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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!

Your writing could feature alongside those of Tracy Chevalier Here's a great competition organised by York Art Gallery where author Tracy Chevalier is currently writer-in-residence.Tracy's best-known novel is Girl with a Pearl Earring, inspired by the painting of the same name by Johannes Vermeer, and she often uses art and history as starting points for her works of fiction. With this in mind the gallery is asking writers to pen a 300-word story about one of 15 pieces of art (ten paintings and five ceramics) on display at the gallery. This competition is really up my street but picking one piece is proving really difficult. Tracy is a great writer and I really admire the way she weaves a story around a piece of art or a person. I can't wait to read her next book about fossil hunter Mary Anning - working title 'She sells seas shells.' Two winners will be chosen by Tracy, one from the young people's category (12 -17) and one from the adults' (18 and over). The winning stories will be published on the back of postcards showing the piece of art they are inspired by. These will be included in a gift pack of postcards also containing stories by Tracy on selected works. The winners and runners-up will also be invited to join Tracy at a prize-giving event in November, to read their stories to the public. The winner of the adults' category will receive £100 and the winner of the young people's category, £50. Runners-up will receive copies of the art book What Great Paintings Say by Rainer and Rose-Marie Hagen. To enter choose a painting or ceramic from the 15 featured on the York Art Gallery website, or on show at the gallery between May 8 and September 30 2008. Now write a story of 300 words or less and type it onto a single side of A4 paper or in an email. 'Man with a book' by Parmigia - One of the art works you could choose Please include the title of the painting or ceramic that has inspired your story, your story's title (if this is different) and the number of words in your story. Send email entries to [email protected] or post them to Short Story Competition, York Art Gallery, Exhibition Square, York, YO1 7EW or drop them in at York Art Gallery in person. The closing date is Tuesday, 30 September, 2008 Full details of the rules are available at www.yorkartgallery.org.uk * You can meet Tracy Chevalier at York Art Gallery next month gallery and ask her about her work, writing processes and her thoughts on the paintings on display. Tuesday July 1st, 2pm - 4pm.

“Talitha-chan found another video for a LadyStar Video Alert!”

“Wait a second, I thought Sailor Moon was animated?”

“It was a live action show too. It’s called Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon. The girls in this video were all the main characters.”

“A music video of a song with a French title, sung in Japanese and subtitled in English?”

“Yeah, but it’s Sailor Moon.”

“You savvy?”

*giggle*