Cottage loaves – various staes of success
I wrote two posts after the last one was published, and filed them both. One was about the growing corruption in the world and the UK’s slide down to 20th position in the league tables. The other was about writing poetry. One was boring and the other was boring and self-indulgent.
They ended up around 400 words each and the only thing worth preserving is that out of my last four submissions I have had three poems accepted. I have not heard back from the fourth.
That’s over 800 words I wrote for no real purpose. It’s nice to know I can knock out 800 words without a problem, less nice to know that it does me little good. I really should divert all those words into something useful.
Apple juice
I could write begging letters. I imagine that most of them will be unsuccessful but it’s a thought. I did once, when I was young and enthusiastic, write some letters to newspapers that paid for letters, and did get several cheques. However, it was difficult striking just the right note (a topic of interest balanced with the right degree of outrage) and I soon moved on to doing filler pieces for a magazine that took interesting facts and scattered them in little boxes throughout the text. I can’t quite remember what happened to them – some editorial change that meant they weren’t needed. After that I tried full length articles and short stories but it’s a lot of work for little success in a crowded market, and I had kids by then.
That’s probably the best thing about kids – an instant excuse for everything I didn’t quite do. However, it’s noticeable that my two successful periods of writing poetry fall either side of the kids taking all my time.
I rest my case.
Making cider vinegar
Pictures are from October 2015.
Congratulations on the three acceptances, Simon! Good luck on the fourth one.
How did you make your cider vinegar?
It was the pressed apple from the cider vinegar topped up with water then left to stand with gauze over the top – let in the natural yeast whilst keeping the bugs out.Very much like this recipe but used a byproduct and didn’t add anything.
Thank you!
My pleasure. 🙂
You do write so well about words, innit?
Possibly. Some days I have to say that I doubt my way with words.
Don’t ever doubt your way with words. Why do you think we follow you. Anyway you have prompted me to write about farming around Ballarat https://wp.me/p8PuzR-6HC
Some great photos there – if you told me they were mostly from England I wouldn’t be able to prove they weren’t. Just goes to show how mental pictures are built, and are totally inaccurate. In my case it comes from watching too many programmes about gold and opal mining in deserts. 🙂
I remember Monsanto trying to sue people, which is why I’m glad all our rape is non-GM. Even so it can be overpowering in field after field.
Canola is a lot better name, as rape is not a name consumers can warm to. However, have you ever tried a turkey stuffed with a duck stuffed with a chicken? It’s based on an old banquet recipe but the new version goes by the name of Turducken. I laughed when I saw it, but wonder what sort of advertising man thinks that “turd” has a place in food marketing. Although the slogan “You can’t polish off a Turducken.” would be great.
Yes – Canola is better than Turducken.. I’m glad you liked the photos.
🙂 Certainly did!
You are stronger minded than me. I would hesitate to throw out 800 words. Congratulations on the accepted submissions. You seem to be scoring quite highly on that front lately.
Yes, it’s going quite well. It’s not strong minded – if I’m burbling or preaching I find it easier to get rid. Better to stay silent and be thought a fool, than publish and prove it. 😉
Kids do take a lot of time! But how worth it they are.
Although I agree with you now, it hasn’t always been the case. There have been times I thought of moving without telling them. 🙂
During their teenage years? They can be a trial, I know.
The years from two to twenty two were the worst. 🙂