Having Fun

While waiting, I started to write some rough stories for fun. Using my favorite couple as detective helpers, I tried to write a story from his view, then another from her view, then another from the view of the detective that they are helping. Then it evolved not just into who is telling the story but how and in what time. It really has gotten out of hand but it is fun so I'm running with it. Just roughs, skipping parts with put-in-here notes, for my eyes only. I know teachers have assigned things like this and it always seemed like a chore, but now I find it loads of fun.

Still writing and waiting

The Wait


Still writing and waiting. Working on another short story and trying to get into a habit of at least five hundred words per day. I can see it makes a difference for the better in my writing.

In a couple of weeks will send out a second wave of simultaneous submissions to a completely different list of places. The second list will be appropriate paper publications that only accept e-submissions.

Postcard

One more postcard came back today. And the submission to Glimmer Train was returned by the post office. I just doubled checked to see if I sent it to the right place and their web site confirms it. Will send it to the address at the bottom of their web page that matches the expired forward that the post office stuck on the envelope. Off to the post office now.

Still Waiting

Still waiting on postcards to come back. But did send out one October first to one more magazine.
In the meantime I am starting on another story and keeping up frequent freewrites.

Everyday when there are no new postcards in the mail box, I ask myself, "Why can't they just drop the pre-addressed, pre-written post card in the mail to let me know at least it has arrived?"

It really shouldn't matter since even after they all get the story, it'll still be six weeks or more for the rejections/ acceptance to arrive. I hate to wait.

Postcards

The postcards have started to return letting me know the submissions have arrived.
So far three out of the dozen or so have arrived.

I feel like just waiting, but a writer writes. That's what I'm doing -- starting another story.

Poor Odds

Sent off a couple of stories. One story to one spot and another story to a dozen places that accept simultaneous submissions.

Looking at the the number of stories that each magazine publishes each year and the number of submissions they get each year is interesting. Then I look at the percentage of the published stories that are from unpublished authors. If I figure that all stories are equal which they are not, some writers just stand out, then I get a 'feel' for what my best chances are. I say best chances because I am certainly not one of those writers whose stories set the world on fire.

Anyway, at best the sum of all twelve submissions give me, as an unpublished writer, one chance in three hundred and fifty.

Of course this isn't very scientific. Maybe most of the submissions are by very poor unpublished writers.

But for me it helps set a goal. My goal now is five hundred submissions before I put down my pen and take up brush.

Writing and rewriting

Not blogging much but I am writing and rewriting. Even starting to send the stories out into the world to find a home. The wait seems so long -- three to five months for each turn around.

Revisiting an old story

Short Stories

Ben Nyberg's ONE GREAT WAY TO WRITE SHORT STORIES could be a help to many. It has lots of advice on technique. 

He writes, ".....writing a story requires knowing technique. If you don't have that, no amount of heart or mind will make your stories work. If you do, you can write effective, even publishable stories, even if your creative gift is not huge."

#

I recently set about to polish up one of my favorite short stories that I wrote several years ago. What a surprise to me! The story needed more than just a tweak here or there. And it needed more than just a revision. About a third of it was dumped including a major premise. The starting, the end, and several scenes were kept. The rest had to be rewritten.

Was it because I learned more technique, developed a better  critical eye and ear, or because with time I could be more objective?

Going back to one of your older stories might be as helpful to you as it was for me. 

Pima Writers' Workshop

PIMA WRITERS' WORKSHOP

May 24 -- 27, 2012

A wonderful workshop is held every year the last weekend in May at Pima Community College in Tucson, Arizona.


Meg Files (520/206-6084 or mfiles@pima.edu) creates a blend of fiction and non-fiction writers, agents, and poets that is magical. The participants select the lectures, readings, and writing exercises that fit their personal interests.

I wouldn't miss it.

This workshop would be a bargain at any price. It can be taken for credit or non-credit. The non-credit cost is $130 (and that includes a manuscript consultation if you get it in before May 10).

Easy does it!

Go easy with yourself as you write for these fifteen days. It doesn't matter if it is good or not. Just plunge ahead and write. Don't correct, except the things you normally catch that don't slow you down. Often you'll see this advice not to correct because many people use that as an excuse to stop writing and switch their mind from creative to functional. Corrections can be okay as you go along if they are quick corrections that you usually do when you write, but not if they slow you down or are an excuse to stop and ponder grammar, spelling, or best phrasing.

In my case, other work drew me away for awhile and upon returning was pleasantly surprised to find that there was some good stuff (stuff that I liked and was satisfied with) upon which a story could be constructed.

The story continues and a first draft is almost done. Not the world's best story nor even my best story, but something I like and can build on.

Go easy with the critical mind. Write freely, regularly, and often.

Taking a break.

Taking a break!

Taking a break from blogging for a while. Still writing everyday -- at least something!

So expect a couple of months to go by before I post on this blog again.

Not Blogging until next year

Not blogging until next year.
I'm writing but just not blogging until the new year.
Happy Holidays! Merry Christmas! Happy New Year!
jim

Distraction

Sometimes I wonder if I am cut out to be a writer. Everything and anything seems to distract me from writing. This time it is other writing and revision work. At least it is other writing. But it is also the phone, painting, politics, the car, the yard, the laundry, the dishes, shopping, reading, the stock market, and, yes, even reviewing calculus. I like writing --- really I like the results of writing more than the writing. Sitting down and getting started seems to be my block. I believe that establishing a regular time (not that I can't write at other times) is what I need to do, but my core personality rebels against the regular, the routine, the repetitious. This blog was an attempt to get myself in a pattern, a writing routine. I think it helps but it hasn't been a sure cure.

Day 12

Day 12
Free write was on people walking. For five minutes it was a good warm up for the next twenty minutes continuing the story. At this point I wonder about the quality of the writing. Sheer stubbornness and determination makes me stumble ahead.

Day #11

Day 11
Fell out of the routine and tried to force myself to write late at night and just fell asleep writing. I guess for me maybe writing something daily is needed even if that something is just a scribble somewhere on a slip of paper.

The five minute free write inspiration was staring at purple for about a minute. It is amazing that I didn't fall asleep then for, as with the other colors, my mind was easily blanked. The five minutes free write did not go well.

Day 11 regular write was to continue with the story. It just wasn't coming but I hadn't written in so long that I pushed ahead maybe writing for six or seven minutes before falling asleep. If the writer falls asleep while writing it, how can the reader be expected to stay awake while reading it?

Day 10

Day 10

Free write for Day 10 was five minutes of writing whatever came to mind when eyes were mentioned.


Day 10 for the twenty minute write was start the story. A short story of about 2500 words or about ten pages is the target.

Before you do that it is essential that you know your character. I suggest now using one of many character question lists out there. A very good one is in Lynette Rees' Crafting the Romance Story. In fact from her book you'll learn more than you would ever learn from this blog. Those serious about writing should get her book.

Now I run into a math problem. In twenty minutes, I can write about 300 to 400 words. That means a story of 2500 words will take at least six days. But I have my first three hundred words down just by starting to write. If the words don't come just starting writing about what you want to write and soon you'll probably just shift into the story. Some days writing just doesn't come easily even after a five minute warm up of free writing. Doesn't matter. Write for your twenty minutes without stopping, correcting, or going back.

My start doesn't feel very good. But it does feel good to have something down.

Day 9

Day 9
At halfway took a break and went on a really great vacation. It was difficult picking up the threads of my character. Perhaps I should have taken Jacob along on the trip.

For Day #9 free write, yellow was the inspiration or starter. As before with colors I found that staring at yellow paper wrapped close to the face was a very good way to blank my mind. After staring at the other colors and quieting my mind, I had found it difficult to start the free write. With yellow the five minutes of free write flowed quickly and easily. Was it the yellow or the vacation, I don't know.

The Day #9 twenty minute writing session direction was to put my character in a situation and see how he responds. Since Jake lives in old Tucson, the situation that popped to mind was: accidentally walking into the street between two men who were about to shoot it out. The twenty minutes flew by although the number of words written was considerably less than usual.

Still haven't written a story. The process here might be called getting to know my character. Like meeting a new friend, it takes a while to learn about him/her. It is not an instantaneous process. But it is more complicated than that as it is also the process of creating that character. Like our knowledge of friends, what we know about our character may change in the middle of a story. For instance, in the middle of a story we may find his fear or his failure. That's ok, but we must be aware that then we must go back after we finish to make any changes needed to make the character consistent.

Try putting your character in a situation. You may be surprised by his or her reactions. You'll also know the character better.

Back from trip

Falling Water in Pennsylvania is certainly an interesting house set in a wonderfully beautiful location. Worth a visit.

Life intervened and I didn't keep up my writing. In the past I found it difficult to get back to writing after stopping for any period of time. Probably better to write something daily even if only a few notes, descriptions, or just key words.

Also stopped at Lew Wallace's study in Indiana. There's something about visiting the locations of famous writers that is very encouraging to me.

Today will relax and get caught up on the demands of daily life and Sunday or later today continue with my fifteen day plan.

Day 8

Day 8

Halfway through the fifteen days and haven’t yet written a story.

Free write of five minutes was about smells. It was a quick five minutes and I could have written much much more.

The twenty minute write had a focus on events in Jacob’s life. Much like a listing, this was much more difficult than it sounds. Jacob is becoming clearer to me now as I looked at important events in his life and how they changed him.

Day 7

Day 7

Free write today from the random list came up voices. For five minutes wrote about voices and what about them shows emotion. These random-topic-free-writes focus my thoughts on things that I will probably use later. I also feel more comfortable writing with a topic before me than I do when the free write is color inspired. The random selection from a group of topics is also good as I do not waste time trying to decide what to write on. Again I should point out that the topics are not chains and I do not feel restrained to stay on topic in the free writes.

The twenty minute writing period in this fifteen day plan for Day 7 is to write about the main character from his pet’s point of view. This is interesting as a lot is discovered about the character like how empathetic he or she is.