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I had another short story back from Writers' Forum magazine on Saturday with the usual scoring sheet inside. The story was one I'd written a while ago and had been struggling with getting finished to my satisfaction. The main problem I'd had was the ending and I've written various versions hoping to something would feel right. I finally got something that worked but I still wasn't 100 per cent satisfied with the story although I was happy with the plot and characters. So I was surprised when the reader said they thought the ending was apt but the beginning needed work and the flow in general. A rewrite was suggested. The other problem I've had with the story was the title - I couldn't find one I liked. For a while I called it secrets and savages but at the last minute I shortened it to just 'secrets.' The reader was not impresses 'as a sub you should be able to come up with a better one.' Quite right and as I've said before I often get the title first. So why was the title a struggle in this case? I think probably I haven't got a proper grasp on what the story is about. I'm definitely going to take another look at the whole thing. As for the opening I think I give away too much to early and perhaps a non-chronogical form would be better. I had a similiar problem with a story I wrote this weekend for a Writing Magazine competition. The theme is 'The Window Dresser' and after some thought I'd built a plot for my main character Harriet. I wrote the story in one go and thought I was happy with it but the next morning on re-reading it I found it - well boring. Something was wrong with it so I tried to analyse it. What was wrong with the beginning? Well I think I was telling not showing the story, the start was too long-winded as I tried to set up the situation. I hacked away, changed some scenes, made sure my unlikeable character was nasty from the start oh and then I decided it would be better in first person. That meant chaning lots of she's and her's but towards the end of the story there was a scene which wasn't from Harriet's viewpoint which took some thinking about - but I think it works. Perhaps my 'secrets' story needs to be in first person too? Sometimes I start writing in first person but there have been other occasions when I've changed the viewpoint afterwards. Also on my to-do list is a story idea I had on the way in to work this morning which might suit the People's Friend competition. There's going to be a twist in the tale so it'll be quite tricky to make it work - but I'm hopeful. I'm trying to do at least a couple of stories a week if not more. I find the more I do the more ideas I have. * I had an email at the weekend from York Art Gallery to say Tracy Chevalier is holding two writing workshops this Saturday (October 11th) at 10.30-11.15 and 12-12.45. Suitable for those aged 10+ it costs ??5 per session. (I wish I could go.) To book your place ring: 01904 650333. The newsletter also says they had over 600 entries to their short story competition - even at 300 words each that's an awful lot of reading for Tracy!

Award–winning publisher, Frances Lincoln Limited, and Seven Stories, the Centre for Children’s Books, have launched 'Diverse Voices' an award in memory of Frances Lincoln (1945–2001). The search is on for a children's book manuscript that "celebrates cultural diversity in the widest possible sense, either in terms of its story or in terms of the ethnic and cultural origins of its author." The winner will receive £1,500, plus the option for Frances Lincoln Children’s Books to publish their novel. FLCB founded in 1977 publish well over 100 new books a year, and have nearly 1000 in print. The competition is for an unpublished book (fiction) for eight to 12-year-olds by a writer aged 16 or over. The book must be between 10,000 and 30,000 words in English. The writer must not have previously published a novel for children but may have contributed to an anthology of prose or poetry. The closing date for all entries is 30 January 2009. The winner will be announced at an award ceremony at Seven Stories, the Centre for Children’s Books, next April. The award has been set up to : "Take positive steps to increase the representation of people writing from or about different cultural perspectives, whose work is published in Britain today. Promote new writing for children, especially by or about people whose culture and voice are currently underrepresented. Recognise that as children’s books shape our earliest perceptions of the world and its cultures, promoting writing that represents diversity will contribute to social and cultural tolerance. Support the process of writing rather than, as with the majority of prizes, promoting the publication." The judges will be Trevor Phillips – Chair of The Equality and Human Rights Commission, Jake Hope – Children’s Librarian for Lancashire Libraries, and a freelance consultant, Geraldine Brennan – Journalist and former Books Editor at the Times Educational Supplement, Janetta Otter-Barry – Editorial Director, Frances Lincoln Children’s Books and Mary Briggs – Co-Founder of Seven Stories, the Centre for Children’s Books For entry forms email [email protected] You can check out the great titles published by FLCB at their website www.franceslincoln.com/Home