So much for an amazing 2020. I remember daydreaming about the year 2020 as a kid. As a life-long fan of sci-fi, I imagined flying cars and food replicators that would prevent starvation by now. Never did I imagine the entire world shutting down over a virus. I'm sure we all knew it was possible but felt invincible living in such modern times. Also never thought I'd be in Hunger-Games mode over toilet paper. Wow, 2020, you showed us! Dare I daydream about 2030?
Staying productive!
The pandemic has not deterred me from my writing goals. I've managed to maintain a consistent level of success. During this time of remote work and lockdown procedures, I have been busier than before the pandemic. As an academic advisor, I've been packing in a minimum of 12 hours a day, often more, just to stay afloat of our barrage of emails and student needs. As a freelance editor, I've been busy helping clients polish up resumes and cover letters. I'm also thrilled to be editing a book-length memoir.
Steady as she goes...
I continue to contribute to SMITH Magazine's Six Word Memoirs for which I was thrilled to participate in their first-ever Zoom meet-up with Larry Smith last week. My favorite and most-recent wins of late is becoming a volunteer staff editor with 101 Words, a flash fiction online publication. I've submitted work there before and love reading them. When I saw the call-out, I wasted no time in applying. Imagine my delight when I received the email that I was hired. It was almost like getting an acceptance letter ... but not quite.
Hard work pays off, even when it doesn't pay.
In this new role, I've had to learn new things like the Slack communication tool, Google docs, Wordpress, and the inner workings of Gmail. I've been learning more about fiction writing and study the styleguide frequently. I've written my very first rejection and acceptance letters, taking pride in my work, savoring the chance to help other writers. Volunteer, yes, but the value is beyond dollars.
Monday, May 25, 2020
Wednesday, January 1, 2020
2020 Begins with a Win
I just realized my last blog post was 1/1/19, haha! That's sad, but here's another similarity that isn't sad but thrilling. This new year's day post will also include a huge milestone that involves SMITH Magazine's Six Word Memoirs. On 12/29/19, I found out I'd won first place in one of their contests for which there was 680+ entries. Check out the announcement on their page, or view my screenshots below. It was just the confidence boost I needed to get me motivated and back on track.
I started this blog to be a journal of my writing endeavors. As any writer knows, those highly coveted milestones are not easy to attain. It tends to be like an actor auditioning for a role with fierce competition. But I won't score any publishing credits without putting forth the effort, which means WRITING. I need to do more of that. I hear it all the time from friends and family. (But gaming Netflix, and crafting are such tempting time snatchers!) Aha, there are always distractions, but in a writer's mind, everything's a story! Life sure keeps my idea bank loaded. So I have no excuse.
Thanks to all who help me stay motivated, and cheers to 2020. Wishing you all a prosperous and joyous year ahead!
Thanks to all who help me stay motivated, and cheers to 2020. Wishing you all a prosperous and joyous year ahead!
Tuesday, January 1, 2019
Best Start to 2019
It's 2:37 a.m. as I begin to write this post, the first in a long while. I have not written in months. I spent the previous 24 hours organizing my craft supplies. That was a monstrous undertaking. I make many trips to Hobby Lobby, so my room sort of looks like one.My sudden inspiration? Well, it's the thing that ignites that feeling of accomplishment in a writer. Every small step and achievement counts so much. As I've mentioned many times before, I post on a site called SixWordMemoirs by SMITH Magazine and the talented Larry Smith. I've been on a hiatus there lately, moping through life only focusing on the things that make me miserable. And in my own defense, those things are aplenty right now. I decided to post a memoir to honor the new year, and it was chosen as memoir of the day, a spotlight on the site that isn't easy to obtain. So my memoir kicks off 2019 for this community of wonderful, witty people, many of which I call friends. I feel honored, delighted, and I can't help but hope this is a sign of great things to come this year. All I know is that I am surely going to put my best foot forward and the worst of the last few years behind me.
Cheers to success on day one of 2019. That means there are 364 more chances to do the same.
Happy new year, all!
Friday, August 31, 2018
Good news, good vibes
It's been a long, tough year for me, hence the blog hiatus. It started with influenza A in January. Influenza B in February, and then a stomach flu in March. Then a bad car wreck in April that I have not since recovered from emotionally. My hubby had surgery in June. And I had my first root canal ever in August. What should've been a 45-minute procedure turned into a 2.5-hour harrowing ordeal. I'll spare you the gory details. In the midst of these aforementioned adversities, there has been more cons than pros at times, and despite some intense efforts to stay positive I still ended many days asking "Why me?" Needless to say, I've fallen short on my reading and writing goals of late. I'm always struggling to stay afloat.
When I least expected it, something wonderful happened today that gave me the boost I needed to pick up my pieces and carry on.
So, I won a contest on SMITH Magazine's Six Word Memoirs (SWM). You can view the announcement here - Contest: Why I Love Where I Live. I posted a photo of me as a child standing yards away from the Space Shuttle Challenger. The contest called for a photo and backstory for the theme. I wrote about Houston, the Space City, and why I love it so much and feel proud to call it home.
Here is the link to my winning backstory and six-word memoir "There's always space in my hometown." The irony is that through all these tough months, I had a long lapse in posting on the site and hadn't entered any contests for months. I missed being a part of the SWM community and decided to log in and see what they had going on. I posted this last week as my only entry, and it won the backstory portion of the contest. I hope SMITH Magazine knows that it is also a place I consider home. It has been a great source of inspiration and support to me as a writer.
I'm sharing this as an example of why writers should never give up. Even after a lengthy drought, opportunities and milestones still lie in wait. Only our greatest efforts can take us there.
I'm so grateful for this 3-day weekend. I know what I'll be doing, for the most part.
Happy writing.
When I least expected it, something wonderful happened today that gave me the boost I needed to pick up my pieces and carry on.
So, I won a contest on SMITH Magazine's Six Word Memoirs (SWM). You can view the announcement here - Contest: Why I Love Where I Live. I posted a photo of me as a child standing yards away from the Space Shuttle Challenger. The contest called for a photo and backstory for the theme. I wrote about Houston, the Space City, and why I love it so much and feel proud to call it home.Here is the link to my winning backstory and six-word memoir "There's always space in my hometown." The irony is that through all these tough months, I had a long lapse in posting on the site and hadn't entered any contests for months. I missed being a part of the SWM community and decided to log in and see what they had going on. I posted this last week as my only entry, and it won the backstory portion of the contest. I hope SMITH Magazine knows that it is also a place I consider home. It has been a great source of inspiration and support to me as a writer.
I'm sharing this as an example of why writers should never give up. Even after a lengthy drought, opportunities and milestones still lie in wait. Only our greatest efforts can take us there.
I'm so grateful for this 3-day weekend. I know what I'll be doing, for the most part.
Happy writing.
Tuesday, January 2, 2018
Day two of the new year. As with each new year, I feel a renewed sense of enthusiasm about pretty much everything. I don't bother setting resolutions, but rather keep the idea of them in the back of my mind. I want to write more, read more, stay more positive, shun negativity, submit more stories, enter more writing contests, meet more people, learn new things, get better at writing, make more paper flower designs, be a better human overall.
New endeavors this year, well. I started keeping a handwritten journal like I did when I was much younger. It's fun, nostalgic, and will help me remember things. I've updated my blog with this post. I've eaten healthy so far this whole year (ha!). And today, I go back to work after a 2-week holiday break, better after having the flu.
Reading wise, I am on book 4 of the Sookie Stackhouse Southern Vampire series that became the show True Blood. So far so good. I met Charlaine Harris at a Story Con event in NOLA in 2016, so it's nice to read her work finally. Talented lady and such an inspiration.
Not a bad start to 2018. Let's see what else it brings.
New endeavors this year, well. I started keeping a handwritten journal like I did when I was much younger. It's fun, nostalgic, and will help me remember things. I've updated my blog with this post. I've eaten healthy so far this whole year (ha!). And today, I go back to work after a 2-week holiday break, better after having the flu.
Reading wise, I am on book 4 of the Sookie Stackhouse Southern Vampire series that became the show True Blood. So far so good. I met Charlaine Harris at a Story Con event in NOLA in 2016, so it's nice to read her work finally. Talented lady and such an inspiration.
Not a bad start to 2018. Let's see what else it brings.
Thursday, June 22, 2017
Good news, good vibes
As a self-proclaimed wordie, I write and write and write. I read obsessively because it helps me stay current and knowledgeable. As writers, we do this without complaining or whining (well, maybe a little). Rejection letters mean progress, but an acceptance letter means ... well, everything.
If you're familiar with Orange is the New Black, then you know the character Larry. Well the real-life Larry is the one who started and oversees Six Word Memoirs. I submit dozens of memoirs to the Six Word Memoirs project each week (2,831 total so far, having joined in Oct. 2014). I won't know which one was chosen until I actually get my copy of the book, which comes out September 5, 2017. Even though it's just six little words, it has a big meaning because 1. I'll be officially published again in the non-fiction world, and 2. I'll be in a work that includes some very cool people, as you can see in the caption above. (Click the image to go to the Amazon page.)
I received a mood-altering email informing me that one of my six-word memoirs will once again be included in one of their upcoming books. I've been smiling ever since!
 |
Six
Words Fresh Off the Boat marries the phenomenon of Larry Smith's
successful Six-Word Memoirs with ABC and 20th Century Fox Television's hit
comedy Fresh Off the Boat. The book captures hundreds of takes on the
immigration experience, from every-day people as well as world-famous
celebrities including Aziz Ansari, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Julianne Moore,
Mario Batali, George Takei, Neil Gaiman, Amanda Palmer, Billy Collins, Junot D
az, and Dr. Sanjay Gupta. This book will have you thinking in sixes and challenging
others to share six words about their lives.
|
If you're familiar with Orange is the New Black, then you know the character Larry. Well the real-life Larry is the one who started and oversees Six Word Memoirs. I submit dozens of memoirs to the Six Word Memoirs project each week (2,831 total so far, having joined in Oct. 2014). I won't know which one was chosen until I actually get my copy of the book, which comes out September 5, 2017. Even though it's just six little words, it has a big meaning because 1. I'll be officially published again in the non-fiction world, and 2. I'll be in a work that includes some very cool people, as you can see in the caption above. (Click the image to go to the Amazon page.)
What a nice boost of confidence. Just enough to keep me going.
And going.
And going.
Sunday, June 4, 2017
Submission isn't a bad word
In the writing world, submission is the proof of productivity.
Often, my free time revolves around writing and creating paper flower designs. If my writing endeavors end in me submitting my story to one or many publications, I know I'm doing well. Still haven't scored my first fiction byline, but I'll die trying. I recently finished writing a ghost story that had attracted the attention of some editors who then requested character development and a more powerful ending. After completing that, I ended up with a story that is triple the size it was when I originally sent it. Hopefully, that isn't a new deal breaker. It's been resubmitted and was my last one for May.
Today, I submitted my first work of June, an essay to Chicken Soup for the Soul, under their book title "Stories of Redeption." I've been published there twice thus far. A third essay, focused on the subject of moms, had made it to the final round but didn't make the ultimate cut. Non-fiction is where I've had most success. No surprise since I was a journalist for 10 years. It's hard not to keep swimming in the sea of non-fiction possibilities, a world that still brings me joy. Fiction, though, is still my prime focus since it's new territory.
If you want to explore submitting to Chicken Soup, here is the link;
http://www.chickensoup.com/story-submissions/possible-book-topics
Because you never know.
Often, my free time revolves around writing and creating paper flower designs. If my writing endeavors end in me submitting my story to one or many publications, I know I'm doing well. Still haven't scored my first fiction byline, but I'll die trying. I recently finished writing a ghost story that had attracted the attention of some editors who then requested character development and a more powerful ending. After completing that, I ended up with a story that is triple the size it was when I originally sent it. Hopefully, that isn't a new deal breaker. It's been resubmitted and was my last one for May.
Today, I submitted my first work of June, an essay to Chicken Soup for the Soul, under their book title "Stories of Redeption." I've been published there twice thus far. A third essay, focused on the subject of moms, had made it to the final round but didn't make the ultimate cut. Non-fiction is where I've had most success. No surprise since I was a journalist for 10 years. It's hard not to keep swimming in the sea of non-fiction possibilities, a world that still brings me joy. Fiction, though, is still my prime focus since it's new territory.
If you want to explore submitting to Chicken Soup, here is the link;
http://www.chickensoup.com/story-submissions/possible-book-topics
Monday, May 22, 2017
When life keeps you too busy
Currently, I'm trying desperately to finish a short story that an online publication had shown interest in back in Feb. For several months, my life has felt like a never-ending hurdle relay race. I write when I can until I'm summoned to the next non-writing endeavor that yanks me away from my keyboard kicking and screaming.
Thanks to tax season, I was able to replace my broken laptop that was barely working with a gorgeous Dell Inspiron. The itch to use it is unbearable. Come on, Universe! Let me write, and I promise to use you as a protagonist.
No worries, though. I'm happy that I have my short ghost story almost done as well as two almost-finished novel manuscripts. So it's not like productivity is dwindling. I'm giving myself a pass for zero productivity this past weekend because I was in Austin celebrating my son's graduation from UT. Thrilling, to say that least. FYI, there is one more theatre arts teacher in the world.
*Mental cartwheel*
This graphic made me laugh. I always do this! I have exactly one hour before I have to go pick up the hubby and kiddo, so that's it for now! Write on.
Thanks to tax season, I was able to replace my broken laptop that was barely working with a gorgeous Dell Inspiron. The itch to use it is unbearable. Come on, Universe! Let me write, and I promise to use you as a protagonist.
No worries, though. I'm happy that I have my short ghost story almost done as well as two almost-finished novel manuscripts. So it's not like productivity is dwindling. I'm giving myself a pass for zero productivity this past weekend because I was in Austin celebrating my son's graduation from UT. Thrilling, to say that least. FYI, there is one more theatre arts teacher in the world.
*Mental cartwheel*
This graphic made me laugh. I always do this! I have exactly one hour before I have to go pick up the hubby and kiddo, so that's it for now! Write on.
Sunday, March 5, 2017
Series domination
Hello, and welcome to my first post in 2017. Pathetic, in a sense, but I can say that since my last post, I've had some noteworthy haps.
The Game of Thrones book series has dominated my reading time since the series finale last year. I decided to dive into it to quell the pain of the void left behind by the end of a season that also signified a long wait until the next dose. I'm halfway done with book 5, Game of Thrones: A Dance With Dragons, which is the last book available currently. I realize now by delving into the book series, I've doubled my pain. You see, since the story line in the TV series is different from the books and each has a different release date, I have to anticipate both with bated breath. I have read nothing else but GoT (well, except for The Count of Monte Cristo) since starting the series. It's an addiction, I tell you. Once I finish reading, I'll hop over to my book blog and give you a scintillating book review, promise. Until then, I'll have to leave off here with this graphic to express my feelings ...
Great News
My next spot of shareable news is that I got a bite on one of my fiction short stories! FINALLY. Any dedicated writer will understand how thrilling it is to get a positive response from an editor after a zillion rejections across the globe. Basically, this publication's editorial team loved most of my story, called my writing "amazing," and requested some tweaks on the ending (which confused them a bit). I was told to complete the edits and resubmit. Even if they don't end up accepting it for publication, I call this a huge win and the confidence boost I needed so badly. I'll fill you in on the details if there is Earth-moving news to report post re-submission.
Whew! Back to it.
The Game of Thrones book series has dominated my reading time since the series finale last year. I decided to dive into it to quell the pain of the void left behind by the end of a season that also signified a long wait until the next dose. I'm halfway done with book 5, Game of Thrones: A Dance With Dragons, which is the last book available currently. I realize now by delving into the book series, I've doubled my pain. You see, since the story line in the TV series is different from the books and each has a different release date, I have to anticipate both with bated breath. I have read nothing else but GoT (well, except for The Count of Monte Cristo) since starting the series. It's an addiction, I tell you. Once I finish reading, I'll hop over to my book blog and give you a scintillating book review, promise. Until then, I'll have to leave off here with this graphic to express my feelings ...
My next spot of shareable news is that I got a bite on one of my fiction short stories! FINALLY. Any dedicated writer will understand how thrilling it is to get a positive response from an editor after a zillion rejections across the globe. Basically, this publication's editorial team loved most of my story, called my writing "amazing," and requested some tweaks on the ending (which confused them a bit). I was told to complete the edits and resubmit. Even if they don't end up accepting it for publication, I call this a huge win and the confidence boost I needed so badly. I'll fill you in on the details if there is Earth-moving news to report post re-submission.
Whew! Back to it.
Saturday, October 1, 2016
NOLA Storycon
Guess what I'm doing this weekend!
I'm meeting and greeting some very talented authors at NOLA Storycon. (http://nolastorycon.com/) NOLA is the acronym for New Orleans, Louisiana, in case you're not familiar with it.
A friend who is an avid romance reader was going and asked me to tag along. I don't normally read romance, but I do indulge in the occasional paranormal romance. So here I am, and so far I've met and gotten signed books from: Sophie Jordan, Lara Adrian, Jenna Black, Ilona Andrews, Jeaniene Frost, Chloe Neill, and the great Charlaine Harris who writes the Sookie Stackhouse series that became HBO's show True Blood. How cool is that. Finding lots and lots of inspiration here. Tomorrow's the last day. Although I can't wait to get home to my husband and son in Houston, I have really enjoyed being a total fan girl on this bookish nerdy adventure.
I'm not one for crowds and chaos, but I put my anxiety aside this weekend to create these wonderful memories and get all the cool swag items they gave out. Who knows. Maybe some day, I'll be on the other side of that table, signing my books, greeting readers, and giving out swag.
Yep, I'm a dreamer, but luckily I'm also a go-getter. So I'm off to scribe some fictional thoughts while I have down time.
A friend who is an avid romance reader was going and asked me to tag along. I don't normally read romance, but I do indulge in the occasional paranormal romance. So here I am, and so far I've met and gotten signed books from: Sophie Jordan, Lara Adrian, Jenna Black, Ilona Andrews, Jeaniene Frost, Chloe Neill, and the great Charlaine Harris who writes the Sookie Stackhouse series that became HBO's show True Blood. How cool is that. Finding lots and lots of inspiration here. Tomorrow's the last day. Although I can't wait to get home to my husband and son in Houston, I have really enjoyed being a total fan girl on this bookish nerdy adventure.
 |
| Me and author Charlaine Harris at NOLA Storycon. |
 |
| Swag! |
Yep, I'm a dreamer, but luckily I'm also a go-getter. So I'm off to scribe some fictional thoughts while I have down time.
Tuesday, June 14, 2016
A byline I'm so proud of
And it's not mine. It's my son's. My university kid is now a published writer (https://beinglibertarian.com/really-say-inversion-language-college-campuses/‘Did He Really Say That?’ The Inversion of Language on College Campuses). Talk about a proud mom moment!
I've been coaching him on the ins and outs of getting an article published, and it's such a wonderful feeling to see, not only his work published, but how thrilled he is about this accomplishment. He's already contemplating his next piece.
He looks nothing like me, but I guess there's a resemblance within. To think, I was already overflowing with pride that he's an avid reader and book collector. Now he writes! I must mention that he's ghost written for theatre publications before, but this is his first official byline. I warned him it's not always this quick and easy, so he's been prepped for the inevitable rejection-letter continuum.
Speaking of rejection letters, I received one today from a submission I sent to Tin House 14 months ago. That would be my longest wait time yet. No worries, though. I have a long list of possibilities yet to explore.
I've been coaching him on the ins and outs of getting an article published, and it's such a wonderful feeling to see, not only his work published, but how thrilled he is about this accomplishment. He's already contemplating his next piece.
He looks nothing like me, but I guess there's a resemblance within. To think, I was already overflowing with pride that he's an avid reader and book collector. Now he writes! I must mention that he's ghost written for theatre publications before, but this is his first official byline. I warned him it's not always this quick and easy, so he's been prepped for the inevitable rejection-letter continuum.
Speaking of rejection letters, I received one today from a submission I sent to Tin House 14 months ago. That would be my longest wait time yet. No worries, though. I have a long list of possibilities yet to explore.
Saturday, April 16, 2016
Rejection means progress
Since my last post, I turned 40, had one job interview, submitted a couple essays, and collected a few rejection letters. Not too bad as far as a month of progress goes.
In the writing world, the word "rejection" isn't always a bad thing. To me, it means that I am making some kind of progress. When the editor of a big-name publication takes a few seconds to send me a note (no matter how vague) to tell me my piece wasn't a good fit for the publication it means I tried. And just as I was taught when I was little, I will try and try again.
Rejection letters often sound like break-up talks. Every time I read one, I swear I hear, "It's not you, it's me. I need some time. Maybe you're better off with someone else who can appreciate all your wonderful qualities. I wish you all the best in your future endeavors."
Lately, I've been focusing on essay writing. I'm still very intent on landing my first fiction byline, but for now, I'm following my writing cravings.
I was looking through my "Fiction stories in the works" folder on my desktop. It contains 105 files. In my Non-fiction folder, I have 47. Can you imagine if I were to finish all of those stories? Imagine the tsunami of work I could flood the industry with. Oh, the thought. It's mighty invigorating.
On that note, I better get back to it.
In the writing world, the word "rejection" isn't always a bad thing. To me, it means that I am making some kind of progress. When the editor of a big-name publication takes a few seconds to send me a note (no matter how vague) to tell me my piece wasn't a good fit for the publication it means I tried. And just as I was taught when I was little, I will try and try again.
Rejection letters often sound like break-up talks. Every time I read one, I swear I hear, "It's not you, it's me. I need some time. Maybe you're better off with someone else who can appreciate all your wonderful qualities. I wish you all the best in your future endeavors."
Lately, I've been focusing on essay writing. I'm still very intent on landing my first fiction byline, but for now, I'm following my writing cravings.
I was looking through my "Fiction stories in the works" folder on my desktop. It contains 105 files. In my Non-fiction folder, I have 47. Can you imagine if I were to finish all of those stories? Imagine the tsunami of work I could flood the industry with. Oh, the thought. It's mighty invigorating.
On that note, I better get back to it.
Sunday, March 13, 2016
The byline high
I promised myself that 2016 would be the year of writing. Yes, they all are, but this one is different. No procrastinating, putting off story ideas, no writer's block, no hurdles whatsoever (aside from the unavoidable ones life tends to throw into one's path).
Now, I'll share some good news. Last week, I got an email that made me smile all day. Not just a normal smile like the ones I display while I'm seated at my desk scrolling through social media sites looking at cute animal videos. I mean, smiling while at the grocery store inspecting white onions and green peppers, at random people, while filling my gas tank, while paying bills. (I never smile while paying bills.) What caused such a happy uproar? The one thing, besides money and food, that makes this writer's day—a new byline.
Check it out. My six-word memoir about my first celebrity crush has been included in this new book. The fact that Stephen King's name is in this, too, gives me a super-size thrill. He's my favorite author, and I'm currently in the process of trying to own everything he's ever written. Don't even get me started on the other fab names listed. Talk about an outstanding lineup of famous wordies. I'm just proud to be one of the obscure. I'll stand in their shadows with my cheesy smile any day.
Other Words
Happy to say, I've done well. It's the 13th of the month, and I have 13 submissions out there in editors' boxes, meaning 13 potential bylines. Meaning, I've managed to send out at least one piece per day this month, something I've never done before. I think my record is five days in a row. Essays have been my writing flavor of the month, cranking them out like a baseball pitching machine. I have at least 10 more that I'll finish by the end of this week.
The way I see it, I'll never reach that sparkly dream of being a truly successful writer unless I do the work. Long gone are the days of lying on my couch watching Lifetime Movie Network all day, dreaming of writing stories like that. Earning a byline, to me, is a pinnacle of rewards, the fruit of my tenacious efforts that involves lots of coffee, candy, and frowning. I celebrate just as much when my writer friends tell me they've been published. Hitting close to home is reason enough to shout for joy and schedule a celebration lunch date, especially knowing how tough it is to score in the world of publishing these days.
It's a learn beforehand AND learn-as-you-go process. On and on we go.
Tomorrow I'll take a break from the wordie-life because my "baby" turns 18. Fun and exciting times ahead. And cake! Chocolate cake! But that's a post for another blog.
Now, I'll share some good news. Last week, I got an email that made me smile all day. Not just a normal smile like the ones I display while I'm seated at my desk scrolling through social media sites looking at cute animal videos. I mean, smiling while at the grocery store inspecting white onions and green peppers, at random people, while filling my gas tank, while paying bills. (I never smile while paying bills.) What caused such a happy uproar? The one thing, besides money and food, that makes this writer's day—a new byline.
Check it out. My six-word memoir about my first celebrity crush has been included in this new book. The fact that Stephen King's name is in this, too, gives me a super-size thrill. He's my favorite author, and I'm currently in the process of trying to own everything he's ever written. Don't even get me started on the other fab names listed. Talk about an outstanding lineup of famous wordies. I'm just proud to be one of the obscure. I'll stand in their shadows with my cheesy smile any day.Other Words
Happy to say, I've done well. It's the 13th of the month, and I have 13 submissions out there in editors' boxes, meaning 13 potential bylines. Meaning, I've managed to send out at least one piece per day this month, something I've never done before. I think my record is five days in a row. Essays have been my writing flavor of the month, cranking them out like a baseball pitching machine. I have at least 10 more that I'll finish by the end of this week.
The way I see it, I'll never reach that sparkly dream of being a truly successful writer unless I do the work. Long gone are the days of lying on my couch watching Lifetime Movie Network all day, dreaming of writing stories like that. Earning a byline, to me, is a pinnacle of rewards, the fruit of my tenacious efforts that involves lots of coffee, candy, and frowning. I celebrate just as much when my writer friends tell me they've been published. Hitting close to home is reason enough to shout for joy and schedule a celebration lunch date, especially knowing how tough it is to score in the world of publishing these days.
It's a learn beforehand AND learn-as-you-go process. On and on we go.
Tomorrow I'll take a break from the wordie-life because my "baby" turns 18. Fun and exciting times ahead. And cake! Chocolate cake! But that's a post for another blog.
Wednesday, February 3, 2016
Memoirist of the Month - SMITH Magazine
February is looking bright thus far. Lots going on this month, but one item is at the top of the list.
I was given the honor of being the Memoirist of the Month (MOTM) on Smith Magazine's Six Word Memoirs (SWM). Any serious writer knows how important it is to build credibility in the writing world. Every success scored means a query letter with more clout. Talk about exciting.
If you're not familiar with SWM, it's definitely worth a look. My first look turned into a year's worth of memoirs (more than 1,500 written and posted, a couple contest wins, a Six included in a book [see previous posts for more on that] and now the MOTM). The site's title is self explanatory. The posts are six words long and describe something personal. I've posted Sixes about work, writing, reading, family, the autism life, marriage, and random everyday things. With each post, there's an opportunity to write a back story that can be very short to lengthy with the option to include an image with each post.
To maximize this great opportunity, I've made a decision. For each day I am the MOTM, I will write a flash fiction story. Three written so far, so I'm going to try hard to end with a full deck of 29. Ending with 29 finished pieces will make the special month an even more wonderful and memorable experience.
I admire published flash fiction writers for their ability to come up with something so short yet captivating enough to get published. Similarly, I admire novel writers who have the patience to dish out 80,000+ winning words. I fall somewhere in between, I think. I'm an essayist and short story writer for the most part, but I'll finish that personal memoir one of these days. I have 30,000 words of it written.
I have a job interview tomorrow. Spent the day getting organized for that. Tonight, I have no idea what I'm going to write my flash fiction story about, but hopefully I'll come up with something awesome within the next 4 hours.
Here goes.
I was given the honor of being the Memoirist of the Month (MOTM) on Smith Magazine's Six Word Memoirs (SWM). Any serious writer knows how important it is to build credibility in the writing world. Every success scored means a query letter with more clout. Talk about exciting.
If you're not familiar with SWM, it's definitely worth a look. My first look turned into a year's worth of memoirs (more than 1,500 written and posted, a couple contest wins, a Six included in a book [see previous posts for more on that] and now the MOTM). The site's title is self explanatory. The posts are six words long and describe something personal. I've posted Sixes about work, writing, reading, family, the autism life, marriage, and random everyday things. With each post, there's an opportunity to write a back story that can be very short to lengthy with the option to include an image with each post.
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| Hope it's not bad luck to tear a fortune cookie fortune. |
I admire published flash fiction writers for their ability to come up with something so short yet captivating enough to get published. Similarly, I admire novel writers who have the patience to dish out 80,000+ winning words. I fall somewhere in between, I think. I'm an essayist and short story writer for the most part, but I'll finish that personal memoir one of these days. I have 30,000 words of it written.
I have a job interview tomorrow. Spent the day getting organized for that. Tonight, I have no idea what I'm going to write my flash fiction story about, but hopefully I'll come up with something awesome within the next 4 hours.
Here goes.
Sunday, January 3, 2016
Writing goals for 2016
First of all, happy new year!
Every Jan. 1st, I wake up feeling energized. New year, new chance to make my mark in the writing world. I realize it's just another day, but the cool thing is that it symbolizes a new 365 days (or rather 366 since this is a leap year) of possibilities.
With each new year, I set "updated" goals for myself. I say updated because they're always the same. Write more. Read more. Submit more. In 2015, I scored two noteworthy writing credits, which still has me overjoyed. Day 2 of 2016, I sent off a new essay to an online publication after answering a call-out for stories. No response from the editor yet, but I'm reveling in the satisfaction of having finished something! I'm notorious for dwelling on a piece for weeks and weeks, which often turns into months and months.
So here are my specific writing goals for 2016:
Every Jan. 1st, I wake up feeling energized. New year, new chance to make my mark in the writing world. I realize it's just another day, but the cool thing is that it symbolizes a new 365 days (or rather 366 since this is a leap year) of possibilities.
With each new year, I set "updated" goals for myself. I say updated because they're always the same. Write more. Read more. Submit more. In 2015, I scored two noteworthy writing credits, which still has me overjoyed. Day 2 of 2016, I sent off a new essay to an online publication after answering a call-out for stories. No response from the editor yet, but I'm reveling in the satisfaction of having finished something! I'm notorious for dwelling on a piece for weeks and weeks, which often turns into months and months.
So here are my specific writing goals for 2016:
- Sunday is my designated writing day.
- Produce one finished product per week.
- Submit one piece of writing or more weekly.
- Finish writing 2 novels.
- Read at least 1 book per month
I'm such a ravenous reader lately that I am juggling three different books. Do you ever do that?
Five goals is enough to keep me in line this year, methinks! Cheers to more writing and reading! Day 3, and so far so excellent.
Five goals is enough to keep me in line this year, methinks! Cheers to more writing and reading! Day 3, and so far so excellent.
Saturday, December 5, 2015
'Writer's Market: Deluxe Edition' has arrived
The strangest thing happened today. My WritersMarket.com account froze because I forgot to add my updated debit card information online. So the automatic billing didn't go through. I went online to get that fixed, and my internet was suddenly dragging. Pages were taking an eternity to load, and I had to restart it twice.
Very frustrated, I gave up because my son was ready to head out to lunch. When we got back home, I saw a package on the front door welcome mat. I don't know about you, but anytime I receive a package in the mail, I get hyper like a kid opening presents on Christmas morning.
It was my copy of Writer's Market: Deluxe Edition 2016! I guess the Universe must have known I'd be wasting my time updating my payment information because with this book comes a one-year subscription. Yes! Isn't it funny how things happen sometimes?
This is also a first for me. I have had the online membership of $5.99/month for several years, but I've never ordered the print book. This year, I decided I just had to have it in my hands. Now I can make the most of having this plus the online membership for the next 365 days. As any writer knows, motivation often comes from the most unexpected places. Reading one long paragraph in a book, random encounters with strangers, a dream, or one click on a certain link can lead you down a road of opportunity you didn't know existed. That's precisely how I stumbled upon the call-out for submission from FreedomWithWriting.com that lead to my essay being published a couple weeks ago in their latest e-book anthology. (If you're curious, check out my previous blog post titled "Double bling.")
Well, it's a beautiful Saturday in Southeast Texas, my house is clean, and I feel inspired to get some writing done.
*Cracking open my new book with a smile*
Very frustrated, I gave up because my son was ready to head out to lunch. When we got back home, I saw a package on the front door welcome mat. I don't know about you, but anytime I receive a package in the mail, I get hyper like a kid opening presents on Christmas morning.It was my copy of Writer's Market: Deluxe Edition 2016! I guess the Universe must have known I'd be wasting my time updating my payment information because with this book comes a one-year subscription. Yes! Isn't it funny how things happen sometimes?
This is also a first for me. I have had the online membership of $5.99/month for several years, but I've never ordered the print book. This year, I decided I just had to have it in my hands. Now I can make the most of having this plus the online membership for the next 365 days. As any writer knows, motivation often comes from the most unexpected places. Reading one long paragraph in a book, random encounters with strangers, a dream, or one click on a certain link can lead you down a road of opportunity you didn't know existed. That's precisely how I stumbled upon the call-out for submission from FreedomWithWriting.com that lead to my essay being published a couple weeks ago in their latest e-book anthology. (If you're curious, check out my previous blog post titled "Double bling.")
Well, it's a beautiful Saturday in Southeast Texas, my house is clean, and I feel inspired to get some writing done.
*Cracking open my new book with a smile*
Sunday, November 22, 2015
Double bling
October and November have been busy months for this word nerd! Along with writing, I've added a new passion to my list of loves. Paper flowers. Who knew this was something I'd be good at. I've been quite busy growing the paper-flower hobby into a business. I've posted about my art and Etsy store before. I've spent the last month and a half perfecting my techniques, developing the business, and preparing for a craft fair that happened yesterday. It was my first, and hopefully the first of many. Want to see some of my paper blossoms? Check out my latest post at Closet Full of Crafts.
Six words that mean so much
Of course, nothing can replace my deep love for writing, so no matter how busy I get with other things, I'm still always writing and/or thinking about it. Earlier this month, I learned that I was included in a new book by Larry Smith (mastermind of Sixwordmemoirs.com [SWM], a component of Smith Magazine). I've been a contributing member on SWM for a year now. It's a fun site with lots of opportunities for writers. For example, I've been the memoir of the day, known as the MOTD, 11 times, had more than 30 six-word memoirs end up as editor's picks, I've been a contest winner twice, and now I can say that I have been included in their latest book called The Best Advice in Six Words. To be part of something so cool and so big is simply euphoric.
Freedom with writing
Before I had a chance to come down from that high, I got another email of congratulations a week later. An essay I had submitted back in August was accepted for publication in an e-book anthology called The Paid & Published Writer: 13 Stories of Paid Publishing Success. I seem to have the best luck with essays, so I plan to keep working on those. I love you, fiction and journalism, but essays are my hot button right now.
Freedom With Writing is another excellent site. The editor Jacob Jans is great! He sends out lists of writing opportunities with detailed information about the best places to submit work, which publications pay the most, or pay at all, and the link to submission guidelines to publications you might not even know exist. I absolutely love this site and highly recommend it.
So there you have it, a couple months of high productivity and some great writing credits earned. I'm looking forward to more of that and to the glorious holiday season!
Wishing good times to all.
Six words that mean so much
Of course, nothing can replace my deep love for writing, so no matter how busy I get with other things, I'm still always writing and/or thinking about it. Earlier this month, I learned that I was included in a new book by Larry Smith (mastermind of Sixwordmemoirs.com [SWM], a component of Smith Magazine). I've been a contributing member on SWM for a year now. It's a fun site with lots of opportunities for writers. For example, I've been the memoir of the day, known as the MOTD, 11 times, had more than 30 six-word memoirs end up as editor's picks, I've been a contest winner twice, and now I can say that I have been included in their latest book called The Best Advice in Six Words. To be part of something so cool and so big is simply euphoric.Freedom with writing
Before I had a chance to come down from that high, I got another email of congratulations a week later. An essay I had submitted back in August was accepted for publication in an e-book anthology called The Paid & Published Writer: 13 Stories of Paid Publishing Success. I seem to have the best luck with essays, so I plan to keep working on those. I love you, fiction and journalism, but essays are my hot button right now.Freedom With Writing is another excellent site. The editor Jacob Jans is great! He sends out lists of writing opportunities with detailed information about the best places to submit work, which publications pay the most, or pay at all, and the link to submission guidelines to publications you might not even know exist. I absolutely love this site and highly recommend it.
So there you have it, a couple months of high productivity and some great writing credits earned. I'm looking forward to more of that and to the glorious holiday season!
Wishing good times to all.
Friday, August 28, 2015
Knowledge is power(ful)
In my writing journey, I've noticed there are gobs of the same-old-same-old overdone advice posts and books. Sell a million stories by doing what's in this book. Ten ways to make it onto the NY Time's bestsellers list. Writing success guaranteed in five steps. Sure-fire ways to get a bazillion followers instantly. It's like the emphasis is on making money and getting famous, and not so much on the craft anymore.
I've grown weary of those headlines. Not saying they're all bogus. I'm sure some have merit, but I just want some real tried and true advice that isn't so uniform. I want to work for it, find my voice, my own style, my own way. As a newcomer to fiction writing, I crave rigid guidance. As a serious writer, I need advice that has substance, things I can put to use that will serve me for ages to come. I have patience. I want to do this the write right way.
I've grown weary of those headlines. Not saying they're all bogus. I'm sure some have merit, but I just want some real tried and true advice that isn't so uniform. I want to work for it, find my voice, my own style, my own way. As a newcomer to fiction writing, I crave rigid guidance. As a serious writer, I need advice that has substance, things I can put to use that will serve me for ages to come. I have patience. I want to do this the
I used to offer book reviews on my blog Novellarella, but I started getting inundated with review requests from seemingly everyone who ever wrote a sentence. I had to stop because I couldn't keep up with answering all the emails, much less the actual reviews I accepted. I was lucky enough to meet some great writers who seemed like naturals at storytelling and whose verbiage was spotless. In the mix were also the ones who did zero proofreading, (even of the emails they'd send me) and didn't seem to grasp the simple concepts of writing like wiping out obvious typos, getting the grammar correct, plot building, character development, setting the scene, creating a good hook, avoiding cliches, an abundance of painful passive voice, and unnecessary details. (Of course, we all know there are books that make millions even though they aren't all that good, but that is too rare an occurrence to matter, IMO.) This opened my eyes a little wider.
I believe strongly in the notion that knowledge is power. I take writing classes when possible at local colleges as well as online. I joined a writer's group at the local library, and I do a lot of reading and researching. After weeding through it all for several years, I've found that the places I tend to go back to are as follows:
At first, I felt too inexperienced to fit in there. So many experts talking about things I have yet to study or attempt. But intimidation aside, it's just a website, not a ritzy yacht club. I did some more site exploring, and I realized, novice to pro, everyone can get something from WD. Lots of free advice and helpful articles there, and their bookstore is a candy shop of sorts. The classes run a bit pricey for my budget right now, but I check in daily and always find sales on both books and classes. I got a stack of great reads on sci-fi and fantasy writing recently, which are my favorite flavors.
This was the first writing site that I found helpful as I was stumbling through the maze. Membership is about 5 bucks a month and very worth it. Sans membership, there is still lots of good take-away info on the site. I found lengthy lists of agents and publishers, and it allows me to use specific search preferences to find specifically what I need. I found good tips here about dos and don'ts for query letters, including samples. Good stuff.
I can't tell you enough how much I love this site and Mignon Fogerty's work. I want to be her when I grow up! You can search any grammar/punctuation questions and find a witty and accurate answer. I use it all the time at work, editing anything from simple articles to highly technical/scientific material. There's always a weird rule that I can't find anywhere, and in those cases, Fogerty most likely has it.
Another helping hand for writing. Search and find examples of sentence structure, confusing tenses, citation issues, the works. I love this site because I'm a visual learner, and examples are abundant.
Fun site to browse. So many good posts about every aspect of writing. I'm always there.
So these are my top five writing boosters. I'm not too big on watching videos (unless they're about making paper flowers), so I tend to lean on sites that are loaded with readable content.
That is all for now.
Write on.
Write on.
Friday, May 22, 2015
No rest for the wicked
That blog title is one of my favorite old sayings. It suits me perfectly. I've been quite the busy gal since my last post 100 years ago. I've completed 2 short stories and submitted them to several publications, one sci-fi, one not. I'm playing the waiting game now, hoping some of the good I've sent around comes back around. I'm still on the never-ending quest to break into the fiction writing world. I'll get that byline someday.
I've taken a writing break to focus on some other stuff. Starting from several months back, I made some wedding card boxes for a family member's big day, and I'll be working on another one soon for an August wedding. I finished reading The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand, and I've been working on some art projects. I also read The Martian by Andy Weir (whom I met recently--will elaborate in the next post). I finished watching all 9 seasons of "The X-Files" and "Firefly" (sad that Netflix took "Serenity," the sort-of sequel off their instant-watch listing). And most recently, I finished this piece of art today. I guess this counts as something word related since it's made of magazine pages.
It's an 11x14 canvas covered with rolled up magazine pages that I tore out (8 magazines, to be exact), cut in half, folded and rolled. Lot's of hot glue and tape involved. Ten days and roughly 60 hours of work later, I have a pretty art piece for my Etsy store. Oh yea, that's yet another undertaking of late. Gotta have several avenues to release that creative energy. I'll talk about the store when there's more to talk about.
Now starts the weekend. Perhaps I'll complete another short story ... or another art piece. Or both. Let the productivity continue in whatever shape it decides to take on.
I've taken a writing break to focus on some other stuff. Starting from several months back, I made some wedding card boxes for a family member's big day, and I'll be working on another one soon for an August wedding. I finished reading The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand, and I've been working on some art projects. I also read The Martian by Andy Weir (whom I met recently--will elaborate in the next post). I finished watching all 9 seasons of "The X-Files" and "Firefly" (sad that Netflix took "Serenity," the sort-of sequel off their instant-watch listing). And most recently, I finished this piece of art today. I guess this counts as something word related since it's made of magazine pages.
It's an 11x14 canvas covered with rolled up magazine pages that I tore out (8 magazines, to be exact), cut in half, folded and rolled. Lot's of hot glue and tape involved. Ten days and roughly 60 hours of work later, I have a pretty art piece for my Etsy store. Oh yea, that's yet another undertaking of late. Gotta have several avenues to release that creative energy. I'll talk about the store when there's more to talk about.
Now starts the weekend. Perhaps I'll complete another short story ... or another art piece. Or both. Let the productivity continue in whatever shape it decides to take on.
Tuesday, October 14, 2014
Published x2
The Chicken Soup experience has also encouraged me to write more personal essays. I seem to be good at it. Those are one of the few types of stories I find that I can finish in one sitting. I did a little research and found that there is a big market for essays.
In case you're wondering, I'll defer to this helpful blog post I found that goes into more details. Check it out!: 20 Great Places to Publish Personal Essays. I will be submitting some stories to a few places listed there. You never know. Amy told me that Chicken Soup gets anywhere from 3,000 to 6,000 submissions per month, and they narrow it down to about 101. I made the cut twice.
Does that spark some inspiration or what. Now, on and on I go, fingers crossed for the next success story to come along sooner than later.
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