Image Credit: Images created in Book Brush using Pixabay photos.
Do you like the prospect of catching up? I guess it depends on context. I’m not fond of those times when I’m catching up with the housework, say. But when it comes to catching up with my reading and writing, that’s different. I have no problems with either of those.
I thought I’d use this post as a “catch up” one with my writing matters. A few things have been going on since I last wrote this kind of post.
Writers’ Narrative Move to Substack
As well as writing for Chandler’s Ford Today, I also write for Writers’ Narrative, which is an ezine written by writers for writers.
From February 2026, Writers’ Narrative moved to Substack.
I’ve also set up my own Substack account.
What happens here is the Writers’ Narrative team, including me, are set a theme for the month. Our posts come out every couple of days. Mine will generally appear on the seventh day of the month. Substack is free to use and the great thing here is it is easy to search the archive for articles you’ve missed. You simply put in the topic theme and/or the author’s name. I’ve already made use of that myself. No more need to remember which issue of the magazine the article you’re searching for was in.
The nice thing with having a post every couple of days is it gives me an interesting read regularly rather than having one “big read” at the beginning of each month when the old style magazine came out.
I’m enjoying working with Substack too as I’m finding uploading my posts here and scheduling them for “my” day pleasantly easy to do. It has been my experience using new platforms/social media etc sometimes takes a while to get used to but this hasn’t been the case here.
I’m no longer the copy editor for Writers’ Narrative. This was a great experience and a good professional development but with the new system, we edit our own work before uploading and scheduling. It saves a great deal of time especially for our Editor in Chief, Wendy H Jones, and our Deputy Editor, Sheena Macleod. The team can all focus on getting our pieces right and up there ready to share with subscribers. All of us are highly experienced writers and some, like me, are editors too.
The themes for each month remain great fun to write about and there are plenty of excellent writing tips here. Do subscribe – it’s free. You should find it helps your own writing enormously.
As for my own personal use of Substack, I hope to do more with this in due course. There are options on it for podcasts for example but this is something I hope to explore further later this year.
Editing Work
I’m pleased to say I’m under contract for two books. One is complete and awaiting publication. The other is still going through the editing process.
There are three stages to this which basically covers structural editing (the first edit), copy edit (the second one), and proofreading (the last and most crucial, it is the final chance to correct things).
I’m enjoying the work enormously. I’ve also found editing other people makes me reflect on my own writing and this is no bad thing. Writers do learn from each other – it is how we develop. In editing other writers, I also improve my own editing skills for my work, which is standing me in good stead for when I am being edited.
Friday Flash Fiction – Bad News and A Lovely Finish
I’m sorry to say Friday Flash Fiction, a lovely website, where I regularly wrote 100 word stories closed at the end of 2025. These things happen. I used to write for Shortbread Short Stories many moons ago and life changes, retirements etc happen. It was a wonderful experience writing for Friday Flash Fiction and I loved reading the work of the other authors on there.
As a final “hurrah”, there is a book out called Editor’s Choice – Friday Flash Fiction Favourites and I am pleased to say a few of my stories made the cut here.
I’m currently enjoying reading the book myself. If you’d like to explore more about what the 100 word story can do, please do check it out. The book is only available in hardback but it is a beautifully produced volume.
My Third Book – Seeing The Other Side
I’ve recently completed the Stage 2 of the editing process for my third flash fiction collection and have sent that back to the publisher. I now wait for it to be returned to me so I can complete the final stage – proofreading.
Always give yourself plenty of time for that by the way. It does take longer than you might think. With your own work, it is too easy to miss errors because you are so familiar with the material and your brain will fill in gaps. You have to fight that tendency!
Author Newsletter
I’m pleased to say this continues to go well. Open rates are mostly over 50%, which I understand is good. I would naturally love more subscribers.
I use my newsletter to share news, tips, story links, and for my March one, due on 1st March, I will be sharing something special which I hope will be useful to people. I have a significant birthday in March which is why I’m doing this. It has been great fun to put together too.
If you’d like to sign up in time to receive this, do head over to my landing page
I’m also finding MailerLite easier to use now I’ve been on this server for a while and discovering more possibilities with it too.
Competitions
Have got off to a slower start this year for entering competitions but have now sent pieces off. As I write this, I’m preparing something I hope will be broadcast. All great fun to do. There are some competitions I always have a go at and I will start thinking about ideas for them soon.
Christian Writer – The Association of Christian Writers Journal
I’m delighted to say I have a new column in this called Allison’s Advice. Who doesn’t like a spot of alliteration every now and then? I write a 100 words non-fiction piece (yes flash non-fiction) on aspects of the writing life. This column started in the Winter 2026 edition. I was even more delighted to be asked to do this. Pitches coming to a writer rather than the other way around are always to be treasured!
Conclusion
The writing life is always full of ups and downs so it is important to cherish the ups especially if you feel you have far too many downs!
The only regret I do have with my writing is I wish I’d started a lot sooner than I did. It does take longer than you think to find out what it is you want to write and where your gifts, worked hard at over years with the support of good writing advice guiding you, can be best placed.
Having said that, it can be a fun ride and I look forward to what comes next.
Related Posts:-
Author News – Allison Symes – Getting Out and About with ACW
Read interviews with Chandler’s Ford writer Allison Symes: Part 1 and Part 2.
Read blog posts by Allison Symes published on Chandler’s Ford Today.
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