Write on! Plans & Probs with Publication

Aug 10, 2020 at 11:49pm
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YaY gallstones! not

So ... no excuses! Share something here (maybe a short short once a week?). Something.

July was brutal for me because I took on too much writing. Even after trying to balance it out with other real life 'experiences' (like cleaning) I was still overwhelmed. So... crash and burn the first week of August. I've cut back on obligations this month, but will still write a lot.

I'm back to studying Norwegian among other things.

Jun 10, 2020 at 6:52pm
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Writing is the best therapy. My dad told me when I started that I would grow to hate something I once loved. I don't think that's the case, but I'm definitely tired by the end of the work day and have limited interest in creating something, where it was once a joy. On the other hand, I still enjoy my job after ten years so what can I say?

I like to build memory palaces and put eclectic information in them. One thing I would love to do is keep track of all the research I read and convention talks I see and remember who they connect with. As it stands, I remember some and forget most. I'd also like to do a better job of remembering who I have interviewed so that when I chat with them, I recognize the name, something I've been caught missing previously!

On the other hand, I'm already up to 85 books read this year, so I guess my slacking comes through in other ways.

Jun 9, 2020 at 10:19pm
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Yes, money and time and priorities!

Money: I started here when I was homeless and penniless and continued after I got disability. I could feel guilty about not working, but...

Time: I have too much time and too little discipline! Except when I travel, then I don't write much. I take photos to remember. Memory work?

Priorities: I have no one depending on me. I live alone. I have no one bugging the hell out of me! I don't even have pets.

But I also write because I HAVE to. It's a bad habit ... and cheap therapy.

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Jun 9, 2020 at 8:57pm
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Yeah I know the worn out feeling. I have a two-fold reason for not really doing a blog. The first is because of the impression people have about my job versus my actual job. Most people who don't interact with me professionally, I think they believe I am running a mommy blog and thus making very little money. When I moved to Georgia, a friend of mine said he could help me get a job. I was like, thanks, but it turns out Scientific American - which is if you don't know a pretty prestigious science magazine - pays enough to support me. I used to say I was a "science writer" and people asked me where my blog was. Now I say I'm a "science journalist"; they still ask but in much smaller doses.

The other reason I've been so averse to a blog is because I'm literally spending my day writing. It seems silly to do for free what I usually get paid to do. What I learned this month is that it's fun to write casually, a fact I used to know but haven't really had time to remember for awhile. For the longest time, I was a single self-employed homeschooling mom of four. The only thing that has changed, other than growing my biz, is that one of my kids went off to college and two of the remaining three decided they want to do public school. So I have a little more time, but not a lot. I'm hoping getting back on WDC helps me engage a bit more.

Jun 1, 2020 at 7:37pm
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There are lots of blog prompts floating around in the ether! Just choose any you find fascinating. For June that's what I'll do.

Writing brings in money for many people, as you well know. That seems to be the focus these days. $$$ No time for sharing as one does in a community. Before spacebook many blogged and wrote here for fun and connection. Then the 'serious' writers went to Saloon and the chatty fun people went to Spacebook and finally those who just wanted to fling you-know-what decided to Tweet like baby birds.

WdottyC is a place for the young, the old, the misfits.

Serious, intellectual, inspirational? Not so much. A group for socratic bloggers might be nice. Another for religious/spiritual/inspirational writers. Maybe for 200-300 word essay bloggers on serious issues? How about politics? Mental-health bloggers find each other... group or no group.

If I had the energy to set up blog groups? I'm worn out.

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Jeff

May 31, 2020 at 12:26am
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I definitely agree on the library and the roomy living area! I've always thought that when the kids are grown and out of the house, I'd like to maintain rooms for them to come home and stay, but maybe not their own rooms or dedicated space. I'd hate the idea of just having rooms sitting vacant waiting for visitors to return, so I'd probably make them dual-purpose like you mentioned. It's a home gym AND a place for kid #1 to sleep. It's an art studio AND a place for kid #2 to sleep. The office would obviously have to be dedicated because I don't like to share... I've done enough of sharing my workspace over the years.

Sumojo

May 29, 2020 at 2:12am
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If we were to win a million dollars, we would be worse off financially, as with the terrible interest rates offered from banks these days we wouldn’t get anywhere near what we get from our pension. We wouldn’t be allowed a pension because we’d have too much cash and if we gave money to help the family or to a charity it would still be classed as our money. No, we’d have to get much more than a mill.

May 28, 2020 at 9:49pm
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I was joking about reposting the post, but I would like to know how to export a book. That's one of the items I have locked on the site that didn't export with everything else.

May 28, 2020 at 6:52pm
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I have copy-pasted entries I wanted to keep but needed to delete because of space constraints (No longer a problem). I wanted to keep comments so I had to copy and paste those as well. Too much work. I need to back up everything here and on facebook. But how and where? I also should have hard copies of anything I value.

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Chris Breva

May 28, 2020 at 5:06pm
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Writer's Digest Short Story Contest

good question. You can copy, paste into a word processor, then delete the entry, and paste?

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August 21, 2006 at 5:36pm

#449680

An actual submission

After all that discussion on contests, I went over and started searching writersmarket.com for fiction contests. Then I thought, the heck with it, why not just submit it to a magazine and not have to pay an entry fee? So I started looking for fiction stuff.

http://www.fromtheasylum.com/interior2.htm

I found another 'dark humor' story that I think will take "Huh" (which I have now removed. And I submitted it!

Granted, it only pays $25 for a short story. But that story is so hard to place, anyway. I actually found this one pretty quick, but I last year or so I spent several hours trying to find a market that would take it. What can I say, it's weird. I set it to private for views, and we'll see what happens. If it gets published, they'll get electronic rights, and I'll put my link and explanation.

Also, found a great tool that I like. It's free, too.

www.notefish.com

I found it in another blog: "Invalid Item"

It's great for organizing online research - like background research for articles or organizing various markets for single-page viewing (way easier than an Excel spreadsheet or a bunch of bookmarks).

Anyway, hope the site helps, and I hope I get published.

They said two weeks to make a decision. <gulp> So now I have two things outstanding. Wonder if I can find a market for some of my Jonathan stories? <dreams>

I enjoy writing the articles, but I've been thinking about moving back towards short stories and, eventually, my novel. Fiction is my first love. Granted, it is harder to break into, especially with the novels. We'll see how it goes.

What do you think, fiction or nonfiction? Both are hard to break into, but it looks to me like fiction is harder. If for no other reason than because you have to write it before you publish it.

So you do all that work with possible no pay. Granted, you have to do some background research for queries, but it's not as time consuming as writing a short story.

Maybe I'll check out some of the contests on site again. And start doing some research for my novel, as I originally planned. <starts to dream>

See? I can't help it, I drift so aimlessly. But I could go back to my one-short-story-a-month goal, to write and submit. And a set number of pages written for my novel. Hmmmmm.

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August 21, 2006 at 3:45pm

#449659

I was thinking about entering a short story in the writer's digest contest.

http://www.writersdigest.com/contests/shortshort/?goto=closead

The stories I wanted to send, the best and most heart touching, are all over 1500 words, though. So that leaves me with:

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#791590 by Not Available.

People have mixed reactions to this. Either they love it or they really don't like it/don't get it. I'm nervous about doing that with a contest, especially one where I have to pay $12 to enter. On the other hand, I can take a chance with the editors and hope they love it. I would happily settle for 25th place and a $50 writer's digest gift certificate - oh, and a chance to say I placed.

Honestly, I'd rather enter

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#926412 by Not Available.

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#929387 by Not Available.

But they are both too wordy. Then again, I've gone through several edits. Nope, they are both over 2500 words. Too bad they aren't looking for that, since I have no idea where to place either one. They are both stories about kids, but not necessarily kids stories.

Maybe I'll write another, shorter one. Or maybe I'll find a contest with a limit of 3000 words. <sigh> A smaller contest would probably be easier to place in, anyway.

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August 21, 2006 at 2:28pm

#449644

Sweaty Palms

My palms are sweaty, my hands are shaking. I just sent my query to Parents magazine. I realize that acceptance is a long shot, but if they only take six weeks to respond to queries, I can wait.

<daydreams about actually getting the assignment>

If reality intrudes, I will revamp it for local magazines. I have a few other spots I want to explore, and some tangental articles - like a profile. If they reject this one, I'll try some fillers on the subject - scientific-type information for next summer's article.

For now, my stomach hurts, and I feel like I want to throw up. I'm not sure I am going to survive six more weeks of this. Until October 2nd. And that's assuming I get a 'regular time' reply.

Seriously, it's 74 degrees in this house and my palms are covered in sweat. I am so nervous. And I already sent the email. I can't believe I did that.

Right now, I'm just going, over and over again, I can't believe I sent an email to a national magazine. They never take newbies. I mean, I spit polished that query til it shined, used strong writing.

I was thinking about posting it online before sending but I didn't. But I've posted it now, just for my blog readers to give me feedback. All four of you. Please tell me what a great piece this is....<nervous laugh>. I would still like feedback, since it is the model I am sending. And I need some sort of validation. Here, use this review...no, just kidding. I put a passkey on it so that it's somewhat limited, although of course you can read it from my blog.