Tomorrow - it's out tomorrow!

October 2010 Issue

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As well as Tony Blair On Himself, cover author, Bob Burke, talks about his path to publication; David Robinson explores the advantages of e-book as a medium for your work; we are pleased to have been asked once again to feature the results for the second quarter of Flash 500, and there’s an article on How Not to Lose Friends and Alienate People. 

Not to be missed, Catriona Troth has some tips on getting the most from your library card. There’s more satirical letters in Dear Ed. Manager of the Canterbury branch of Waterstones tells us why bookshops WILL survive. And Anne Stormont comes back with part two of Just Do It.

Gillian Hamer explores the phenomenon that is Stieg Larsson; Danny Gillan gives us a piece on The Right to Write as well as another Comp Corner challenge to stretch us; and Michelle Romaine explains Microsoft Word’s Track Changes with a quick How To guide. 

Oh, and Perry finally reveals what happened to his cat …

Christmas Book 2010

The perfect gift for your loved ones this Christmas ...

Orders are now being taken for the Christmas Book Bits, Bobs and Baubles 2010. All orders must be in by 3rd October latest to ensure they are printed and dispatched in time for Christmas. If you would like more information on ordering copies, visit www.wordswithjam.co.uk/christmasbookorder

Love Your Library?

Are you one of the army of writers whose love affair with books began in your local library?  Write and tell us about your experience.  The most inspiring stories (up to 500 words) will be published in the next edition of WWJ.

Email submissions@wordswithjam.co.uk with the subject 'Love My Library' by 14th September.

2 days left to enter our Short Story Competition

Please remember that you can still send postal entries on the 31st August. So long as they are postmarked on this day, they will be accepted.

For more information visit http://www.wordswithjam.co.uk/competition

National Short Story Week

Call for Short Stories - in support of National Short Story Week

Organised by Writers Abroad

National Short Story Week (www.nationalshortstory.org) will take place during the week 22nd -28th November. In support of the event, Writers Abroad will be publishing an anthology of short stories. Writers Abroad (www.writersabroad.spruz.com) is a vibrant online community for Expat writers and this has influenced the theme of the anthology.

Title: ‘Writers Abroad’
Theme: Short Stories on any aspect of Expat Life, the pains and the pleasure.
Contributions: From Expat writers (either currently an Expat or previously an Expat)
Word Count: Anything up to 2,500 words. Submissions can be flash fiction i.e up to 500 words or short stories up to 2,500. Word count does not include the title.

Submission and Entry Rules:
● All stories must be previously unpublished
● Submissions should be received by midnight Friday 15th October 2010
● Submissions must be in English
● References to porn or racism will not be accepted
● Manuscripts must be submitted in either Word or RTF format (No DOCX or other format will be accepted).
● The approximate word count should be inserted at the end of the story
● Author name and story title should be placed in the left header of the document and page numbers in the right footer
● Manuscripts should be presented with double spacing and Times New Roman Font.
● Submissions are by email only to expatwritersabroad@gmail.com - in the subject line please quote ‘Writers Abroad submission’ and provide your contact details and story title in the body of the email
● Entries are free, only one entry per author plus a short bio of 30 words
● Successful authors will be informed within two weeks of the closing date
● It will not be possible to provide feedback on stories but successful stories will be edited and authors may be required to undertake minor changes for publication purposes

Copyright will remain with the author and the stories will be published in an anthology in a number of formats.

Staff Team Expansion

On behalf of everyone at WWJ, huge congratulations go out to out Editor/Publisher/Owner/Dark Overlord/All Round Whizz-Kid Jane and her husband Ian on the safe, if a little earlier than expected, arrival of twin boys William and Alexander.
It demonstrates the boss's legendary professionalism that she managed to beat her deadline by over two weeks and still produced two truly epic works of genius (take note, contributors!).

Jane is obviously going to be a wee bit busy for the time being, so if any queries or submissions for WWJ could be cc'd to me on danny@wordswithjam.co.uk it would be appreciated.

Good luck and God help you, boss!

Danny

Inspiration Techniques, by Adam Bailey ...

The muse is a wandering lion whose noble roar is mostly heard in that moment before sleep. Which is all well and good for civilians who don't mind drifting off before their mind wakes up in full glorious technicolour, but writers don’t get that luxury. Writers spend their nights writing. Somehow trying to harness the dream and its strength to get inside humanity's head and reveal its secrets, fears, rages, and Charlize Theron needing help with her bikini, again.

Easier said than done. Because unless you're Stephen King and galloped enough coke in your twenties to ride on bareback well into your sunset years banging out a new book every other season, writing usually means just staring at the computer with total brain freeze. Mumbling about lions.

Somehow, then, what writers must do is track down that bastard lion muse thing, shoot a tranq dart in its arse, ship it home in a cage, and under the rule of the whip have it performing circus tricks within the week. Cue big top applause. Writers call this Artificial Inspiration.

Adam will be discussing the various techniques in the August issue of WWJ!