Writers' Narrative eMagazine December 2023

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EDITORIAL TEAM Wendy H. Jones - Editor in Chief - is also our Executive Commissioning and Features Editor. She is the multi-award-winning, best-selling author of adult crime thrillers and cozy mysteries, children’s picture books and non-fiction books for writers. In addition, she is a writing coach, partner in Auscot Publishing and Retreats and hosts the Writing and Marketing Show podcast.

Editor in Chief

Sheena Macleod is our Deputy to the Editor in Chief.

She oversees the day-to-day production and design.

She is author of the historical fiction novels, Reign of the Marionettes and Tears of Strathnaver, and co-author of the nonfiction book So, You Say I Can’t Vote! Frances Connelly.

Deputy to The Editor in Chief

Eileen Rolland is our graphic designer. Eileen writes mainly contemporary women’s fiction. Her works include the Chrysalis Trilogy series and Isle of Somewhere.

Graphic Designer

Pauline Tait manages our submissions. Pauline is a prolific novelist and children’s author. She writes both suspenseful romance and children’s picture books for 3 to 7 years.

Allison Symes is our copy editor. She is an award winning, published flash fiction and short story writer.

She also writes a weekly column on topics of interest for writers for online magazine, Chandler's Ford Today.

Susan McVey is our Copy Editor. Susan writes dystopian fiction and fantasy narratives, tailored for the young adult and teenage audience. She publishes under Marti M. McNair. Her works include Island of Ruin (Ruin or Redemption Book 1).

Maressa Mortimer oversees our marketing and our social media engagement. Maressa is author of the Elabi Chronicles, Burrowed and Sapphire Beach.

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Submission Manager

Copy Editor

Copy Editor

Marketing and Promotions Manager

Featured Interview with Editor in Chief Wendy H. Jones

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Writers’ Narrative is published monthly by Scott and Lawson Publishing. Graphic Design by Sheena Macleod and Eileen Rolland. All contents Copyright © the individual authors and used with their permission. All rights reserved.

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42 Never Give Up On A Magazine Market

by S. Bee

Welcome to the December Issue Letters to the Editor

44 Planning Your Writing Life for the Year Ahead

by Jennifer Navarre

8 Editor in Chief - Wendy H. Jones Interviewed by Sheena Macleod

46 A Book Week Scotland Get-Together

by Pauline Tait 47 From The Editor in Chief

by Wendy H. Jones

10 Killer’s Countdown by Wendy H. Jones Reviewed by Susan McVey 11 Bertie The Buffalo Series by Wendy H. Jones Reviewed by Sheena Macleod

22 A Lipogram Challenge

by Lis McDermott

16 Four Weddings and a Christmas by Phillipa Ashley Reviewed by Louise Cannon

Monthly Writing Prompts 20 Writing Prompts

by Wendy H. Jones and Tami. C. Brown

17 Island of Ruin by Marti M. McNair Reviewed by Sheena Macleod

38 Recent Releases

30 Save The Cat! Writes a Young Adult Novel: The Ultimate Guide to Writing a YA Bestseller by Jessica Brody.

Reviewed by Lisa Harkrader

12 Happily Ever After

by Jenny Sanders

35 Association of Christian Writers: Flash Fiction Group

by Allison Symes

14 The Brilliance of Barbie

by Jocelyn-Anne Harvey

36 Books Upstairs, Dublin

18 The Privilege of Writing for Children

by Pauline Tait

37 Thornbury Library

by Maressa Mortimer

24 Can We Read it Again? The Power of Last Lines in Picture Books

by Chelsea Tornetto

40 Every Great Christmas Story Needs A Dog

by Peter Thomas and Sophie

26 Christmas Books That Stand The Test of Time

by Sheena Macleod

Write in Time

28 Finishing Strong in the Short Fiction Forms

by Allison Symes

23 Charles Dickens

32 The Joy and ‘How to’ of Writing Christmas Picture Books for Children

by Pauline Tait

48 Subscriber News 49 Submission Guidelines

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we will bring you a double magazine in February incorporating both January and February.

All that remains is for me to wish you a very merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. May your stockings be stuffed with all the writing implements you need and every book you want. Enjoy the festive season and we at Writers’ Narrative hope you find time to rest over the festive period before returning to write up a storm. See you in the new year.

Wendy H. Jones Editor in Chief

The December issue brings us not only Christmas but the final magazine of the year. I cannot believe how quickly the year has gone. It has been an absolute pleasure bringing you this magazine each month and I am very much looking forward to 2024 and supporting you in ever greater ways.

This month we have an interview with our Editor in Chief, Wendy H. Jones, yes me. The team thought it would be interesting for you to get to know more about the face behind the magazine.

We have articles galore to help you finish well, planning for the year ahead, writing children’s picture books, staying the course and so much more. Of course, all our regular features are there as well – bookshop of the month, library of the month and writing group of the month as well as advice from Sophie, the office dog.

As it is coming up for the festive season, we decided the team required a well-deserved rest, so there will not be a magazine in January. Instead,

Wendy H. Jones Author, Publisher, Writing Coach

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Dear Editor, As a relative newbie to writing, I’m always delighted when my monthly copy of Writers’ Narrative drops into my inbox.

The magazine is consistently jam-packed with helpful features, articles, and more.

Letter of the Month

I particularly enjoyed reading Maressa Mortimer’s article in the October edition on choosing spooky books for children. As both a children's writer and a parent, I found her comments helpful.

Dear Editor,

I look forward to reading future issues of the magazine. Thank you for producing such a great resource for writers.

Thank you for the opportunity to contribute to the first issue of the magazine, with my article about the benefits of writing groups.

Gilda Morrison

I’ve enjoyed seeing the magazine develop since then and feel that the standard of articles has been high.

Dear Editor,

If possible, please could you consider including articles focussing on writing for the stage — monologues, sketches, one act plays — in a future issue.

Congratulations on the great start to Writers' Narrative in 2023. It's brightened up this author's year no end! I've enjoyed the book reviews, and the mix of articles, especially hearing other writers' points of view and perspective on the challenges facing us. The encouragement offered, along with the helpful advice on everything from character names, plot, creating historical fiction, to writing in different genres, is always welcome too.

Many thanks in advance, Kathryn Holme

I'm looking forward to reading the next issue and to seeing what you have in store for us in 2024.

Every month, a £10 book token will be awarded to the selected letter of the month.

Congratulations to this month’s winner.

Have a merry Christmas and a happy new year.

All the best

Please email letters to the editor to writersnarrative@gmail.com

Mark Bridgeman (Author) 7

Featured Author Interview - Editor in Chief, Wendy H. Jones Interviewed by Sheena Macleod

As we wrap up the final edition for our first year of publishing Writers’ Narrative it seemed like a good time to let our readers know more about our Editor in Chief. Sheena Macleod is delighted to be interviewing Wendy H. Jones as our last featured author of 2023.

Wendy, thank you for agreeing to be the featured author for Writers’ Narrative. As well as Editor in Chief of Writer’s Narrative, you have numerous other ventures in progress and have published a number of books, both fiction and non-fiction.

Wendy H. Jones

Before we discuss this, can you tell us a bit about yourself and what started you on your writing journey? I’m curious, why did you start with crime fiction?

mills. It has many historic buildings and numerous narrow streets and wynds which lend themselves to the more macabre style of fiction.

What main piece of advice would you give anyone starting out as a fictional crime writer?

I’ve read crime fiction all my life since The Secret Seven, Famous Five, Nancy Drew and The Hardy Boys. Although I do read widely I am always drawn back to crime fiction. Therefore, when the idea for a book came, it was crime fiction that came to mind.

Read crime books of every genre and sub-genre.

Then read some more. Read widely in other genres. Then read some more. This will immerse you in the style and tropes of crime writing and show you how good crime books are written.

Lisa Turley is from West You also write cozy crime mysteries. you Virginia.

She is onCan numerteams and tell us a bit about ous yourARC cozy street crime series? reads in multiple genres. passionate about I wanted to write aShe seriesiswhich was absolutely helping authors get the crazy, so thought about I couldtheir do that.

I word how out about books. came up with Cass Claymore Investigates. Cass Claymore is a red headed, motorbike riding, exballerina who inherits a private detective agency

The setting for your first crime series is Dundee, where you live. What is it about Dundee that makes it such a perfect setting for a crime series?

Apart from the fact it is the murder capital of Scotland you mean? Before anyone gets worked up thinking there are regular murders in the city, there aren’t that many, the statistic is per capita.

Dundee is a city which is built on whaling and jute 8

and accidently hires an ex-con dwarf and her grandad.

You are not only a prolific writer but also a mentor and guide to other authors. Can you tell us more about this and the books in Your Writing Matter’s series?

Not only do you have two popular crime series of books, you also write mystery books for young adults. Can you tell us about this series?

I love to help others, so I set up as a writing coach and editor. As part of this I brought out a series of books, the first three of which are Motivation Matters, Creativity Matters and Marketing Matters. You can find out more on my website https://www.wendyhjones.com

I was commissioned by a publisher to write The Fergus and Flora Mysteries aimed at 10–14-yearolds. Fergus and Flora are two ordinary kids with an unsatiable curiosity who find themselves solving mysteries and saving the day.

They are currently out of print as they are going to a new publisher.

What are you working on now in terms of your writing?

I am currently writing the first in a series of books about a nineteenth century naval surgeon from Scotland. Again I was asked to write these books and have been given and done extensive research about the doctor and the Royal Navy in the 19th Century. One of the reasons for my visit to the states was to research his time in the USA. I have also spent time in the Caribbean undertaking research.

We can’t talk about your books without mentioning Bertie the Buffalo. Can you tell us how you came to be writing books for young children too?

One Christmas a wee water buffalo ran away from a buffalo farm in Fife in Scotland. People from around the world were following the search for him and someone volunteered me to write a book about his adventures. I didn’t pay much notice until I was really asked to write the book. I said I would if I could get a publisher, which I did. They are so popular there are now two books, a colouring book and a soft toy. He’s Scotland’s very own wee escape artist and people from every corner of the world seem to love him.

What would be your top take away for anyone reading this article?

Follow your dream and have fun in the process.

You never know what you can achieve until you try. Pick up a pen or open up a word processing document and write. You can’t call yourself a writer unless you write.

You have recently come back from a threemonth book tour around the USA. Can you tell us more about this?

Where can readers find out more about you and your books?

I am everywhere as Wendy H. Jones – website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Threads, Pinterest, BlueSky, LinkedIn and TikTok.

I went out on a three month book and speaking tour, covering Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, Washington DC, Massachusetts, and Tennessee. Two of the highlights had to be doing book signings in Salem and Graceland in Memphis.

I’m a wee lassie fae Dundee (a wee girl from Dundee), so this felt surreal. I met so many readers and other authors and made so many friends.

Thank you once again for taking the time to share your advice. It is much appreciated.

Thank you! It’s an honour to be asked.

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Killer’s Countdown by Wendy H. Jones: Reviewed by Susan McVey

Dead Women. A Ruthless Killer. A Detective with something to prove. Newly promoted Detective Inspector Shona McKenzie struggles to cope with her new job, the respect of her colleagues, and the need to solve the hardest case of her life. Will she succeed?

A killer stalks the streets of Dundee, Scotland. Shona, having recently returned to Scotland, relies on the local knowledge of Sgt Peter Johnston and the rest of her team to help her track down the killer. However, this is no ordinary killer. Shona needs to use every trick in and out of the book to bring them to justice. The final revelation will shock you to the core.

“Killer’s Countdown,” the first in the series of the DI Shona McKenzie series by Wendy H. Jones, plunges the reader into the chilling world of a relentless serial killer and the determined detective tasked with unravelling the mystery of several dead woman and one man. As the newly promoted DI Shona McKenzie grapples with the weight and responsibilities, she finds herself thrust into a harrowing investigation that will test her resolve.

The author masterfully crafts a fast-paced narrative that alternates between Shona’s relentless pursuit to solve the crimes, and the sinister thoughts of the killer. With a keen sense of place, the story is steeped in the distinctive humour of Dundonian culture, offering readers a rich insight into this Scottish city.

Shona’s struggle to earn the respect of her colleagues and come to terms with the demands of her new position adds a layer of depth to her character, making her journey all the more compelling and relatable.

The novel’s intricate plot keeps the reader on edge, as they are drawn deeper into the gripping tale, until the final chapter. “Killer’s Countdown,” is without a doubt, a riveting crime thriller, and for a first instalment in the series, promises an exhilarating reading experience with books that follow after. The blend of tension and humour sets the stage for what is sure to be an enthralling and addictive series for crime fiction enthusiast. Fully captivated, I eagerly await Shona’s journey ahead as I delve into the opening pages of “Killer’s Craft,” the second book in the series.

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Reviewed by Sheena Macleod Blurbs Bertie The Buffalo Bertie the Buffalo is a rhyming book based on a true story of when a Water Buffalo escaped from a Buffalo Park in Fife, Scotland, demonstrating how precious each of us are no matter how insignificant we feel. Bertie felt that no one noticed him. But he didn’t need to think that. We are all a part of a bigger family.

Bertie at the Worldwide Games Bertie the Buffalo is having fun on the farm where he lives in Scotland. Then a mysterious letter arrives inviting him to represent Scotland in the Worldwide Games. Bertie and his friends fly to Tokyo where they meet new and exotic animals and try to win first prize in all the different events. Bertie is sad when he isn’t winning any medals but finds out if he works together with his friends, he will be a winner in the end.

Review I bought these two Bertie books, which are suitable for 3-7years, for my grandchildren. They loved to hear about Bertie and his adventures. The rhyming format kept them engaged and they were soon joining in.

Each story carries a special message that can be discussed afterwards to reinforce this. In book one, we meet Bertie, a Water Buffalo who has escaped from the Buffalo Park. Throughout his journey, before he returns safely home, we meet a cast of other animals, some familiar, some not so, including an Alpaca from Peru. The book is educational, carries an important message about belonging, and is a fun read.

In book two, Bertie attends the Worldwide Games in Tokyo with his friends, to compete in events there.

This book follows the same rhyming approach taken in book one, and is equally engaging. Here we meet more animals, some more exotic than before. The message is strongly delivered - working together is best even if you don’t win any prizes.

In addition to the Bertie books, there is a colouring book in the series with spaces for children to write or draw their own Bertie the Buffalo adventures. And, there is a Bertie soft toy too. This series is perfect for any young child. But, be prepared to have them ask you to read the stories to them again and again.

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Happily Ever After?

Multi genre writer and mentor, Jenny Sanders, discusses why if art is to mirror life, other outcomes rather than just Happy Ever After, need to be shown. She also asks, what does make a good ending to a story?

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long time ago, I sat in one of those postwar temporary huts that served as a classroom but which hung around long after the Armistice, and learned that every story needs a beginning, a middle and an end.

Jenny Sanders

By exploring alternative storylines where not everything is resolved, or where characters don’t behave according to the (unwritten) rules, we can help a reader not only develop empathy but come to terms with some of the less satisfying narratives of life, and be part of preparing the reader to navigate those with a degree of thoughtfulness and grace. Writers can demonstrate the consequences of actions within the safe space of words which stay firmly on the page yet impact the one who reads them, educating, entertaining and equipping them for the rigours of real life.

By then, I had read so many stories that it wasn’t a new thought to me. These days, many primary schools use the visual prompt of a story mountain to teach the same thing with varying degrees of success. The idea is that you begin at ground level with your idea, build it to a climax at the summit, and ensure everything is resolved by the time you’ve metaphorically travelled down the other side, returning to a point of equilibrium. Everything else is expanded from there.

Secondary and even tertiary peaks can be introduced as abilities and creative inspiration grow.

Of course some of this may depend on the genre you employ. A fully-fledged novel with multiple plot lines within the whole can offer a spectrum of conclusions without detracting from the main thrust of your story, offering something for everybody.

Our earliest stories begin with the classic: ‘Once upon a time’, and unfold to the point of crisis and resolution, ending with the fairly predictable: ‘...and they lived happily ever after’. There’s something very satisfying about such a neat and tidy story arc. No loose ends; wrongs righted; justice done; happiness oozing into the rosy future of the protagonists as we close the book and go on our merry way.

What constitutes a good ending? That’s surely as subjective as the readers themselves. I was seventeen when I read Thomas Hardy’s, Tess of the d’Urbervilles, and vividly recall throwing the book across the room in disgust after the final page.

His conclusion was completely unacceptable to me. He forced my sense of justice to stand on it’s head, and I was angry. How could he have thought that this miserable ending to be satisfactory? Reading his other novels, I began to grasp

But, there comes a time when we yearn for a little more, and come to the uncomfortable realisation that real life is neither so well ordered nor so carefully packaged. If art is to reflect life, then other outcomes need to be explored for both writer and reader.

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hazade of the Arabian Nights, a thousand and one tales can be told if you allow them to merge into one another, always keeping your audience on tenterhooks, tantalised by the next turn of events.

Hardy’s more jaded view of the world, his clever use of detail and his heavy reliance on fate to bring his narratives to a head.

Perhaps the most unsettling ending I’ve come across is Irish novelist John Boyne’s The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas. I knew nothing about this story before embarking on it which is, in itself, a salutary lesson in paying more attention. At the point when unwelcome light dawned and I realised where the narrative was heading, there was a simultaneous jolt in the pit of my stomach as well as a compulsion to see it through to the bitter and tragic end. The box was ticked, but the abiding memory is appropriately disturbing.

Autobiographies, of course, can’t be finished at all, since the time line inevitably continues beyond the back cover.

For myself, I remain a sucker for a happy ending, or at least one in which all the threads are tied up satisfactorily. Since life is full of less-than-happy endings (not to mention beginnings and endings), I want to offer the children I write for a safer refuge, with comforting boundaries and reassuring edges.

Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings supplies us with a bitter-sweet ending. Good triumphs over evil; the terrible ring is destroyed in the fires of Mount Doom; those who would have been enslaved, are not, Sauron is destroyed along with the Uruk-hai.

Only Boromir of the famous fellowship dies; everyone else makes it through to the end. Merry and Pippin survive, Gondor is saved, Aragorn is crowned king and the Shire can flourish in all its verdant greenness again. Yet nothing is quite the same. Frodo lost his peace somewhere in the journey, and loyal, earthy Sam loses his best friend as Frodo heads off to the Undying Lands.

The sense of innocence in Middle Earth has vanished. Domesticity calls Sam back from the quest as the book closes. “He drew a deep breath. “Well, I’m back,” he said.” The conclusion is strangely comforting in its familiarity after the peculiar and dangerous adventure we have shared with him.

In both my collections of humorous short stories I have committed myself to this. Out of the twelve tales, I knew the ending of just one story when I began. It was only as I went along that the narrative unfolded for me, and my quirky characters let me know where they wanted to go. The destination emerged from the fog and resolved itself each time into a pleasing conclusion. This is not what they generally teach in creative writing classes.

Yes, I edited, pruned and crafted, avoiding triteness and over simplistic solutions to ludicrous humorous conundrums (I hope), but I wanted to leave my readers with a smile on their face. In a world where pessimism rules so much, I want to be part of uplifting minds and hearts, providing a refuge and a springboard for better days ahead.

For me, that’s a satisfying ending, both to read and to write. But who knows, perhaps I’ll explore other options in the future.

You may remember, if you watched Peter Jackson’s cinematic interpretation, that he didn’t seem to be quite sure how to wind things up and opted for multiple endings, which caused quite a furore at the time.

Spiritual Feasting is Jenny Sander’s faith-based exploration of authentic living in tough times. She has a collection of humorous children’s stories, The Magnificent Moustache and other stories. Charlie Peach’s Pumpkins and other stories, will be published soon. She is available for author visits with key Stage 2 children.

Those who write series have the advantage of being able to leave a few things hanging in the air, to be picked up in the next instalment. Cliffhangers were the life-blood of the Saturday morning programmes of my youth. Like Scher13

The Brilliance of Barbie Jocelyn-Anne Harvey discusses how writers can learn so much from cinematic storytelling.

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his month we’re surrounded by glitter.

The warmth of twinkling lights in a window. Stores are full of those familiar seasonal colours: red, green and gold. But let me take you back a few months, when you could still wear a t-shirt in England, and the fashionable colour was pink. Made the connection? Yes, summer 2023 was all about Barbie.

Jocelyn-Anne Harvey

get away without a conclusion. But the Barbie movie was a brilliant character transformation arc that was grounded in its ending.

Are endings really that fundamental? Well, let’s think about them. What makes you read a book?

The beginning hooks you. The characters call out to make an emotional connection. As the chapters flash by we’re taken in by strands of questions and conflicts, locations and lives.

The movie exploded over our devices with hashtags and memes. With film references even being made in the UK Houses of Parliament. I was intrigued enough to watch the film. And as the popcorn got eaten and my pink slushy drink got slurped, I got drawn into the story. Drawn in so much that by the time the credits rolled, I left thinking Barbie is brilliant.

Behind all of this is the writer cajoling, managing and weaving all these multi-coloured storytelling threads to create the final scene: ‘The End.’ Those clanging one syllable words that we type with relief knowing our story is complete. Those clanging one syllable words I often don’t want to read because it means the book is finished. We leave the imaginary world. The characters we’ve screamed or sighed at walk off-set. Credits roll.

The popcorn tub is set aside. That’s why endings are important. And why they need to be brilliant.

They speak. They emotionally resound to us: both as readers and writers.

Why? Well, it got me thinking about cinematic storytelling. In this environment you’re fixated on that large screen, there are no diversions, nothing to draw your attention away to the story being played out big and bold. And you go for entertainment, to not have to think about your everyday life, to be challenged, to laugh and most of all to leave with that satisfaction.

Whether you go alone or with a group of friends, there’s a reaction at the end. It’s something you talk about whether it was a ‘good film’ or if there was something missing. However, the ending has a critical role in your assessment.

Beginning a story can be difficult, just getting those words onto the blank page. Some writers know the end right from that inspirational flash, which is a gift. Others have an idea or sense about the conclusion. Often early days thoughts about the end can veer in a different direction as

My last Writers’ Narrative article was ‘No Short Story has an End’ That’s right for this form of fiction, unlike books or movies, short stories can 14

our characters have other ideas! Editors and beta readers may have jarring opinions. Our fiction, like films, may not appeal to everyone. But within all those multi-coloured storytelling threads we’re weaving together in our narrative there is a dominant colour. What’s that? Good question.

And that’s also the answer.

characters won’t have them all answered. It might not be clear if justice has prevailed. Or if change has brought all the desired transformation. But within that tapestry we’ve woven together, there will be an answer. An answer that leaves us and our readers knowing the story is complete.

You could almost think of it as a writing formula: beginning (question) + ending (answer) = satisfying conclusion. It’s at the heart of every genre:

As the final scenes faded, there wasn’t closure for all the Barbie movie questions. Yet what was brilliant was the humour and humanity in those closing clips. The response to the question: could the character change?

Crime/Thriller – ‘Will they catch the murderer?’

‘Will they get away with it?’

It was satisfying, surprising and the script delivered what all good fiction must – a worthwhile close. And that’s the brilliance of writing fiction; the brilliance of reading books, finding that storytelling sense of completeness. Then going back to the blank piece of paper or bookstore and wanting to start another one.

Sci-Fi – ‘Do the aliens overcome humans?’ ‘Does live exist beyond earth?’

Romance – ‘Will she/he meet the one?’

Fairy Tales – ‘Will they all live happily ever after?’

You can probably think of even more genre questions. And yes, there probably is more we could unpack about my formula thoughts. But when you pick up a book within its core is one central question that at the end will be answered. That’s why conflict needs resolution.

Brilliant Ending Tips Read a favourite book. Identify the main dominant question thread. How has the author answered it in their ending? Is it a worthwhile story conclusion? What could you learn from their example? Jot down some thoughts in your journal.

Both writer and reader need the value. The story may not be complete; that’s the beauty of endings. All those storytelling threads don’t have to be resolved. Whether we leave some questions unanswered for our readers to imagine. Or muchloved characters demand another book to be written — we might know that Bess the baker got engaged to the guy who came in everyday to buy her famous cheese scones — but Ali, her sister, still’s struggling with having lost her job and only just moved in with Bess. So, the series begins.

Return to a story you’ve had to set aside. Is the main question apparent? Do you need to switch the threads. Perhaps another strand would help the story pick up that creative pace?

Think of a genre question. Write down your replies. Think of characters and locations, as they form continue noting your question responses.

Which one/s make you feel excited? Start to map out that plot.

This is how we can learn to write good endings.

We need to consider what the central question is within our story. But answering the question isn’t enough. We create the conclusion through the character connection. Through the pull and pace our words deliver on the page. And like the questions we wrestle with every day, our fictional

Jocelyn-Anne Harvey is a published writer, speaker, Creative Writing teacher and mentor who loves encouraging people. She has a MA in Creative Writing and is the author of Not Knowing, but Still Going. Coastal walks, cake and coffee are mandatory activities to spark her imagination.

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Four Weddings and a Christmas by Phillipa Asley Reviewed by Louise Cannon

Title: Four Weddings And A Christmas by Phillipa Ashley ASIN : B0C1XZWPX9 Publisher : Avon Books (November 2023) Blurb Can the spirit of Christmas reignite an old flame? With her thriving business Cottage Angels, Freya Bolton prepares the Lake District’s holiday homes for Christmas visitors. It’s her job to think of everything, from cinnamon-scented candles to tasteful decorations and hampers of seasonal treats. If only her love life were such a success…

After being burned by past relationships, she’s now determined to steer clear of love for good. So when she bumps into gorgeous – and single – ex-boyfriend Travis, a no-strings festive fling seems perfect.

But when her feelings for him begin to develop, is she on track for another romantic calamity? Or could this Christmas give her the gift of true love?

Get the festive treats together and cosy up this festive season with Four Weddings and a Christmas. It’s a gorgeous feel-good, cosy read.

Freya Bolton has her own business, Cottage Angels, she set up with Mimi, managing various properties in the Lake District. It’s a busy time with guests due to arrive at Waterfall Cottage, but freezing weather has burst a pipe and still a festive fair and a carol concert to organise. She also harbours secret emotions.

Reunions of Freya’s ex-boyfriend, initially brings an atmosphere as icy as the weather. His brother, Sebastian, who Travis and Bree are concerned about because he appears to be abandoning his music and career. Meet Hamza Eassa, a famous wildlife photographer for the BBC, who is setting up a gallery display, but is also curious about Travis’s return to the Lakes. Discovering their complex relationships is fascinating. There are darker times hanging over the characters and the question of reconciliation, as well as whether romance will be let in or not.

Four Weddings and A Christmas has warmth, humour and festive cheer, pitched just right for Christmas.

Louise Cannon lives in Central Scotland with family and a cute but wily cat.

She writes a blog – Bookmarks and Stages, reviewing books, theatre, festivals and conducts the occasional Q&A sessions.

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Island of Ruin by Marti M. McNair Reviewed by Sheena Macleod

In the wake of an apocalyptic End of Days, a totalitarian regime emerges. New-born belong to the state and are transported to the island of Ruin. Deprived of love and nurturing, children eke out an existence with a grim reality.

Amidst the bleakness, Jasmine and Coral stumble upon a mysterious old woman washed ashore. Defying the regime’s grip, they secretly shelter her within the depths of the Black Cave. The girls soon unravel the regime’s web of deception. Jasmine is betrayed, the old woman is found, and a momentous trial begins.

Will Jasmine be able to reclaim her stolen life? Be sentenced to death, or spend the remainder of days toiling in the mines?

Island of Ruin is the debut novel of Marti M. McNair. I loved, loved reading this book. I found it highly engaging and pace perfect. The author drew me in within the opening pages and kept me engrossed right through to the very last lines. I’m already looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

The world of Ruin, set in a dystopian future, is well thought out and highly plausible. One of the main strengths of the author’s writing style, and there are many, is in the use of the five senses. I felt as if I could, see, smell, feel, taste, and hear along with the characters as they interacted in their everyday life on the island of Ruin. Although the work is dystopian, the world of the story soon felt all too real and familiar to me; it made perfect, if chillingly frightening, sense.

I met a large cast of characters along the way, each of them memorable in their own way and standing out to me as a reader. Although they all dressed the same, their individual characters shone through, making them easy for me to recall. I warmed to some of these characters and utterly disliked others.

The content would be suitable for pre -teens through to adults. I’m not going to give any plot spoilers, you can read this book for yourself. I very much look forward to reading the next book in the series and meeting the main characters again. I would recommend Island of Ruin to all lovers of dystopian fiction and to anyone who enjoys a good read.

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Children’s Authors - Finishing the Year on A High

Novelist and children’s author Pauline Tait shares how she finishes her writing year on a high and what she has learned to help her do that.

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etween the seventeen years it took for my own children to go through the school system and the years thereafter where I worked in a primary school, I have been left seeing the year in terms or chunks rather than months.

Something I have learnt to use to my advantage.

Pauline Tait

Using the run-up to the end of the year as a means of feeding my author business was something I stumbled across early on in my authoring career.

As a children’s author, school events are heavily influenced by the curricular calendar. And residing in stunning Scotland means I see children starting their new school year in mid-August with the rest of the UK following just a few short weeks later.

Meaning, this is the moment my end of year plotting and planning hits full throttle.

an author is and how far reaching their author brand is taking them.

Let’s put aside for a moment how wonderful it is to hold author visits, the encouragement we can give to younger generations, and the difference we can make to children through our storytelling. Holding such visits are a privilege, but they are also time taken away from our laptops. When we are conducting an author visit, we are not researching, writing, editing, or meeting our deadlines. And crucially, we are out of our creative zone, which can impact greatly on the attention we are giving to our current manuscripts. We must remember our time is valuable, and charging for such visits is essential.

With schools and teachers ready to hit the academic year head on, literacy is high on their agendas. This means that approaching Scottish schools in early September about possible author visits makes for ideal timing. With schools often eagerly booking from early September through to Mid-November.

Here is Scotland, we also have Book Week Scotland, which runs every November, another fantastic reason to be contacting schools. With competitions running, children dressing up as their favourite characters and books and authors being the topic of the week, it can be seen as a perk for the school to have a visiting author.

Being able to make our books available to purchase during these visits is also something schools need to agree to in advance. We can choose to sell them at discounted prices, I always do when selling through schools. But our time and our products are valuable, and there is money to be earned through these visits. If books sales are low, at least our fee for visiting is covering our time and travel costs.

The exposure and PR material gained from these events are invaluable. If an author uses their social media platforms to their advantage, the entire country and beyond can be aware of how active

Added to that, the exposure our author name, brand, and books have had means that our 18

names are being spoken about on the days running up to and after the event. Parents are googling, scrolling our websites to see just who we are and what we write. Our titles and book covers are being seen by those who may not have otherwise known us.

nurturing and valuing our children and our libraries.

However, ending the year on a high both visually through our events and author brand is only part of the equation. Yes, my sales have increased, I have been paid a fee for each school author visit, my author brand, name, and title have had renewed exposure and I have given back to libraries through my time. But I have one more trick up my sleeve.

And crucially, it is often in the days following these events that we see an increase in purchases of our books. Rather than spend their hardearned money in advance on an author they may not have known or perhaps are unsure that their child will enjoy our books, parents and carers await their child’s feedback. Children going home, raving about the author who visited and the wonderful books they read can mean online purchases. And given the months we are speaking about are in the lead up to Christmas, our titles often fall onto Christmas wish lists or become the ideal gift for another family member or friend’s child.

Anyone who knows me, follows me on social media, or has read my previous articles, will know that when mentoring children’s authors, I remind them that we are running a business. And as part of their authoring business plan, I always recommend they write at least one trilogy, if not a series. And one of those books should be a festive title.

It only needs to be one, but this festive title is an asset that can be resurrected every year and used to instigate a fresh run of events. We can stir up media exposure through competitions and following the #journorequest on what was Twitter and is now X, to be included in Christmas gift guides.

Through these annual increases in events, I have seen regular annual spikes in my children’s titles in the third and fourth quarters and heightened social media activity. The result is that it usually leads to more events being booked for February and March time the following year.

One of the benefits of writing for children is that each year there is a fresh cohort of children ready to be introduced to our books. At a time in the year when we may not be about to release another title, introducing them to our festive title can lead them to our back catalogue and result in further sales.

And let us not forget our libraries. Here in Scotland, most are charitably run, meaning their funds are low, and paying authors for events can be an issue. But they are a powerful commodity, and I usually add in a small number of dates dedicated to charitable events within libraries during this time.

By the time we reach early to mid-December, schools are busy with their own festivities, and events come to a natural end. Meaning that as I settle down to enjoy the festive cheer with family and friends, I can relax knowing that my profile has been increased, my author brand and name has reached new families and my books sales, and therefore my income, have increased. I have ended the year on a high!

The reason being libraries often work tirelessly with local primary schools. Holding such events means that libraries can invite schools along to author events. Book sales are usually low, but sales are not my reason for holding these events.

It’s about giving a library an opportunity to bring in school children whose family situations may mean that money is tight and a visit to a book shop isn’t feasible. It’s a way of introducing children to a world of books, at no cost other than my time. It’s about making them familiar with libraries and the services they provide. It’s about

Pauline Tait writes both romantic suspense and children’s picture books for 3 to 7 years.

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Writing Prompts

Monthly Writing Prompts Wendy H. Jones and Tami C. Brown set the writing prompts for December. We hope you enjoy them. With plenty of options to choose from words, music and images - why not give it a go?

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ecember conjures up images of snow and the festive season. With this in mind, this month’s writing prompts have a seasonal feel to them. Here are three groups, each containing three writing prompts.

Tami C. Brown Wendy H. Jones

Words Skiing Winter chalet

Driving Home for Christmas by Chris Rea

Roaring fire

All I Want for Christmas is You by Mariah Carey

Rocking Around the Christmas Tree by Brenda Lee

Christmas traditions Holly wreaths Mistletoe Nativity Family Holiday Music Back to December by Taylor Swift Fairytale of New York by The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl Sleigh Ride by The Ronettes Last Christmas by Wham Let it Snow by Vaughn Monroe

Baby It’s Cold Outside by Dean Martin 20

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Editor in chief, Wendy H. Jones is the multi-award -winning, best-selling author of adult crime thrillers and cozy mysteries, children’s picture books and non-fiction books for writers. In addition she is a writing coach, partner in Auscot Publishing and Retreats and hosts the Writing and Marketing Show podcast.

Tami C. Brown loves to have her camera ready to snap beauty wherever she goes. Her family and friends, affectionately known as the Queenies, are well prepared for random stops along the journey to have a photo op. She’s grateful for all photography opportunities and the adventures that come along with it.

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A Lipogram Challenge This Month, Poet Lis McDermott discusses the use of a Lipogram as a poetic form and shares two versions of the same poem to demonstrate its use.

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his month’s form is a Lipogram. It isn’t specifically a poetic form, but one where a letter of the alphabet is intentionally not used throughout the writing.

Lis McDermott

I first came across it as an Instagram challenge during lockdown. The first poem I wrote, I decided to remove the letter ‘e’. As this is the most commonly used vowel in English, it was quite hard to do. The poem was about ‘Austin Aardvark’.

For this article, I have used two versions of the same poem. The first, I wrote some time ago, and the second, I re-wrote it to change it into a Lipogram. I removed all of the letter ‘a’s.

Writing the poem about Austin, I came up with as many words as I could without them containing letter ‘e’, but in some cases I forgot and used ‘the’, and other words with the ousted letter. It took quite some time, and searching for alternate words that would work, but it was a great challenge, which I thoroughly enjoyed.

Golden glows the night, Announcing the festive season nigh, The stars shine high in lamplit hopeful skies, on houses decked in light.

They sparkle far into the night sky, Even reaching the man on the moon.

The golden glow is for a child reborn each year at this time, Who many have, denied, passed by, in favour of selfish, glitzy lifestyles.

Whilst others sleep on cold dark streets, Shunned, ignored, as people scurry by, The homeless, lost, sad souls, Thrown into the horrors of a first-world exile.

The letter ‘e’ appears in 11% of all English words and is also the most commonly used vowel in the English language. The letter ‘a’ is the next most frequently used, which appears in 8.55% of all words.

Incredibly, in 1939, an American novelist, Ernest Vincent Wright wrote a whole novel Gadsby’ (not the great) – 50,000 words omitting the letter ‘e’.

Despite his claims, the novel does accidentally contain a few uses of the letter ‘e’. There were three uses of the word ‘the’ and the word ‘officers’ once. Although not well known, it seems the book is a sought-after rarity by some collectors.

Golden glows the night, when stars fall, leading the way to Bethlehem, Time to embrace generosity When we should each give freely our hearts and love to all.

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Write in Time

Throughout this version, which doesn’t avoid any letters of the alphabet, there are twenty-nine ‘a’s throughout.

Charles Dickens 1812-1870

Luckily, as the first and last line are where the consistent rhyming pattern falls, I only had one set of rhyming words, and they were in the last verse – fall and all.

“I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future. The Spirits of all three shall strive within me.”

Charles Dickens - A Christmas Carol 1843

There are certain words that naturally go with the idea of the festive season, so it was tricky coming up with words that worked, without sounding too clunky and out of place.

Charles John Huffman Dickens was born in Portsmouth, England, the second of eight children born to John and Elizabeth Dickens. In 1822 the family moved to London where, in 1824, his father, a clerk with the Royal Navy, ended up in debtors’ prison along with his wife and children, for failing to pay a bill. Charles, aged 12, did not join them and was sent to work for a family friend.

In this poem there are absolutely no letter ‘a’s at all.

I think I prefer this second version. Which do you prefer?

With a childhood marred by poverty and debt, Charles Dickens became a philanthropist committed to helping child poverty, vulnerable women and the education of the poor.

Golden glows the night Telling us, festive Yuletide is nigh, Twinkling orbs shine high in glowing, light-filled hopeful skies, below, onto houses glistening so bright.

They glimmer out into the night sky, Even shimmering upon the bright winter moon, The golden glow is for the Child reborn, remembered in this time, but, who people ofttimes deny.

He married author and actress, Catherine Hogarth, and they had ten children. They separated in 1858.

With a career in journalism, Dickens wrote his first novel at the age of 24. He created some of the best known fictional characters, and how we now celebrate the Christmas festivities is largely due to him. At the age of 58 he died suddenly, and was buried in Poets Corner of Westminster Abbey.

Choosing their selfish, glitzy lifestyles whilst others sleep on cold, dingy streets, shunned, ignored, while people scurry by, The homeless, lost, dejected souls. thrown into the horrors of first-world exile.

In addition to 15 novels, Dickens wrote numerous short stories.

Golden glows the night, when lights descend, pointing, guiding visitors to Bethlehem, will and the Future.

Selected Works A Christmas Carol - Novella - 1843 Oliver Twist - 1837 The Old Curiosity Shop - 1840 David Copperfield - 1849 Bleak House - 1852 Hard Times - 1854 Great Expectations - 1860

Lis McDermott is a multi-genre author, poet and writing mentor.

Visit Lis’ website: https://lismcdermottauthor.co.uk 23

Can We Read It Again? The Power of Last Lines in Picture Books How do you strike the right note in the final lines of a picture book? Chelsea Tornetto shares tips on how to produce powerful last lines and why this is so important.

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ll authors struggle to strike exactly the right note with their final lines. Getting the ending just right is critical if you want your reader to feel satisfied…and hopefully pick up your next book or recommend your first one to a friend.

Chelsea Tornetto

But the importance of the last line is even more pronounced in picture books. Why? Because picture books are meant to be read again, and again…and again!

loved. And, like readers of any age, they tend to vicariously feel the emotions of the main characters. So, ending the story with the main character wrapped in a warm embrace from a loved one, snuggling into a cozy bed under a starry sky, or enjoying a heartwarming moment with friends is sure to tug on the reader’s emotions and make them feel secure and happy. And if a story leaves them feeling all warm and fuzzy, they’ll reach for it again and again.

The truest compliment any child can pay an author is to get to that final page, eagerly turn back to the beginning and ask, “Can we read it again?”

More powerful than any star rating is a parent or grandparent’s testimony that, “They ask me to read it every single night before bed.”

End in the beginning

And while the entire book contributes to a book’s “re-readability,” it’s really that final line that makes the biggest impact.

In discussions about writing the end of a story, you’ll often hear authors use phrases like, “wrapping things up,” or describing the plot as having “come full circle.” In the case of picture books, those phrases can be much more literal!

Young readers love a circular tale that ends where it began. Perhaps the main character is back where they started, having learned something new along the way. Perhaps, on the final page, a new character is introduced, poised to make the same mistake as the main character, and the reader smiles knowing exactly what’s in store for them. Maybe the main character is simply returning home after a long journey.

So, if you’re a picture book writer, how do you craft that perfect ending? As we all know, there are as many ways to captivate a reader as there are readers themselves, so there isn’t a magic formula to follow. But if you’re agonizing about “the end,” here are some tried and true approaches to consider.

Create an emotional moment

Little ones, like all of us, long to feel safe and 24

Whatever the exact situation may be, taking the reader back to the beginning is a great way to give a picture book a satisfying ending.

especially at the end of a picture book! Most young readers love to make predictions as a story goes along, and while they’ll be very proud if their predictions are correct….they’ll be delighted if you can surprise them with something even more entertaining. So, throw them a curveball!

You’re sure to leave them impressed - and wanting to read the story again to see if this time they can see it coming!

Use a repeated refrain Many picture books, especially those written in rhyme, utilize a repeated refrain throughout a story. This refrain acts as a thread, weaving each scene together and leading the reader from beginning to end. In this case, the author can literally “tie up loose ends” by using the repeated refrain as the final line. Like the refrain of a song, it gives the reader a feeling of predictability and pattern that young readers find attractive and - again just like a song - can make the story one they’ll want to read on “repeat.”

Include an unexpected illustration Often the impact of the ending comes not from the last lines of text, but from the final illustration! Give your illustrator free reign to come up with a clever last picture. Maybe it implies a sequel or hints that a new problem is about to arise. Maybe it gives us a glimpse of how the main character has changed and how that will impact them going forward. This isn’t to say your last line of text shouldn’t also be stellar! But… sometimes a picture really is worth a thousand words.

End with the title Using the title of the book as the final line of the story can be a highly effective way to wrap up a picture book, and the reason is more about human instinct than writing skill. When the last line is the same as the title, the reader’s instinctive reaction upon reading it, is to flip back to the cover to confirm that the title matches what they’ve just read. Going back to the cover entices them to read the book again! And, if you’ve chosen a great title that conveys the core message of your story, all of this also reinforces that message in the reader’s head and makes them more likely to remember your book.

In the end, there isn’t one key to making an impact with the last line of a picture book. But, whether we appeal to the reader’s emotions, wow them with a clever plot twist, or make sure we get that last laugh, the final lines of a picture book should be the ones that stick. And the first time you see one of your youngest readers finish your book and ask, “Can we read it again?” you’ll know you’ve succeeded.

Make them laugh Humor is consistently listed as one of the main ways authors can connect to young readers. So, if you’re writing a humorous picture book, save your best punchline for that final page. It may be a running joke that’s used throughout the book, or it may be an unexpected laugh. Either way, leaving the reader laughing is always a good thing!

Chelsea Tornetto is the author of “Gardens Are For Growing” (Familius, 2022) and “God Made You Too,” (WorthyKids, 2022), with four additional books under contract. She taught 7th grade World Geography for 17 years before leaving the classroom to help other authors achieve their dreams of publication. You can find her doling out writing and publishing advice at At Home Author.

Impress them with a plot twist

There’s nothing kids love more than a surprise 25

Article

Christmas Books That Stand The Test of Time

The festive season is one of the best times of the year to snuggle up with a good book. Sheena Macleod discusses some of the Christmas classics that seem to stay with us year after year.

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here’s nothing like reading a good seasonal-themed book to get me in the mood for the Christmas festivities. While I am always up for reading a recently published book, I also remain faithful to the classics. And there is no shortage of books to choose from.

Sheena Macleod

Everyone loves to hate the Grinch - A Christmas killjoy with a heart two sizes too small!. The popular children’s book, How the Grinch Stole Christmas written by Dr. Seuss, was first published in 1957 and has captured the imaginations of both children and adults the world over ever since. The tale is written in rhymed verse with illustrations by the author. The book has been adapted many times for stage, television and film. Making this another timeless classic.

Here is a small selection of Christmas-themed books that have stood the test of time, and have remained firm favourites with many readers.

Bah! Humbug! First up is a ghost story to get you into the Christmas spirit. A firm favourite for many. A Christmas Carol is a novella written by Charles Dickens, and first published in London in 1843. The book has been republished many times since then. It has also been adapted into film, stage and television, drawing a large audience.

A timeless tale well told.

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Last up is a particular favourite of mine. Turkish Delight! It can only be The Chronicles of Narnia.

Book two in this classic children's book series by C.S. Lewis, The Lion, the Witch and Wardrobe has been enjoyed by generations. This fantasy novel for children was first published in 1950 and has since been adapted for stage, television and film.

Another timeless classic.

If you like a serving of crime on your festive reading menu, there is nothing to beat a Christmas themed book by Agatha Christie. Hercule Poirot’s Christmas (Book 20 in the Hercule Poirot series) hits the spot. This Christmas classic was first published in 1938 in the UK, and in 1939 in the US, under the title A Murder for Christmas.

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Finishing Strong in the Short Fiction Forms

Allison Symes looks at finishing strong with your writing in the short fiction forms and shares useful tips.

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inishing strong simply means having a satisfying ending to your story. The short form writer reaches the finishing point sooner and more often but has an overview of a flash fiction piece or short story in one “go” so can see quickly if the story does have the strong finish it needs.

Allison Symes

It is also okay to write the ending first. I do this a lot for my short form work. Knowing the ending first can save a great deal of grief later.

All stories promise to take a reader on a journey.

There must be conflict. There must be a point of change. The conflict must be resolved. The ending does have to be a satisfactory one, appropriate to your set up (though not necessarily “happy”), and to feel “right” for your characters as you have portrayed them.

I then work out logically how to reach that ending (I often use spider diagrams for this). It means when I write my draft, I know roughly where I am heading. I know my ending is strong. I then ensure the rest of the story is too. I am writing from B to A. It works. It is like putting pieces of a jigsaw together, knowing you have the final piece ready.

“There must be a point of change.”

What can you do to ensure you always finish strong with your stories?

“What matters is you know how your story is likely to end.”

A good way is to outline. Now for those who don’t like to plan, bear in mind an outline doesn’t have to be long. For my 100 word stories, often a line or two will do.

I like to know my characters before I start writing. Some writers invent mini biographies. An abis from main West solute must-know Lisa for meTurley is a character’s Virginia.

She is on trait as I can work out likely attitudes andnumeractions ous ARC street teams and as well as explore why they have that trait. By reads in multiple genres. this point, I’m beginning to see what kind of story She is passionate about would suit them. helping authors get the word out about their books.

If my Character A believes they’re the life and soul, showing off to all and sundry, but they haven’t been invited to a party they’ve heard

“A good way to finish strong is to outline.”

What matters is knowing how your story is likely to end. Having a rough road map can stop you going off at a tangent. If your initial idea of a strong ending was Situation A and you end up with Situation B, that’s fine as long as the latter fits in with your story premise and characters.

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about, what could they do? Gatecrash it? Another character may well feel Character A is the proverbial pain, hence no invite. How do they know?

What would they do in the event of a gatecrash?

There’s a story outline there. I have conflict and consequence. The gatecrashing character must be dealt with somehow. There is my resolution.

away is the way I gain that objectivity. It works. (I use the time away to draft another story, naturally).

If I wrote this up, I would show my character demonstrating what they think about themselves by being loud and brash to another character.

Then would come the gatecrash scene. Maybe the party is being held by the character they showed off to earlier. So annoying, right?

One of my favourite stories is A Christmas Carol

by Charles Dickens. You know from the opening lines something must happen to Scrooge. He cannot stay as he was at the beginning, else there is no story. You read to discover how he changes and what triggers that. Dickens delivers!

The story satisfies because he does. That is what we’re looking to achieve.

“My first edit on any story is to make sure I have delivered on the promise set out at the beginning.”

What could be my finish strong approach here? I would find a humorous way of giving the loudmouth their comeuppance through the character they’ve annoyed. Not only would that be poetic justice, it would be the perfect place to end the tale. Readers would feel it served the loudmouth right.

Make sure then your first edit is where you ensure the story works. Have you got a strong beginning? What is the inciting incident? What is the tipping point of your story where change has to happen? How does the change impact your characters and what ending does that lead to as that change must mean something? A simple series of questions like these can help you get your story structure right including the ending.

Note I haven’t planned what the comeuppance would be. All I need to know at this stage is it is funny and the lead character deserves it, but knowing this ending just gets me off to a flying start with my first draft and I know the ending will be strong and suitable.

The short form writer needs to come up with stories and characters - lots of them - so having a way in to your tales and knowing where they are likely to end will help increase productivity. This is the case for me. Planning my strong finishes has been a great technique for me and one I happily recommend. Even if you don’t like planning, just jotting down a rough idea of a likely conclusion is a good idea. It means you always have something to fall back on. That is always useful.

What I need then to get me started on any story is a basic outline including a rough ending. You do need to know the stop point.

“You do need to know the stop point.”

My first edit is to ensure I have delivered on the promise set at the beginning (which is implied in all tales) there will be a resolution. Have I done this? Do the characters appeal? If I was a reader coming to this story, would I feel the ending packs the punch it is meant to do and leave me feeling satisfied I’d read this?

Allison Symes is a flash fiction/short story writer, blogger and editor based in Hampshire. She runs writing workshops, judges competitions, and writes weekly for writers for Chandler’s Ford Today. She has two flash fiction collections published (Chapeltown Books) with a third in the pipeline.

This is also where time away helps give me the necessary distance to approach my tale objectively. Being objective on your work is hard. Time 29

Book Review

Writing Book of the Month: Save the Cat! Writes a Young Adult Novel: The Ultimate Guide to Writing a YA Bestseller by Jessica Brody Reviewed by Lisa Harkrader Save the Cat! Writes a Young Adult Novel: The Ultimate Guide to Writing a YA Bestseller by Jessica Brody

ISBN-10: 1984859234 ISBN-13: 978-1984859235 Publisher: Ten Speed Press (July 2023)

Blurb In Save the Cat! Writes a Young Adult Novel, prolific author and story coach Jessica Brody presents a comprehensive story structure guide for anyone who wants to write a young adult novel by applying the famed Save the Cat! screenwriting methodology to the world of YA fiction. In this book, you will learn: •

The fifteen “beats” (or plot points) that are necessary for crafting a successful story with a compelling character arc—including the Opening Image, Catalyst, Fun and Games, Bad Guys Close In, Dark Night of the Soul, and Finale.

•

The ten universal story genres that will help you drill into what makes your type of story work, including those most commonly found in young adult novels like Rites of Passage, Superhero, Buddy Love, Institutionalized, and Golden Fleece.

•

Quirky, original insights and writing tips like “Save the Cat,” the “Shard of Glass,” and the “Dark Night Epiphany,” that help you craft a story that will thrill and captivate teen readers.

Filled with practical advice, easy-to-follow templates, and “beat sheets” analyzing the structure of popular young adult novels such as Leigh Bardugo’s Six of Crows, John Green’s The Fault in Our Stars, and Lois Lowry’s The Giver, this book is the ultimate reference for anyone who’s ever dreamed of writing their own young adult bestseller.

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Book Review

Review Save the Cat! Writes a Young Adult Novel by Jessica Brody is the latest book based on the Save the Cat! story structure first developed for screenwriting. If you’re familiar with Save the Cat!, you’ll recognize the concepts. In this book, Brody explains how to apply them to young adult writing, analyzing successful YA novels such as The Book Thief, The Hunger Games, and The Hate U Give to illustrate her points.

What do cats have to do with story structure? It’s a reminder to show your main character doing something likable or redeeming—such as helping a little brother, an elderly neighbor, or, yes, maybe a cat— early on to get readers on their side. In the first four chapters, Brody explains how to create a storyworthy hero, then lays out the structure’s fifteen beats, or plot points. These beats correspond with the traditional three-act structure and include such critical moments as the Catalyst, Break Into 2, Midpoint, All Is Lost, Break Into 3, and Finale. She explains the ten Save the Cat! genres, which aren’t the traditional mystery, science fiction, romance genres you’re used to. Save the Cat! breaks stories into genres like Rites of Passage, Buddy Love, Fool Triumphant, and Whydunit, based on the kind of transformation the main character undergoes. Brody breaks each genre down in its own chapter. The final chapters focus on selling your novel and writing a series.

While this book is aimed squarely at young adult writers, fiction writers for any age group can benefit from this guide to crafting a well-structured story.

Lisa Harkrader is the author of more than 40 books for children, including Airball: My Life in Briefs, winner of the William Allen White Award, and The Misadventures of Nobbin Swill, a fairy tale detective trilogy starring a dung farmer’s son who becomes Prince Charming’s assistant.

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Article

The Joy and ‘How to’ of Writing Christmas Picture Books for Children

Children’s author, Pauline Tait, discusses the how and whys of writing a Christmas book for younger readers.

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riting a Christmas book for our younger readers is, without doubt, a joy, but it is also a savvy business plan and something children’s authors should consider. Follow me as I tell you why adding a festive title to your ‘to be written’ pile can elevate you as a writer, expand your audience and, in turn, boost your income.

Pauline Tait

For some children, snow will add to the magical scene, providing an extra layer of excitement to their already transformed landscape. With snowballs thrown, fingers as cold as ice, will be warmed by mittens and hot chocolate while cookies in the shape of gingerbread men, are munched on limb by limb. As children’s authors we must bring this magic into our festive tales.

When seen through the eyes of children, Christmas is a magical season. Filled with innocence, excitement, and hope, it is a time for family, caring and sharing. Sparkling lights dancing against the dark night sky leave children in awe as visions of a sleigh dance in their head. Trees, as tall buildings, spring up in town squares, on pavements and in department stores. Rows and rows of dancing lights flicker in spectacular colour as decorated trees appear in living rooms. Bringing streets alive as dazzling windows, illuminated in festive cheer, reach out to passersby.

In my article, Children’s Authors - Finishing the Year on A High, I have mentioned that writing a festive children’s book is a sound business decision. And I also give my reasons why. As a mentor to children’s authors, I often discuss the dos and don’ts of writing a festive picture book. So, you won’t be surprised to learn that my over all advice is always, yes, do!

Classrooms, shops, and homes are decorated as the magic of the season spreads its effervescent spectacle through stories of reindeer, elves, Santa, the north Pole, the nutcracker, and the three Wise Men.

An author only needs to write one festive title within a genre and, if done to the accepted and expected standards within children's publishing, they will be reaping the rewards of that title for years to come. If that title also happens to be part of a series, then as long as the books in that series are stand-a-lone reads (for the sake of the festive title), then often the series in its entirety will see an annual boost.

Holly, bells, Ivy, Christmas carols, toy soldiers and candy canes abound. All while children feast their eyes on glistening ornaments and the wonder that this time of year brings to younger imaginations.

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be firmly hooked and rooting for the main character). Finally, ensure your ARC concludes with a cheerful outcome. The reader/listener will want to know that the character they have come to love will have a wonderful Christmas, surrounded by those they hold dear and that their festive world is safe, rosy, and happy.

And if we can ensure our festive tale stands out from the crowd, then our authoring business has an asset it can rely on year on year. Remember, children grow, bringing us a fresh cohort of readers with each new year.

However, when mentoring and giving children’s authors this piece of advice, their first question is often, ‘but how do I write a Christmas picture book?’

But this may not reflect the real world, I hear you say. But it is what sells! And it will help ensure your book has a new lease of life for many Christmases to come.

Writing a children’s picture book comes with its own set of accepted and expected standards in children’s publishing. And whether an author intends to self-publish or find an agent in the hope of securing a traditional publishing contract, the overall goal should always remain the same to ensure their book has the traditionally published look. And when in say look, I mean both visually and in the quality of its content and layout.

And remember, picture books are usually read aloud, so make sure your vocabulary has a rhythmic flow. It does not have to rhyme, but it does have to flow when read aloud. A reader’s voice should be able to ebb and flow with the ups and downs. Repeatedly reading your manuscript aloud will help you to spot any jarring vocabulary.

To have our festive title released in to the wild annually, found on the shelves of major retailers such as Waterstones and Barnes & Noble, as well as our lovely local independent books shops who struggle for space and are careful about who they give their much sought after shelf space to, then we, as authors, must ensure our books are ticking all the boxes.

And now for the illustrations and our allimportant cover.

So, how do we do this? Firstly, let’s talk manuscript.

Our front cover will contain the essentials that tie in with our manuscript, but it should fade to a less busy back cover, leaving an intriguing background that includes space for our blurb, barcode, etc.

Avoiding having a back cover that is a solid block of colour with the blurb sitting in the centre will ensure you have the traditionally published look that retailers are looking for.

As authors, we recognise the importance of our front cover. But, please, do not forget about your back cover. A traditionally published book will have a carefully planned double page spread that wraps from the front of a picture book to the back.

Positive morals, the love of family, caring, sharing, friendship and hope are at the heart of every ‘read again and again’ Christmas story.

Loveable characters who are as endearing in their personality and traits as they are in appearance, will lure in even the most reluctant readers.

A simple ARC is enough for our younger readers.

Set the scene through gripping festiveness while ensuring children will empathise with your character.

And on the topic of covers.

Anyone following me on social media will have heard me say this often. And, although there is no right or wrong here, my years working in primary literacy support mean I steer clear of publishing picture books with titles written fully in capital letters.

Add in the drama (by now, we want children to 33

Reluctant and struggling readers/listeners are less patient and, remembering our targeted age group, may not yet know their capital letters.

Some will, but some won’t and given we want to be inclusive, ensuring there are no visual blockers on our covers will help prevent our books from being tossed aside without being opened.

To our struggling and reluctant readers/ listeners, a title written fully in capital letters can be a series of undecipherable symbols, instilling frustration around our picture book from the outset.

And now for the visual pièce de résistance, our internal illustrations. Give thought and care to your layout. Ensure each page in as intriguing as the last. I always recommend to my clients that they write through illustration.

Our illustrations should not be an afterthought.

They should be part of the planning from the moment we begin writing our first draft. Equally, knowing when to use single- or double-page spreads is crucial. We should use our illustrations to enhance our stories, to feed intrigue, drama, and the big reveals. If done correctly, the power of the illustrations can come to the fore, enrapturing children, and pulling in those who are more reluctant.

The Fairy in the Kettle’s Christmas Wish is an award-winning picture book set in the heart of Bramble Glen…

It’s Christmas Eve and Bramble Glen is covered in a thick blanket of snow. As Leona and her friends gather to plan their Christmas Leona is determined that her first Christmas in her precious kettle will be the best Christmas she has ever had.

However, as the fairies hunt for the perfect Christmas tree things don’t quite go to plan! Will they find the perfect tree and have Leona’s precious kettle decorated in time for Christmas? More importantly, will all the fairies make it back in time to celebrate together?

Pauline Tait is an award-winning children’s author, novelist, and writing mentor based in Perthshire, Scotland. She enjoys writing both romantic suspense and children’s picture books as well as mentoring children’s authors. More information on Pauline’s writing, mentoring and books can be found at www.paulinetait.com

In short, our wording and illustrations should work together in perfect harmony.

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Writing Group of the Month

Association of Christian Writers: Flash Fiction Group

by Allison Symes Our Writing Group of the Month is the Association of Christian Writers’ Flash Fiction Group. Allison Symes discusses what members have been achieving here.

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he Association of Christian Writers (ACW) has long had affiliated writing groups based on location. The pandemic led to an interesting, positive development. With the use of Zoom to help groups meet at all, it led to the formation of genre groups. One is the flash fiction group I run monthly on a Wednesday evening. The group started in mid-2021. All of us live hundreds of miles apart so this group couldn’t exist otherwise.

Allison Symes

work published on Friday Flash Fiction and festive flash fiction pieces broadcast by Hannah Kate on her Three Minutes Santa show on North Manchester FM. We hope this continues!

ACW set up a Facebook page for the group. Members share news of flash markets and competitions there. We learn from each other. It is thanks to two members I discovered Flash NANO which is the short form writer’s equivalent of NaNoWriMo. Instead of writing 50,000 words over November, we flashers are set a different daily writing prompt so by 30th November we can end up with thirty first drafts written.

Zoom has brought PowerPoint back into my writing life. It is a great tool for sharing information. I usually prepare a short PowerPoint on a topic (recent examples include opening and closing lines, seasonal writing, and differing word counts). I set exercises which we work on during the evening. This goes for me too. Why? Well, I love live writing sessions and it encourages others to see I’m doing this too. I only prepare the exercise type in advance. We all end up getting first drafts down.

Some of us write Christian stories. Others do not.

We aim to write more flash tales and try to get them published. There is nothing like having work out there to encourage you further. People can see the results of their creative labours, which is something I love about this group.

I also encourage people to read their work out.

It’s useful practice and you hear how your story works. If you stumble over dialogue, for example, doing this, you know that will be something to look at when you edit the piece.

Allison Symes is a flash fiction/short story writer, blogger and editor based in Hampshire. She runs writing workshops, judges competitions, and writes weekly for writers for Chandler’s Ford Today. She has two flash fiction collections published (Chapeltown Books) with a third in the pipeline.

Sometimes I can think of an immediate market for a flash tale and say so. It is great when that happens. The standard of work is incredibly high. Some members, including me, have had 35

Bookshop of the Month

Independent Bookshop of the Month: Books Upstairs, Dublin

Our Independent bookshop for December is Books Upstairs—the oldest Independent Bookshop in Dublin, Ireland.

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ooks Upstairs was first opened in May 1978 by Maurice Earls and Enda O’Doherty - above a shop on Dublin’s South King Street - making it the oldest independent bookshop in Dublin.

The two friends set out to open a bookshop which would support the positive role of books in society and particularly in Irish culture.

The stock focused on literature, history and politics, but also introduced previously absent or underrepresented genres and authors to Ireland, stocking philosophy, literary criticism, psychology, feminism and gay literature.

children’s books. It has also enabled them to realise a vision of the independent bookshop as a cultural space where a person can spend time over a coffee or at a literary event.

The shop always made space for a wide range of literary and political journals. Encouraging the circulation of ideas was an early objective that they still persist in these 40+ years later.

The owners seized the opportunity in 2015 to expand into a bigger space when the shop moved to its current home in a beautifully preserved Georgian building at 17 D’Olier Street.

This coincided with Maurice’s daughter Louisa joining the family business, who along with Mary McAuley, became the new management team.

The first-floor café – restored in 2019 to its Victorian glory – offers a small and carefully chosen selection of coffees, teas, baked goods and toasties. The Books Upstairs café is laptop-free and wifi-free: this is a space for talking, thinking, writing… and, of course, reading. Making it the perfect spot to enjoy your new book.

The new space allowed Books Upstairs to continue doing what it has always done, while expanding its range with extensive new titles and 36

Library of the Month

Library of the Month: Thornbury Library

by Maressa Mortimer Our Library of the Month for December is Thornbury Library. Here Maressa Mortimer explains what makes this library so special.

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hornbury is a lovely market town, not far from Bristol, and I was thrilled to find the library. I needed a quiet space to write, and not many cafes let you sit and write for hours on end without regular purchases.

The library was set up in the mid-seventies and has that look on the outside. Inside, it’s a different story. There are lots of vibrant colours, children’s artwork as well as books. No longer is the library a place of absolute silence, and you don’t have to be an avid reader to feel welcome in this place!

The library has plenty of computers, and again, the staff is ready to help. There are reading tables and corners with more comfy chairs, with newspapers and magazines available, and plenty of books to choose from. There are reading clubs for reading with others, or you could choose your genre, including books on writing.

Thornbury Library is right in the centre, providing easy access. The library hosts all kinds of groups and although most of them are book-related, some are not. There is a wonderful Lego club, for example, and it’s great looking at the various creations made by them!

Thornbury Library is open most days, although with cuts being made, they’re worried that next year the hours might be reduced. There are books available online, but it’s not the same as walking into a library and meeting people.

For me, it is the free coffee that is a real bonus, and the staff is welcoming and helpful. Whilst sipping my hot coffee, I had a go at the jigsaw on the side. I’m pretty sure there must be some edge pieces missing…

Hopefully, this vibrant place will be available to the public for a long time to come.

Maressa Mortimer is Dutch but lives in the beautiful Cotswolds, England, with her husband and four (adopted) children. Maressa is a homeschool mum as well as a pastor’s wife. She loves writing Christian fiction, as it’s a great way to explore faith in daily life. All of Maressa’s books are available from her website, www.vicarioushome.com, Amazon or local bookshops.

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Recent Releases Title: The Christmas Book Club by Sarah Morgan ISBN-10 : 1848459203 ISBN-13 : 978-1848459205 Publisher : HQ (26 Oct. 2023) Blurb A long-lasting friendship Every year, Erica, Claudia, and Anna reunite for their book club holiday.

They’re bonded by years of friendship and a deep love of books, but there is still so much they keep from each other . . .

A perfect Christmas escape At the cosy Maple Sugar Inn, Hattie specialises in making her guests’ dreams come true, but this Christmas all she wants is to survive the festive season. Between running the inn and being a single mother, Hattie is close to breaking point.

The start of a brand-new story?

Over the course of an eventful week, Hattie sees that the friends are each carrying around unspoken truths, but nothing prepares her for how deeply her story will become entwined in theirs. Will this Christmas be the end of the book club’s story or the start of a whole new chapter?

Title: Midnight at the Christmas Bookshop by Jenny Colgan ISBN-10 : 1408726238 ISBN-13 : 978-1408726235 Publisher : Sphere (October 2023) Blurb Carmen is at a loose end. Her gorgeous bookshop is the filming site of a cheesy Christmas movie, she's been ousted from her sister's house, and the love of her life has just flown thousands of miles away. It's threatening to be a very unjolly Christmas indeed! But when the elderly owner of the shop comes to Carmen with a Christmas wish that threatens to never come true, Carmen knows she must buckle down to get the funds to save not only his trip, but the shop itself.

While fending off a shady tatt-selling businessman, Carmen discovers wonders to the shop she could have never imagined, and opens a labyrinth of bookish backrooms for the customers to get lost in.

With her deadline looming, it might take more than a fresh coat of paint to solve Carmen's problems. But with the help of their neighbours, her nieces and nephew, and a very distractingly cute male nanny, Carmen might just pull her greatest magic trick yet...

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Recent Releases Title: The Night Before Christmas by Alex Pine ASIN: B0BZN8FPY2 Publisher: Avon (October 2023) Blurb This Christmas, the hunters become the hunted…

When four trail hunters go missing in the fells of Cumbria on Christmas Eve, the race is on to find them before nightfall – when the temperature plummets. After hours of searching, the first body is found… Not frozen in the snow, but brutally murdered and bearing a warning: the real hunt has begun.

As a snowstorm descends, three lives hang in the balance. But can the killer be caught before the trail goes cold? From the master of Christmas crime comes a thriller that will chill you to the bone this Winter, perfect for fans of James Patterson, Clare Mackintosh and anyone who prefers their mince pies with a side of murder.

Title: The Lost Bride Trilogy (Book 1) by Nora Roberts ASIN: B0BXWT8SVR Publisher: Piatkus (November 2023) Blurb 1806. Astrid Poole is murdered on her wedding day. Her last words - a promise to her husband never to leave him...

After finding her fiancé in a compromising position with her cousin, Sonya MacTavish needs an escape. When a lawyer turns up on her doorstep out of the blue with news that she has inherited a beautiful Victorian house, Sonya thinks maybe this is just the change of scene she needs.

The house - nicknamed Lost Bride manor - is beautiful, the setting idyllic and the local town offers Sonya the smalltown comforts she craves after life in a big city. So what if there are sometimes shadows in the windows, objects move of their own accord and music starts playing out of nowhere. Sonya can live with the house being a little haunted.

But things soon start to take a darker turn and it becomes clear that Sonya has inherited far more than a house. She has inherited a centuries-old curse, and a puzzle she must solve if there is any hope of breaking it...

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From the Desk of the Office Dog

Every Great Christmas Story Needs A Dog

Sophie, ably assisted by Peter Thomas, shares why dogs should play a full part in the Christmas celebrations and why there should be more of them in the seasonal stories.

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y favourite Christmas story of all time is Vivian Walsh’s “Olive, the Other Reindeer”. It tells of the titular dog who stood in for an injured reindeer so that Christmas wouldn’t be cancelled. With rare exceptions, the truth is that most otherwise wonderful stories set at Christmas are sadly deficient in dogs. Charles Dickens missed a trick not including any canine characters in his classic Christmas Carol. This was surely a disappointment to Timber Doodle, the small shaggy spaniel who was his constant companion and inspiration. Bah, humpug!

Sophie

We love woofing along with the Twelve Dogs song. “On the furriest day of Christmas, my true love said to me”, counting down from “Twelve Darling Dachshunds” to “Five Gold Retrievers” all the way to “a cuddly fluffy spaniel puppy” (and not as some sing, “a stray cat stuck up the Christmas tree”). Our favourite song is obviously “O Christmas Treat, O Christmas Treat, how tasty are your munchies”, which speaks so eloquently of the many opportunities for extra morsels which the festive season brings.

“The truth is that most otherwise wonderful stories set at Christmas are sadly deficient in dogs.”

No celebrations of Christmas are complete without at least one dog. More than any other animals, we have boundless enthusiasm for all the fun of the howliday season. We cheerfully join in with our humans’ bizarre traditions. We are happy to embarrass ourselves in red hats and false beards and silly jumpers for the family pawtrait on the Christmas card, even when they read “Fur Baby”, “Santa’s Little Yelper”, or “Sorry Santa, I ate the cookies”. But if you want us to smile, forget “cheese” and try saying “Sausage Sandwiches”. I, myself, have been known to put on a pair of antlers to do a shift for Rudolf. Christmas is the season of pawsome cuteness overload.

Lots of visitors to greet means plenty of snacks for sharing my sofa with them. My family recall with fondness their first Open House. In the moments it took for the humans to welcome the guests inside the front door, our retriever great auntie Tara had snaffled up three full bowls of nibbles in the living room. But nothing rivals our sheltie great uncle Arkle at the dinner party where the desserts were laid out in advance generously at nose level on the bottom shelf of the 40

hostess trolley. It was only after everybody had begun eating that my human granny remarked, “I was sure I’d put cream on that trifle.” Any discerning dog would naturally leave the custard and jelly behind.

in the market is my seasonal gift to you authors everywhere, but with only a few weeks until Santa Paws comes to town you better get writing.

Have yourselves a furry spaniel Christmas and a tail-waggy New Year. Treats on earth, goodwill to dogs!

“No celebrations of Christmas are complete without at least one dog.”

Dogs love presents more than anybody, although we don’t really understand why they aren’t all for us. We don’t need to be asked to help unwrap everybody else’s gifts.

We are also puzzled why all year we aren’t allowed to bring a stick into the house but at Christmas humans can drag in a whole tree. Still, as Snoopy wisely remarked, “It’s not what’s under the Christmas tree that matters, it’s who’s around it.”

Just for the record, if this year there are any incidents with Christmas trees, fairy lights or tinsel, the cat did it. We stay up late for the arrival of Santa Paws who always brings us extra special presents. Like Santa, a dog’s only aim in life is to spread love everywhere. We are the only ones in the house with the ears to hear the sleigh bells, so we never bark when he arrives. We get to see him nose to nose because no dog is ever on his naughty list, unlike humans and cats who never even catch a glimpse because calling him Santa Claws is, frankly, rude.

Peter Thomas and Sophie Rev Peter Thomas has published three nonfiction books and is delighted now to assist Sophie in her creative writing projects. Originally a teacher and author in the fields of chemistry and computing, Peter retired in 2023 after 36 years as a Minister of local Baptist Churches. He continues to add to his blog and videos of more than a thousand sermons and reflections found at www.pbthomas.com.

Christmas carols remind everybody that dogs were at the heart of the Nativity. “Bark the hairy angels sing” confirms that angels are actually dogs with wings. The First Noel was proclaimed to “certain paw shepherds in fields as they lay”, obviously referring to sheepdogs. “With the paw and meek and lowly, lived on earth our Saviour Holy.”

“O come, all ye furry.”

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The world needs more Christmas stories with dogs front and centre. Identifying this glaring gap 41

Article

Never Give Up On A Magazine Market

S. Bee shares her experience of pitching her writing to the magazine market. Her message is to never give up, no matter how long it takes.

S. Bee

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his is a tale of tired patience – and a joyful surprise. Way back in 2014, I cautiously contacted the editor of a monthly pet magazine to enquire if they published fiction.

The answer was music to my ears – 'We do indeed! Please send in some short stories!'

the magazine had some sort of business agreement with this particular publisher.

My theory was proved correct when the magazine then launched a novel writing competition, with the publisher printing the winning novel.

There'd be coverage about the winning writer in the magazine, too. The editor of the magazine was one of the judges. Now, I don't quite know what makes an editor of a pet magazine an expert on contemporary rom-com novels, but hey ho.

So I eagerly sent in two pet based stories. When these were swiftly accepted and published, I was thrilled! It was an all rights contract but the fee was good enough to make me sacrifice the rights to my work. I hadn't any plans to use my stories elsewhere after publication, anyway.

Plus, I was provided with a complimentary copy of the magazine, sent through snail mail post (the mag was quite expensive) and the illustrations that accompanied my stories were really fabulous.

Meanwhile with several delays, story three was published in 2015. Fearing that my work would instantly be put on the slush pile, nevertheless, I subbed story four. To my immense relief, this was accepted, but a magazine team member admitted that they couldn't provide me with a publication month.

All went well - until story three was accepted.

I was told it had been scheduled for a certain month's issue, but when it didn't appear, I contacted the editor. I waited around two weeks, but there was no reply. I contacted the mag with a private message via SM, where I was informed it would appear in a later issue.

By this time, the friendly, warm correspondence with the ed had mysteriously faded into cyber space. Fine. I'd been lucky with these initial stories and I realised that mag staff are busy, however, I was forced to accept that these novelist's stories were treated as priority. I felt pretty sour about it, but there was nothing I could do. I just hoped that I'd be able to ride this phase out.

It didn't. By now, we were in 2015. I then began to study the magazine's recent published short stories and realised there was a pattern. Most of the short story writers were novelists and had a book to promote. These authors were all under the same medium-sized publisher. It looked like

I didn't. Yet I remained patient. As it was a 42

I didn't sub it out anywhere else. Instead, I stuck it on my website. It remained there until 2022.

In early 2022, a member of the email womag writing crit group I used to belong to, said she'd been in touch with the new ed of the pet mag, and had asked if he'd consider fresh fiction - the answer was yes! She passed on the brief fiction guidelines, the fee and a different contract - this time, they didn't require all rights.

monthly magazine, I gave them two years. Yep you read that right. Two years!

In 2017, I was so fed- up of the situation that I asked if I could withdraw story four. I'd signed an all rights contract, but they were kind enough to waver that and return my story. I suspected that this was because the mag was now under a different publisher, and all freelance contracts should have been renewed. Mine wasn't. They clearly weren't that bothered about renewing the contract that I'd signed, or perhaps they'd realised how shabbily I'd been treated – or it was a blend of both reasons. Well, I now had my story back.

So while that group member quickly subbed a story, I whipped story number four off my website. I gave it a tidy, and submitted it. The group member's pet story was quickly accepted and given a publication slot – it dutifully appeared. As for me - well, I didn't hear anything, so I assumed my tale hadn't been accepted.

I'd also submitted story number five (which had been especially written for the mag) but I'd waited six months for a decision, and there was still no yay or nay. So while I had the opportunity, I withdrew that one, too because I'd absolutely reached the end of my tether with them!

Fast forward a few months – and to my surprise, there was an acceptance email message from the ed in my inbox! At long last, story four graced the mag's June 2022 issue and yes, with a lovely illustration to boot. I didn't receive a free copy of the mag, which was a shame. I'd tried to buy it in my town in local newsagents and supermarkets – also, I'd looked in the next city - but I just couldn't find it in a big WH Smiths store, or anywhere else.

From that lovely welcoming email message from the ed in 2014, it had all gone horribly wrong. I don't know why. They made me feel as if I was pestering them, when in reality, they were the ones who had messed me about. The mag's admin team (via private FB messages) had the decency to apologise but my work was pushed aside, simply because of this business agreement with this novel publisher.

I'd tried subbing story five out to other mags, but I'd had no joy. SUMMER 2022: I've given story five an update and subbed it to them again – and success! I first subbed this to them in August 2017 - and it's taken until August 2022 for it to sell. It finally appeared in the October 2022 issue.

I also sold story six.

(A note to mag fiction eds: A novelist's main focus isn't on short stories - that's really why they choose to be novelists, and not short story writers. Some novelists struggle to pen a short story, because it's a completely different discipline).

So the moral of the story is - never give up on a magazine market!

This pet magazine had held onto story four for two years and not published it and paid me – so, not surprisingly, I'd now completely lost faith in it.

S. Bee lives in West Yorkshire. She has had several short stories published in a wide range of women's magazines, here in the UK and in titles abroad. She has also had quite a few letters and rhyming poems published in magazines, too.

This is how the mag's attitude affected my confidence. Is it any wonder that aspiring, prospective womag writers give up?

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Planning Your Writing Life For The Year Editor, writer and book coach, Jennifer Navarre, poses questions to consider when planning for the year ahead.

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hether it was good, bad, or somewhere in between, 2023 is now one for the history books. And what a year it was.

Maybe this was the year you finally published your book. Or launched your Kickstarter campaign. Or finished the book you've been meaning to write for years.

“2023 is now one for the history books.”

Jennifer Navarre

Or maybe this was the year you had to set things aside for a while. The year where you felt creatively stalled. The year where writing was the last thing on your mind.

What are you proudest of in your writing life?

It’s easy to skip a look back in favor of looking ahead to the bright and shiny new year—the one with no mistakes in it yet, to paraphrase Miss Stacy in Anne of Green Gables. But 2023 did happen, and your writing life was part of it, whether you did a little or a lot. So let’s start there.

What worked? What didn't?

Here are some questions for you to consider, whether that’s in your head, in your journal, or in a writing planner.

Whew. Be gentle with yourself. This time of reflection might be stirring up some big feelings, and that’s okay.

2023 Reflections

When you’re ready, it’s time to look ahead.

When you look back on this year, what will you remember the most?

Planning Ahead for 2024

What resources helped you this year?

As we move forward into 2024, what do you want to leave behind in 2023?

Look at the big picture. What do you want to accomplish in 2024?

What changed for you this year?

What’s your writing plan? Your publishing plan?

How did all of this affect your writing or publishing goals?

Are you a member of any professional organizations? Are there any you want to join?

What did you write this year—or not write?

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Are there any writing conferences you want to attend (virtually or in person)? When are they? Have the details been announced yet?

Is there one month you could learn how to set up your email marketing?

Is there one month where you know you’ll be attending an annual virtual conference (and then catching the replays you missed a week or two later)?

What are your plans to market yourself as an author this year? (Yes, even if you haven’t published a book yet.)

Do you have an email list or plans for one in 2024?

Hold your plans loosely, but do try to assign a month to most things on your list.

List any resources you plan to read/watch/study this year to help you with writing craft, marketing, or the business of writing.

If you’re feeling especially ambitious, think a little more long-range. Where do you want to be with your writing and publishing goals not just in one year, but in three years? Five?

Are there any other characters or stories lingering in your mind? Are there any plot bunnies that won’t go away? Write them down too—you never know when they might come in handy.

“What do you want to accomplish in 2024?”

You’ve done a lot of work reflecting on 2023 and planning ahead for 2024. But now it’s time to take action. Are you ready to get started?

Wrapping Up If you’re anything like me, you probably wrote down a lot of plans for 2024. It might even look a little overwhelming. (“I wrote down I would do how much in 2024?”)

Jennifer Navarre is a kidlit editor, book coach, and writer in the United States who works with authors of picture books, chapter books, and middle grade and YA novels. Learn more and download a copy of Your Writing Life 2024 at https://jenavarre.com/ resources.

So now let’s break it down further. Use your paper or digital planner and start breaking things down by months.

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Article

A Book Week Scotland Get-Together Some members of City Writers, Writing Group, got together at Lochee Library, Dundee, for a write-in during Book Week Scotland. Pauline Tait tells us all about it.

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ook Week Scotland is always a busy week for members of City Writers, and this year was no exception. A few of us found ourselves in the delightful Lochee Library, located in a suburb of Dundee.

Some members of City Writers at the Book Week Scotland Get Together at Lochee Library, Dundee. Wendy H. Jones, Pauline Tait, Sheena Macleod and Eileen Rolland.

And yes, we did what authors do when they get together, we pulled out our laptops, notebooks, and pens, had a writing sprint, and progressed on our WIP’s.

We were politely decanted while the library closed for lunch. But the writing chat continued over an assortment of baked potatoes and a much-needed caffeine boost before we returned to the library for the afternoon sprint.

Some of us also took the opportunity to do a little research while we were there and I’m glad to say, each of us left feeling inspired and in control of our characters, settings, and the unruly rogues that seem to write their fate as our manuscripts progress.

Being part of a writing group can be invaluable in what some find a lonely career choice. And although heads were down for much of the day, the whispered chatter and camaraderie fuelled both our writing and creativity while our cumulative word count saw an unsurprisingly successful jump!

And with Book Week Scotland being the focal point for libraries, book shops and schools, it was great to see the library being used regularly throughout the day. The added burst of enthusiasm as the school day came to an end and the children’s area of the library gained an added buzz, was evident for all to see.

A special thank you to Laura and Duncan for giving us such a warm welcome. I’m sure after such a successful writing day, we will be returning in the New Year.

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From the Editor in Chief

Wendy H. Jones, Editor in Chief, sends out a seasonal message to all our readers and provides a reminder of what is to come in 2024.

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s we wrap up the final edition of Writer’s Narrative for this year, I would like to say a huge thank you on behalf of the editorial team to all of our readers for their continued support.

Wendy H. Jones

In 2024, we will continue to build Writer’s Narrative to reach a wider readership. We will be starting off the year with a bumper issue which will include a combined January and February edition, published at the end of January. The theme for January is New Beginnings and for February, what else but Romance Writing.

To advertise with us email writersnarrative@gmail.com subject headed for the attention of Editor in Chief You can sign up for our newsletter to be delivered straight to your inbox every month at: subscribepage.io/WritersNarrative

We are interested in submissions on any aspect of writing and publishing . If you would like to submit an article to us please pitch your idea first to writersnarrative@gmail.com subject headed for the attention of Editor in Chief.

I would like to finish by wishing all our readers and contributers a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Every month, we feature a writing group of the month, a library of the month and a bookshop of the month. To nominate your writing group, local library or bookshop to be featured in future issues email writersnarrative@gmail.com subject headed for the attention of Editor in Chief.

Wendy H. Jones is the multi-award-winning, bestselling author of adult crime thrillers and cozy mysteries, children’s picture books and nonfiction books for writers. In addition she is a writing coach, editor in chief of Writers’ Narrative, partner in Auscot Publishing and Retreats and hosts the Writing and Marketing Show podcast.

Every month, a £10 book token is awarded to the selected letter of the month. We welcome readers getting on touch to give their views on the magazine and its content. Please email letters to the editor to writersnarrative@gmail.com

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SUBMISSION GUIDELINES Writers’ Narrative eMagazine We are interested in submissions on any aspect of writing and publishing and will accept simultaneous submissions. All interviews must be pitched to the Editor in Chief first before doing the interview.

We accept varying lengths of submissions depending on the topic - 500, 1000, 1,500. Book reviews can be shorter but should include a substantial review in addition to the book blurb. Only submit previously unpublished work (either online or in print).

Monthly themes will be promulgated in both the magazine and in the Facebook Group.

Please use Hart’s Rules: The Oxford Style Guide. Light editing will be undertaken. If major editing is required, the article will be returned with general advice on what is required to bring it up to publication standard.

All submissions are to be in Times New Roman or Times, size 12 font, single spaced, with no formatting.

All formatting will be carried out by the editorial team.

The only images which should be submitted with your articles are your author photograph—and book covers if doing a book review. Include a brief bio and author photograph along with your first submission.

Please state the month for which you are submitting your article. However, this may be changed if it is felt it better suits a different issue.

Writers’ Narrative is published monthly. Submission cut off dates: January – 7th November February – December March – 7th January April - 7th February May – 7th March June – 7th April July – 7th May August – 7th June September – 7th July October – 7th August November – 7th September December – 7th October Submissions via email to writersnarrative@gmail.com To nominate your writing group, local library or bookshop to be featured in future issues and for any queries including advertising with us email writersnarrative@gmail.com subject headed for the attention of Editor in Chief 48

While there is a monthly theme and focus, this will not be the only topic for the magazine. General articles can also be submitted for publication.

Themes for 2023 Month

Theme

August

General – introductory magazine

September

Marketing your books – this will be out in time for the Christmas book buying spree.

October

Writing Horror – Of course. It’s Halloween

November

Writing Novels – Ties in with National Novel Writing Month

December

Finishing Strong – wrapping up your book with endings that satisfy. Tying up loose ends. Leaving your reader satisfied.

Themes for 2024 Month January

Theme New beginnings – setting the scene for the year ahead

February

Romance Writing – what else in February

March

Writing for Children – Ties in with World Book Day

April

Editing – self editing, working with an editor etc.

May

Writing Memoir – It’s National Memoir Month

June

Writing Poetry

July

Writing Non-Fiction

August

Writing Historical Fiction

September

Science Fiction and Fantasy it’s National Science Fiction Month

October

Worldbuilding

November

Writing Cozy Mysteries

December

Writing Habits.

Coming In 2024 ….

January/February 2024

Featured Author — Nancy Nagle Writing Romance Book Reviews and much more….

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