Awesome October

For you? Will you be trick or treating tonight, or sweating over your keyboard, trying to save yourself from The Razor Sharp Claws of The Koala? Eat your heart out Freddie - The Koala's here...

Or just for me? Six points for editing/rewriting over 32,000 words, plus a point for a short story submission (accepted too!), plus another for a thirty-word story (see below), has The Koala feeling slightly smug this month.

So, in October, have you...

Submitted a short story, poem or other short fiction submission to a competition or magazine (one point for each submission)?

Submitted an article (one point per article, no matter how many mags the article is submitted to)?

Written and/or edited at least 4000 words (one point)?

Written more than the basic 4000 words (one additional point for each 2000 words of original writing (not editing)?

Edited more than the basic 4000 words (one additional point for each 5000 words of editing) ?

Outlined/plotted 4000 words or more (one point for each 4000)?

Beta-read read a fellow writer's novel and provided feedback (one point)?

Completed and published a new author website (one point)?

Written your query? (one point)

Written your synopsis? (one point)

Submitted a novel to an agent or editor? (Straight up to Koala Approves!)

(Anyone who's on Koala Approves while waiting for an agent response, remember that you must keep writing/editing/submitting short stories in the next month. Anyone sitting on their laurels drops down a stage. However, if an agent asks you to make changes to a novel, you get to stay on Koala Approves for the duration of your editing and negotiations, provided you get those changes to him/her in time and remember your manners. Ask for an extension or moan about your potential agent and you drop down a stage.)

A reminder... Points cannot be held over for a following month. The Koala wants consistent effort. The Koala is always right.

Bonus points!

This month, The Koala is awarding bonus points for thirty-word stories. Yes, a mere thirty words! Only one point is available for this - but only one point saves you from a shredding!

Allow The Koala to commence the proceedings...

When we married, my husband promised me a gold bangle for every year I remained faithful. Forty years later, his brother helped me bury him. Thirty-nine bangles jangled on my arm.

September results up!

And I see a shocking lack of names under 'Approved'. The year is not yet over, my honeys. My claws are still sharp... yes, yes, I know I've had to smack myself down this month...but that aside. I think you'll see a big, big jump in my numbers for October. Oh yes. It's all action in the eucalypt.

The Koala lays down the claw-gauntlet. The goal is to get as many of us on Approved for October as possible. Who's with me? C'mon chummies, let's write!

Motheree, Merryree and Aniketteeee

...report in! Last chance!