Frump to Fab 2021

miniriot

@sugarbaby125

I'm not talented, I'm honestly very mediocre, a good copywriter sure, that's my job, a competent article writer yes, but truly only an okay novelist at best. Always wanting to improve though. Also, I haven't achieved anything great, writing is just something I've always done. I was also trained, I have an NCTJ journalism qualification, so I have definitely had some help.

 If you Google Beck Robertson you can check out my stuff, articles and the like - honestly you'll see that it's really not that impressive.

And I'm the opposite of prolific, so, yeah...😃


I'd be so interested to see/ hear your poetry though, when/ if you feel comfortable sharing it of course.

As for getting a publisher, yeah I can understand your reticence, it's a foul struggle. Poetry publishing is notoriously competitive too. Though there are annual/ quarterly competitions that can be a nice way to establish a bit of presence and open up some opportunities to share your work. I will keep an eye out for the latest lists and post them here if you ever do feel like throwing your hat in the ring?

Also publishers in general always want you to prove you have a social media following and expect you to do a lot of the marketing while not giving you an advance, as they used to. I only like to use social media when I feel like it and hate self-promoting so book marketing is always a struggle for me. Publishers have the upper hand now in today's market, writers have lost out big time. And with self-pulishing there are millions of us.


You are so right to do it (writing) for the love of it purely, that is honestly the best reason. That's why I'm not too stressed out about my lack of motivation for the creative side of things, as though I take my paid copywriting work seriously, creative writing is my outlet.

chanie

miniriot that’s really interesting about your industry and how it has changed, due to social media.

sugarbaby125

Mini Riot, 

Thank you so much for all of that information.    I had a quick glance at your work and I will make time soon to read all of your articles that I can get free access to. 

I would have no qualms in sharing any of my poetry, but MSE did not really like it when I did it in the past, so I stopped doing it on this thread. 

maman

That's very strange @sugarbaby125. What mse rule is that? It's not as if you were trying to sell anything and you got nothing but compliments on this thread when you shared them. 🤔

Sorry I haven't posted recently. I have been reading and keeping up with everyone's news. 😊

sugarbaby125

Maman it was when they changed the website. I kept on getting told that I was in some way violating the rules without it being made clear in what way that I was doing so. I just decided that I could do without the hassle, as when we had the old style website and I put one of my poems on this thread, I did not get any notifications. 

miniriot

Oh eek, I see, well maybe when you want to you can just give us all a title or something and/ or a website and we can go look you up, when you want to of course @sugarbaby125

And @chanie yeah, the book publishing industry has changed quite a bit, first because of Amazon and since social media has become an imperative and not an occasional, it's now sadly an important factor.

helensbiggestfan

Mini Riot. Such interesting posts. Great info.  

Good  Morning lovely ladies.  

Ta Da I am pleased to announce I have finished the great declutter of the loft and spare bedroom.  Tomorrow I shall ring my trusty builder/odd job man and see how he's fixed to begin the renovations up there. I was planning on the new year/spring but Im pleased to say Im ready earlier than anticipated. It's all indoor work and not weather dependent so hopefully he can squeeze me in anytime.  

Was wondering where you were Maman. Hope all is well.  

I have finally shaken off my lurgy, feeling tons better.  Had to postpone my flu and covid Jabs. They are rescheduled for end of November.  

Today is housework day and a bit of TLC.....going to give myself a facial later.  But first a walk......

have a great week.   Keeeeeep fabbing.  

Wednesday2000

I had a good day yesterday. We got to Leigh on Sea station and walked up the very steep stairs opposite (my God, I'm out of shape!) and then we walked along London Road as I wanted to see what shops they had there as I've never walked on that part. 

It's strange actually as I realised I've never been there in winter and it is much quieter off season. There are also more older people than I remembered. I didn't notice that the other times but I realised that the people in Leigh when I've been there before must have been tourists and not people who live there all year round. We walked past "our" house too. We went in a bar called Thamesbreeze and then to my favourite vegan restaurant there The Oak Tree Bistro and then we walked down to the seafront and went in a pub called Ye Olde Smack. I've never been in those two bars before as I've only visited The Peterboat bar which is next door.

I really cannot picture living there! I think I am too used to London! Apart from uni I've never lived outside London. I will have to see when I move there. It's going to be a big adjustment for us.

We went back to east London after to the DJ night in the bar.

My husband has just gone to pick up my dog from the kennel and I did some laundry and vacuumed. My husband is going to see a couple of films this afternoon. James Bond and Eternals. I'm just going to catch up watching Youtubers I follow. 

chanie

Wednesday I think Southend is very London friendly.  I’ve known lots of people who have moved from London further into Essex towards Southend and quite a few people who commute into Central London from Southend.  Plus, you’ll still be relatively close to London and can visit, should you need a fix.

helen well done on the great declutter.  It’s great to start the holiday season well, particularly for the new year. 

miniriot

@Wednesday2000 Used to live in Southend, I was born there, call me an Essex girl at heart 😃

Went to Leigh regularly from when I was small, through to when I was in my 20's. Moved to London when I was 26 in 2006, left in 2015, now live in West Sussex. There are good parts to Southend that I can really appreciate now, the coastal air for one, the fact it's not overcrowded but there's still loads to do is another but I hated it when I was growing up.

On fabbing note, the diet is going semi okay but I have done zero fabbing for about a week now☹️☹️ Tomorrow I'm planning a nice bath and a facial, not saying I haven't washed for a week or anything mind😂, obvs have, just not any real grooming. I did spend a nice day with the husband though, but probably won't get much pamper time in this week as I have a massive paid  project I have to work on. Christmas is coming soon and need the cash.

Hope everyone else has been pampering themselves though and @helensbiggestfan I hope you enjoyed your facial after your tidying. I love a good old declutter myself, makes you feel brand new right?