Gossip at the Village Well

OC OC IC

Witchfinder Specific

OLOLAQICI82QB4IP

Pink, if you Like

Singing to the Choir

Sheila, on Saxophone

She Sells Sea-Shells on the Sea-Shore

Police Report: Hamelin

Bronchial Adventurism

Cider

There is a Tide in the Affairs of Men
(While Ladies Paddle?)

FF Prompt, 2100 Sunday

Frantic Flash 10, February 2006



PROMPTS

SUNDAY EVENING 2100



75 Minutes to write your story inspired
by one or more of these prompts.
An extra 5 minutes if you email and say "I'm in!"

Superman is Unwell

Dream Team, Nightmare Coach

The Loan Arranger and Tom Toe

The Gossip at the Village Well

OC OC IC

Witchfinder Specific

OLOLAQICI82QB4IP

Pink, if you Like

Singing to the Choir

Sheila, on Saxophone

She Sells Sea-Shells on the Sea-Shore

Police Report: Hamelin

Bronchial Adventurism

Cider

There is a Tide in the Affairs of Men
(While Ladies Paddle?)

FF 10 Prompts, 1800 Sunday

Frantic Flash 10, February 2006



PROMPTS

SUNDAY EVENING 1800



75 Minutes to write your story inspired
by one or more of these prompts.
An extra 5 minutes if you email and say "I'm in!"



The Lake County
Digging in Ireland
Blessings
Fear of sailing
Beauty & the Best
A Man, Four Women, A Lift Shaft
The Blacksmith's Legs
Going done the Beer For a Couple of Pubs
The Penis Mightier Than the Sword
Sardines, Probably
Thomas Thomas and His Little Problem
Black is the Colour of My true Love's Heart
Helen the Magnificent (Deceased)
Tripe
The Difference Between Onions, Leeks and Shallots
Peeling Potatoes

Frantic Flash 10: Sunday Morning Prompts

Frantic Flash 10, February 2006



PROMPTS SUNDAY MORNING



75 Minutes to write your story inspired
by one or more of these prompts.
An extra 5 minutes if you email and say "I'm in!"


The Stones, The Stones!

Drinking With the Harlequin.

Married, and not Even Pregnant! (There's Posh For You!)

Jones the Post

Creating the Perfect Green

Child Found Floating in Basket: Authorities Investigating

Curried Spouts & Other Natural Disasters

Taking the Dog For a Drive

Nightingales

He Sniffed Glue, Once

Breakfast With the Queen

Brain Found in a Bush

Chimp, Chump, Chap

Ecstasy

Saturday, February 04, 2006

More Prompts at 2100

Frantic Flash 10, February 2006









2100 Saturday Prompts.



Roof Torn Off
Choosing Between Coffee and Chocolate
12x1
Imagine, President Bush Thinking (Try)
Punts
The Chaucer Clinic
The English Lung Wage
Brackets! she exclaimed.
A story beginning, "As you take the top off it
Captain Morgan, Saint
Saturday Night, Bethlehem, Trouble Brewing
The Afghan Affair
Why Kittens Taste Nice Boiled
Black

The Forth Bridge

Finally caught up with my outstanding critiques in Boot Camp.

Almost caught up with the admin!

So far this year we've had

120 Flashes
020 Poems
035 Stories

This is a new round of stories so they are not all critiqued but so far we have 233 critiques, an average of 6.66 (the mark!) per story, which will rise past 8.

These are proper critiques, not casual remarks!


The 140 Flashes/Poems have so far received 430 critical comments. (much shorter)

No wonder I feel tired. I've logged 27 story critiques and 101 Flash crits, plus about ten more crits of non-BC stories.

And the "good" news is, there's a Frantic Flash this weekend with another 20-40 Flashes to judge.


Alex

The Forth Bridge

Finally caught up with my outstanding critiques in Boot Camp.

Almost caught up with the admin!

So far this year we've had

120 Flashes
020 Poems
035 Stories

This is a new round of stories so they are not all critiqued but so far we have 233 critiques, an average of 6.66 (the mark!) per story, which will rise past 8.

These are proper critiques, not casual remarks!


The 140 Flashes/Poems have so far received 430 critical comments. (much shorter)

No wonder I feel tired. I've logged 27 story critiques and 101 Flash crits, plus about ten more crits of non-BC stories.

And the (ha-ha) good news is, there's a Frantic Flash this weekend with another 20-40 Flashes to judge.


Alex

Friday, February 03, 2006

Grinding Through Block



I am not a great believer in the conceit known as writer's block, but I know depression or general "feeling low" when it bites. They aren't always or necessarily the same thing. Oh how I wish for the days in my teens and twenties when getting dumped was like filling a nuclear reactor with raw power. I lived off misery and produced "wonderful" poetry.

Then there's the argument that sometimes you have emptied the well and it needs refilling. I could say I believe that, and that's often exactly how it feels, and sure, reading for a while often "cures the problem".

But on the other hand, sometimes just reading ONE story (or in one case an opening line) can trigger the happy genes again and the fingers start tapping the keys.

Whatever, after a relatively disappointing January, I was determined to start February with a bang, and not just write plenty, but write a few good ones. Result was Days One and Two were torture. I felt so "empty" and couldn't even manage to think of prompts for Boot Camp.

I've noticed a sort of post-excitement depression that hits January, or the beginning of any month. The very nature of Boot Camp to push for more work and to look at results as "proof" that what we do is right, neans that various periods are ramped up, we achieve targets and then, sag and sigh thinking we could never match the effort again.

I used to run marathons (15 or so) and there's a syndrome occurs where runners having run more than 26 Miles, see the finish banner, relax, and promptly collapse. I think we get that in BC, and I suffer it personally. I need goals to make myself keep fighting but having just achieved one, I promptly ease off and fall over!



Anyway, I managed the prompts today (five minutes after Lexie Fox had posted some on my behalf) and then managed a story, which I had to drag out, but at least it exists!



Got Bridport Forms in the post today. Here' a tip. Enter at least one story early. Something like 90% of stories arrive in the last week. That's 3,600 stories. Why get lost in the crowd?






Alex

Thursday, February 02, 2006

Off the Mark for February

Late Night News

Newbie CLT tells us she has had 3 Micro-shorts accepted (one hit) and "Cally" tells us she is in the final for "Belvedere" (Results TBA) this with another CIN Flash. And I have a little thing, more an essay than a story, a reflection on The Race For Life, last Summer. That is up at Smokebox with a couple of other BCers.

Cally tells us she has a story out in print, the latest Aesthetica (12) our 30th actual publication of the year

And the work is starting to come in too. Half a dozen stories, half a dozen flashes, 20 crits and 18 Subs

Bookings for this weekend's Frantic Flash are just starting to land, 9 so far, so sign up folks!


Alex

1,700 Words an Hour?



February has started with a flurry of submissions, but the writing is very ho-hum.

I feel empty of fresh, worthwhile stuff. Oh, I could bang out 1K Flashes that'd be "OK" but I have them coming out of my ears. What I need is a bit more serious stuff, strong enough to pitch for Fish, Bridport or a few of the US comps, and of course New Yorker, Paris Review, Glimmer Train et al.

I also promised my downtrodden spouse that I WOULD finish one of the novels before August.

I'd do that, no problem if it wasn't for school-runs and stuff. The SR used to be best part of an hour and I've got it down to half that but that is still 5 Hours a week simply zapped. Add in two weekdays with an extra hour and one where it's three and that is a full eight-hour working day taken from me every single week.

This morning, pre-log I wrote 2,550 words in 88 minutes, 1,700 an hour. Those eight hours could be 13,600 words IN A WEEK!

of course, there's the small problem of making them GOOD.



I say above that the school-run is "wasted". And that's a serious thought. But for the course I ran in Wales I looked at one school-run and produced an article "Writing While Driving is Legal".

I was basically reminding myself how much there is to see if only we would LOOK.

Nice segue here to something with the Open University. I was asked to look at a Rembrandt painting (The Artist in His Studio) and write about it. Just "looking" it's an OK painting and I like the colour etc. Having to write down what I see and start to "interact" I kept seeing more and more and more.





I have no idea if I was imposing meaning (watch this space) but the process reminded me of my blind-spots reading poetry and the hundreds of BCers who take years to "see" short-stories.

We were just discussing a story in BC, "Genteel Potatoes" by A L Kennedy

Discussion in 99% of writers sites are loose and general, powder puff and unpindownable. This one started the same:

Great read, I would think 130 (referring to a BC score)

Pleased you liked it. I thought 140.


I came in and bawled a few people out, that we CRITIQUE in Boot Camp, not chatter. The first three crits came in with scores of 118-120. That's interesting in itself. My view was that the story was OK, but mostly presentation covering up a very small plot with a stock theme.

The point is (and 120 is a very good score, just not "The Ledge") that proper critiquing made people see a lot clearer and learn something instead of just nodding at a story because the author is a name.

Potatoes seems to be a recurring theme recently. We had a BC story where a woman was peeling spuds, then this one, and yesterday I had to read a Seamus Heaney poem about the author peeling potatoes with his mother.

If you're interested Seamus, I got that one.


Alex