State of the Union

In the words of Ringo Starr, 'Forgive the lateness of my reply.'

First post since last May! Appalling, but there we are. Still not in possession of Bernard's watch, so no time-travelling here. Anyway, on to the purpose of this post...

SOTU

I don’t have a great deal in common with the 46^th president of the United States of America; not withstanding a worrying regularity to muck up my words, and fall up steps. But we share something of not: being relatively late delivering our State of the Union address.

On February 7^th of this year, old rubbish-nicknames himself, Joe Biden (check out some of the nicknames previous POTUSes had – The Last Cocked Hat, anyone? – here List of nicknames of presidents of the United States - Wikipedia ) addressed congress, touching on topics like the economy, news, achievements, and where to improve. Like a school parent’s evening, only without having to look at three A4 books of your child’s work on The Ocean, India, and The Victorians.

All well and good, but not as mind-blowing (perhaps a slight exaggeration…) as my very first SOTU, delivered on the last-but-one day of the first quarter of 2023. I’m intending to focus on my writing here, so it’s as much a mystery to me as it will be to you what turns up.

2022 stats:

85 pieces of work submitted in total (61 to competitions, 24 to journals, writing sites, calls for submission, etc)

34 pieces published/ to be published in 2023 (21 from competitions, 13 from other sources)

So… roughly a 29% success rate (just shy of 18% from competitions, 11% from other sources). Which is good.

However… 22 of those published pieces belong to a: a writing group that I no longer belong to, and, b: a journal which ceased publishing last year, which comes to almost 75% of my “Hey, I like your style, sister!” success platforms. Which is a little worrying. Isn’t it?

Well, maybe.

But… a big bit of the SOTU is to looking to the future, and, in the words of FDR in 1941 (Jan 6^th, eager beaver!) have ‘freedom from fear.’

What fears? Well, look at those 85 submissions, what do they have in common? A total and utter dearth of agents or publishers. Not one bloody piece did I dare send.

2023 is almost ¼ through, but ¾ remain for that to be addressed. Even if the outcome is 0% success, I will have done it anyway, and nothing is ever as hard the second time around, is it, Amtrak Joe (terrible nickname)? 

Updated May 15th 2023! You Aren't a Proper Writer, Then?

Fatboy Slim had a song, "Praise You" https://youtu.be/ruAi4VBoBSM (1998/99), with a video by Spike Jonze that always brings on happy-tears. The song features a sample of Camille Yarbrough performing her song, "Take Yo' Praise" https://youtu.be/sGQbtyctPmE (1975). The lyrics - in case you had forgotten them - go:

"We've come a long, long way together,

Through the hard times and the good,

I have to celebrate you, baby,

I have to praise you like I should."

And, it's pretty damn easy to praise and celebrate others, isn't it? Just takes a little courage and good manners. Praising your own triumphs though? celebrating what you've done? Waaaaaay harder!

I thought I'd compile a list of all my writing wins, and celebrate myself here. I was pleasantly surprised there were so many, and all available online either to read for free (though a donation to one of the sites (Makarelle) would be appreciated) or to buy, outright. The purpose of this post isn't to boast, but just to say to myself that I'm doing good! It isn't necessary to write a novel to be a proper writer (short-form writing is just as hard, and fulfilling, thank you very much), it's just necessary to keep on writing well. That's it. So, here's my list of output from the last year, well done me!

Creative Pieces:

Makarelle Independent Literary and Creative Arts Journal @makarelle1

Issue 1: Spring 21 “Coming Unravelled” Makarelle Spring 2021 "Coming Unravelled" (flippingbook.com)

Those Who Can

Issue 2: Summer 21 “Tattoo” Makarelle Summer 2021: 'Tattoo' (flippingbook.com)

Happy Birthday

The Ballad of Dove and Nate

Issue 3: Autumn 21 “Twisted Tales” Makarelle Autumn 2021: 'Twisted Tales' (flippingbook.com)

The Mirror at Midnight

Issue 4: Winter 21/22 “Love is Love” Makarelle Winter 2021/22: 'Love is Love' (flippingbook.com)

I’ll Still Bring Flowers

Issue 5: Spring 22 “Landmarks” Makarelle Spring 2022: 'Landmarks' (flippingbook.com)

Beside Myself with Glee

Successio Eirian

 

Via Amazon.co.uk

Makarelle Anthology One ISBN 979-8499762516 Anthology ONE: Amazon.co.uk: Makarelle: 9798499762516: Books £8.00

Those Who Can

Happy Birthday

The Ballad of Dove and Nate

The Mirror at Midnight

 

Crossing The Tees Flash! Mob: We Hope This Finds You Well ISBN 9781005952624 Crossing The Tees Flash!Mob: We Hope This Finds You Well: A Collection of Tiny Stories Written and Published in a Week eBook : The Tees, Crossing: Amazon.co.uk: Kindle Store £free (Also available at Smashwords – Crossing the Tees Flash!Mob: We Hope This Finds You Well – a book by Crossing The Tees )

Red-eyes

PTA Fancy-dress Fundraiser 7pm-10pm, Refreshments Provided

Future Endeavours

Dipping Your Toes: An Anthology of Life at the Lido ISBN 9781739886752 Dipping Your Toes: An Anthology of Life at the Lido: Amazon.co.uk: Lido, Brightlingsea, Loten, R. E.: 9781739886752: Books £5.00

The Brightlingsea Harpy

Words From Wonderland: Edited by R. E. Loten, and J. M. Langan ISBN 9781915970060 https://www.amazon.co.uk/Words-Wonderland-Twenty-Club/dp/1915970067

Alicia and Stevie

Breaking the Spell

Sometimes Even Tina

Which Way I Ought to Go from Here

Via Drakethebookshop.co.uk @drakethebookshop

Crossing the Tees: 5th Short Story Anthology ISBN 978-1914170270 Crossing The Tees – 5th Short Story Anthology – 26-27 Silver Street, Stockton on Tees (drakethebookshop.co.uk) £10.00

'Lexi’s Cone of Love'

Crossing the Tees: 6th Short Story Anthology ISBN 978-1914170393 Crossing the Tees Short Story Anthology – “The most magical little bookshop . . . a little piece of heaven in what can be a crazy world.” (drakethebookshop.co.uk)

£10.00

‘Curiouser and Curiouser’

 

New Welsh Review @newwelshreview

New Welsh Writing Awards 22: Rheidol Prize for Prose with a Welsh Theme or Setting (Highly Commended) 2022 Shortlist - Rheidol Prize for Prose with a Welsh Theme or Setting - New Welsh Review

Blinks and Shards

 

MS Society blog @mssocietyuk

“In Praise of Valentine’s Day and Being Kind to Yourself” In praise of Valentine’s Day and being kind to yourself | Multiple Sclerosis Society UK (mssociety.org.uk)

“What Mothering Sunday Means to Me” What Mothering Sunday means to me | Multiple Sclerosis Society UK (mssociety.org.uk)

Fairlight Books 

Fairlight Books - Literary Fiction and Short Story Publisher

Number Six Is a Half-broken Mind 'Number Six is a Half-Broken Mind' by Beck Collett | Fairlight Books

Factual Pieces/ Special Features:

The Open University in Wales

“The OU gave me my confidence back': Beck's experience of studying with MS’ 'The OU gave me my confidence back': Beck's experience of studying with MS | Open University in Wales

 

WalesOnline

‘How The Open University enabled mum with MS to regain her confidence’ How The Open University enabled mum with MS to regain her confidence - Wales Online

 

Western Mail

‘How The Open University enabled mum with MS to regain her confidence’  (27 April 2023) p. 18

I Wish

 Do you remember that wicked song by Skee-Lo, ‘I Wish’? The one that went,

Hello
I wish I was little bit taller
I wish I was a baller
I wish I had a girl who looked good
I would call her
I wish I had a rabbit in a hat with a bat
And a six four Impala

Remember that? Here it is https://youtu.be/ryDOy3AosBw I remember it, and it dawned on me the other day, that me and Skee-Lo have something in common.

I too spend far too much time wishing for stuff, when my time would be far better served actually doing stuff instead!!! How obvious is that? It’s not like I’m thick, but really, this shouldn’t be the revelation it has been to my 44-year-old self ☹

I thought I’d quickly rewrite ‘I Wish’, and make it more me. I suspect the refrain will get a bit longer, as I am keen on wishes (having used eleven years of birthday wishes/ shooting stars/ wishing wells/etc on wishing for a baby), and also fairly greedy. Also, songs are like poems, and needn’t rhyme. This probably isn’t going to rhyme…

‘I Wish’, by Beck C.

Hello
I wish I was a little bit taller
I wish that I was stronger
I wish I had Reece Witherspoon/ Michael Sheen/ Charlie Brooker fighting to buy the film rights of my work (too long, sorry!)
I would call her/ him
I wish I had money that I earned from my words
And a publishing deal’a

The last line is a tad ropey, I know, but I mean it. I was going to write that I wished I was published – but I am. I am there, on various writing sites on the internet (and we all know once you end up on the internet you can’t ever erase it!) and in print. I am available to buy in a wonderful anthology on Amazon for fricks sake! A paper copy you can hold in your hand, and smell!!! Look here Anthology ONE: Amazon.co.uk: Makarelle: 9798499762516: Books

And my writing is good now, better than it’s ever been. I write more than ever, just not profitable stuff.
‘Oh, you’re a writer? Writing your great novel, eh?’
I’ve been asked this once or twice, and the answer is no. No, I’m not writing a novel. No. My brain, my wonderful, wacky brain will not allow me to write a novel. It works well on short stories, flash fiction, novella length stuff at a push. None of it profitable or attractive for a publishing house to take a punt on, what with me not being famous in the least. So, no, I’m not writing a novel. And that’s when I see people lose interest, and file me under A for amateur. Which is correct, I guess, but still a bit patronising no?

I should really blow my own trumpet more, tell the world about each little win, but unfortunately, I attended a school which only taught violin or recorder; and blowing my on recorder isn’t going to win anyone over anymore. If that’s not a tragic backstory, I don’t know what is.