Last month I did #PitMad. This Twitter event is where writers tweet a pitch for their book. Interested editors/agents like the tweet to request a submission. Writers then check the submission guidelines and submit if they are interested.Twitters can support writers by retweeting the pitch – but must not like (only agents/editors can like).
The event took place on 6 Sept. Pitches must fit in one tweet and be for a complete and polished manuscript. You can tweet three times for each novel within the 24h period. The tweet can be the same pitch or different. You can pitch more than one novel during the event.
There were loads of amazing pitches. I easily could have given into the voices of doubt in my head and been intimidated. But, if I don’t try new things, I’ll never learn. If I shy away from putting myself out there then I’ll never achieve my dream of being published. It was scary but I’m pleased I did it.
I only joined the event during the final hours. If I were to participate again in future, I’d spread my three tweets out throughout the day.
I noticed many writers compared their book to two titles already in the market. I’ve never done this so it might be good for future thought.
Request
I did get a like! Getting a like was very exciting, I felt as if I had finally made it and my husband had to remind me that although they’ve requested I submit, it doesn’t mean they will sign me.
In fact, turns out, just because they requested my manuscript doesn’t mean I have to submit to them. After looking at their website, I choose not to submit…
Why? The publisher is a new print launching in the Fall. That’s not a problem. Their website was incomplete and their facebook page had only been active for three weeks. I could have ignored all this if I could find out about the agents background in publishing but there is nothing. No history.
My heart sank as I realised, this might not be the big break I had thought it was. I’ll keep my eye on Burchette and Ferguson but until I know more about who is behind the company and what they can offer me, I will leave it for now.
The future
The next #PitMad is on 6 Dec and I’d love to hear your tips so I am better prepared next time. Have you done #PitMad? Can I see your pitch? How do you decide what book is most like yours? Do you think I was right to ignore my request?
I’d like to do more Twitter events. I wish there was somewhere I could go to find out about events taking place. Do you know of such a place?
I’ve had a total of 10 The Pip Boxes! At the end of this blog, you will see links to reviews and first impressions of the content. Each month you are guaranteed 5 full size products from cruelty free brands.
You would be surprised the number of brands that mislead consumers into believing they are cruelty free and are not. I was heartbroken when I discovered that my makeup bag was full of products by brands that invest in testing on animals. I had to replace key items and it wasn’t easy.
Once, I started thinking more about the products I was using, I also started taking an interest in organic products, natural ingredients and being chemical free – but that’s another post.
Leaping Bunny
Cruelty free brands may have a leaping bunny on their product, however, some brands, will posts a ‘rabbit’ style logo next to the ingredients to make it look cruelty free when actually they are not. If it’s not the trademark leaping bunny, it might not be bunny friendly!
Animal testing by law
Another thing brands do is give a statement like “Our products are cruelty free and never tested on animals, unless required by law.” This basically means, they do test their products on animals as they are selling in a country that requires them to by law. China has a law requiring products to be tested on animals before they can be sold, therefore, if a brand is selling in China, they are selling out on being cruelty free. A lot of well known high street and designer brands are guilty of this.
Parent company ethics
Some cruelty free brands, have parent companies that are not cruelty free. If you are against animal testing, you are likely to not want to fund a company that is profiting a company that tests on animals. Sometimes, small cruelty free brands will get bought out to expand their business but at the cost of their ethics.
Why get a The Pip Box subscription?
The Pip Box will only send you products by cruelty free brands – these companies need to be fully compliant in that. Many popular beauty subscription boxes will include brands that are not cruelty free so if this is something you feel strongly about, cancel those subscriptions and subscribe to pip.
If you are ethics are not enough, here are some more reasons:
Donation to charity – 50p from each box goes to an animal friendly charity
Reward points – each subscription or referral earns you reward points which can be traded in for money off your next box
And, discovering new and established brands.
Here are the highlights:
Here are links to my first impressions and reviews of The Pip Box when I was a subscriber. I’ve also tried really hard to choose a favourite product each month.
Most of the items in this box are still waiting to be used (false lashes, tan accelerator, makeup eraser) but I did like the eye pencil by La Ritzy which after a long time not wearing eyeliner it really made an impact. I didn’t get on with the BB powder which was too dark for me.
I loved the toner by Dermadeli and used it up before the end of the month. The travel size was small enough to fit in my purse and during the heat wave (and being heavily pregnant), I used it to freshen up and it felt so good. I also was a fan of the bonus gift – all natural chewing gum by Chewsy. Bonus gifts are added into boxes in addition to the five items promised.
The Spring edit was probably my least favourite as I was so excited about the nail kit but just didn’t get on with it. However, I did love the Bloomtown Botanical infused oil. I use it as a perfume and find it very calming.
Again, I loved all the products in this edit but the item that truly stood out was the hand moisturizer by Balade En Provence which came in a pretty apple shaped pot. It is actually in my daughter’s nursery as I think it looks so pretty. I’m planning on buying it for my son’s teacher at the end of the school year.
For this month’s edit, I love the Dr Botanicals Tropical Invigorating Cream. This cream not only smelt lush but also came in a truly beautiful tube. I was also really pleased with the other products and began wearing the lipstick every day. It also got me to try a foot balm stick which I never would have thought of buying but really loved.
Oh my, I still crave JOM Organic candy today. This stuff was lovely and I almost bought a box full when I was pregnant. It is tricky to buy in the UK unless you want to buy in bulk which is why I’ve not bought this again (yet). I loved all the products in this box.
It has to be Medusa’s Make-up mascara that I loved, however, it isn’t an easy brand to buy in the UK. I loved almost everything in this box – I just wasn’t keen on the body scrub but I’ve never been a major fan of scrubs.
It’s hard to choose my as I used them all up… except the vegan chocolate. The Bloomtown lip balm gave a gorgeous red tint and was very hydrating. I also used the face steam by Freyaluna when I had a cold and it made me feel so much better – I need to repurchase this before flu season hits.
This was my first box and included a green clay mask by one of my top brand’s Akamuti. I now often buy their body oils too. I also really liked all the other products in my box and can honestly say there wasn’t one that didn’t get used up.
B.Forrester is author of The Kingston Chronicles an urban fantasy novel. She believes in magic and mythical beings and often blogs about writing, her projects and poetry.
If you follow my blog you will know that my debut novel (looking for representation) is about a teenager discovering she is a mermaid. I think I have always had a personal love with mermaids ever since going to the cinema and seeing Disney’s Ariel. I was also a water baby, swimming independently from a young age.
When I saw B had written an article on mermaids, I had to read it. I wasn’t disappointed. She has clearly been reading up on the history of mermaids and her article is on Greek Mythology (and includes her poem Siren’s Song). Perhaps this is a teaser of what might be coming in her next published release…
I am always looking for suitable articles to share with my readers. Please check out my post about what I look for and feel free to comment and encourage me to check out your content.
This time, last year, I was struggling with the decision of which school to send my son. The decision felt colossal as this choice would set the foundation of his education. As my first child, he also was setting the path for any future children (I wasn’t pregnant at the time). Choosing was very over whelming and I felt stressed by the pressure.
Here is how I made my three choices for the application.
Location
Make a list of the primary schools nearby. Have a look at where they are located and decide if they are easy for you to get to as the school run will be twice a day.
You may choose to apply for a school close to your place of work or near friends/family whom will be primarily doing the school run (I.e. if you have support from a grandparent).
Performance
Check the league tables. Every year (around January) they publish how students at the school are performing and schools in the country are ranked. This can give you an idea of whether teaching is effective.
However, remember that parents positive involvement will enhance their child’s learning and you can get a year group of very bright students. A school can change drastically by a change of head or boost of funding. Use this data to get an idea of whether the school are getting results from children but bear in mind that it can change.
Ofsted
Read the Ofsted report. This will give you insight into how the school is run. Again, take care to make your own judgement as to whether you agree with the grade given.
One local school was performing in the top 100 in the country but despite their results, Ofsted didn’t like how it was run and scored then as needing to improve.
Also, the feedback from Ofsted will prompt the school to make improvements so the school may already be in a better position than when they were inspected.
Tour
Once you have a shortlist, contact the schools to arrange a visit. Don’t leave this too late as many schools set dates aside and if you cannot make it (or leave it too late) then you won’t be able to visit.
I found the tour the most valuable data in making my decision. One school told me the dates after they had passed so I felt they were disorganised. Another school, I couldn’t get through to on the phone, so, I decided they would be difficult to contact if I had a problem.
The tours enabled me to see the culture of the school and establish if I felt it was right for my child.
The school that won me over wasn’t the best performing in my short list but I got a really positive vibe and decided to trust my gut. I was right to do so because when the new performance table was released, it was top out of all the schools in my short list!
Friends
If your child has made good friends already, you may wish to find out where they are going and consider the same school. However, lots of children start school not knowing anyone and make friends quickly. Knowing other children going can make the transition easier as they know some people to play with but don’t worry if you choose a school and don’t know any other children going.
Word of mouth
Ask around to find out other people’s views or experience of the local schools. Use social media and ask for an opinion on your local Facebook group. This is like checking reviews before buying a product and will give you valuable insight from other parents perspectives.
Making the Application
When making your application, you get three choices. You rank these in order of preference.
You don’t have to give three choices. However, although the council will try to meet your request where possible, if they cannot offer your first choice then they’ll consider you second choice and so on. When they run out of your choices, they will select a school for you – usually the school closest to you home with a place.
Places are allocated firstly to children with additional needs (or in care), then siblings of children from the school, then by catchment, then in order of distance as the crow flies.
All my choices were out of catchment so I did use all my options and gave a reason why I had chosen the school and felt it was most suitable to my son. I gave three options as I really didn’t want the council choosing my son’s school.
The Result
I was fortunate enough to get my first choice and my son has settled in well. He’s making friends and the other parents are really friendly and welcoming. I couldn’t be happier.
Usually, I feature articles on Monday but for Halloween, I would like to feature spooky stories and poems or anything Halloween themed.
The content can be any genre but ideally not too long (2k max). You could provide a sample to a longer piece (i.e. a novel). I will feature a selection of my favourites between midnight on 30 October 2018 midnight and 31 October 2018 midnight GMT.
To take part, all you need to do is add the hashtag #Spooktober and comment on my post to help me find you.
Ideally, submit earlier to allow me time to see your entry but I’ll keep my eyes open until 30 October 2018.
This is the first time I’ve tried something like this and hope lots of people will take part and find it fun. Please feel free to share this post and spread the word.
I look forward to seeing your inner horror writer.
Skin Organics Clean Beauty is a subscription box with a selection of non-toxic, cruelty-free, organic and natural products. These may be skincare, body care or beauty products. Their aim is to help you discover clean, green and cruelty-free products and brands. They dispatch on 20th of the month.
Cost: £19.00 (+£3.95 P&P) subscription, UK
*****
As I am now on maternity leave, I have cancelled my subscription so there is no new box of cruelty free products to reveal.
My skin likes this mist and I’ve been using it daily as a toner. I, however, do not like bottle. When it is screwed up, it doesn’t spray. I have to loosen it for it to work and then it is still tricky to mist.
Although I’m not keen on the bottle the product is effective. I am still interested in trying lip venom by this brand and have high expectations that it will perform well.
Casa Mercarelli: Lemon & Clay Face Mask (sheet lists price as £8.00)
When am I suppose to have time to do a face mask? I now have a few face masks waiting. I feel my daughter is starting to get a routine but I don’t want to jinx it or scare her by appearing to attend to her wearing a face mask.
Butter Bar Soapery: Revive Body Polish (Exclusive product for subscription box – not yet for sale. Expected RRP £15.00)
I’m not a fan of scrubs so it has to be pretty special to win me over and this one did. This scrub deep cleaned my skin, removed any dryness and really hydrated my skin. My legs felt so soft, like silk. I was blown away! This felt like a luxury spa treatment. I would buy this again. It is so good!
BAO Skincare: Apricot Rose Face Polish (RRP £14.00 for 50ml)
Again, I’m not a fan of scrubs but I’ve been using this once a week and I look forward to using it. It’s very gentle although you can feel it working. My skin looks better as a result. I think it gets rid of dry skin and enables my moisturiser to be more effective. I’d buy this again too!
Eden Days Body: Hawaiian Haven Whipped Body Butter (Sheet lists price as RRP £6.50)
My underfloor heating has ruined this product. After melting into a messy oil, it has partial solidified. It is not in two parts, one oily and the other waxy. I can mix it up and it’s still great a moisturise but I don’t think the product is as good as it would have been in its original state.
It is a very affordable price so I may buy it again and give it another chance. I did really like it as an oil so I may let my underfloor heating melt it again lol.
Would I recommend?
My subscription is now cancelled but only while I adjust to a ‘maternity pay lifestyle’. I can’t express how much I will miss these monthly edits. I have loved discovering new products and organic brands.
If you are interested in being chemical free then this is the beauty subscription box for you! It contains a range of organic products from brands that are high end, award winners or start ups. I have not been disappointed by the contents and it’s encouraged me to try products I otherwise wouldn’t have and I’ve been pleasantly surprised.
All the products meet the promise of clean, green and cruelty-free – so if that’s something you desire, this is a great box for you.
I shall soon be looking back at past boxes and sharing the products that stood out. Please share if you’ve tried any of these and what organic products or brands you love? Are your skin/body care products chemical free?
Every other Monday, I like to feature a blog article that I found useful to help my readers discover other great bloggers. This article has been in my schedule list for a while but I loved how simple and feasible the ideas. The tips are achievable by anyone and free!
I am always looking for suitable articles to share with my readers. Please check out my post about what I look for and feel free to comment and encourage me to check out your content.
To start the year, I set myself some goals for the year ahead. I plan to check periodically during the year on how well I am keeping on track. If you set yourself goals it is important to check on yourself to make sure you are on target and to re-focus yourself.
If you want to view my last check in on myself, click here.
Achievements
If you only focus on what wasn’t achieved then you lose sight of what you did achieve and feel like giving up. By making time to reflect on my wins, I see, I did better than I originally thought:
Participated in NaNoWriMo (July) and made progress on my WIP
My article on Orangutans was published by Ginger Parrot
I took part in several twitter events!
On Reflection
Here are the highlights from this quarte:
Summary: This has been a very challenging period as I was very tired towards the end of my pregnancy and having a newborn has been demanding. It would have been very easy to give up (or take a break) but somehow I have managed to keep at it and I am proud of myself for my tenacious spirit.
Blogging: My posting has slowed down but I am keeping to the new schedule – some posts have gone live later in the day than originally planned but I am keeping up. I have more ideas than time to write but that is always better than writers block!
Writing: My goal for NaNo was rather ambitious but I a still very proud of what I did manage to accomplish in July (almost 15k). I have also been brave and finally took part in Twitter events (#Pitchwars, #PitMad, #AskAnna). I also had a great time at Felixstowe Book Festival.
Blogging Goals Review
ACHIEVED: I have created a new schedule that include one to two posts per week and I am managing to keep up with it.
NOT ACHIEVED: I have not had time to look at LoCal. I got as far as making a spreadsheet with the links but didn’t get as far as coming up with a scheduling plan.
ACHIEVED: If you have been following me you will have noticed that there has been more personal posts as I have shared days out with my son, my pregnancy and the arrival of my baby girl.
NOT ACHIEVED: I am not ready to vlog. I have lots of ideas but at the moment it can take me almost all day to get a chance to wash my face! The last thing I want to do is be in front of the camera.
ACHIEVED: I am using a spreadsheet in Google to see my content plan. I also keep track of ideas I have for posts and colour the cell – I then can copy this into the schedule where it best fits. This method is working really well for me.
Writing Goals Review
ACHIEVED: Taking part in NaNo gave me the motivation to keep adding to my word count and I made progress almost every day. My goal was 25k which I didn’t reach but I am so pleased with what I did achieve and hope to finish the first draft by the end of the year.
ALMOST ACHIEVED: My son started school this month and I got to make a start on Who Runs The World by Virginia Bergin. I bought this book at Felixstowe Book Festival after her event (click here to read about Lunch with Virginia)
ACHIEVED: I submitted to #PitchWars to hopefully get a mentor *fingers crossed*. But, I didn’t stop there! I also took part in #PitMad and #AskAnna.
ACHIEVED: During #AskAnna I was able to identify the best course for me by CB Creative. I also still have my online courses by “Write Story Books” to complete.
My highest priorities are to continue to be consistent with my blog posting and to finish my novel. I also would really love to be published on Ginger Parrot again so will attempt to write another article for them.
I have my heart set on working with a mentor but the competition for #PitchWars was strong. However, during #AskAnna I was informed of The Literacy Consultancy who have a private mentor service. It is not cheap but sounds like what I want. What do you think of a writing mentor?
The events helped me to connect with other writers which I hadn’t expected. It was lovely to see how other writers were so supportive of each other. I would encourage others to take part in Twitter events and would be interested in doing more. Do you do Twitter events or know of any you would recommend?
Earlier this month, Curtis Brown held a twitter event called #AskAnna where Anna Davis was online to answer questions about writing and publishing. She is an author and worked in publishing for over a decade and delivers some of the CB Creative courses.
The event was good fun – although, a little slow to start. Afterwards, I thought of more questions I wish I had asked but this was my first twitter Q&A that I’ve participated in. Usually, I can’t attend as I’m at work.
If you couldn’t make it, you’ll be pleased to know I saved the Q&As I found most useful from the event (start at the bottom and scroll up):
I hope CB do more Twitter events in future and that I can attend. This was good fun. Best of all, it was great to be invited to ask questions as I then knew we were welcomed and not a nuisance. I would love to hear of more a Twitter events – have you done any?
In 2017, I completed the Curtis Brown course Start Writing Your Novel. Click here to read my review about it. I’m really tempted to do more courses with them but at the moment, I don’t have the time or money.
The Literacy Consultancy looks really good but, again, I don’t have the money to pay for their services at the moment. They edit and review manuscripts and advise of marketability and who to approach and have a mentor scheme where someone with experience supports you with in-depth advice on your novel. I can’t believe I’ve not heard of this organisation until now! Have you?
It’s a cruelty free beauty subscription box and contains a selection of five products – skincare, body care, makeup and occasionally a sweet treat too. Plus, a 50p donation from the sale of each box goes to an animal friendly charity (Animal Free Research). In addition, you earn loyalty points for each purchase which can then be used for money off future boxes.
As I am now on maternity leave, I have cancelled my subscription so there is no new box of cruelty free products to reveal.
*****
Reflect on July’s box
This is how I got on using the products from my July box:
Green People: Sun Lotion SPF 15 (sheet lists price as £6)
Although August has been cooler than I expected, I haven’t used this and I forgot to give it to my husband to try.
Make-up Eraser: Mini Travel Cloth (sheet lists price as £5)
I really like the idea of this and the cloth is so soft. I intended to put it in my hospital bag but can’t find it. I’m really disappointed as I was looking forward to trying such a simple idea. I really hope it turns up and I didn’t do something daft like leave it in hospital…
This was not for me. Against my pale skin it gives an orange glow that looks like I have too much makeup on. It may blend in better if you have darker skin but for me it didn’t.
I was saving these for our family pic but trying to leave the house with a hungry newborn at 9am was near impossible. My makeup was the bare minimum and I didn’t have time for false lashes. Keeping them in the draw means they’ll be ready for the next special occasion.
La Ritzy: Black eye pencil (she lists price as £15)
I have been using this eye pencil and it is pretty good. It lasts all day, doesn’t give panda eyes and hasn’t irritated my eyes even when I’ve put it on the waterline.
Would I recommend?
If buying cruelty free is important to you then this is a your subscription box. They have enabled me to discover new and established brands. The boxes have a decent mix of products so you don’t get lots of the same type of thing.
I like their reward scheme and knowing my purchase goes towards supporting an animal friendly charity.
I plan to look back over my past boxes and work out what was great or not.
