At least nine of you, maybe even ten, know I wrote a story featuring the historian Mary Beard. Yesterday, while waiting for the kettle to boil, I sent her a brief email telling her about it. Whaddya know, half an hour later I had a reply. She liked it!
Writing about historians isn't going to make your fortune but it strikes me that nobody can resist a story about themselves. So - find out the name of the commissioning editor of the mag you want to write for, or an agent, or whoever, and write a story about them. They might not read your novel but they'll love a story about themselves!
Worth a try? Go on, I double-dare you! In fact, maybe it should be next week's IP?
This was my story, by the way:
blighters rock | May 21, 2012 - 18:21
Good idea, FTSE. Massaging egos never felt more inviting!
andrea | May 21, 2012 - 21:58
Or maybe Mary Beard is particularly nice. Cathy Edmunds (author, artist, musician) did a fab charcoal portrait of the same lady, emailed it to her as an attachment, and had a reply too.
You can see it here (it's really a remarkable likeness) --> http://ukauthors.com/phorum5/read.php?44,197384
http://www.ukauthors.com
The Other Terre... | May 21, 2012 - 22:38
Yeah she's nice for the first story or so, but what if we all wrote about her, I bet after the first 100 or so she'd stop being so friendly about it.
The Other Terre... | May 21, 2012 - 22:49
Just going through my story file: Bobby Davro, Nick Clegg, Sting, Radiohead - I'll have to see what they say.
Cavalcaderl | May 21, 2012 - 23:18
new FTSE100
Hi! Do agree with what you have said.
And if get time,look at "Angel Face".
Then it was my very very first cherry!
I was waiting for a friend in Borders that is now closed,book come coffee shop and restaurant. I heard of person on AbcTales called Scribble. So I Scribbled for first time.
So picked magazine up,saw lovely beauty,not read who?
or knew then,so moulded a poem round beautiful face and picture,got home,after scribbling,never had before on envelope at Borders few words,only because of "Scribble's "name! Tore the page out and told it was ok. Read at home it was Sarah Parker,thought Oh! my goodness I will post to her,never did. Several Parkers. Photo of her,wove the poem round her beautiful face,and colour shawl.
But then have written to H.M The Queen if put name and adress on,my gooodness get reply or from Lady In Waiting did then. I'd sent card of many thanks and loving words,for her 60th Jubilee and Loyalty all years,
whatever never gave up! just done a poem with few lines,mentioning maybe H.M. would send a certficate or medal or note,for wonderful comfort neighbour's loving cat here most days till looked better,poem
"I Crown Thee King "Jazz" Denzella helped for a bit better title,but during that time had a awful mechanical shop fall four weeks. Feb; 21st. March did poem,and four days later recovering in bed,Ray brought in post! one from The Queen I said "Don't be so daft," but it was from Buckingham Palace,beautiful six photos of her for 60 years coming up! for jubilee 60 years on the throne!
The words to me over the moon,owing to two black eyes and cuts and bruises,for it too arrive just at
that special time. Then had before some,over late Diana too,amazing Royalty answer,and H.M The Queen!
Wow! So wrote on envelope overwhelmed,and copy of poem,and stating my fall,how kind of her and the wonderful words.
So entirely know what you mean,and
the cat recognised like my poem says! Said enough now.
Beginning February forgot about I sent to her how marvellous and all those years serve the country in everything and never gave up! Travells everywhere in all circunstances, A Queen,mum,Nan,Grandmother. Carry on especially her age now!
Long may she reign. But putting that overwhelmed on outside,post could gone missing,back load of parcels
bee piling up packages. So don't know if really got there. But do have Rayl books 2nd hand and given,things.
julie x
h jenkins | May 22, 2012 - 14:09
Hi Footsie. Just read your interview with a Roman piece which I thought was very good.
I wrote a similar sort of thing a couple of years ago (it's on the site as Do As the Romans Do, if you're interested) but I do wish I'd thought of sending it to Mary Beard like you did.
Oh well.
btw, there is bit of an anachronism in your story. At the time of Domitian, a Roman wouldn't have known what the Colosseum was. At that time it was known as the Flavian Amphitheatre (or rather the Latin equivalent) having been built during the reigns of Domitian's father (Vespasian) and his brother (Titus Caesar), the other members of the Flavian dynasty. The name Colosseum wasn't used till much later.
Helvigo Jenkins
FTSE100 | May 22, 2012 - 18:18
Hello Helvigo. No, a Roman of the time wouldn't have known what the Colosseum was, but a modern reader wouldn't necessarily know what the FA was without some cumbersome dialogue to explain it. I suppose I could have chosen a later king (sorry, president) but I like the name Domitian. I wonder if his wife was called Dominatrix? Or is that a character from Asterisk the Gall Bladder?
Sorry if it offends your sense of historical accuracy but Mary and I ;) think it's okay, so I'll probably leave it.
Paul
SundaysChild | May 22, 2012 - 20:57
I loved your story FTSE, well done :)
FTSE100 | May 22, 2012 - 21:10
Thank you SC. :)
Richard L. Prov... | May 24, 2012 - 02:51
It's a great idea. Perhaps add a poem to precis the story. Cheers, Richard