Bella Maria - story to read

Jay Mandal

Jay Mandal

http://www.toowrite.com/bella-maria-9639

Having just seen the Flash on page 9 of October's Writers' News, I've joined Toowrite and submitted a story in a competition with a £1,000 prize. You'll find it at the web address above.

SHOCK! HORROR! It's not gay. If you like it, you can even vote for it!

Isabella King

I voted, Jay.

You should write for women's mags...or maybe you already do :)

Jay Mandal

Thanks, Isabella. I would if they didn't mind gay storylines!

Isabella King

You don't have to write gay all the time, do you?

I might send a couple in myself - not gay ones, you understan - but I'm going to have to leave it until after the weekend as I'm being shouted at...the boat show is calling :(

neil

A neat little story which I was going to vote for. Told I'd already voted. Quite ridiculous as I've never even looked at the site before, and the one vote already received has to be Isabellas. Weird.

bochok

Loved the story, Jay.  I voted for you.  It only shows that you have 1 vote though, last time I looked.  Don't understand that.  Anyway, good luck in the comp.

Jay Mandal

There's 2 showing now. Please don't feel that I'm browbeating you into voting. Thank you if you do, though.

Jenny

Loved your story, Jay, and just voted for it. Good luck!!

Jay Mandal

Thanks, Jenny. Is anyone else posting one of their stories?

Jay Mandal

Gay writing appeals to me - there's humour and pathos. It's a side of life that's not portrayed so often - and perhaps it shouldn't be seen as 'different', anyway.

If there's a 3rd competition, I've got a story about an old man and a cafe (again not gay) - but I need to get the word count down first. It should reduce as I haven't edited it yet, so it's full of either/or's. Am I the only person that does that - put in "certain/sure/definite/positive" and then decides later which to use?

Jay Mandal

If you're thinking about submitting/posting an entry, competition No.2 closes on 20th September, with voting continuing for two weeks after that.

Isabella King

Jay, I don't think I'll be sending anything after all. I don't like their terms and conditions. Have you read them?

B Darter

I enjoyed the story, I voted for it.

Mad Doctor Dribble

Hiya.  Just had a read and voted.  I love that last line!

Jay Mandal

Thanks, folks.

Re terms & conditions, Isabella - I'll have another read through, but the story I sent them has already done the rounds; and obviously won't be needed for any future gay collection.

A story about an old man and a cafe is straight, too, but I'm in the process of finishing it and wouldn't want to run into any problems placing it (if possible).

Thanks for reminding me. I'll definitely double-check first.

Jay Mandal

Hmmm. Clause 14's certainly a bit onerous. What do other people think about these conditions?

Radames

Jay, I just looked at it. Clause 14 would worry me.

Radames

Forgot to say - really liked your story and I voted for you.

Carol

I just had a look at clause 14, and while the first bit is no different to the BBC rules on stuff.
I definitely didn't like the second bit at all.

Isabella King

I haven't mis-read it, have I?
If I submit a story - not win, just submit - they can use it without paying me and I won't be able to use that story ever again. Is that about the gist of it?

Radames

That's what I understood Isabella

Verica

It's a good story, Jay.  I've voted for it, but why is it not possible to leave a comment on it?

Jay Mandal

Thanks, everyone.

A couple of extracts from the TooWrite site which might clarify things (AND = Associated Northcliffe Digital):

When this two-week period is up, a shortlist will be drawn from the entries with the highest number of votes. If there are more than 10 entries with the same number of votes, then all of these entries will be put into the shortlist.
A winner will be chosen from the shortlist based on the quality of the entry and not on the number of votes it achieved.
The winner of the £1,000 cheque will be selected by AND project editor Julie Bayley, a former journalist and commissioning editor. Just one cheque for £1,000 will be awarded, there will not be separate prizes for true stories and fictional entries.
The judge's decision is final, and no correspondence will be entered into concerning this decision.
The winner will be notified by telephone where possible. A list of the winner and runners up will be posted on the website.

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Soobdoo

I voted Jay story is good