Tag: short stories

Weekly writing check-in: the one with the book launch

Book on a bench.
Book on a bench.

Well, yes, I launched a book this week. I also managed to do a few other things as well. A couple of submissions, some structural work on the story I call Pansy (which is the name of the main character, not the title).

You may remember that I drafted this story last year. And yes, I did. This year, I plan to redraft it. And I will! Or at least, I’m feeling optimistic about the prospect.

Why a redraft? Well, when I reached the end of the first draft, I was all: Oh, so that’s what the story should be. It will be far easier–and faster–to redraft it than to try to revise the original manuscript.

Or so I hope.

All in all, a pretty good week.

Writing Work:

Submissions:

  • Ghost in the Coffee Machine (audio market)
  • Like Bread Loves Salt

Rejections:

  • The Maze
  • Ghost in the Coffee Machine (audio market)

Acceptances:

  • None

Publications:

Keeping Quiet

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Available in print and electronic format:

Print, Kindle, Nook, iBooks, Kobo, Smashwords

Also available as a Kindle Match Book. Buy the Print version from Amazon and get the Kindle version for 99 cents! (Note: you must buy the paperback first for this to work.)

Weekly writing check-in: the one with all the rain

slow roadThis week was filled with rain and launch activities for the release of The Fine Art of Keeping Quiet. I’m really pleased with the free read activity (see links below). I love being able to offer a try-before-you buy sample. (I also love downloading and reading those myself, which is the main reason I’m doing this.)

It’s getting downloads at Barnes and Noble and Apple, but it’s no surprise that the most action is at Amazon:

screen

Otherwise, I did more work on Pansy, some world building and what I call, for lack of a better term, structural work. I’d like to say I’ve done more writing work this week, but I can’t.

No submissions, but then, no rejections either. I still have some pending work out there, too. I suspect there will be a deluge of rejections much like the rain we’ve had this week.

Writing Work:

Submissions:

  • None

Rejections:

  • None

Acceptances:

  • None

Publications:

It’s still free! Get two young adult short stories and the first four chapters of The Fine Art of Keeping Quiet.

KindleThe Trouble with Prom, Nook,  iBooks, Kobo, Smashwords

 

Weekly writing check-in: the one with the free read

I’m still gearing up for the release of The Fine Art of Keeping Quiet. One of the things I experimented with was making The Trouble with Prom (two original YA short stories and the first four chapters of The Fine Art of Keeping Quiet) a free read. This wasn’t too difficult, but it did involve some online gymnastics on my part. (If you’re interested, leave a comment, and I’ll let you know how I did it.)

I did some world-building work on Pansy this week. I didn’t manage any submissions, although I do have some stories I need to proof and send out to the next market. Soon. I will get back to that soon, since I enjoy it.

Writing Work:

Submissions:

  • None

Rejections:

  • None

Acceptances:

  • None

Publications:

It’s free! It’s free!

KindleThe Trouble with Prom, Nook,  iBooks, Kobo, Smashwords

 

Weekly writing check-in: the one with some time

Sucker Literary Magazine Vol 3

This week I had time on my hands, so to speak. My YA speculative fiction novelette (that’s a mouthful) Just a Matter of Time was published in Sucker Literary Magazine Volume 3.

And speaking of time, I figured it was about time I send out some submissions this month.  I feel better now that my submission tracker is plumped up. I also have a great deal of orange in there as well (which means I’ve been waiting–for a while–on several stories).

The funny thing about not submitting on a weekly basis? You start to second guess yourself and your stories. As long as the story is appropriate for the market (for instance, don’t send your sweet romance to a market that only takes dark horror) and submitted the way they like, the editor is the best judge of what he/she wants.

Writing Work:

  • The Time After ~6,113 words

Submissions:

  • Doreen’s Muse
  • Abandonment Issues
  • Five to Freedom
  • What Little Remains

Rejections:

  • Five to Freedom

Acceptances:

  • None

Publications:

Sucker Literary Magazine Volume 3 release day!

ItSucker Literary Magazine Vol 3‘s here! It’s here! Today is the day Sucker Literary Magazine launches volume 3!

Are we excited? Why, yes. Yes, we are. It’s packed full of young adult stories, including my paranormal YA novelette: Just a Matter of Time.

So, now what? Well, check out the Kindle version, or pick up the paperback.

You can enter to win a copy of the paperback over at GoodReads.

You can also sit back and enjoy the trailer.

Weekly writing check-in: the one with the mock award

More writing this week, up about 2,000 words, for a nice 1,000 words per day pace. This, I might add, is a good pace to write at. Also, the total manuscript word count is currently at 65,065, which is so symmetrical I almost hate to add to it.

Well, almost.

This week, I also received an email from a professor at a university in Pennsylvania. She’s teaching an introduction to creative writing class, and as part of the course work, her students had to comb through online journals, find stories they liked, and then hold a mock prize committee to select the best one.

Why was she emailing me? Well, her students found my flash fiction piece, Straying from the Path, that was published last month over at Flash Fiction Online. Not only did they find it, they awarded it first place.

The professor not only sent her note, but all the commentary from her students as well. I can’t tell you what a wonderful experience that was. As a writer, you hear from critique partners, beta readers, editors, and eventually, reviewers. So seldom, if ever, do you get the chance to see your story so completely through someone else’s eyes.

In this case, several pairs of eyes. Oh, they each had their own take on the story, some I never even thought of.

All in all, it was delightful and truly made my day.

Writing Work:

  • The Time After ~7,214 words

Submissions:

  • None this week (soon, soon)

Rejections:

  • What Little Remains

Acceptances:

  • None

Publications:

  • None, but coming this week, Sucker Literary Magazine Volume 3 will be out, with my YA novelette, Just a Matter of Time.

Publication: The Short Sweet Life of My Invisible Prom Date

It’s alive! Also, take a look at this cover:

mswinter2014l

It has my name on it! While I never actually articulated the goal of having my name on a magazine called Mad Scientist Journal, I now see that it has always been an ambition of mine.

The journal is currently available via Amazon and Smashwords, with other e-book retailers coming soon. Learn more about the journal and the issue at the Mad Scientist Journal website.

Write 1/Sub 1 check in: the one with even more audio

W1S1 2014 - Monthly ChallengeSo, despite writing only 800 words on Monday (thank you, Daylight Saving Time), I managed 8,000 words for the week. I’m not really sure how that happened, but I’m happy that it did.

And for the second week in a row, I’ve sold audio rights for one of my stories, and it’s also another story that first appeared in Kazka Press. I’m thrilled that The Girl with the Piccolo will be a podcast from Cast of Wonders.

As you can see below, I flung five more submissions out the door this week as well. When you combine that with the audio sale and the cover reveal, it adds up to a pretty good week.

Writing Work:

  • The Time After ~8,018 words

Submissions:

  • What Little Remains
  • Incriminating Evidence
  • The Life Expectancy of Fireflies
  • Five to Freedom
  • Abandonment Issues

Rejections:

  • Where Were You when the War Started
  • Abandonment Issues

Acceptances:

Publications:

Sucker Literary Magazine: Cover Reveal for Volume 3!

Today’s the day! Sucker Literary Magazine is revealing the cover for volume 3! This happens to be the edition that includes my YA paranormal novelette Just a Matter of Time.

What is a novelette, you ask. Well, you see, when a novel and novella love each other very much … no, really, it’s just a long short story.

Now, without further ado, I give you the gorgeous cover:

Sucker Literary Magazine Vol 3

Sucker Literary is a platform for established and emerging, hugely intelligent writers who have the grit and talent to create compelling, authentic young adult literature that both adults and teens can enjoy.

We are a literary enterprise dedicated to showcasing and promoting undiscovered and established writers who write for young adults (this is not to be mistaken for young adult writers). We are not affiliated with any writer’s organization or program and welcome writers at any stage of their writing career/ journey.

Now, for a little bit on what’s inside:

Bullied and alone, Ainsley seeks refuge in the arms of a strange boy. Time is slipping away for overachieving Sadie Lin, but reigniting an old flame might help. Scarred by a pressuring ex, Alexandra finally faces the rain. “Pasty and chubby” Charlotte makes a public play for the “Tan and Smooth” king. The beautiful girl in the black, lacy push-up bra says that it’s time for Brenn to stop lying . . . at least to herself. A halfway house is no home for Dawn—or is it? How will Dana survive knowing everyone at school thinks she’s a monster, when they just may be right? JJ and her crush finally get a moment alone—at his girlfriend’s hottest party of the year. Sixteen-year old Sarah prepares for her first day of school by chaining up her Mamí in her bedroom. Alyssa’s life is a well-rehearsed ballet until a tragedy sends her hurtling towards a fall. Loving a boy is as simple as chemistry . . . unless that boy is an unstable element.

Eleven stories that delve into the depths of our experience—driven by fierce and untouched love that makes us seek, lose, fear, desire, long, reflect, survive, steal, protect, fall, and confess.

Founding Editor:

Contributors:

Write 1/Sub 1 check in: in which we start 2014

W1S1 2014 - Monthly ChallengeNew year, new challenge! I’m holding steady with Write 1/Sub 1 this year. However, I’m going to switch to the monthly challenge.

One thing that started happening near the end of last year was I found myself either short-changing stories, or–even worse–not starting stories I sensed would run longer than what I could write in a week.

Plus, I have a backlog of stories, some still longhand in various notebooks, and I need to get those shaped up and shipped out.

I’m going to keep the weekly check in. I’m hoping it will keep me honest and on track. If I succumb to my Gen-X slacker ways, I will put myself back on the weekly challenge.

And I started 2014 with one publication and an acceptance, and no rejections. It doesn’t get much better than that.

Writing Work:

  • Two stories into electronic format
  • One shaped up to submit

Submissions:

  • The Perfect Canvas
  • The Madness in King’s End
  • Inside Out 

Rejections:

  • None

Acceptances:

Publications: