Tuesday 22 April 2008

Competition Reminder & CPD

Just a quick reminder about the Daily Mail/Transworld First Novel Prize. For those of you who've finished your novel, or almost there, you could win an advance of £30,000 and have your first novel published by the same company as Joanna Trollope, Bill Bryson, Jilly Cooper, and Frederick Forsyth.

The competition is open to anyone aged 16+ and who isn't already a published novelist. The judges are: Joanne Harris, Simon Kernick, Fanny Blake and Francesca Liversidge, Transworld's Publishing Director. You'll need to submit a complete work of not less than 80,000 words and no more than 150,000 words and a synopsis of no more than 600 words.

The closing date is just over 2 months away on Wednesday, 2nd July 2008. You can find out more here

Today I spent nearly two hours in training, which consisted of a case study with two lawyers. I have to do 25 hours per annum of CPD (contined professional development?) and agreed to go as it didn't look too dreadful and we were to be served trays of tasty sandwiches as it was at lunchtime. However, when I volunteered I didn't realize that there would be a case study where we would be split into groups of four and have to cover various questions. I much prefer courses where you arrive, sit down, drink water, take notes and no-one bothers you.

I did end up enjoying this though but after concentrating so hard my brain is a little tired, so I'm going off to the shed for a bit of peace and quiet

12 comments:

Yvonne said...

Fair play for still writing after such a head-wrecking day. Thanks for the competition link - I wasn't aware of it!

DAB said...

!Scholarly sentimental soul savouring solitude seeks secluded shed." The photo result has been posted over at my blog, it is a sign! TFX

Leigh Russell said...

I agree. Sit down, no one bothers you, and you get tasty sandwiches - those are the best!

The competition looks interesting. £30,000?! that's a lot of sandwiches... ! I'm going to follow the link and have a look, even though I don't think I'd be eligible. Nice to dream.

Leigh Russell said...

I agree. Sit down, no one bothers you, and you get tasty sandwiches - those are the best!

The competition looks interesting. £30,000?! that's a lot of sandwiches... ! I'm going to follow the link and have a look, even though I don't think I'd be eligible. Nice to dream.

Lane Mathias said...

Thanks for the comp reminder Debs. Better get me skates on:-)
Did you read last years winners extract??

Ray-Anne said...

Thanks for the link - I may well enter this competition- the timing would be perfect.
Well, that would be two of us in the short list then,, snarf!
LOL

Chris Stovell said...

Thanks for the link, Debs and well done on the training although it brought back lots of unhappy memories for me!

Guess what, Debs? I have finished!!

Annieye said...

Just spent a few minutes catching up on your blog Debs. Great piece about the London Book Fair.

Have you tried Del Monte Raspberry smoothie lollies. They're yummy but you only get three in a box for 1.99.

HelenMWalters said...

Good for you, that does sound exhausting!

Carol said...

I'm with you on the training courses.....I will never forget turning up to one only to be told that we would be starting the day with laughing yoga!!! Oh Dear Lord!! There were some people that really got into it....I'm not really a morning person (or into that kind of crap)so found the whole thing excruciatingly painful!!

It kinda set the tone for the entire day....Training hell!!!

C x

Karen said...

Sadly I don't think my novel is going to be ready by next July, never mind this one!!
Funnily enough, I was on a training course yesterday too, but at least it was one where no-one bothers you!

Anonymous said...

I wish I had somewhere to go and relax in other than the loo! (even then they are banging on the door shoutng "MUUUM!!")