Introduction

The best place to start this blog lark is with a quick explanation of its title - why 'Scallops'?  
It came to me in a dream:  short stories are like scallops!  Similes and metaphors don't usually come to me in my sleep, I wish they did,  but on this occasion  I had watched rather too much of Hell's Kitchen before bedtime.  At some point, the wannabe chefs had competed to free perfect scallops from the gelatinous mass inside the shells. Craggy-faced Gordon was not pleased if any scallops had been spoiled in the process which, of course, most were.

A short story should also be small and perfectly formed:  it is the result of the skillful cutting down of a large, slippery concept in to a small, firm morsel of art.  As a writer still learning her craft, I know how easy it is to mutilate a good short story.  But I am hoping I'll get better with practice and - fingers crossed - that'll happen before my face turns too craggy...

Thursday 5 August 2010

Short & Sweet

"Congratulations! You've won first prize in the Twisted Tails Short Story Competition (Spring) . One hundred euros will be sent shortly to your PayPal account..."

Never have two sentences given me more joy.

Now I can call myself a writer!

2 comments:

  1. A big congratulations you writer, you! When/where do we get to read it?

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  2. Thanks! Not sure when it'll be published online but will let you know! Once it's been taken off Twisted Tails, I'll publish it on this blog. Lx

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