What’s Up Wednesday
I’m using the paper airplane picture for this week’s WUW since we’ve been treated with a cold spell in the weather. It was wet and windy last night, with lows in the 30s, and the high today is supposed to be in the 50s. I know, that’s t-shirt and shorts weather for some of you, but we’ve been in the 70s and 80s for the last week, so it’s a bit of a change. Oh well–it’s only for a day or so. At least that’s what they tell us…
What I’m Reading
Still WAR AND PEACE. I need to take a day to do nothing but read so I can get through it a little quicker. I’m not sure when that will happen.
What I’m Writing
Editing on the novel continues, and I try to stay focused on that as my writing project for the month. I was hoping to be querying by the end of the month, though I’m not sure that’s going to work out. Early May might be more realistic. We’ll see. It’ll be soon, anyway.
What Inspires Me Right Now
Honestly, my flash fiction. Some of the stories I’m posting this month aren’t that bad (if I say so myself), and I really appreciate the nice comments and encouragements. My favorite of these 26 100-word stories will post on Saturday. If you don’t read any of the other stories, read that one.
What Else I’ve Been Up To
Nothing strange or startling. Work, family, church, and discovering new blogs and blog friends via the A-to-Z Blogging Challenge. That’s been cool.
How’s your week been? If you want to participate in this meme, see the blogs of co-founders Jaime Morrow and Erin Funk for details and the linky list of other WUW-ers to visit.
Good luck getting query ready! 😀
Thanks, Cole!
I’m glad you’re inspired by your flash fiction! I really admire anyone who can get a story into such a short form!
Best of luck preparing for querying! 🙂
Thank you, Emma. Some of these stories were harder to write than others. “Knight” was really hard to condense into 100 words without being completely incomprehensible. It’s such good editing practice, though, I recommend it to all writers. 🙂
Best of luck getting through your edits, Colin. You can do it! And I know I’ve already said this, but I am loving your flash fiction. Brilliance!
Thanks, Katy. You are such an encourager! 🙂 And you know, as a writer, you can’t get enough of people telling you how much they enjoy your work. So, again, thanks! 😀
Have you heard about The Writer’s Voice coming up in May? You should enter if you’re ready! I wish I could be but I doubt my MS will be ready by then.
Ooo, I just read about The Writer’s Voice (http://cupidslitconnection.blogspot.com/2012/04/mays-writers-voice-contest-info.html). If my ms is ready, I’ll definitely consider that. Thank you for the tip, Melanie! 🙂
Good luck for querying! Flash fiction is a great way to still feel productive while revising/editing. Glad it’s working out for you 🙂
Thanks, Tonja. Flash fiction is a lot of fun. I recommend it to all writers. 🙂
I love flash fiction! Maybe reading yours will inspire me to start up again 🙂
Please, take a look at my efforts this month. I’m sure you can do at least as well, if not better. 🙂
You are amazing me with all of these shorts! I have to be in a totally different mindset to write like that, and most of the time I’m in novel mode. If you want a set of eyes for your query when you get ready, let me know!
Thanks, Laurie–you’re too kind! 🙂 These shorts are not all masterpieces, but there are some I’m particularly pleased with. Saturday’s being one of them. 🙂 As for my query, if you go to my “Writing” tab and click on “The WIP,” you’ll see the query. It may need a little more tweaking depending how much the plot changes in the midst of these edits, though I don’t think it’ll differ too much from what I have there. If you have any thoughts on it, please share! 🙂
I’ve loved some of your flash fiction and I have to agree it definitely inspires in the whole writing department. (I love it because it’s something I can actually Finish) *grin*
And I re-read War and Peace every couple of years. I love getting lost in a massive book that way. It’s like having a huge glorious dessert that never ends. Though after a while all the Alexander Alexia Alexandrovnich’s get to be a little too much. (That should be in a baby name book of “What you should NOT name your baby”)
Hope you have a great week!
Thank you, Kris! I have to say, that’s one of the good things about keeping the flash fiction to 100 words–you can read it even if you don’t really have time to. Each story takes less than a minute to read, and, if done well, can stay with you all day.
Wow–I’m impressed with your re-reading of WAR AND PEACE. It’s taking me forever just this one time! I wonder if part of the problem is the translation I’m using. Which edition is your go-to edition of W&P?
I’m with you on wanting to carve out a day to make a serious dent in WAR AND PEACE. I was reading it while on the treadmill for a time there and that seemed to work. I was surprised that it actually managed to occupy my mind while my feet were walking. I might have to get back to doing that. The nice thing is that each chapter is actually pretty brief, so you still feel like you accomplished something even if you only managed to squeeze in a few chapters.
Sounds like your editing is coming along nicely. Nothing big or daunting that needs changing, I imagine. You must be getting excited about sending it out into the big wide world. I’m using “excited” loosely here. Hope you’re having a great week, Colin!
You’re right, Jaime–the chapters are brief, so it’s easy to digest in small chunks. I wish the plot had me gripped a little more. I so want it to be un-put-downable. There aren’t many classic works (in my experience) that are as captivating as, say, CINDER–not to say they aren’t good–but I hold out hope… 🙂
There are some not-insignificant changes that need to be made to the novel, but nothing that scares me. 🙂 And I really am excited about sending this child out into the world. Once I’ve finished with it, it’ll be ready.
Thanks!! I hope your week is sensationally stellar too! 🙂
Take your time with revisions. It’s better to get properly query-ready than rush anything. Good luck with them! It’s snowing again right now and I’m so tired of it. They say up to 16 inches between tonight and tomorrow.
Sound advice, Rachael. Yes, I’d love to be querying by May, but if it takes longer to get it right, I’d sooner get it right than rush revisions and send out something that could have been better.
I’m so sorry… 16 inches??! In mid-April??? That sucks like a black hole, as a certain alien friend would say. 😉
Good luck with edits! Wow I’m been out of the loop so long, I didn’t realize you were almost ready to query. Good luck with everything. 😀
Thanks, Leslie! Yes–my novel has been revised, revised, revised again, beta read 6 times over, and is going through one last revision. If it isn’t ready for querying after this, I don’t what is! 🙂
Oooohh, I haven’t gotten into flash fiction yet. I’m curious to see what you post 🙂
Hi, Marika! There are links to some of the flash fiction I’ve posted already on the right under “Recent Posts.” Feel free to read and, if you want, comment! 🙂 Every writer should try some flash fiction sometime.
I could use a whole day to do nothing but read too. I may not be reading WAR AND PEACE (someday), but I’m getting buried under the weight of my TBR books. What a terrible problem to have, right? I need to tackle some more classics this year as well.
Good luck getting ready to query! It’s a stressful process, but I wish you all the best! 🙂
Thanks, Erin! I really am looking forward to querying. I love the excitement, and even the disappointment (though I hope not to have too much of that)… and, of course, the possibility that an agent will say “yes!” 🙂
Um, I’m pretty sure I’ve already said this but, gosh! I’m so impressed with your daily flash fiction. I’ll be sure to watch for the Saturday one.
How exciting to be so close to the end of your revisions. Good luck with the querying!
Thank you, Kitty! Like I’ve said before, I wouldn’t say all the flash fictions are masterpieces, but there are some good ones in there. That’s the advantage of writing so many: there’s a good chance at least a couple of them will turn out okay. 🙂