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...

Tuesday, 22 June 2010

BritWriters Award

At last the list is out.  And I'm not on it.  

There were only six on the list so I'm not too surprised.  Who knows what the judges were really looking for?  I am surprised, however, to see one finalist with a piece entitled The Short Story - if i'd have been a judge - based on the title alone - that one probably would've fallen at the first hurdle.  But that's just bitterness talking!  

No, not really.  I'm not fussed, honest.  It was my first competition and it was a huge one at that. Plus, if my stories are good enough (and they fit the criteria exactly) one of them will get published, one fine day.  
  

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