Tag: short stories

Weekly writing check-in: the one with a best of anthology

It was a busy week, but I managed to squeeze in 6,000 words, on various things. I also received a surprise email this week. My vignette, Playing Soldier, which appeared in issue #9 of Vine Leaves Literary Journal, was selected to be part of The Best of Vine Leaves Literary Journal 2014. Am I pretty excited about this? Well, yes. Yes, I am.

Lots of writers are talking about National Novel Writing Month, what with November right around the corner. I’m not going to join that, but I would love to reach 50,000 words in November, on various projects. I’d love to finish the Coffee & Ghosts serial, and I think there might be a novella kicking around in my subconscious, although I’m not 100% certain about that.

Writing Work:

  • Coffee & Ghosts series bible, more or less done
  • Miscellaneous writing ~ 6,000 words

Submissions:

  • None

Rejections:

  • Like Bread Loves Salt

Acceptances:

  • None

Publications:

  • None

Weekly writing check-in: the one with a series bible

Oh, yes. A series bible for the Coffee & Ghosts series? (And yes, do you admire my unbelievably creative name for the series?) Absolutely a good idea. I found a few places where I will need to adjust either this story or that, figure out where–exactly–one of the characters lives, and so on.

It was also one of those weeks where I had a bunch of random story ideas pop up in my head, so I jotted a few of them down, and now I’m wondering how to steal a bit more time to write all the things.

Speaking of stealing time: Just a Matter of Time will have a free run on Amazon starting tomorrow. Five days! Grab it for free while you can and all that.

Writing Work:

  • Coffee & Ghosts series bible
  • Story brainstorming: many ideas, not nearly enough time. Must. Type. Faster.

Submissions:

  • None

Rejections:

  • None

Acceptances:

  • None

Publications:

  • None, but! Upcoming promo! Starting Monday and lasting for five days, you can grab a copy of Just a Matter of Time on Kindle for free.

Time

Weekly writing check-in: the one with another novelette

shutterstock_54282940So, I finished The Ghost Whisperer this week. Apparently I enjoy writing novelettes, since this one came in at ~11,000 words. A sequel to a sequel? A trilogy? Um, no. I think there will be five shorter stories that make up a longer one. I am trying to make each story stand on its own while also working on a larger story arc.

I’m enjoying the challenge of this. Will something come of it? Who knows. But before I write the other two stories, I need one thing: a series bible. Names, places, eye color, that sort of thing. Walk-on characters are acquiring traits and becoming full-fledged supporting characters. I need a way to keep track of everything.

Writing Work:

  • The Ghost Whisperer ~ 6,000 words, for a total of 11,790

Submissions:

  • Abandonment Issues

Rejections:

  • None

Acceptances:

  • None

Publications:

  • None

Weekly writing check-in: the one with even more audio

Even more audio this week! The Girl with the Piccolo (first published at Kazka Press) is now in an audio podcast over at Cast of Wonders. Go have a listen, if you’re so inclined.

In amazing news of the amazing variety, I have once again fooled someone into publishing my poetry. I know. No one is more surprised than I am. The poem will be included in Proud to Be: Writing by American Warriors, volume 3. I had a poem in volume 2, so this is extra nice.

I also received two rejections this week. Actually, it was three. One of the journals is using an automated system. So, I received a rejection on Monday, and then again, for the same submission, on Thursday. It was either a glitch or they wanted to make absolutely certain. Either way, it made me laugh.

And I’m working up another “episode” in my Ghost series. The only thing I didn’t do was submit something, which I should do, soon. My submission tracker is looking mighty thin.

Writing Work:

  • The Ghost Whisperer ~ 5,700 words

Submissions:

  • None

Rejections:

  • The Patron Saint of Lost Things
  • Knight in the Royal Arms

Acceptances:

  • The Boys’ Club (poetry)

Publications:

 

Weekly writing check-in: the one with some audio

So, you guys! I’m in audio! Well, I’m not, but two of my publications are. Both The Fine Art of Keeping Quiet and The Maze: Three Tales of the Future are available in audio from Audible, iTunes, and Amazon (see links below).

The narrator, Ashley Klanac, did a fantastic job with both titles. Also, below, you can click to listen to a sample of each.

I have some promotion codes for a free copy. If you enjoy audio books and would like to listen to either or both, send me a note via the contact form. Bonus points if you listen and leave a rating/review at Audible. I have it on good authority that Audible loves it *this much* when you do that.

Otherwise, I wrote what may be my first historical short story this week. I’m kind of psyched about that, although not so much about the title.

Writing Work:

  • For the Want of a Nail ~ 3,533 words

Submissions:

  • None

Rejections:

  • Five to Freedom

Acceptances:

  • None

Publications:

Keeping Quiet audio Amazon, Audible, iTunes

 

 

The Maze Audio

Amazon, Audible, iTunes

Weekly writing check-in: the one with an Eagle Scout

EagleWell, it’s official, hardware and all. My son is now an Eagle Scout. He worked so hard for this, and the process had its ups and downs, to be sure. We’ll probably have a court of honor in a few months or so. But for now, we simply gaze upon the medal and pins–and that’s enough.

In other news, I managed about 3,000 words on the coffee ghost story. I worked through all the audio files for The Fine Art of Keeping Quiet. The Maze is done, and according to my dashboard, headed for retail (!).

Also, I wrote up a book review this week (see link below). And I may do another post in a bit to recap all the WWI books I’ve read in the past few years.

Writing Work:

Submissions:

  • Like Bread Loves Salt

Rejections:

  • Like Bread Loves Salt

Acceptances:

  • None

Publications:

  • None

Weekly writing check-in: the one with some print

More writing this week. It’s amazing how much more time one has to do this when one isn’t to-ing and fro-ing the smaller members of the household to/from horse camp. I’m at ~ 44,000 words with Pansy 2.0, which isn’t too bad.

The proof came for The Maze. I adore making these little books. It’s so much fun and good practice as well. I always think I’ll remember everything I need to do for an interior layout, but of course, I don’t.

My son Andrew read the premise for The Maze and declared it “really interesting.” My daughter said the stories sounded like Doctor Who episodes (and she means this in a good way). At long last, my kids endorse my writing!

Writing Work:

  • Pansy 2.0 ~ 8,848 words
  • Received and approved proof for The Maze
  • Listened to and selected a narrator for The Fine Art of Keeping Quiet and The Maze (can’t wait to talk more about this)

Submissions:

  • None

Rejections:

  • None

Acceptances:

  • None

Publications:

The MazeAvailable at Amazon. If you have a Prime or Kindle Unlimited account, you can borrow it for free.

Now in Print as well, and available as a Kindle Match Book. This means if you buy a print copy (you must do this first), you can get the Kindle version for 99 cents.

Weekly writing check-in: the one with a startling launch

So this week, I decided to simply drop another book out there, this time a collection of three short stories, run a free promotion, and wait to see what happened.

This is what happened:

#1 maze placement

It was a wild three days. Also, a gratifying three days. I decided to try KDP Select and going exclusive with Amazon (at least for 90 days). I know there are lots of opinions about that, but I wanted to try it–simply because I can. This is one of the things I love about being my own publishing company. I can try things, assess what works (or doesn’t), then try something else.

Also, The Maze will be available in print in a week or two and maybe even audio (shh … more on that as it develops).

I also logged nearly 8,000 words in Pansy (I should give this book a real title) this week and did the layout in InDesign for The Maze. Also, lots of driving to and from horse camp to drop off/pick up my daughter.

I’m going with productive. It was a productive week.

Writing Work:

  • Pansy 2.0 ~ 7,860 words
  • Print layout, etc. for The Maze

Submissions:

  • Keeping Time (audio/reprint market)

Rejections:

  • None

Acceptances:

  • None

Publications:

The MazeAvailable at Amazon. If you have a Prime or Kindle Unlimited account, you can borrow it for free.

For those of you who prefer print, I’ll let you know when that version is available for purchase.

Weekly writing check-in: the one with the birthday

tracksMy birthday, that is. Did I write on my birthday? Why, yes. Yes, I did. Not quite as many words as last week (that three-day weekend helped the word count), but I’m pleased.

I also sent some work out, saved my book from hanging out on the wrong side of the tracks, and renewed my driver’s license (one of these things may not be true).

No rejections this week, no sales, but lots of words.

Writing Work:

  • Pansy 2.0 ~ 10,686 words

Submissions:

  • The Perfect Canvas
  • Five to Freedom
  • Abandonment Issues

Rejections:

  • None

Acceptances:

  • None

Publications:

  • None