Category: Reading & Writing

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).

Weekly writing check-in: the one with the adventure

I’m off on an adventure this week, one that involves fairy tales and writing and other fun things. I will report back next week on all that I did. See you then!

Writing Work:

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

Submissions:

  • An Army of Toads
  • Keeping Time
  • Fire and Ivy
  • Like Bread Loves Salt

Rejections:

  • None

Acceptances:

  • None

Publications:

  • None

Weekly writing check-in: the one with some Prime Reading

I started another new class this week. This one is on folk tales. It’s all stories all the time around here. I even wrote a retelling of Rapunzel. (Yes, I know. Yet another.)

The big news this week is down below, but we’re pretty excited about it.

And I’m going to make this short. See all those classes? I have homework to do.

Writing Work:

  • Planning/researching new series
  • Story planning and notes
  • Story Journal
  • Fairy Tale class
  • Folk Tale class
  • Rapunzel retelling ~ 1,000 words

Submissions:

  • None

Rejections:

  • Keeping Time

Acceptances:

  • None

Publications:

None, but! Amazon has selected Dating on the Dork Side to be part of its curated Prime Reading list for the next ninety days or so. If you have Amazon Prime, you can read the novel for free.

If you have Amazon Prime, you can read the novel for free.

Weekly writing check-in: the one with the glimmer

So this week I learned that my (very) short story Lucky received an honorable mention in Glimmer Train’s Very Short Fiction Contest. I so seldom submit to places like Glimmer Train because I so seldom commit an act of literary fiction. I wasn’t expecting anything from this submission. I suspect my fellow writers “get” this more than readers might. It’s like glancing out the window and glimpsing a unicorn.

And I sent the story back out to another one of those unicorn markets this week. Hey, you never know when you might catch one.

In other news, lots of story and story journal work this week along with some research. Plus I started my fairy tale class.

Writing Work:

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

Submissions:

  • Lucky

Rejections:

  • Lucky
  • Fire and Ivy

Acceptances:

  • None

Publications:

  • None

Weekly writing check-in: the one with the dance recital

It was the week of the dance recital. And we are tired. Amazingly, I got a little work in. I made it through the first section of the story journal, and I’m gearing up to start the next. I made some progress on the new series, notes and some draft writing.

One very nice rejection on With Hair of Teeth and Claw–two exclamation points and an invitation to submit something else. That’s almost as good as an acceptance. I’ve run out of reprint markets for it at the moment so I may turn it into a free story for my newsletter. Wait, you didn’t know about the free stories? You can get them when you sign up for my newsletter here.

Next week: more story work, plus I start a course on fairy tales!

Writing Work:

  • Planning/researching new series
  • Story planning and notes
  • Story Journal

Submissions:

  • None

Rejections:

  • With Hair of Teeth and Claw

Acceptances:

  • None

Publications:

  • None

Weekly writing check-in: the one with the thunderstorm

I’m going to be quick this week. I hear the rumble of thunder out there. And it’s dark. So. Very. Dark.

I did a lot of behind-the-scenes work this week. I updated some back matter and other whatnot in my e-book files. I worked on my story journal. Some world building for my series. Sort of a grab bag of tasks. As soon as I get more content in my story development bullet journal, I’ll post some examples.

And now it’s like midnight outside. I may just head to the basement.

Ah, summer in Minnesota.

Edited to add: Hail! Thunder! Green skies! And of course, it isn’t Minnesota if you’re not taking a photo of the weather.

Writing Work:

  • Planning/researching new series
  • Story planning and notes
  • Story Journal

Submissions:

  • None

Rejections:

  • None

Acceptances:

  • None

Publications:

  • None