Monday, December 18, 2006

Phoenix Prize Result

Final Judging (blind) by John Ravenscroft






WINNER

Irrigation T Williams, Brighton



Second

Dave Eggers Stole My Suitcase David Prescott, Hereford


Third

A Good Day For Trumpet Fish David Prescott Hereford


Fourth

The Power of One Hazera Forth, Befordshire


Fifth

The Big Enigma Mel Fawcett, Cumbria

Boot Camp 254 Hits in 2006

We have just announced our latest prize winners.

Here is the latest round up of "hits" for 2006

We currently lie on 254 hits for 2006.

Virtually 5 Hits per week for the whole of the year.

Next year our target is 52 First Prizes, 150 Prizes-Places, 365 Hits

24th Boot Camp First Prize, 90 Prizes-Places in 2006

2005 saw Boot Campers win 26 Firsts
2006 saw Boot Campers win 24 Firsts

A nice round total of FIFTY first prizes in two years





2006

Total Winnings $9,100

FIRST PLACE

01 Colin $200 First Place in Slingink's Eurofiction
02 Mike Joint-Winner in 7Q FF9
03 Dave Joint-Winner in 7Q FF9
04 Lexie Wins Adult SS of the Year ($600) in "Killie"
05 Cally Wins Dark Tales ($60)
06 Fleur wins 7Q FF10
07 Hazera wins Doorknobs & Bodypaint First Place
08 Alex Wins Pencil Bantry $300
09 Lexie Wins Cotswold Prize $1,000
10 Cally wins Bank Street SS Prize $140
11 Alex wins Lichfield Prize $250
12 ColinU wins Cadenza $400
13 Caroline wins Kings Lynn Poetry Prize ($200)
14 Gabiotas wins FirstWriter $400
15 TomC wins at "All About Writing"
16 TomC wins $200 First at 7Qs Frantic Flash 11
17 TomC wins $300 First at JBWB
18 Lexie wins Women Writers Network $490
19 Lexie wins $200 First at Earlyworks
20 Lexie wins $400 First Place at H E Bates
21 Cally wins Helen Mullin Award $200
22 Cedric wins CIN Marathon First Prize $200
23 rvjones wins Southport Writer $300
24 Cedric Popa wins Eclectica-CIN Prize (TBC)




SECOND

01 Lexie $150 Second Place in "Dame Throgmorton"
02 TomC gets $100 second in JBWB
03 Dave PR 2nd in 7Q FF10
04 Cally Joint second in Writers Dock Comp
05 Lexie $300 second place Philip Good Memorial Prize
06 Cally in Woman's Own (Prize Value estimate $250)
07 Colin Second in FlashFiction Comp $50
08 Lexie 2nd in City of Derby Comp $400
09 Tom gets $200 2nd in Twyford with CIN Story
10 Calvin Lord 2nd 7Q FF11
11 ColinU 2nd at New Horizonz ($20)
12 Nighttwriter 2ns Aber Valley $60
13 Rob Howe gets $300 Second Place at H E Bates
14 Fleur Second in CIN marathon $100
15 DavePR Second in Phoenix Prize
16 Cedric Popa 2nd in CIN-Eclectica (TBC)

THIRD

01 Lexie in 7Q FF9 Third Place
02 Lexie 3rd in 7Q FF10
03 Tom's $25 3rd in Oz
04 Lexie $200 3rd in The New Writer
05 Alex $150 third place Philip Good Memorial Prize
06 DavePR 3rd in 7Q FF11
07 Lexie 3rd at Mere ($150)
08 Lexie 3rd in Jo Cowell $100
09 Dave PR Third in Phoenix Prize
10 Michael J Hulme Third in CIN-Eclectica (TBC)

4ths, HRs, NAMED FINALISTs

01 Alex Night Train Yates Comp, Last 12 "Floating"
02 Alex Poem in "Out of Love" Anthology
03 Laurie (Nartje) in "Out of Love" Anthology
04 Lexie, State of Being" HR at HISSAC (only winner is announced)
05 Lexie, second story finalist at HISAAC
06 Colin finalist in HISAAC
07 Colin HR in JBWB
08 Cally in Final of Belvedere
09 Lexie in Fish Anthology ($100)
10 Lexie last 140 of 1800, Fish
11 Haz named in Best of the web shortlist
12 Lexie Final of Writers Forum
13 Alex last 3 in Carve "Overseas Writer"
14 TomC HR'd in Bank Street SS Comp
15 TomC 4th in Twisted Tongue
16 Alex at Philip Good Memorial (second story placed 3rd)
17 Lexie at Philip Good Memorial (second story placed 2nd)
18 Cally HR in Lymm Festival $20
19 Colin Finalist, $40, dinner at Frome
20 Cally Finalist Flash FictionComp
21 TomC finalist, ditto
22 Britbird shortlisted in Pier Pressure
23 Colin HM in Momaya III, in Anthology
24 Fleur "too late" in FF11 but into 7Q
25 Cally runner up at Mere ($30)
26 Cally Shortlisted at Slingink TBA
27 Cally shortlisted Helen Mullen Award TBA
28 Caroline short-listed Bournemouth Literary Festival
29 TomC named on Wells Shortlist
30 Lexie named on Wells shortlist
31 Lexie named on Wells Shortlist
32 TomC 2nd story shortlisted (Top 6) at JBWB as well as winning!
33 Lexie Short-Listed at Fish (Results TBA)
34 Fleur Short-listed at Fish (Results TBA)
35 Jason Jackson Highly Commended in Jo Cowell
36 Lexie HR'd at Southport
37 TomC shortlisted in Cadenza Comp
38 Dave PR longlisted Cadenza
39 Hazera 4th in Poenix Prize
40 Michael J Hulme 4th in CIN-Ecectica (TBC)





00 Laurie recently left but was also HR'd at Bank Street (not counted)

Lexie also recieved $25 & $10 payments


Winnings in Dollars, £ = $2, Euro = $1
for simplicity of calculation

Eclectica- CIN Prize-Winners Announced

Eclectica Magazine have chosen the following five stories, four by Boot Campers and one by a Guest as their top five Children in Need Stories for 2006, to appear in a forthcoming "Eclectica"


Killing Bulls
The Year of the Card Player
Geoff Says Farewell
The Undressing of Ursula
Ramirez

These are by

Cedric Popa
Cedric Popa
Michael J Hulme
Michael J Hulme
Kenneth Shand


I believe this to also be the winning order, but await confirmation of that for the award of prizes.



The CIN Night, to date has produced 46 Hits, one paying $100.



alx

Saturday, December 16, 2006

Doing Well But the Boss Can't Count!

My recent Prize-Totals post had Boot Camp with 87 Prizes-Places.

That should have been 86.

A second, a third, and a fourth place announced today takes us to here:

2006 86 Prizes 23 Firsts, 15 Seconds, 9 Thirds, 39 Finals $9,000

Total Winnings $9,000

FIRST PLACE

01 Colin $200 First Place in Slingink's Eurofiction
02 Mike Joint-Winner in 7Q FF9
03 Dave Joint-Winner in 7Q FF9
04 Lexie Wins Adult SS of the Year ($600) in "Killie"
05 Cally Wins Dark Tales ($60)
06 Fleur wins 7Q FF10
07 Hazera wins Doorknobs & Bodypaint First Place
08 Alex Wins Pencil Bantry $300
09 Lexie Wins Cotswold Prize $1,000
10 Cally wins Bank Street SS Prize $140
11 Alex wins Lichfield Prize $250
12 ColinU wins Cadenza $400
13 Caroline wins Kings Lynn Poetry Prize ($200)
14 Gabiotas wins FirstWriter $400
15 TomC wins at "All About Writing"
16 TomC wins $200 First at 7Qs Frantic Flash 11
17 TomC wins $300 First at JBWB
18 Lexie wins Women Writers Network $490
19 Lexie wins $200 First at Earlyworks
20 Lexie wins $400 First Place at H E Bates
21 Cally wins Helen Mullin Award $200
22 Cedric wins CIN Marathon First Prize $200
23 rvjones wins Southport Writer $300




SECOND

01 Lexie $150 Second Place in "Dame Throgmorton"
02 TomC gets $100 second in JBWB
03 Dave PR 2nd in 7Q FF10
04 Cally Joint second in Writers Dock Comp
05 Lexie $300 second place Philip Good Memorial Prize
06 Cally in Woman's Own (Prize Value estimate $250)
07 Colin Second in FlashFiction Comp $50
08 Lexie 2nd in City of Derby Comp $400
09 Tom gets $200 2nd in Twyford with CIN Story
10 Calvin Lord 2nd 7Q FF11
11 ColinU 2nd at New Horizonz ($20)
12 Nighttwriter 2ns Aber Valley $60
13 Rob Howe gets $300 Second Place at H E Bates
14 Fleur Second in CIN marathon $100
15 DavePR Second in Phoenix Prize

THIRD

01 Lexie in 7Q FF9 Third Place
02 Lexie 3rd in 7Q FF10
03 Tom's $25 3rd in Oz
04 Lexie $200 3rd in The New Writer
05 Alex $150 third place Philip Good Memorial Prize
06 DavePR 3rd in 7Q FF11
07 Lexie 3rd at Mere ($150)
08 Lexie 3rd in Jo Cowell $100
09 Dave PR Third in Phoenix Prize

4ths, HRs, NAMED FINALISTs

01 Alex Night Train Yates Comp, Last 12 "Floating"
02 Alex Poem in "Out of Love" Anthology
03 Laurie (Nartje) in "Out of Love" Anthology
04 Lexie, State of Being" HR at HISSAC (only winner is announced)
05 Lexie, second story finalist at HISAAC
06 Colin finalist in HISAAC
07 Colin HR in JBWB
08 Cally in Final of Belvedere
09 Lexie in Fish Anthology ($100)
10 Lexie last 140 of 1800, Fish
11 Haz named in Best of the web shortlist
12 Lexie Final of Writers Forum
13 Alex last 3 in Carve "Overseas Writer"
14 TomC HR'd in Bank Street SS Comp
15 TomC 4th in Twisted Tongue
16 Alex at Philip Good Memorial (second story placed 3rd)
17 Lexie at Philip Good Memorial (second story placed 2nd)
18 Cally HR in Lymm Festival $20
19 Colin Finalist, $40, dinner at Frome
20 Cally Finalist Flash FictionComp
21 TomC finalist, ditto
22 Britbird shortlisted in Pier Pressure
23 Colin HM in Momaya III, in Anthology
24 Fleur "too late" in FF11 but into 7Q
25 Cally runner up at Mere ($30)
26 Cally Shortlisted at Slingink TBA
27 Cally shortlisted Helen Mullen Award TBA
28 Caroline short-listed Bournemouth Literary Festival
29 TomC named on Wells Shortlist
30 Lexie named on Wells shortlist
31 Lexie named on Wells Shortlist
32 TomC 2nd story shortlisted (Top 6) at JBWB as well as winning!
33 Lexie Short-Listed at Fish (Results TBA)
34 Fleur Short-listed at Fish (Results TBA)
35 Jason Jackson Highly Commended in Jo Cowell
36 Lexie HR'd at Southport
37 TomC shortlisted in Cadenza Comp
38 Dave PR longlisted Cadenza
39 Hazera 4th in Phoenix Prize





00 Laurie recently left but was also HR'd at Bank Street (not counted)

Lexie also recieved $25 & $10 payments


Winnings in Dollars, £ = $2, Euro = $1
for simplicity of calculation

Friday, December 15, 2006

We Demand a Recount!

We've been underestimating our prizes/places.

two stories make the finals of Cadenza and takes us to THIS!


2006

87 Prizes

23 Firsts

14 Second

08 Thirds

42 Finals

Total Winnings $9,000

FIRST PLACE

01 Colin $200 First Place in Slingink's Eurofiction
02 Mike Joint-Winner in 7Q FF9
03 Dave Joint-Winner in 7Q FF9
04 Lexie Wins Adult SS of the Year ($600) in "Killie"
05 Cally Wins Dark Tales ($60)
06 Fleur wins 7Q FF10
07 Hazera wins Doorknobs & Bodypaint First Place
08 Alex Wins Pencil Bantry $300
09 Lexie Wins Cotswold Prize $1,000
10 Cally wins Bank Street SS Prize $140
11 Alex wins Lichfield Prize $250
12 ColinU wins Cadenza $400
13 Caroline wins Kings Lynn Poetry Prize ($200)
14 Gabiotas wins FirstWriter $400
15 TomC wins at "All About Writing"
16 TomC wins $200 First at 7Qs Frantic Flash 11
17 TomC wins $300 First at JBWB
18 Lexie wins Women Writers Network $490
19 Lexie wins $200 First at Earlyworks
20 Lexie wins $400 First Place at H E Bates
21 Cally wins Helen Mullin Award $200
22 Cedric wins CIN Marathon First Prize $200
23 rvjones wins Southport Writer $300




SECOND

01 Lexie $150 Second Place in "Dame Throgmorton"
02 TomC gets $100 second in JBWB
03 Dave PR 2nd in 7Q FF10
04 Cally Joint second in Writers Dock Comp
05 Lexie $300 second place Philip Good Memorial Prize
06 Cally in Woman's Own (Prize Value estimate $250)
07 Colin Second in FlashFiction Comp $50
08 Lexie 2nd in City of Derby Comp $400
09 Tom gets $200 2nd in Twyford with CIN Story
10 Calvin Lord 2nd 7Q FF11
11 ColinU 2nd at New Horizonz ($20)
12 Nighttwriter 2ns Aber Valley $60
13 Rob Howe gets $300 Second Place at H E Bates
14 Fleur Second in CIN marathon $100

THIRD

01 Lexie in 7Q FF9 Third Place
02 Lexie 3rd in 7Q FF10
03 Tom's $25 3rd in Oz
04 Lexie $200 3rd in The New Writer
05 Alex $150 third place Philip Good Memorial Prize
06 DavePR 3rd in 7Q FF11
07 Lexie 3rd at Mere ($150)
08 Lexie 3rd in Jo Cowell $100

4ths, HRs, NAMED FINALISTs

01 Alex Night Train Yates Comp, Last 12 "Floating"
02 Alex Poem in "Out of Love" Anthology
03 Laurie (Nartje) in "Out of Love" Anthology
04 Lexie, State of Being" HR at HISSAC (only winner is announced)
05 Lexie, second story finalist at HISAAC
06 Colin finalist in HISAAC
07 Colin HR in JBWB
08 Cally in Final of Belvedere
09 Lexie in Fish Anthology ($100)
10 Lexie last 140 of 1800, Fish
11 Haz named in Best of the web shortlist
12 Lexie Final of Writers Forum
13 Alex last 3 in Carve "Overseas Writer"
14 TomC HR'd in Bank Street SS Comp
15 TomC 4th in Twisted Tongue
16 Alex at Philip Good Memorial (second story placed 3rd)
17 Lexie at Philip Good Memorial (second story placed 2nd)
18 Cally HR in Lymm Festival $20
19 Colin Finalist, $40, dinner at Frome
20 Cally Finalist Flash FictionComp
21 TomC finalist, ditto
22 Britbird shortlisted in Pier Pressure
23 Colin HM in Momaya III, in Anthology
24 Fleur "too late" in FF11 but into 7Q
25 Cally runner up at Mere ($30)
26 Cally Shortlisted at Slingink TBA
27 Cally shortlisted Helen Mullen Award TBA
28 Caroline short-listed Bournemouth Literary Festival
29 TomC named on Wells Shortlist
30 Lexie named on Wells shortlist
31 Lexie named on Wells Shortlist
32 TomC 2nd story shortlisted (Top 6) at JBWB as well as winning!
33 Lexie Short-Listed at Fish (Results TBA)
34 Fleur Short-listed at Fish (Results TBA)
35 Jason Jackson Highly Commended in Jo Cowell
36 Lexie HR'd at Southport
37 TomC shortlisted in Cadenza Comp
38 Dave PR longlisted Cadenza

39
40
41 3 BC stories in last 5 of Phoenix




00 Laurie recently left but was also HR'd at Bank Street (not counted)

Lexie also recieved $25 & $10 payments


Winnings in Dollars, £ = $2, Euro = $1
for simplicity of calculation

Thursday, December 14, 2006

More Hits! Closing in on 250 in 2006

Lexie was HRd at Southport to go with our win there; we have three stories on a shortlist, results TBA, Colin was HRd in another comp (Ormskirk), TomC gets one in Peccary Magazine... all taking us to 246 hits for the year, 80 Prizes/Places earnming $9,000

Tuesday, December 12, 2006

Phoenix Prize Latest

Sorry to say that entries didn't cover the main prize
but 7Q has decided to carry the loss (£35)


The shortlisted stories (below) have gone out to the judge

Results expected in a few days




Dave Eggers Stole My Suitcase
Irrigation
A Good Day For Trumpet Fish
The Power of One
The Big Enigma

Monday, December 11, 2006

Boot Campers Win $9,000 in Prizes!

2006 = 76 Prizes 23 Firsts 13 Second 8 Third, 36 HRs/Named Finals $9,000


We have just had our 23rd First Place of 2006

rvjones wins Southport $300

Jason Jackson HR'd in Jo Cowell

If we can squeeze in two more before the year-end we'' have averaged 1.5 prizes a week




Total Winnings $9,000

FIRST PLACE

01 Colin $200 First Place in Slingink's Eurofiction
02 Mike Joint-Winner in 7Q FF9
03 Dave Joint-Winner in 7Q FF9
04 Lexie Wins Adult SS of the Year ($600) in "Killie"
05 Cally Wins Dark Tales ($60)
06 Fleur wins 7Q FF10
07 Hazera wins Doorknobs & Bodypaint First Place
08 Alex Wins Pencil Bantry $300
09 Lexie Wins Cotswold Prize $1,000
10 Cally wins Bank Street SS Prize $140
11 Alex wins Lichfield Prize $250
12 ColinU wins Cadenza $400
13 Caroline wins Kings Lynn Poetry Prize ($200)
14 Gabiotas wins FirstWriter $400
15 TomC wins at "All About Writing"
16 TomC wins $200 First at 7Qs Frantic Flash 11
17 TomC wins $300 First at JBWB
18 Lexie wins Women Writers Network $490
19 Lexie wins $200 First at Earlyworks
20 Lexie wins $400 First Place at H E Bates
21 Cally wins Helen Mullin Award $200
22 Cedric wins CIN Marathon First Prize $200
23 rvjones wins Southport Writer $300




SECOND

01 Lexie $150 Second Place in "Dame Throgmorton"
02 TomC gets $100 second in JBWB
03 Dave PR 2nd in 7Q FF10
04 Cally Joint second in Writers Dock Comp
05 Lexie $300 second place Philip Good Memorial Prize
06 Cally in Woman's Own (Prize Value estimate $250)
07 Colin Second in FlashFiction Comp $50
08 Lexie 2nd in City of Derby Comp $400
09 Tom gets $200 2nd in Twyford with CIN Story
10 Calvin Lord 2nd 7Q FF11
11 ColinU 2nd at New Horizonz ($20)
12 Nighttwriter 2ns Aber Valley $60
13 Rob Howe gets $300 Second Place at H E Bates
14 Fleur Second in CIN marathon $100

THIRD

01 Lexie in 7Q FF9 Third Place
02 Lexie 3rd in 7Q FF10
03 Tom's $25 3rd in Oz
04 Lexie $200 3rd in The New Writer
05 Alex $150 third place Philip Good Memorial Prize
06 DavePR 3rd in 7Q FF11
07 Lexie 3rd at Mere ($150)
08 Lexie 3rd in Jo Cowell $100

4ths, HRs, NAMED FINALISTs

01 Alex Night Train Yates Comp, Last 12 "Floating"
02 Alex Poem in "Out of Love" Anthology
03 Laurie (Nartje) in "Out of Love" Anthology
04 Lexie, State of Being" HR at HISSAC (only winner is announced)
05 Lexie, second story finalist at HISAAC
06 Colin finalist in HISAAC
07 Colin HR in JBWB
08 Cally in Final of Belvedere
09 Lexie in Fish Anthology ($100)
10 Lexie last 140 of 1800, Fish
11 Haz named in Best of the web shortlist
12 Lexie Final of Writers Forum
13 Alex last 3 in Carve "Overseas Writer"
14 TomC HR'd in Bank Street SS Comp
15 TomC 4th in Twisted Tongue
16 Alex at Philip Good Memorial (second story placed 3rd)
17 Lexie at Philip Good Memorial (second story placed 2nd)
18 Cally HR in Lymm Festival $20
19 Colin Finalist, $40, dinner at Frome
20 Cally Finalist Flash FictionComp
21 TomC finalist, ditto
22 Britbird shortlisted in Pier Pressure
23 Colin HM in Momaya III, in Anthology
24 Fleur "too late" in FF11 but into 7Q
25 Cally runner up at Mere ($30)
26 Cally Shortlisted at Slingink TBA
27 Cally shortlisted Helen Mullen Award TBA
28 Caroline short-listed Bournemouth Literary Festival
29 TomC named on Wells Shortlist
30 Lexie named on Wells shortlist
31 Lexie named on Wells Shortlist
32 TomC 2nd story shortlisted (Top 6) at JBWB as well as winning!
33 Lexie Short-Listed at Fish (Results TBA)
34 Fleur Short-listed at Fish (Results TBA)
35 Jason Jackson Highly Commended in Jo Cowell




00 Laurie recently left but was also HR'd at Bank Street (not counted)

Lexie also recieved $25 & $10 payments


Winnings in Dollars, £ = $2, Euro = $1
for simplicity of calculation

More Internet Problems

I have had horrendous problems with BT Broadband.

They "fixed it" Friday and oit dropped out again the following morning.


Just back on, so behind (again) with emails and web updates



alex

Tuesday, December 05, 2006

2007 Face-to-Face Courses in Newbury

In January 2007 I'm holding two courses at Kingfisher Barn, Newbury, Berkshire.

They are scheduled Thursday-Fri-Sat-Sun-Mon 11th-15th and 18th-22nd but either/both courses can be run one day later (Friday-Tuesday) if the majority prefer that.

Each day is self-contained and individuals can attend for 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 days.

There WILL be courses later in the year but we try to hit the New Year running.

Kingfisher Barn is a converted oak-beamed barn in a lovely secluded spot yet one mile from the nearest station.

For further details email me

alex.keegan

(at)

btinternet.com

Day 1: Thursday
The Over-Riding Importance of Voice & Character

Voice & Character, Setting Tone.
Voice & Dialogue

09:00 Talk: How Voice Shapes Reader & Writer 01
09:30 Exercise Voice 1
10:00 Talk: How Voice Shapes Reader & Writer 02
10:30 Exercise Voice 2
11:00 Talk: Why Character ALWAYS Comes First 01
11:30 Exercise Character 1
12:00 Talk: Why Character ALWAYS Comes First 02
12:30 Exercise Character 2
13:00 Discussion & Lunch
14:00 Thirty Minutes Free Time
14:30 Talk: Dialogue Errors
15:15 Exercise Dialogue Critiquing
15:30 Talk: Improving Dialogue. Do's & Don'ts
15:30 Exercise Dialogue 1
16:00 Summary
16:30 WRITING: Assisted Writing Time (Story)
19:00 Dinner
20:00 Feature Film: Looking at Deleted Scenes & Theme

Day 2: Friday
Bigger Little Stories
Avoiding Me-Too
Ambition
Honesty.

09:00 Talk: The Dangers of Certain Voices Limiting Scope.
09:30 Exercise: Laddish & Girlie versus Godlike. Dangers of First Person
10:00 Talk: How to Make Little Stories Bigger
10:30 Discussion: Writer-Generated Story Weighting
11:00 Talk: Truth, Pain (Napalm), Avoiding the Closed, The Lingering Ache
11:30 Short IDEA Workshop. Expand or Contract?
12:00 Talk: Why Setting Up the Reader is Important
13:00 Discussion & Lunch
14:00 Thirty Minutes Free Time
14:30 Talk: PLOT is a Four-Letter Word -1
15:00 Exercise: Plotting 1
15:30 Talk: More on Character v Plotting
16:00 Summary
16:30 WRITING: Assisted Writing Time (Story)
19:00 Dinner
20:00 Feature Film: Looking at Deleted Scenes & Theme

Day 3: Saturday
Let's Talk About YOU.
Getting Your WHY into Stories
Removing YOU

09:00 Talk: Why I Write. What Matters. What is My Ache?
09:30 Exercise: Where Am I Going? What Am I Saying? Commercialism.
10:00 Talk: Being Interesting. Seducing Readers. Under the Ribs
10:30 Discussion: Danger Zone. Who is Hiding? Who is a Cheat?
11:00 Talk: USING Truth, Pain. TMAWIA. Learning to Bleed. Lit v Genre
12:00 Discussion: Mixing Genres. Can I be serious, and Tell Stories?
13:00 REVIEW
13:30 Lunch Followed by Free Time
14:30 Talk: How Voice, Tone, Language Finds ME
15:00 Exercise: Using Voice, Tone, Language to Find My Ache
15:30 Discussion of Work
16:00 Summary
16:30 WRITING: Assisted Writing Time (Story)
19:00 Dinner
20:00 Feature Film: Looking at Deleted Scenes & Theme



Day 4: Sunday
THEME MUSIC
Poetry, Metaphor, Reference, Allusion
Fuzzy & Spiky. Using the Reader's Memory

09:00 Talk: TONE IS NOT AN ACCIDENT.
09:30 Exercise: I Feel Uncomfortable. This Isn't Me.
10:00 Talk: How Rich is Too Rich?
10:30 Exercise. One Story, Two Soundtracks. Voice-POV
11:00 Talk: USING Truth, Pain. TMAWIA. Learning to Bleed. Lit v Genre
12:00 Discussion: I Don't Like Literary Bollox. In Genre?
13:00 REVIEW & Discuss
13:30 Lunch Followed by Free Time
14:30 Talk: How Allusion, Reference, & Subtle Borrowing Enriches Feeling
15:00 Exercise: Rich Even When Writing Carver. Cliché v Resonant Reference.
15:30 Discussion of Work
16:00 Summary
16:30 WRITING: Assisted Writing Time (Story)
19:00 Dinner
20:00 Feature Film: Looking at Deleted Scenes & Theme



Day 5: Monday
Self-Gridding & Self-Editing.
Re-writing and Re-Living. Fine Toothcomb



09:00 Talk: How the Grid is Used Badly.
09:30 Exercise: Gridding Two Stories.
10:00 Talk: One Story, Two Critiques, One of Which is Honest
10:30 Exercise. A NON-Grid Review of a Story for Editing
11:00 Talk: How Elemental Polishes Dramatically Improve a Story
12:00 Exercise & Discussion: Gridding to Rewrite
13:00 REVIEW & Discuss
13:30 Lunch Followed by Free Time
14:30 Talk: Gridding Towards the Truth
15:30 Individual Gridding of Course Stories. Blue Pen
15:30 Group Discussion of Work
16:30 Summary
17:00 Afternoon Tea


The following elements will probably be covered within the above but for those not wanting to write in the two-hour slots, these talks/discussions will be available at those times

Making Stories Layered
Obtuse versus Oblique
Why Tone Can Be an Ally
How Allusions Can Bolster the Theme
How Word-Choices Can Subtly "Weight" Meaning
Having Real Plots Not Incident Chains
Voice + POV + Character + Situation = PLOT with Resonance


Aesthetics v Utility v Propaganda.

Why Some Stories Get Under the Skin When Others Just Have "Look at Me" Written All Over Them. Avoiding (Obvious) Showboating.

Monday, December 04, 2006

Phoenix Prize Problems

The response to The Phoenix Prize (and to the previous Frantc Flash) was very poor.

Seventh Quark (meaning ME) lost money on the Frantic Flash.

As entries stand we will lose money on the Phoenix, also.

This is a fantastic opportuntiy for any half-decent writers to win a first prize. Get your entries in NOW!

We need 13 more entries just to break even (a £200 first prize and no place prizes) but I am not prepared to lose on two consecutive competitions.

I'm thus keeping the comp open a little while longer in the hope that the various promised stories arrive.

The following is a FIRST PASS (meaning it's rough and positions could change) which gives an APPROXIMATE standing (in bands) of the stories. The list is to show you ROUGHLY where your story stands but please note that within a band, just because you are first doesn't nmean you are top of that band.

IRRIGATION
A Good Day For Trumpet Fish
The Big Enigma
Mechanical Animals
Saviour of Mons

The I in the Sky
The Truth Game
Soul Kill
Final Knockings
Not Los Angeles

Cold Bones
Elixir of Youth
Taking Care
Sea Songs & Bladderwrack
The Leg or Oliver's Lamp

Strangers
Glass Jars
Rough Justice
Poor Daisy
Growing Pains
Crossing the Bridge
The Visitor
The Good Deed
Clouds
Perpetual Paradise
The Assessment

Unmarked

The Power of One
The End of the World is Done

Lost Web Access

(Monday)

I've had no web access Thursday-Sunday so am now behind.


Hope to catch up tomorrow



Alex