Do you follow instructions? I know I do.
The lovely inventor of Wendy's Story Timeline and I had a few days break in the Peak District. We had never stayed in that area before but as my daughter lives in Manchester, we thought it would be a good place to combine seeing her with a few days walking.
We stayed in Castleton - a chocolate boxy type of village which we immediately loved. Our first day saw us stepping out of our farmhouse B&B and walking 9 miles along the ridge of the peaks that surrounded the village.
The second day saw us hobbling up the slopes of a hill in the beautiful area around Dovedale (can you believe we spent an hour looking for the village of Dovedale in order to have a coffee before realising it wasn't a village just an area of dales). Not being boy scouts or proficient with maps, we followed a walking guide which we'd found in the farmhouse. My husband read out the steps and I followed them dutifully.
Eventually he read the instruction Walk across the field where you will see a gate in a fence. Go through the gate...
So, liking to follow instructions to the letter, and not being able to bring myself just to walk around it, I did just that!
Whenever I do any writing or send anything for publication, I read the guidelines once, twice and then again to make sure. Why give magazines or competition judges reasons to throw your work to one side unnecessarily?
Maybe this is one reason why I came home to find some very happy emails.... five sales to three different magazines. I need to remember days like this when I next have to pull on that rejection T-shirt.
I'm very envious of your trip, Wendy! I love Castleton. Some very old friends of ours (and sadly no longer with us) used to run the Youth Hostel there many, many moons ago. My husband sometimes spent his student holidays helping out there. A beautiful part of the country.
ReplyDeleteIt was the first time we'd been there, Wendy and we loved it.
DeleteIt's a beautiful part of the country isn't it! I love that you went through the gate!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on all the lovely sales :-) x
I just had to go through it, Teresa - it was part of the instructions.
DeleteWell Done on five sales! I just wish I could be so luck, but then I need to get my stories out there. This is what I'm plan on doing next year. I'm like you I follow the rules.
ReplyDeleteThe only rules I break are when people say something like, 'They only like stories where the lead character is a woman'... I then like to prove them wrong!
DeleteCongratulations on those sales!
ReplyDeleteI'm not always good at following instructions, but I would have gone through, not round, that gate.
It made me wonder how many walkers had done the same, Patsy.
DeleteWow - all those acceptances! You're definitely doing something right, Wendy. I'm not bad at following instructions but husband follows his nose! Have never been to that area but it's one we want to visit.
ReplyDeleteIt really is a lovely area, Rosemary. Although I have to say my favourite is still the Lake District.
DeleteSo pleased I found your blog, especially the handy timeline tool. I love the lake district, but now think I ought to try the peak district too!
ReplyDeleteYes do, Clair - it's lovely and I'm glad you like my blog.
DeleteLove Castleton and surrounding countryside, did you visit the Blue John mine? And congratulations on story sales - always nice to come home to good news :)x
ReplyDeleteWe were going to as it was just down the road but, as you know from my refusal to go on tubes, I am claustrophobic and the thought of going into a cave really stressed me so we didn't in the end.
DeleteLooks beautiful, Wendy - I love the Peak District. And congratulations on your story sales.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Mandy. It certainly is a lovely part of the country.
ReplyDeleteLove those kinds of emails! We went to Castleton last year too - we were staying nearby. Fabulous pub there. All big dogs and log fires and enormous plates of food - you know the type!
ReplyDeleteWe found an amazing Italian restaurant there, Fran, so kept going back.
DeleteLove those kinds of emails! We went to Castleton last year too - we were staying nearby. Fabulous pub there. All big dogs and log fires and enormous plates of food - you know the type!
ReplyDelete