Tag: Fairy Tales

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 binge-watching cure

We had lots of fun at last week’s author visit with Liza Wiemer. If you ever need a speaker for school/group of teens (especially those who like to write), I highly recommend Liza. Also, check out her wonderful debut YA novel Hello?

I also finished writing An Army of Toads this week. It came in at ~9,000 words, which is an awkward length for a short story. (Technically, it’s a novelette, which is a cute name but a hard sell.)

My big news this week is, of course, the acceptance of The Saint of Bright Red Things to The Binge-Watching Cure:

The Binge-Watching Cure will be an anthology of short stories of increasing size. The first story will be 100 words—anyone can read that. The next, 200 words. Then 500, then longer, all the way to novella length.

Sounds pretty cool, doesn’t it? My story was selected for the 4,000-word slot, and I’m very excited about that. This is a story set in France during World War Two. Here’s a quick summary:

In Nazi-occupied France, Marigold Jenkins, the daughter of ex-patriot Americans, must keep her identities—all three of them—a secret. She navigates the streets of Paris armed with a bright red handbag, scarlet lipstick, and a compact tailor-made for her role as a courier in the resistance.

But when a train accident leaves her concussed and stranded in a provincial hospital, Mari must navigate a new reality, one that leaves her at the mercy of a German officer. She must decide whether she can trust this man—and what she must sacrifice in order to do so.

For writers, they’re currently taking submissions for a horror anthology.

And last, but not least, Coffee and Ghosts 3: The Complete Third Season is finally in print format.

Writing Work:

  • Planning/researching new series
  • Outlining/Draft writing ~ 4,000 words, An Army of Toads = done!

Submissions:

  • Fire and Ivy

Rejections:

  • Fire and Ivy

Acceptances:

  • The Saint of Bright Red Things

Publications:

The print version of Coffee and Ghosts 3: The Complete Third Season is now available!

Weekly writing check-in: the one with the short list

I didn’t quite finish up An Army of Toads this week. I’m close, but as I mentioned last week, a new character in the form of a Bandit King strolled into the story and complicated things.

One rejection this week (which, you’ll note, I sent right back out). But I am pleased that the story made the short list in Pulp Literature’s Bumble Bee Flash Fiction contest. So, there’s that.

Today, my daughter’s Girl Scout Troop is having an author visit and workshop with Liza Wiemer, and we couldn’t be more excited.

Writing Work:

  • Planning/researching new series
  • Outlining/Draft writing ~ 4,500 words

Submissions:

  • Lucky

Rejections:

Acceptances:

  • None

Publications:

  • None