Nibs at the Writers Festival in London 15th October 2011
(any typo's or bad grammer below, ignore. I'm tired and now
distracted by the grand prix. hahaha)
The Writers Festival held in London 15th Oct 2011 at the Royal Over seas League.
Great. Ticket for the event - sorted. Bus ticket to London - £12.50 return on National Express rather than Mega bus because Mega bus wouldn't get me there on time.
So I got someone to pick me up 05.10am and take me to Cardiff bus depot. Plus the added issue of folk turning up early with tickets to watch the rugby match on the big screens in the Millennium.
Major changes occurring even in the centre of Cardiff these days.
6am bus to London was quiet and quite relaxing. Feeling a little nervy the bus glided quietly along the motorway. I soooo looked forward to the whole day but worried a tad bit unnecessarily about getting to the ROSL from Victoria Bus Station. I needn't have worried so much. Just jumped in a taxi that took me to the door at on £8, (£7.50 on the return to bus station).
The ROSL
Wow. What a lovely place. They were so helpful on the phone when I'd previously called with some questions and they were just as helpful when I arrived. Teas and Coffees served with a smile, very attentive staff.
The food at lunchtime smelt delicious. I'm no fan of curry, but they put on a great selection of choices. I chose the veg lasagne and it tasted out of this world. So full of flavour, I deemed it worth mentioning here.
The fresh cooked food was gorgious.
I did walk the stairs a few times until I spotted the lift that no one pointed out until later in day. I used the lift after lunch as tiredness really began to take hold by then.
The judges were great and I liked and enjoyed a lot of what they had to say but alas I couldn't hear everything.
I did wonder why a microphone wasn't passed around the audience as people asked their questions, this way we all could have heard far more. I would like to suggest this for next event please Harry and co. :o)
I wish I could remember what they said, but I think a lot of what they said Saturday I've heard Harry and the others say on their mini video's and in their blogs so I didn't feel a lot of it was new new, if you know what I mean.
But there was plenty of new stuff to be learned anyway. Just wish I'd made notes. haha
My book doctor session was with Debi Alpa. I don't believe I've spoken to her on here, but considering she only had 15 mins to explain her notes, not a moment was wasted. So a massive thanks to you Debi if you're reading this. What you said to me and wrote in your notes has been encouraging and will help get me up another level. Unfortunately the slushpile took an opposite view.
The slushpile live event was a bit of a shocker. To be truthful, I entered my stuff and honestly thought I wouldn't get chosen. Why did they select me? Who knows. Why did they select my synopsis over my other 2 pages? Who knows. David appeared a little uncomfortable as he felt compelled to say he thought my story wouldn't sell because youngsters wouldn't read it. That's fine. He's the expert in his field not me and I'm quite happy to listen to what he had to say. After all that's why I submitted my sheets.
I wished there had been time to tell him I'm fine with most comments. If I felt I was ready to submit my Ring of Deceit to agents I wouldn't have been there. If I didn't need advice, I wouldn't have submitted my sheets for comments.
'Skin like a Rhinoceros' they said you need right at the start of the days lectures and I've always believed this to be true. If I didn't feel tough enough to handle the comments I had no business being there. :o)
However, Juliet appeared curious enough that if my submission had landed on her desk she'd want to read a bit more. I'm not entirely sure of what David actually thought but I felt sure my story wasn't his cup-of-tea, which is perfectly fine.
'Twas great to meet and say hi to Emma in person. She mentioned once or twice about having her teacher head on for certain comments but I noticed something else about the way she talked all through the slushpile, she never 'ummed and/or arred' like a lot do. She had stuff to say and spoke at good volume with good clarity never mumbling or rushing through her words at such speeds I couldn't keep up. So thank you Emma.
THANKS EMMA
I was utterly exhausted by lunch time and didn't know if I'd fall asleep during the afternoon as I found it increasingly difficult to concentrate as time ticked by. So thanks loads for reading out my chosen sheet for the comments during the slushpile event.
I had a lot to take on board as is to be expected at events like this and will refrain from making rash decisions on Ring of Deceit.
I'm convinced it has a lot of potential still but I'm also aware that I'm not there yet with it. Still I'm closer now than I'd have ever thought I'd be, and it's all down to word cloud members and office staff for your support, help, advice, encouragement and my ability to attend events like this run by cloudbase office.
So thanks.
I very much enjoyed the day.
It was great to meet and chat to so many.
It was great to meet Laura. Now I can put a face to her name when ever she writes from the office.
NO TAXI RANK! WHERE DO I GRAB A TAXI? WHAT! STEP OUT IN FRONT OF THEM! YOU'RE NOT JOKING ARE YOU?
I was however a little upset I had to go to such lengths to grab a taxi to get back to victoria. Just short of stepping out infront of one/many, no one stopped. So I grabbed a slightly older chap walking past and asked his assistance, he then stepped out onto the road, I took a sharp intake of breath and closed my eyes and a taxi pulled in. hahaha. Hair raising. I won't be doing that again in a hurry. hahaha!
(as most people know I'm recovering from major surgery, cancer and chemo. I am officially in 'recovery', so taking myself to the event on Saturday (alone) was quite a major step for me. I'm pleased with how I handled things and feel ever more hopeful for publication of one of my stories).
The Writers Festival held in London 15th Oct 2011 at the Royal Over seas League.
Great. Ticket for the event - sorted. Bus ticket to London - £12.50 return on National Express rather than Mega bus because Mega bus wouldn't get me there on time.
So I got someone to pick me up 05.10am and take me to Cardiff bus depot. Plus the added issue of folk turning up early with tickets to watch the rugby match on the big screens in the Millennium.
Major changes occurring even in the centre of Cardiff these days.
6am bus to London was quiet and quite relaxing. Feeling a little nervy the bus glided quietly along the motorway. I soooo looked forward to the whole day but worried a tad bit unnecessarily about getting to the ROSL from Victoria Bus Station. I needn't have worried so much. Just jumped in a taxi that took me to the door at on £8, (£7.50 on the return to bus station).
The ROSL
Wow. What a lovely place. They were so helpful on the phone when I'd previously called with some questions and they were just as helpful when I arrived. Teas and Coffees served with a smile, very attentive staff.
The food at lunchtime smelt delicious. I'm no fan of curry, but they put on a great selection of choices. I chose the veg lasagne and it tasted out of this world. So full of flavour, I deemed it worth mentioning here.
The fresh cooked food was gorgious.
I did walk the stairs a few times until I spotted the lift that no one pointed out until later in day. I used the lift after lunch as tiredness really began to take hold by then.
The judges were great and I liked and enjoyed a lot of what they had to say but alas I couldn't hear everything.
I did wonder why a microphone wasn't passed around the audience as people asked their questions, this way we all could have heard far more. I would like to suggest this for next event please Harry and co. :o)
I wish I could remember what they said, but I think a lot of what they said Saturday I've heard Harry and the others say on their mini video's and in their blogs so I didn't feel a lot of it was new new, if you know what I mean.
But there was plenty of new stuff to be learned anyway. Just wish I'd made notes. haha
My book doctor session was with Debi Alpa. I don't believe I've spoken to her on here, but considering she only had 15 mins to explain her notes, not a moment was wasted. So a massive thanks to you Debi if you're reading this. What you said to me and wrote in your notes has been encouraging and will help get me up another level. Unfortunately the slushpile took an opposite view.
The slushpile live event was a bit of a shocker. To be truthful, I entered my stuff and honestly thought I wouldn't get chosen. Why did they select me? Who knows. Why did they select my synopsis over my other 2 pages? Who knows. David appeared a little uncomfortable as he felt compelled to say he thought my story wouldn't sell because youngsters wouldn't read it. That's fine. He's the expert in his field not me and I'm quite happy to listen to what he had to say. After all that's why I submitted my sheets.
I wished there had been time to tell him I'm fine with most comments. If I felt I was ready to submit my Ring of Deceit to agents I wouldn't have been there. If I didn't need advice, I wouldn't have submitted my sheets for comments.
'Skin like a Rhinoceros' they said you need right at the start of the days lectures and I've always believed this to be true. If I didn't feel tough enough to handle the comments I had no business being there. :o)
However, Juliet appeared curious enough that if my submission had landed on her desk she'd want to read a bit more. I'm not entirely sure of what David actually thought but I felt sure my story wasn't his cup-of-tea, which is perfectly fine.
'Twas great to meet and say hi to Emma in person. She mentioned once or twice about having her teacher head on for certain comments but I noticed something else about the way she talked all through the slushpile, she never 'ummed and/or arred' like a lot do. She had stuff to say and spoke at good volume with good clarity never mumbling or rushing through her words at such speeds I couldn't keep up. So thank you Emma.
THANKS EMMA
I was utterly exhausted by lunch time and didn't know if I'd fall asleep during the afternoon as I found it increasingly difficult to concentrate as time ticked by. So thanks loads for reading out my chosen sheet for the comments during the slushpile event.
I had a lot to take on board as is to be expected at events like this and will refrain from making rash decisions on Ring of Deceit.
I'm convinced it has a lot of potential still but I'm also aware that I'm not there yet with it. Still I'm closer now than I'd have ever thought I'd be, and it's all down to word cloud members and office staff for your support, help, advice, encouragement and my ability to attend events like this run by cloudbase office.
So thanks.
I very much enjoyed the day.
It was great to meet and chat to so many.
It was great to meet Laura. Now I can put a face to her name when ever she writes from the office.
NO TAXI RANK! WHERE DO I GRAB A TAXI? WHAT! STEP OUT IN FRONT OF THEM! YOU'RE NOT JOKING ARE YOU?
I was however a little upset I had to go to such lengths to grab a taxi to get back to victoria. Just short of stepping out infront of one/many, no one stopped. So I grabbed a slightly older chap walking past and asked his assistance, he then stepped out onto the road, I took a sharp intake of breath and closed my eyes and a taxi pulled in. hahaha. Hair raising. I won't be doing that again in a hurry. hahaha!
(as most people know I'm recovering from major surgery, cancer and chemo. I am officially in 'recovery', so taking myself to the event on Saturday (alone) was quite a major step for me. I'm pleased with how I handled things and feel ever more hopeful for publication of one of my stories).
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7 Comments
For future reference in the big town you stand on the kerb and look for a black cab with it's orange light on. Then you give it a cheery, yet big and noticeable, wave. If you are seen then it will cross a stream of fast moving traffic to get to you. That's just the way it is. Your good samaritan was just ensuring he was noticed.
we're a bit more civilised in these parts. Only drunks out on nightly benders place themselves in the path of on-coming cars/taxi's. Faith in my flower power walking stick, I wasn't about to 'stick it out in the middle of the road' in the hope it stopped a taxi and not by smashing through it's windscreen. hahaha.
I did appreciate the actions of the kind gent who put himself in harms way to secure a taxi for me.
I'm afraid i prefer the quieter nights of a town life where taxi's have set areas to hold up in while folk approach them for their rides.
Yes it does sound a bit gloomy for writers, every year the same pitch of 'don't just write a book, write a bloody brilliant book bloody brilliantly to get noticed.'
2 authors a year on average taken on according to Caroline D. pretty much what I'd expect.
As for being out of Wales on Saturday, being out of Cardiff was no bad thing. I'm quite sad I missed the match and haven't checked on the news. I've heard a lot of stuff said tho that sounds suspicious.
But I am sad Wales missed it by 1 point on such a low scoring game.
I was shocked to see how much news coverage it got. Especially as Wales won grand slam a few years ago and had no more than a 50 word paragraph on mainstream news at the time even though England having lost at that time still got masses of news coverage.
Yes, I fully appreciated this is how things work in such a fast paced city such as london.
Kind regards
It was lovely to meet you. I'm so glad you found our Book Doctor session useful. For future reference, the reception desk at the front would have called a cab for you (as they did for me). Good point about having roving mikes. That's another easy one to resolve for next time.
Don't forget - the most important advice of the day was to keep writing!
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