Start totting up your August points...

You still have a few days to save yourselves! Then come here and let me know if in August you have...

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.

Off you go and vote!

While I ended up missing Written's contest, some of my more diligent (or concerned) victims have earned their point. Pay the contest a little visit here to read or vote!

Bonus point competition now open!

Drift by Writtenwyrdd's place to see the prompt. Deadline is 22 August, so get thinking!

Even teddy bears will hate you

That title will mean something to some of you! Just taking a moment to say a fond farewell to the quiz that I've been doing almost every day for the past two? three? years.

A thank you to Paca, who organised the quiz and kept on organising the quiz, despite only winning, um, was it once? in all that time. A thank you to Blogless and Sarah for being so smart and winning so often. And an even bigger thank you to all those who let me win sometimes!

Memories... The literature section, with every ten questions including at least one about Stephen King's The Dark Tower series, which none of us had ever read. The questions that all of us disagreed with (ever heard of a 'shot' of coffee, anyone, because I have!). The dodgy Scottish ones. The dodgy Aussie ones.

Ah, good times.

Bonus points from August!

Sarah's pointed me in the direction of a competition that I should have already known about, serves me right for being such a blogging slacker. Anyway, our worthy Written has just the thing lined up for us - a flash contest, entries due by 28 August.

Flash fiction is a great writing exercise. The intensity of holding together a complete story in just a few words, with theme, character, plot and progress, plus adding in description and hopefully some imagery, not to mention character development, is a novel in miniature.

Take a look at this introductory post - and I'll post an update when full entry details are available -

http://writtenwyrdd.typepad.com/writtenwyrdd/2010/08/a-moment-of-greed-and-a-contest-prep-plea.html#comment-6a00e54ef251c588330133f2f17e1d970b

As per Clarity of Night, one point for submitting - no points for writing and not submitting!

Results up - and a new bonus?

Chris, mdames60, any word from you two? Chris, can't remember what you've been up to this month, go on and remind me. Mdame, I've already sent the Goblin your way, want another visit?!

OK, I like the bonus point system, particularly as it saved my furry butt last week. No, really, I like it because it pushes us to write and submit something we may not otherwise have written. And it saved my furry butt. Which may need saving again. No, really, it's all about the writing.

Anyway, I haven't stumbled across anything for this month yet. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Report in for July!

Yanno, chaps and chapesses, I'm flipping glad that I allowed one point for entry to Clarity of Night, because this month, I have...one point.

How about the rest of you? In July 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.

The McKoala Month

The end is coming... I'll be putting up the reporting post in a few days, so I hope you're ready... *checks back through own memory* ooops

Remember, one point for entering Clarity of Night! Don't care whether or not you made the 40s club, just that you made the effort!

Claritisers

I passed the first test and I'm #43 under The Other Name. If you're also through, please let us know here so that my other victims can go and read if they wish.

You qualify for the point whether or not you made the cut. The Koala is proud of anyone who submits, because she knows how hairy scary that can be!

The competition is here.

June is up!

But I think you all knew your status anyway. A bonus point for this month can be achieved by entering this little competition: http://clarityofnight.blogspot.com/2010/07/uncovered-short-fiction-contest-is.html. You'll find many familiar faces there.

Rules reminder: a novel submission always takes you up on to approves. This is the Year of the Submission! A mere twelve submissions this year will keep you in the Koala's good books. How easy is that?

Ahoy! Slackers!

Who hasn't reported in? Hurry up or you go straight on smackdown!!!

June reporting!

Success or shame? In June 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.

With the Submission of the Great Dissertation (making Paca into Doctor Paca) and the Commencement of the Great Blog (making Phoenix into Evil Editor Birdie), there are no more Special Furry or Bird Rules.

***Bonus! If you took part in Paca's voice challenge, give yourself a point!!!***

May scores up!

Thought it might be nice. What with July coming and all.

A disgraceful number of us were on a break. We should be ashamed. Congratulations to all who resisted the lure of Slackeriness.

Way back at the start of the month Merry issued a challenge to herself - that she must submit this month or go to instant smackdown, no matter how many words she's written. Just a reminder for you there, Merry... Oh, yes, and while the urge to write is wriggling up from my little toe, it hasn't quite made it all the way to anywhere useful yet. Still, it's going in the right direction. Hm, might take a lightning-quick novel submission to save me this month *peruses little agent shortlist*.

Actually, though, when I see Robin's catalogue of Stuff From The Koala's Life, I'm suddenly not surprised that last month, and most of this, turned out to be unexpected write-off. And she didn't even mention everything that my furry paws have been juggling. Now I'm wondering how I'm fitting in breathing.

Nonetheless. Normal service will be resumed. Soon.

yes, yes, I'm a slacker

phew, tg I've got that whole savage beast challenge things to make sure I at least send off a submission before the end of the month. Also feeling slight twinges of creativity in my little toe, so I'm guessing they'll work their way upwards and reach my brain eventually and I'll be writing up a storm. I hope. Maybe even visiting some blogs too *slinks off guiltily*.

Listen to the Koala's Dulcet Tones

Yes, it's voice post time again. We haven't done this for a while, but our Great Robin kicked off a little voice recording project a couple of years ago and Dr Paca has revived it. My little piece is below this message, more will be going up throughout Friday - I'll post some links later. Got the link now - thanks to the lovely Sylvia all the links can be found in one place - right here. I'll be listening to them all tomorrow.

Sit back and relax and listen to... Middle Class Mums (it's very short, I promise - 51 seconds to be exact - not a full story, just an excerpt).

Powered by Podbean.com

Hellooooo the end of May!

See bold para at the end of this post for an easy point for June! ('easy' is a relative term...)

Only a day or so to go, so in May 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.

With the Submission of the Great Dissertation (making Paca into Doctor Paca) and the Commencement of the Great Blog (making Phoenix into Evil Editor Birdie), there are no more Special Furry or Bird Rules.

However...there will be a point for everybody who participates in Paca's Voice Fest. Some of us have done this before and the results vary from passionate and articulate to, um, the rest of us. Click here for more info and follow the Paca Posts for the final decision as to what we will be reading.

Where do you write?

While preparing yourself for the end of month reporting (coming soon!), hie thee to thy writing spot and tell us a little something about it.

Where do you sit? What do the surroundings look like? What can you hear? What can you smell? And what do you need to kick off your best writing?

April scores finally up!

The Koala is back downunder, nestled in the branches of the eucalypt. Those silver birches are all very fine, but they do poke one in the back so dreadfully. And the leaves - not quite so tasty as those from the beloved eucalypt.

Apologies for the delay, *koffs out some more ash*, but let the shredding begin!

Not a bad month overall, most of you are keeping your little noses to the grindstone. Kudos to Aniket for hanging on to his three points and to Paca for, under Special Furry Rules, submitting his dissertation and heading straight to the top for the first and possibly the only time (dissertation being all done now). By the way, his dissertation was of such fine calibre that we must now refer to him as Dr Paca and genuflect in his presence. Except for me of course. (Did I eve tell you about my doctorate in Eucalypt Studies from the University of Marsupials? Ah, well, that's a story for another time...)

OK, so... who didn't report in? Chris, but I happen to know she's been submitting, so she is safe again (grr)*. Nothing from Catvibe and mdames60, and no second chances this month (in that I gave you one already, so get those Smackdown badges up on your blogs right now, young ladies).

As for Janey, her butt is so shredded there is nothing more for the Koala to sink her claws into, so I've despatched the Goblin with her toenail pliers. You will hear the shrieks, wherever you are.

Enough fun, back to your desks everybody.

*she sent a missive by private bat mail, it's very efficient, but that fruit bat poop doesn't half make a mess of my nice leaves.

This is not me!

While googling myself, as one does, I found a host of McKoala impostors. Shock! Horror!

This is not me.

This is also not me.

Nor is this (scroll down to second bottom entry). Or this.

And if you are of a strong constitution, check this one out. But it wasn't me. (Either behind or in front of the camera).

It's perturbing actually. I have been McKoala for a very long time and I'm not too enchanted by the prospect of sharing my identity. Some people might mistake the less tasteful utterings of the other McKoala's for mine.

I can't really take my wrath out on them, perfect strangers that they are. However, I do have a handy whipping wench right here. Step forward O'Koala, if you dare...

There will be a slight delay...

...because, The Koala, while on her travels, has left her computer cable in another destination. I will squeeze what life I can out of the battery, but will wait until I'm fully charged to put up the April stats. Look out for them at the start of next week.

Use the time as you wish. Save yourself, if necessary, and post new stats below. But then, remember, you will have a very short May...

Benevolent, me, oh yes.