Five Challenges When Shifting FromTraditional to Self Publishing

This link came into our inbox today and it makes good reading for writers unsure of which type of publishing works best for them.

https://www.chatebooks.com/blog-5-Challenges-When-Shifting-from-Traditional-to-Self-Publishing


Please leave a comment with what has been successful for you.

Offset Sixteen Launch - by Les Stillman

Julee and I attended the Offset Sixteen launch last night. Both she and Matthew had their stories published in the book.

Matthew was already there looking quite dapper dressed in chinos, shirt and jacket. He was standing aloof and intelligent his head cocked slightly to the side. Well, we thought he was aloof, but in reality he was waiting for the bar to open, listening for the tinkle of glasses – more shattered illusions.

We had a great chat and a drink with Matthew before we separated to mingle.

Matthew was in his element and it was fun watching him flit around meeting old friends and colleagues. As Yoda, would say, ‘Hmmm, popular our young Matthew is.’

Once the crowd poured in and we had a drink in our hand we started to mingle.

Julee’s shoes hurt her feet, so she had to sit down and wait for visitors. Of course, they flocked to her in abundance and she had a great time chatting with some interesting people. Jessi, the young girl we’d dealt with throughout, swept Julee away introducing her to the other girls on her team, all who wanted to tell her how much they loved her story.

I, on the other hand, had no restrictions. I slipped amongst the crowd looking for interesting people, forcing them to talk to me so I could bore them to death.

It was a most interesting group, full of very colourful characters. I must say, everyone I spoke to was delightful. I had a lovely chat with a girl who sported bright blue hair and dark blue lipstick. She was very nice.

Anyway, back to the crowd. My favourite was a little lady who looked like a lollipop stick. I say this in the nicest way I might add. She was dressed in the colours of a rainbow, with leggings over her pants, a neck scarf and a bandanna holding back a bird’s nest of hair with things sticking out of it. She had a bright, intelligent face with huge glasses and she also carried a walking/sitting stick, equally colourful as her dress. Somehow, it all came together and worked. I had a great long chat with her and she was a delight. An artist of course, who had one of her pieces on display. It was modernistic and stimulating.

Anyway, having said all that. It was a great night, we had fun and more to the point, I’m very proud of both Julee and Matthew for winning and grinning.

Local writer in the news

Local writer Christine Mackley is featured in a story by Sumeyya Ilanbey in this week's Star Weekly.
Christine, a multiple City of Melton Short Story Competition winner gave her views on what it takes to make a story stand out. She is proud that her work, Fair Fight, will be published in this year's Award Winning Australian Writing 2016.

Christine made a point of saying different things had helped her writing. One was being part of a writing group, this had helped because she had other like minded people to read and critique her work. She advised writers to use all of the five senses to put the reader into the story, so they can see, taste, hear and feel what the writer is saying.

Every word has to count in a short story so the writer needs to ask if it has a reason to be in your work.

Fair Fight took weeks of work to get it into shape before she submitted it.

Award Winning Australian Writing was launched at the beginning of Spring and should be available from a bookstore near you.

Les' Report 7th of September 2016

Captains Log 7th of September 2016

It was Mathew’s day on Wednesday – as per normal, interesting and helpful. We discussed our individual writing progress, short story writing and competitions in general, then finished up with a discussion on the Melbourne Writers Festival and its motivational implications. Everyone joined in the discussions and as usual, it was frenetic and jolly, with a dozen different conversations going at once. Of course, I tried valiantly to get everyone on track and of course, as usual, I was completely ignored. Still, it was all good natured, lots of fun and I think we achieved quite a bit.

Then Mathew pulled out a punctuation exercise (cue dramatic music – Da, da, da, daaaa). It was, interesting to say the least and caused an interesting differing of opinion and quite a bit of discussion. Which, of course is exactly what we want.

Please remember that entries to the Melton competition will close on the 7^th October. It would be nice if we could all put in entries.

City of Melton Short Story Competition 2016

The long running Melton Short Story competition is now open to entries copy and paste this address into your browser to access terms and conditions.

http://www.melton.vic.gov.au/Out-n-About/Libraries-and-learning/Libraries/Short-Story-Competition-2016

Thre are three categories again this year and are as follows

Adult Section (18 years and over)*1st Prize: $500
2nd Prize: $200
3rd Prize: $100

Teenage Section (13–17 years)*1st Prize: $250 (plus $250 for their school)
2nd Prize: $100 (plus $100 for their school)
3rd Prize: $50 (plus $50 for their school)

Junior Section (up to 12 years)*1st Prize: $250 (plus $250 for their school)
2nd Prize: $100 (plus $100 for their school)
3rd Prize: $50 (plus $50 for their school)

Entries are open to any medium: print, illustration, video, verse, voice or combinations of any of the above. Each entry should be no more than 1500 words and, for other story formats, something that takes no more than 5 minutes to experience.

*First time entry encouragement award

*Prizes for all finalists in each section

In case of two winners in any category the first and second prize will be added together and divided equally between the two winners and there will be a third prize.

Read the conditions of entry before submitting your story

Get some writing tips from a pro!

Find out who's judging.

WHAT IF? by Les Stillman

I love this place. It’s simply enchanting. So exotic. Palm trees and potted plants everywhere, and the blue of the sea, it’s simply divine. The staff look wonderful in their lovely native costumes and they cater to one’s every need. No radios or papers to disturb the tranquillity, a shield from the worries of the outside world, this place is just heaven. Hmm, the pool looks so cool and inviting.

‘I say Dickie, what about a quick dip before drinkies?

          Hate this place. What a disaster. Damn trees and spiked shrubbery everywhere, and the glare off that bloody ocean is giving me a headache. The staff look like clowns in those bloody awful costumes, constantly bothering me. Cut off from civilisation. No radios or even a newspaper, this place is a nightmare. God she wants to go for a swim, not likely after all these yokels have been in there, never know what you might catch.

‘What’s that you say, old girl? Drinkies? Rather.’

What a splendid idea they have, asking the guests to dress for dinner in these wonderful outfits they’ve given us. ‘It’s so romantic, wearing these pretty costumes. I love this veil, it’s rather seductive don’t you think?’ I wish Dickie would put his outfit on, instead of wearing his suit. He’d look like a foreign prince, instead of a stuck up, pompous Englishman. 

Couldn’t believe it when they gave us these ghastly costumes to wear to dinner. No, no, no. I have my suit, and that’ll do me just fine.

‘I say old girl; must you wear that bloody veil. Makes you look like some sort of harem girl don’t you know.  And before you ask – no, I will not wear that bally clown outfit.’

Horrible beast, if it wasn’t for the scandal, I’d chuck him out. Hmmm, still, he can be charming at times and I do make him look good when I’m on his arm.

Silly woman. By God, if it wasn’t for her money, I’d divorce her on the spot. Hmmm, still, not a bad set of pins on her, if you know what I mean.

I do love it here, so tranquil. Or it would be without Dickie. Now all I have to do is convince him to go and leave me here. ‘Dickie my love. What if…’

Writing Exercise: CORFU by Julee Stillman

From her point of view

I saw him when he checked in; Ralph Lauren bag and attaché case, and a swagger of confidence.

He let the porter take his bag but kept the attaché glued to his side. What secrets were hidden in there? What was so important that he wouldn’t let it out of his sight? I hoped it was five-hundred-thousand dollars.

As soon as I could I took a peek at the register. Mr Roger Butterworth was in a suite on the second floor. The suite next to mine. No connecting door, but that was not going to be a problem.

We met for dinner. Two perfect strangers on a perfect Corfu night. Our conversation was teasing.  Furtive glances, coy smiles. The clink of crystal. His silent acknowledgement that he would follow me anywhere. My ambition hidden behind my silk tangerine scarf.

My flight was booked. My suitcase packed. In five days’ time Roger would head back to his boring job in Melbourne and I…Well, I would be flying in the opposite direction, five-hundred-thousand dollars richer.

Men are so easy to bait and I already have another one on the hook.

And from his perspective.

Crisp white shirt, striped blue tie and a navy sports coat with gold buttons. That’s what I wear almost every day. That or something similar. It’s what my job as a general manager of one of Melbourne’s largest banks demands – something that says I’m dependable, trustworthy and it’s safe to leave your money in my hands.

However, I’m not dependable, nor am I trustworthy and it’s definitely not safe to leave money in my hands. At least not money I can embezzle. By all means put it in a safe deposit box, turn it into bonds or shares, but don’t leave it in an account where I can get my hands on it. Especially if I’m desperate to impress a pretty girl.

That’s why I’m sitting on the terrace of a five-star hotel in Corfu. Attentive waiters, good food and excellent ouzo. My eyes wander over a cobalt blue ocean and then back to the terrace with its terrazzo tiling. Then on to a corner table and the girl I stole five-hundred-thousand dollars for.