Author: Charity

Weekly writing check-in: Photoshopping and fairy tales

So, more back to school this week. I’m working my way through some Photoshop tutorials. I like the ones where there’s a project that I can relate to writing or publishing, however tenuously. With that in mind, I give you this week’s project.

The tutorial called for a mood board, but I went with an inspiration board for the new novel series I’m working on. I bought a bunch of credits at Depositphotos a while back (they were running a special), so I grabbed some images and went to town.

In other news, I got a couple of rejections this week and sent one story back out again. I’m not sure what I’m going to do with An Army of Toads. It has actually received several nice personal rejections. Its main problem? (I’m speculating here.) It’s too long. It’s a novelette, clocking in at 9,300 words. I’m thinking about possibly publishing it, and several other fairy tale retellings, in a compilation and calling it done.

Writing Work:

  • Series work (structure, brainstorming, drafting)
  • Graphic Design/Photoshop tutorials

Submissions:

  • The Potato Bug War

Rejections:

  • The Potato Bug War
  • An Army of Toads

Acceptances:

  • None

Publications:

  • None

Weekly writing check-in: back-to-school edition

I sent the final story (of the ones I wrote during July/August) off this week. Now, we sit and wait. Well, I’ll sit and wait. The rest of you can do something else.

It was the first week of school, and to celebrate, I wrapped up the summer projects (folklore class, flash fiction, and so on) and started in earnest on the new series. So, with a little luck, I’ll get the structure in place and then I’ll start the writing. I would, fingers cross, like to start publishing it early next year.

More on that when things start to come together.

Writing Work:

  • Series work (structure, brainstorming, drafting)
  • Graphic Design

Submissions:

  • Cheating Death

Rejections:

  • None

Acceptances:

  • None

Publications:

  • None

Weekly writing check-in: long weekend, short post

Well, I did not finish up the research. No real surprise there. I am mostly done with the folklore class (will finish up today/tomorrow), and I did submit a story. One more of those to go.

I’m waiting for the market to open back up, but the story is done and quite literally sitting in my email draft folder, ready to go.

And that’s it for this week.

Writing Work:

  • Planning/researching new series
  • Folklore class
  • Story revision

Submissions:

  • Dereliction

Rejections:

  • Lucky

Acceptances:

  • None

Publications:

  • None

Weekly writing check-in: eclipse edition

Up here in Minnesota we didn’t get too much of an eclipse. The picture to the left is the result of me pointing my phone randomly at the sky and hoping for the best.

I sent out three new stories this week. Not bad considering the wisdom teeth extraction (not mine) or the pom squad performance (also not mine). Still.

I hope to wrap up a lot of things this next week or so: the research (uh, maybe), the folklore class, and I want to dig into the actual structure and draft for the new series.

Here’s hoping.

Writing Work:

  • Planning/researching new series
  • Folklore class
  • Story revision

Submissions:

  • The Potato Bug War
  • Moving Day
  • Steadfast

Rejections:

  • None

Acceptances:

  • None

Publications:

  • None

Weekly writing check-in: sending stories and bullet journals

Look at that! New short stories are now in the submission mill. I have a few more to revise and send out this week, and I’m kind of excited about that.

A while back, I mentioned that I was using a bullet journal as a way to create a story development journal. With so many craft books, online and software programs that will help you write a novel, why on earth would I do this? I’m only partway through this project, and I’ll admit it. At times, it’s a little tedious.

But then there are articles like this. I also like writing by hand, even though my penmanship is awful. And no, I’m not doing fancy spreads with artwork like some bullet journal enthusiasts do.

But as plain and messy as it is, I like it. I like having all the story development exercises I use in one place. It’s easy to take with me, and I still have plenty of room to add new information and exercises.

Writing Work:

  • Planning/researching new series
  • Story development journal
  • Folklore class
  • Story revision

Submissions:

  • Three by Three
  • Respite
  • With Hair of Teeth and Claw

Rejections:

  • None

Acceptances:

  • None

Publications:

  • None

Weekly writing check-in: wrapping up classes

Wrapping up some classes this week. I finished my seventh and final story for the flash fiction class. It’s the last week of the fairy tale class, and we’re in the home stretch for the folklore one as well.

Next week, I hope to revise and send a few of those stories out into the world. Also? I think it’s about time to get to writing the new series.

And that’s it for this week.

Writing Work:

  • Planning/researching new series
  • Story planning and notes
  • Folklore class

Submissions:

  • None

Rejections:

  • None

Acceptances:

  • None

Publications:

  • None

Weekly writing check-in: flash and fiction

So far for the flash fiction class, I’ve written six stories, the shortest was 100 words and the longest 600. We just got our last assignment today–a generous 1,000 words. It’s been a terrific class, and I’m so glad I signed up for it. I’d forgotten how much I love writing flash fiction.

Not that I’ve abandoned longer fiction, not at all. I’m still researching for the new series (all of them), still reading, and still planning.

But now I’m going to have a slew of new stories to send out as well. I’m kind of excited about that.

So … last assignment. I’d better get going on that.

Writing Work:

  • Planning/researching new series
  • Story planning and notes
  • Fairy Tale class/Folklore class
  • Flash Fiction class (!)

Submissions:

  • Like Bread Loves Salt

Rejections:

  • None

Acceptances:

  • None

Publications:

  • None

Weekly writing check-in: cat and mouse and keeping time

At the last minute, I decided to sign up for a flash fiction course. It’s very short–two weeks with assignments every other day. So far I’ve written three flash pieces. I thought today we might get a rest. But no! The instructor just posted today’s lesson.

Also? I need to write my last essay for the fairy tale class. I will need to get my writing on, once again.

A couple of rejections this week, but–hey!–I sold audio rights to Keeping Time.

And in a few weeks, I should have several more stories to submit.

Assuming I go get my assignments done.

Writing Work:

  • Planning/researching new series
  • Story planning and notes
  • Fairy Tale class/Folklore class
  • Flash Fiction class (!)

Submissions:

  • None

Rejections:

  • Fire and Ivy
  • The Way Home

Acceptances:

  • Keeping Time (audio)

Publications:

  • None

Weekly writing check-in: scheming and reading

I’m still excited about my Iowa trip (and still scheming for next year).

This week, I’m back on a regular schedule. I am trying to wrap up all the research I need to do so I can start writing my new series (or two). This wrapping up, however, is taking longer than I’d like. But what I am reading is informing a whole bunch of stories, so there’s that. It’s like three for the price of one.

And that’s about it. Except for all the reading I need to do.

Writing Work:

  • Planning/researching new series
  • Story planning and notes
  • Fairy Tale class/Folklore class

Submissions:

  • None

Rejections:

  • Like Bread Loves Salt

Acceptances:

  • None

Publications:

  • None

Weekly writing check-in: the one with the Iowa adventure

I spent last weekend at the Iowa Summer Writing Festival. Did I have a good time? Well, let’s just say I’m already scheming ways to spend a week there next year. It. Was. Amazing.

So? What did I do?

I made some new friends:

Saw the sights:

   

 

Went Legend Tripping:

   

 

I also attended the workshop Fiction and Fairy Tale. Lots of prompts and quick writing, lots of new ideas. I stayed in a lovely bed and breakfast, did a lot of walking, and basically had a blast exploring the campus and downtown. If you can make your way to Iowa City during the summer, I highly recommend it and the festival.

Also, if you scroll down a bit, you can see that my story, A Knight at the Royal Arms is live in Pulp Literature #15.

Writing Work:

  • Planning/researching new series
  • Story planning and notes
  • Fairy Tale class/Folklore class
  • Iowa Summer Writing Festival

Submissions:

  • Lucky
  • The Way Home

Rejections:

  • Lucky

Acceptances:

  • None

Publications:

My story A Knight at the Royal Arms is included in Pulp Literature #15.

The story is a light-hearted fantasy about a modern-day damsel in distress (one who wears steel toe boots).