This blog keeps me in touch with WDC. Jamesdillingham.com keeps me in touch elsewhere. |
I like to stay in touch with WDC, even when I'm not contributing on a daily basis. My main blog is at jamesdillingham.blogspot.com |
I seem to be writing a lot of 18+ stories lately. Most are Stephen Kingish. This is strange as I consider myself a Sci-Fi guy with a sense of humor. This macabre stuff seems to flow out a little too easily for me. I guess I would like to pretend its not in me to begin with. In any event, people are reading it so I guess I will probably end up writing more of it. Jim |
I have gone from traveling nearly 100,000 mile in the first five months of the year to being parked on my sofa. Work goes up and down. Me, I am along for the ride. My port is getting hit a lot today. The funny part is that 80% of the hits are coming from non-WDC people. Interesting. Lots and lots of writing...Love it. By the way, I got a crepe machine today. I made a crepe with ham and cheese and another with chocolate and jam. Yummmm. I love the TV show House...just thought I would put that out there. 30 Rock is fun as well. Cheers, Jim |
I am on a big writing push. I am working on my novel daily thanks to francie for all of her help. In the last week I have entered Beyond the Waters Edge and The Pond's Flash Fiction Challenge along with several Daily Flash Fiction Challenges. Arakun the Twisted Raccoon is so great at keeping with with that contest. I have no idea how she does it day in and day out. Cheers, Jim |
I have several irons in the fire. My story ESCAPE was just critiqued by one of the judges focusing on technical aspects of the story. She gave me a 3.5 rating which seemed fair based on the number of suggestions she had. Funny, I thought I had this one nailed and every review I get tells me otherwise. The thing is, they are the ones that are right. So I learn something new constantly. My goal is still to make the corrections I need to make and then get this story published. I think it is one of my best. I wrote JUMPERS yesterday in about an hour. I absolutely love the story. I guess that's better than posting a story I don't like much. I love it because it demonstrates that there are no boundaries to what I can make happen to my characters. If I want to see something, I just reach into my magic hat and pull it out. My book AWARE is in the works and due for completion this fall. By week's end, I hope to have the first 10 chapters where I want them. I am anxious to get this done so I can move the story forward. I have applied to join a group. They have a lot of helpful writing activities. I await their response to my application. Jim |
First of all, thanks to Lornda for such a great and helpfull review of my story ESCAPE. That's two great reviews in a row and by great, I mean reviews that will help make my story better. Thanks to both of these WDC members (second one was mentioned in previous post). Also, thanks to 🌕 HuntersMoon for recommending the contest Beyond the Water's Edge. I went to the sight and a story came flooding out of me. I really like this one. It's call Jumpers. Funny how sometimes a story can't wait to get out. Jim |
I just got a very helpful review from shannonchape for my story ESCAPE. She had some very helpful suggestions that will certainly make the story better. The downside is that the contest I have entered it in is closed for judging. I cannot edit the story until the judging is over. Once I have edited it, I plan to submit it to WritersBump.com for publication in their Webzine. I have 9 ratings now. I need 10 before I can submit it. Right now I am in the process of editing the first 10 chapters of my book. I got too far from the path I wanted to take with the story so I am making a few small changes. I hope to be back on track with the book by Friday. J |
I got back from Hungary last night. Its nice to be home. My dog missed me. I have two stories that I am very happy with. The first is called ESCAPE and is an entry into May's Short Shots contest. The other is called GUARDIAN and is the result of the 14-7-1 contest. As of this moment, that second story is missing the 7th and final chapter which I will finish later today. I am ready to get back into writing Flash Fiction. I feel out of the loop a little when I enter these bigger contests as the longer stories take a bit more commitment. Jim |
I am heading home from Budapest Wednesday morning (tomorrow). I will miss my wife but I am ready to be home again. I have written the first 6 out of 7 chapters for the 14-7-1 contest. This thing takes some dedication to participate in. At first, I was not too interested in my story but now, with one chapter to go, I can't wait to find out what happens. I wrote a story for Short Shots and posted it before reading it. I thought i had written something good but going back and rereading it showed me different. I have a long flight tomorrow to work on it. It is time for bed. J |
I am one presentation away from a ride on an airplane. Yes, it's time to go home again. Although, next Monday I fly off to Budapest for 10 days; my home away from home. My wife lives there along with my stepson and backup dog. I shouldn't call her a backup dog. Echo is a Chocolate Lab and is so sweet and cute. She always goes insane when I show up. I am actively working on a story for Short Shots. Actively is the key word since I finally started writing it. Tonight is the big night. At midnight WDC time, the 14 days, 7 prompts, 1 story contest begins. This is a fun contest but also, very demanding. I have really been impressed with some of the writing I have seen in the Flash Fiction Contest. Hunters Moon, Timothee and many others. I recommend reading Flash Fiction entries for those of you that don't have a lot of time to read something longer. Jim |
I wrote a story yesterday called "Fearless". I received a critique that said even though it was flash fiction (300 word limit) I could have done more to develop the characters. I knew when I read it he was right. So today, I tred to write one where I cared about the character. It is called "Lost Tears Found". After I posted it, I read it and cried. At least it worked for me. I love to write. Jim |