Showing posts with label #nickwilford. Show all posts
Showing posts with label #nickwilford. Show all posts

Monday, 31 July 2023

#WEP August Challenge "#CHOCOLAT" - post August 16 - 18


Welcome to August's WEP CHALLENGE!

CHOCOLAT (Aug 16-18, 2023)

Hello! It's Sonia here, along with my co-host Denise, and we're excited for the August Challenge! This month's prompt is "Chocolat" based on the iconic movie title/poster. Before we get into the challenge, I'd just like to clear up a small point. The WEP Challenges are to flex the writing muscles and to enjoy the process. Please note,

None of our prompts require any prior awareness or deep knowledge of the film

We are a diverse community spread across the world, from Australia right round to America. The primary thing that binds us together is NOT any specialist knowledge of movies, art or books, but our love for writing. That's what we get together here to celebrate and to nurture and support. You don't have to be published or perfect (heck, who is?!) to write with us at WEP. All you need is love.  For writing.

WEP is open to all levels of writing - from newbie right through to published authors. Many published authors got their start by writing to WEP prompts. 

This year, our prompts happen to be based on movies but  I'll  say it again -

You don't have to know any background, nor watch the movie, nor write to that specific genre or plot. 

All you need to do is to bring your imagination and a writing device. Look at the title, look at the poster if you like and run with whatever element inspires you.  The suggestions are just that - suggestions. We're uber happy for you to ignore them and come up with your own interpretations.

   "Chocolat"+ YOU is all that's needed.  

We look forward to where this Challenge takes all of us!



WHAT INSPIRES YOU?

The Story:

Set in a 1950s French village, during Lent, and based on a novel of the same name (author- Joanne Harris), Chocolat is the story of a "pagan" heroine Vianne and her battle against a repressive mayor Reynaud, who encapsulates the fear of change. No prizes for guessing the winner here, friends. It's the time of Chocolat!

But hey, we can put this story right behind us and allow the imagination to run wild!

The Possibilities:

Chocolat has many possible interpretations - base your flash on the confection itself, a chocolate shop, a café, a 1950's setting, France or French cuisine, a suspected witch, a character with magical powers/recipes, a romance between two disparate or the outsider versus insiders theme, settlers versus nomads, prejudice, morality, hedonism, entrepreneurship, Lent, Easter and resurrection - or spring festivals from other parts of the world. So many ways to go and get creative!

As always, over to you.


Go HERE to our Challenges 2023 Page to read about ALL our prompts for the year!

Post - August 16 - 18 2023

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 CRITIQUE PRIZE - 10k word critique

From Christine Rains


Christine says:
I am a writer, blogger and geek mom. I write paranormal romance and urban fantasy. I love a dark and gritty story. I have four degrees which don't help at all with motherhood, but make me a great Jeopardy player. Member of S.C.I.F.I and Untethered Realms.

Christine has four novels and several short stories and novellas published.

LINKS:
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Check out all our critiquers in the sidebar. If you're wanting a critique, or a professional edit, think of our generous critiquers who give of their time, gratis.
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COMMENTING

WEP is a supportive writing environment where you are welcome to try new ideas, take risks, and put forth your latest WIP for feedback. Commenters are asked to be respectful, sensitive and to keep comments positive. 

If you have trouble commenting on blogs, please continue to leave a comment here (we're fortunate that Google hasn't messed up our commenting here) or on our C-Box. And if your blog comments are down and you have a blogger blog, consider changing your comment settings to Pop-ups, not embedded, temporarily, until google provides a fix.


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Be in it!

A mock-up temporary cover created on Canva.


YOU ARE INVITED TO SUBMIT TO THE WEP 2024 FLASH FICTION ANTHOLOGY - to be released approx. May 2024.

Submissions close on or before the end of December ‘23. So get your thinking caps on!

Nila is in charge of bringing this baby home. She has produced an Anthology Page. Check it our HERE.

All challenge winners are automatically invited to submit.

Anyone involved in WEP in the past is invited to submit.

You are invited to submit a flash fiction piece of between 500 words min - 1,000 words max to our upcoming anthology. This will be a work of prose fiction – no poetry, although a poem may be included within your predominately prose story.

All stories submitted will be written to the theme of  Gone!  Gone! Gone! Check the new Anthology Page to have your questions about the theme answered.

We aim to publish a high-quality eBook and print book. If your entry is accepted, you will be asked to perform further self-edits and the editorial team will do any final editing. WEP's raison d'etre is to improve writing, so the writing must be well edited and excellent overall. 

Don't forget to go to the new Anthology Page to read the full details!


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SOMETHING NEW! 
SHAMELESSLY PROMOTE YOUR NEW RELEASE!




 And... hello again! On behalf of the team, Denise & Sonia here.

At the WEP, we have an exciting, new section where you can keep an eye on all the new and upcoming book releases by members. New titles are luring and we have an eclectic list to help you find your next best read. 

So, friends, if you have a new release (maybe a few months ago) hitting the shelves, check out the GUIDELINES FOR NEW RELEASE POSTS above in Pages, follow carefully - we need you to speak big in few words with minimal editing from the team. Send it to:


den.covey@gmail.com CC soniawrites2018@gmail.com

We work on posts in advance, so the next opportunity for you is:

~~October 1~~

We'll need your copy in plenty of time to incorporate it into the post.



First, our friendly judge who always manages to judge WEP for us no matter how busy he is:

NICK WILFORD

THE BECALMER





Preorder your copy today! https://books2read.com/u/4j5V85

Amazon

In this YA sci-fi adventure, Harica is gifted with the ability to defuse conflicts using her mind. When she is recruited to assist in resolving a war via an arranged marriage, she discovers that the reluctant bride-to-be has similar powers. Princess Jasmila doesn't use her powers for good and when Harica arrives to help with the marriage arrangements, she fights back and sends Harica into a coma.


It is through this comatose state that Harica discovers a mysterious liminal space populated by others who share her gift. In this new realm, she learns to do things she never believed possible, but soon things spiral out of control.

In the face of a terrifying and seemingly unstoppable adversary, Harica wrestles with the decision to come to terms with the dark side of her gift. Will she take ownership of it or turn her back on it forever?

 

Nick Wilford is originally from Brighton, England and now lives in a quiet town in Scotland with his wife, three daughters and six dogs. He enjoys writing speculative fiction, exploring the things that cannot be seen and “making the impossible reality.” By day, he works as a freelance editor and also has the pleasurable (and often highly challenging, given the talent on display) job of judging the entries to WEP. Amazon Author Page



And the second author is our very loyal WEP contributor, 

JLENNI DORNER

PROOF OF EXISTENCE 

 



 World-ending secrets and threats…


In Proof of Existence, the thrilling sequel to Fractions of Existence, Gwendolyn is held captive by the Eyes in the Shadows, a dangerous religious sect hell-bent on freeing humanity from the shackles of life. The Existence must reveal themselves to rescue her. She confronts her true identity, self-doubts, and her forbidden attraction to Xavier.

When Existence member Heath goes off the grid, his life becomes a bargaining chip. With the Eyes in the Shadows poised to end human life forever, the Existence must reunite and harness their full power to stand against the looming threat. 

Proof of Existence is a mythological urban fantasy where the choices of a few could determine the destiny of all.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR


J Lenni Dorner (he/him đź‘¨đźŹ˝ or đź§‘đźŹ˝ they/them) 
Speculative Fiction & Writer's Reference Author, OperationAwesome6 Debut Author Interviewer, and Co-host of the #AtoZchallenge
Happily married and living in Pennsylvania (USA) on the original lands of the Lenni-Lenape people.
Sharing wisdom and knowledge passed on through stories is the goal of his soul.



Go ahead and grab your copies of these two fabulous books. And if you have a new release, get in touch with us now!
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* Did you catch our third 'How-to' post? 

 

'How-to-write-flash-fiction'

 

All published How-to posts are linked in the sidebar!



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We'd love if you'd Tweet or post to FB or any social media site where you network! If you avoid social media, we totally get you.


WEP movie #writingprompt August 2023s "Chocolat" @DeniseCCovey @YolandaRenee @SoniaDogra16 @jemifraser https://writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com/2023/07/wep-august-challenge-chocolat-post.html Sign up & post-August 16th thru18th! #amwriting #flashfiction #WEPFF #poetry #nonfiction

Get your thinking caps on for August 2023s movie prompt "Chocolat" @DeniseCCovey @YolandaRenee @SoniaDogra16 @jemifraser https://writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com/2023/07/wep-august-challenge-chocolat-post.html Sign up & post your entry August 16th thru 18th! #WEPFF #amwriting #flashfiction #poetry #nonfiction

Join WEP @DeniseCCovey @YolandaRenee @SoniaDogra16 @jemifraser, for the fourth movie Challenge of 2023, "Chocolat". Sign up and post your entry AUGUST 16th thru 18th https://writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com/2023/07/wep-august-challenge-chocolat-post.html #WEPFF #amwriting #flashfiction #poetry #nonfiction.


Check out the new #WEP #Anthology Page We are open for #submissions to all #WEP or #RFW members, past and present. @DeniseCCovey @YolandaRenee, @SoniaDogra16 @jemifraser 

https://writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com/p/submit-to-weps-first-anthology-release.html

 

 To Post Our Link Please Use the Code Below:

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Wishing you a fabulous August
Bring on the entries!

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Our next movie prompt is for October. How about this? 
It will be hosted by our very own much beloved horror queen, Yolanda Renee. Go HERE for ideas ...





Post - October 18 to 20, 2023

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Denise & Sonia for the team:



Thursday, 11 March 2021

#WEP #Winners #GuestPost - Jemi Fraser on being a newbie author!


Hello everyone! Denise here! The winner of each WEP challenge gets to do a guest post, and today we have Jemi Fraser, whose flash fiction, Sin and Sunshine blew us away. As Nick Wilford, our judge said: "Beautiful, romantic, devastating. The ending hits hard."

Today Jemi is going to post about being a newbie author. I'm sure we'll all find something helpful and encouraging within Jemi's words of what she's learned in her short time of self-publishing. I'm currently reading an ARC of her latest, Reaching for Roots in her Bloo Moose series and can attest to her writing skills!


 So, take it away, Jemi!

Thanks so much to Denise, Renée, Olga, Laura, & Nila for allowing me to take over the blog for the day!

 I think of myself as a newbie author.

 A couple of years ago, my first published story Until Release, was published in a DLP anthology Tick Tock: A Stitch In Crime.

 In a few weeks, it will be a full year since I published my memoir/self-help Dancing With Dementia. I wonder if then I’ll think of myself as an author without the newbie label.

In July of 2020, I published the first 3 books in my Bloo Moose romantic suspense series. Will I feel like a fully-fledged author when that anniversary rolls around?

I’m currently working on the 8th Bloo Moose book and the first book in the next series. Will publishing that new series be the time?

 I’m not sure.

 This is an industry with a long and bouncy learning curve. Learning one thing leads to more questions and more learning and I don't know if I'll ever lose the newbie feel.

 I started writing about a decade ago when I didn't know agents did anything other than represent famous actors. When I'd never heard the term query letter or first draft or even show not tell.

I've learned a LOT both about writing and the publishing world over the years. I stockpiled stories and ideas until I knew enough to write them properly. I've got multiple stories that will never see the light of day and others that are waiting for a rewrite and so many Shiny New Ideas. But I still feel like a newbie.

 I thought pressing Publish would be the moment.

I thought the first 5 star review would be it.

Or the first 5 star from a complete stranger.

Holding my paperbacks in my hands.

The first contact on social media from someone who loves my books.

The first email where a woman called me a favourite author. (eek!)

Hitting 100 reviews on my freebie series starter.

 Those are AMAZING moments.

Yet, I still feel like a newbie.

 There is so much to learn. Not only about the craft and publishing, but about marketing and promotion (definitely a newbie there!).

 There will always be a lot to learn.

Thankfully, that learning is also part of the fun!

 How about you? Anyone else feel like a newbie? Anyone else looking up the steep hill of the next learning curve?

 Jemi Fraser writes romantic suspense filled with hope, heart, and humour. Her stories combine her love of mystery with the satisfaction of a Happy Ever After.

 For a peek at the Bloo Moose small-town romance series, sign up for her newsletter for a free short story or check out Reaching For Normal (free at all retailers). For more info, check out jemifraser.com

 Armed with a mug of tea and freshly-baked cookies, Jemi is living out her own HEA in beautiful Northern Ontario.

 Book & Social Media Links 

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Thanks Jemi! Very shortly Laura will be with you to kick start our April challenge! Please join us! You could be guest posting for us in May!





Monday, 6 January 2020

#WEP/IWSG WINNERS POST - Whose #FOOTPRINTS Left a Lasting Mark?

Hello writers! Laura here!

December brought us a plethora of wonderful entries! Thank you to everyone who took part. We know December is a busy month for many of you, so your time and effort is greatly appreciated. 



Jemi Fraser once again wrote up the blurbs for this month's entries. Thank you so much for doing a fantastic job with them, Jemi!

BLURBS:

Denise Covey - On Top Of The Mountain
After a break up, Ciara hikes the Camino de Santiago on a pilgrimage to help her heal

A memoir in photo-essay that will leave you breathless with the beauty of the imagery & the emotions

Cami’s older brother has told her something awful so Cami is out to prove him wrong. And she’s found footprints to prove her case!

A powerful reflection of how our choices and actions define us - right until the end

On the Rendezvous Space Station, a man has lost an invisible animal. Will Dinara be able to help?

Life is full of challenges, and these poems will show you how to deal with some of them

Xavier Xanthum, space explorer, and his AI buddy Larry find a new planet to explore

Needing to clear her head, Jamie finds herself caught in the rapidly rising tide and needing to find a way home

Can dreams foretell the future? Do they impact the present? Read on to find out!

A continuation of a Halloween tale. What will Teresa and her friends find on this next full moon?

Calla, senior biologist on the Pathfinder space vehicle, hopes to find signs of animal life on a new planet

A construction worker looking to overcome a checkered past agrees to work on a mansion where all is not what it seems

An early morning awakening leads to a beautiful adventure filled with footprints and memories 

A musician lives for the music - no matter what that music might cost him in the rest of his life

Skadi makes her return in a mythical tale of power and struggle along with love and balance

When new creatures start crawling out from the bog, people think they’re cute - until they’re not so cute

Snowflake fairies, warm cosy dreams and the wonder of the season

Snapshots of a life well-lived with glimpses into the past and future

Think you know the story behind the carol Good King Wenceslas? Check out this wonderful retelling

Snow has arrived in England and when a woman goes for a walk in the snow she follows unusual footprints

Chander returns to his home in Chicago and tries to cope with a heart-rending loss

A poem reflecting the way we feel when we’ve lost our way and are overwhelmed. Which way to choose?

Kelly and the red wheelbarrow make a reappearance to check out a troubled land

A walk on the beach leads two sisters to a discovery that fills their hearts

A heartfelt poem to a young one who is struggling with the harshness of life


SHORTLIST

We had a difficult time coming up with a shortlist this month. How could we not with the high quality entries we saw? We went back and forth for a bit to finalize the short list, but we finally came up with one we could all agree on. If you don't see your name on this last, don't feel bad! Competition was fierce, and none of you went unnoticed.


And now for the official shortlist!



Sonia Dogra 

Roland Yeomans 

Cyndi Pride

Sally Stackhouse 

Jemi Fraser 

C. Lee McKenzie 

Once again, we'd like to thank everyone who took part and to congratulate everyone on a job well done! It was also heartening to see so many people commented far and wide. Please keep it up, because in order to make the final shortlist, you must be commenting!


WINNERS:

3


THE WINNER OF THE DECEMBER 2019 CHALLENGE-FOOTPRINTS is:



Congratulations, Sonia! Your first time at WEP and you nailed it!

Nick said: 

"A beautiful evocation of loss. This was really touching."

Sonia, please link the badge to your story and post it on your blog!

In addition to a critique of your first three chapters from J.L. Campbell, you've also won a guest post here at WEP and a short post in the IWSG newsletter. Details will be emailed to you shortly.


THE RUNNER-UP OF THE DECEMBER 2019 CHALLENGE-FOOTPRINTS is:


Congratulations, Cyndi!

Nick said:

"Heartrending and emotional. Captures so much in just a few words."

Thank you for participating in WEP with your wonderful entry! Please link the badge to your story and post it on your blog!

THE ENCOURAGEMENT AWARD FOR THE DECEMBER 2019 CHALLENGE-FOOTPRINTS is:


Congratulations, Jemi!

Nick said:

"I loved that there was something so different about this one. Great twist."

Jemi, please link the badge to your story and post it on your blog!

And now for something a little different. We pay attention to all of you, and your words touch us. We've grown especially familiar with the writing talents of our regular participants. It brings us joy to see all of you strengthen your craft through regular writing and taking feedback into account. That's what WEP is about, after all.

This month, we noted an extraordinary effort from one of our most loyal regulars. All of us commented on how strong his entry was for this month, and how much improvement he's shown in his work. We agreed that was worth remarking upon. So we created another award...


EXTRA-ORDINARY ENCOURAGEMENT AWARD



Congratulations, Christopher! Please link the badge to your story and post it to your blog!


COMMENTERS AWARD:

Thanks for the excellent commenting, considering it was December, with Christmas fast approaching. Thank you for showing respect and encouragement to all the enthusiastic writers who penned a post for the December challenge! 

The comment count was made difficult by so many using multiple monikers to comment. But our crafty Elephants Child, despite going cross eyed, did her level best to work it all out. There were some blogs which were problematic, so Elephants Child gave a free pass. 

Those who read all, or close to all, by the cutoff date on Friday 20th December -- wow, just look at this list!!

Rebecca Douglass, 
Pat Garcia,
Susan Rouchard, 
Jemi Fraser, 
Cie, 
C Lee McKenzie, 
Sonia Dogra, 
Tanya Miranda,  
Roland Clarke
Yolanda Renee
Christopher Scott
Elephants Child and
the WEP team

The Random selector chose REBECCA DOUGLASS for winner. Congratulations Rebecca, wherever in the world you are currently traveling! Please display the badge on your blog with a link to the WEP website. 



Feel free to check out the WEP 2020 Challenges page for ideas regarding the the next prompt. More details will come with the February 1st post.



Are you excited to see what 2020 has in store? I know I am!

Thank you so much for an amazing December challenge! Here's a little reminder of what's to come in the next year. We know some of you check out the CHALLENGES PAGE and plan for the year ahead.  




Laura!



We'd love for you to tweet this post or share to Facebook or your favorite social media site.

#WEPFF Footprints winners announced. @DeniseCCovey @theIWSG

https://writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com/2020/01/wepiwsg-winners-post-whose-footprints.html
#amwriting #flashfiction

Come congratulate our  winners. #WEPFF Footprints Challenge @DeniseCCovey @theIWSG
https://writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com/2020/01/wepiwsg-winners-post-whose-footprints.html
#amwriting #flashfiction

The #WEPFF writers had some fantastic entries! @DeniseCCovey @theIWSG
https://writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com/2020/01/wepiwsg-winners-post-whose-footprints.html
#amwriting #flashfiction

Give the #WEPFF challenge a try and let your imagination fly! @DeniseCCovey @theIWSG https://writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com/2020/01/wepiwsg-winners-post-whose-footprints.html#amwriting #flashfiction