Pima Writers' Workshop

PIMA WRITERS' WORKSHOP

Starting the evening of May 23, 2013 and running through the afternoon of May 26, 2013, Pima Writers' Workshop is a not to be missed event. It is in Tucson, Arizona at the Pima County Community College West Campus. For more information contact Meg Files at mfiles@pima.edu

Slowed Down

The novel is being untangled. Often one chapter would take a turn that didn't lead to the next very well. Also names and numbers would be changed. So am going back and grouping chapters together, putting two or three in one document so it is easier to fix on the computer.

The novel is moving forward, but more in the editing mode than in the creative mode.

Novel progress

Progress on the novel is getting more difficult. The story was divided into thirty 'chapters' and then each day I would tackle about 500 words. The following day I would move to the next chapter. I worked my way though to the end and then started again at one where I had left off. I'm back to chapter twenty on the second time around.

Until a couple of chapters ago this system worked well for me. With well defined start and finish, it slowed me down to look around. One of my greatest weaknesses is to rush through too fast and this really helped. In the chapters that I had written a lot more than a 500 word start, the story wants to  turn away from or around where it needs to go to meet the next chapter.

For now will just write and let it go where it wants. Later will delete, shuffle the chapter order, or unite.

Boulevard

St. Louis University in Richmond Heights, MO, publishes the Boulevard. Today after about three months, I received their rejection. It was a standard printed form, but someone (JR) added my name, the story name, and thanks.  Thanks, JR, touches like yours make it easy to have a positive attitude about rejection forms.

AGNI

 AGNI
Another rejection. This one from AGNI. On the back there is a subscription form with a discount. Good idea. Their web site is: www.agnimagazine.org
They are in Boston:   AGNI 236 Bay State Rd., Boston, MA 02215

Indiana Review

Seven months ago submitted to Indiana Review and today received their form rejection, hand trimmed to envelope size.

Work on the novel progresses well. Each day I write part of a specific chapter. Have worked through the thirty chapters once and am back to about number seven. Try it. It is a fun way to write.

A little each day

The novel is going well. Each day I sit down and open a log file. Sue Grafton wrote an article suggesting that. It works to get the writing mind set as to what I'm going to write on that day. She wrote it was good protection against writer's block. Log sounded so dull that I labeled mine Graftonite. After that I open a page on the chapter I'm working on. I never work on the same chapter for more than one day before going on to the next one. My plan is when I get to the last chapter to go back to chapter one and keep rotating through the chapters in order. Will it work? I have no idea, but so far it seems to work great.

Novel

Into a good daily writing habit now. It certainly makes writing easier. Not posting to blogs as much but the main reason for me to write a blog was to write. Now the novel has taken over.

After getting to know my main characters by putting them in various situations and seeing what happens, I am better able to see them and to answer questions about them. I have tried to fill out a page of questions about my characters when I had a story idea in mind but no characters formed although their function already in mind. It didn't work. But after writing a page or so about them and how they reacted in a given situation, I start to know them, to feel them, and to see them in my mind's eye.

After writing several possible scenes, the story idea took a more concrete form in my mind. I was able to make a list of thirty chapters that would get the story told. So each day I write as much as comfortable on one chapter. The next day, I take up the next chapter. Eventually I will come back to chapter one and link it up with chapter two. It seems to work so far. I expect that the final version of this story will be greatly different from this first one.

Tin House

After five and a half months Tin House has sent its rejection -- partial page xeroxed form letter.

Confrontation The Literary Magazine

Confrontation

The literary magazine of Long Island University has sent me a rejection. They have a full page form letter and enclosed subscription information. They beat their target response of three months by a month.

Getting a little discouraged on rejections, but it hasn't slowed my writing. Still writing daily. Working on a novel.

I will get this story and another story sent out again.

good newsletter

Here's a helpful and interesting newsletter that you can sign up for at http://www.newwritersinterface.com/

The Southern Review

The Southern Review after five months has sent a form rejection. They were one of the quickest in returning the post card. The rejection reads, "We thank you for your interest in The Southern Review. After careful consideration, we have decided we are unable to use your manuscript. We wish you the best in finding a home for it elsewhere.     The Editors "

The Paris Review

Another rejection. This one was from the Paris Review in New York. They were one of the quickest to confirm the submission with the self addressed stamped postcard in September. About four months plus a week for the rejection. It is a small printed form about half the size of a post card. It reads: Thank you for submitting your manuscript. We regret that we are unable to publish it, but we appreciate your interest in The Paris Review.  Yours sincerely, The Editors

Novel

Yesterday began writing a novel. First time. Actually started the preparation work -- considering some ideas and writing them up. Just the basics like the idea, the main character, possible complications, the setting, and who is the best person to tell the story.  I'll get lots of guidance as I am taking a course with a great teacher. Will write more about it when I complete the course.

Harper's Magazine

Another rejection. Harper's Magazine responded with a rejection sent by an Editorial Assistant. This took a little more than three weeks. It was dated January 10, 2013, stamped January 23, and arrived  today.

Writing Magic

Gail Carson Levine's Writing Magic -- Creating Stories that Fly

 

 

I'm buying this book and putting it next to The Elements of Style by Strunk and White on my bookshelf, close at hand.

 

Using only six cent words and a direct style Levine clearly explains the basics of writing and gets the reader started with fun exercises. Without foreign words or graduate school jargon she distills the concepts into simple words and concrete examples.

 

The last page of the book explains that the inspiration for the book has been her extensive experience teaching writing to children. Whatever the inspiration, this book is great for any beginner writer or any writer wanting to renew their focus on the basics.

 

Warnings: 

 

A. p65 contains a twenty-five cent word, 'omniscient'

 

B. Chapter 14 uses the jargon, POV

 

C.  Chapter 30 uses the dollar foreign word, 'exeunt'

 

Bottom Line

This is a fun easy read that left me marveling at her skill. It is well worth working through her exercises. Like The Elements of Style, it should be worked through at least once a year by all writers.

Zeotrope All-Story

Zeotrope All-Story so far holds the record for quickness in sending a response. This rejection came back in less than three weeks. It is a form rejection with my name and the name of the story written in.

I am not surprised at this rejection. They don't publish a lot of unpublished authors. I also felt that the my story didn't fit the style of the stories that they publish.

Their rejection reads:

Dear Jim:
Thank you for submitting your manuscript __________ to Zeotrope: All-Story.

We appreciate your interest in the magazine and regret that we're unable to use your story.
Best Wishes,
The Editors

Gail Carson Levine

I just started reading a book called: Writing Magic -- creating stories that fly.
The book seems really good so I googled the author and found she also has a interesting web site:
http://www.gailcarsonlevine.blogspot.com/

Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine

Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine

Another rejection. AHMM doesn't want simultaneous submissions. I sent this story only to them in September. They use a full page printed rejection form and they include the first page of the manuscript.

Now I need to get that story out to another magazine.

Georges Simenon

Georges Simenon

In one ten year span he wrote and published two hundred novels signing sixteen pseudonyms. After that he created Inspector Maigret and wrote one a month over the next two years.  It is estimated that he has written more than 350 books.