Weekly writing check-in: the one with the roller derby

derby

So this week, I somehow managed to write 10,000 words and take my daughter’s Girl Scout troop to the roller derby.

The Minnesota RollerGirls hosted a special badge day event for Girl Scouts. We participated in that, had dinner in downtown St. Paul (fancy), and then went back for the bout. There was a band and dancing at halftime.

But I’m just a little bit tired today and I’m getting creative with the spelling, so I’m calling the week a success and may do nothing more than curl up with a book today.

Writing Work:

  • Writing: The Wedding Ghost, 10,000 words
  • Photoshop tutorials

Submissions:

  • None

Rejections:

  • Like Bread Loves Salt

Acceptances:

  • None

Publications:

  • None

Weekly writing check-in: the one with another deep freeze

 

You guys, it’s so cold here I’m not stepping out on the deck to take a picture. It’s making those horrible cracking sounds that have you think the whole thing is going to splinter beneath your feet.

It’s been another quiet week. I was really busy at work, so I’m pleased with the word count and tutorials I did manage. I should probably check to see if I have any reprints to send out. Or just wait. I’m bound to get some of the eight stories I have on submission back very soon.

Stay warm, everyone!

Writing Work:

  • Writing: The Wedding Ghost, 6,177  words
  • Photoshop tutorials

Submissions:

  • None

Rejections:

  • None

Acceptances:

  • None

Publications:

  • None

Weekly writing check-in: the one with the deep freeze

wintercoldIt’s one of those mornings where it’s so bright outside you’re convinced it must be warm as well.

You would be wrong.

It’s a balmy negative eleven at the moment.

It’s a good day to stay inside and write or read or really do anything that doesn’t involve opening the door to the outside.

A quiet week this week–I think everyone is hibernating. No rejections and I didn’t send anything out, either. I did manage brand new words after finishing up the brainstorming and outlining of episode 3.

And that’s about it for this cold, cold day.

 

Writing Work:

  • Coffee & Ghosts Season 2, episode 3 brainstorming and outlining
  • Writing: The Wedding Ghost, 7,480 words
  • Photoshop tutorials

Submissions:

  • None

Rejections:

  • None

Acceptances:

  • None

Publications:

None, but if you haven’t listened to Ghost in the Coffee Machine over at The Drabblecast, you really should. I’m still so excited about what a wonderful production they put together.

Weekly writing check-in: the one with the New Year and talking ghosts

 

newyearOh. Well. Look at all those rejections.

Here’s the thing: while I knew I had rejections this week (obviously), the number didn’t strike me until I counted them up for the weekly check-in.

That’s the magic of sending things out on a regular basis. It’s not that you’re suddenly immune to rejection or it’s somehow fun for you. You just sort of … forget about it. You take the story that came back, find a new, appropriate place to send it, and log the new submission.

Because logging new submissions is fun.

In other news, despite the holiday, I finished up the short story I was working on, did some more brainstorming on episode #3 for Coffee & Ghosts, Season 2, and some played around in Photoshop.

In really cool news, Ghost in the Coffee Machine is out in audio from The Drabblecast. It was so incredible to listen to this. I love audio stories to begin with, and they did such a wonderful job. It also got me all excited to work on more Coffee & Ghosts stories.

Writing Work:

  • Short story revision
  • Coffee & Ghosts Season 2, episode 3 brainstorming and outlining
  • Photoshop tutorials

Submissions:

  • Gretel and Hansel
  • The Perfect Canvas
  • Straying from the Path (reprint market)
  • Knight in the Royal Arms

Rejections:

  • Gretel and Hansel
  • The Girl with the Piccolo
  • The Perfect Canvas
  • A Most Marvelous Pair of Boots
  • Knight in the Royal Arms

Acceptances:

  • None

Publications:

Ghost in the Coffee Machine … in audio! Head on over to The Drabblecast and give it a listen (or find the podcast on your phone). It has sound effects! Music! And some very nice artwork as well. I couldn’t be more pleased with the production. They did a tremendous job.

Weekly writing check-in: the one with the Merry Catmas

Triple xmas catQuiet holiday week here. I did a lot of baking and a little cleaning and even got some writing work in as well.

I finished up the revisions on the story I was working on–I added about 3,000 more words total. A few new scenes to round out what I was hoping to do with the story.

Next step is to proof it and maybe send it out for a beta read.

We didn’t have a white Christmas, but we did get some snow yesterday. Enough for sledding, which made my daughter very happy.

Also, I spent a fair amount of time tugging the creature pictured above out of the tree. We now have several cat-sized holes in the branches.

Writing Work:

  • Writing work: ~1,000 words
  • Short story revision
  • Design reading

Submissions:

  • Gretel and Hansel

Rejections:

  • None

Acceptances:

  • None

Publications:

  • None

Weekly writing check-in: the one with the cold

Xmas CatA quiet week with a bit of a cold snap–and a cold for me.

Even so, I got some writing work in. I’m working on a short story, did some design reading, and spent a wonderful few hours writing at the coffee shop yesterday while my daughter was at a holiday party.

One rejection, a fast one (I don’t mind those, plus it was a very nice personal one). I’ll have to search out another market this week.

And that’s about it. It’s kind of nice to have a quiet week after the flurry of activity of two releases within two weeks of each other. (Yeah. That was kind of crazy.)

Writing Work:

  • Writing work: ~2,000 words
  • Short story revision
  • Design reading

Submissions:

  • None

Rejections:

  • Gretel and Hansel

Acceptances:

  • None

Publications:

  • None

Weekly writing check-in: the one with the Ghosts of Christmas Past

So, this week, along with formatting, reviewing, and publishing Ghosts of Christmas Past, I did what I’m calling a content edit on the second episode. I wanted to make sure things were more or less in place before I published the first episode and embark on writing the third. I also did some work on a short story, and I think I know where I want to take it.

Also, The Girl with the Piccolo found a new home this week over at Evil Girlfriend Media, and I turned around another submission.

And it’s still snowing on WordPress.

Writing Work:

  • Content edit on episode two of Coffee & Ghosts
  • Ghosts of Christmas Past formatting and publishing
  • Short story review/revision

Submissions:

  • Gretel and Hansel

Rejections:

  • Gretel and Hansel

Acceptances:

  • None

Publications:

The Girl with the Piccolo found a new home over at Evil Girlfriend Media.

Ghosts of Christmas PastAnd of course, Ghosts of Christmas Past is out in the world as well.

You can read more about that in my post from yesterday.

Now available: Ghosts of Christmas Past!

Ghosts of Christmas Past

Katy Lindstrom knows December is the best time for ghost hunting–all you really need is some excellent Kona blend and a little patience. But this year brings a ghost of Christmas past she might not be able to catch.

All Katy wants is to enjoy the uptick in business and forget that this is the first Christmas without her grandmother. But when one of Springside’s notorious citizens returns–as a ghost–and leaves a dear friend in a coma, Katy will try anything to get Christmas back on track.

A disastrous ghost eradication leaves her partner Malcolm scalded and both of them out of options. Katy must sort through her feelings for him while fending off the interest of a shady cabal of necromancers.

And if she can’t catch that elusive ghost of Christmas past? It may end up ruining everyone’s future.

Coffee and Ghosts

Curious? Missed out on Season One? Check out the episode list or jump straight to the bundle. The episodes and the bundle are available to read for free in Kindle Unlimited, or if you’re buying, grab the bundle and save 30%. The series bundle is also available in print.

Weekly writing check-in: the one with Dating on the Dork Side

Yes, I think most everyone knows about the Dating on the Dork Side launch. It … launched. There was a flurry of activity there for a while. Now I think Darcy and I can both sit back and breathe a bit. Sort of.

I am getting Ghosts of Christmas Past ready to go. It would be nice to have that one out before Christmas. Ideally. We’ll see how it goes.

Also, I see that it’s snowing on WordPress. I love it when it snows on WordPress.

Writing Work:

  • Launch activities for Dating on the Dork Side
  • Coffee & Ghosts season two, episode one: revision and listening proof

Submissions:

  • None

Rejections:

  • None

Acceptances:

  • None

Publications:

front cover rgb jpgWell, yes, you probably already know about the release for Dating on the Dork Side. And you can still head over to Goodreads and enter the giveaway for an autographed copy.

But … Keeping Time now has a new home over at Luna Station Quarterly in issue #24. You can also pick up the issue in a variety of formats, including Kindle and print.