Links and Stuff
Not so much of the links this week, more of the stuff. One of the things I decided to do this year was to stop participating in writing competitions (except for Janet Reid’s, of course), and make more of an effort to write for publication. In other words, actually try to get some stories in magazines, and perhaps make a bit of money from my words for once. As one might deduce, this strategy involves me taking a break from my current novel writing endeavors to work on short stories.
As of the beginning of last week, I hadn’t really got very far with this. Okay, that’s being kind to myself. I hadn’t done anything toward this goal. Not that I haven’t been writing (have you seen this blog over the past five months? The A-to-Z Challenge, perhaps?), but nothing toward the goal of getting published. Then an article on Janet’s blog about celebrating writing goals gave me a kick up the behind. What writing goals have I got to celebrate? Yes, I completed A-to-Z (yay for me!), but have I done anything worth celebrating that could get me closer to being a published writer? No. So I set a goal. Gary Corby‘s new novel in his Athenian Mysteries series, THE SINGER FROM MEMPHIS released on Tuesday (May 17th). I told myself that I can’t start reading it until I had a short story in my wife’s inbox (she’s my First Reader) by that Tuesday. I’m a huge fan of Mr. Corby, so this was quite the challenge.
And it worked. Monday night, I sent the first draft of my short story to my wife. Tuesday, Gary’s book came in the mail, and despite Sam the Cat’s best efforts, I was able to wrest it from his claws. Now I can dig in and read while wifey works her red pen magic on my words. (The book is awesome so far, by the way. I’ll review it on the blog some time in the near future.)
So yay! Mini celebration. I’ll celebrate properly when I’ve edited and polished the story, and submitted it somewhere. I might even have a couple of reader friends look at it before then.
What goals have you achieved this week, if any?
Great incentive!! Congratulations on drafting your short story. I’m currently on a deadline, so of course, I’m reading my favorite blogs… ; )
Awww! Thanks, Micki! 😀 All the best meeting your deadline.
Way to chase your goals, Colin. I made the goal this year of writing one short story a month. Not very lofty, but I’m also doing other writing, most notably trying to edit a manuscript for resubmission. Anyway, it’s been fun having the goal. And so far I have completed stories for January – April. Nothing for May yet, so I have to get in gear.
I’ve submitted my January story to AHMM, and I just submitted April for a contest. February and March are still in the edit suite, so we’ll see what comes of them.
Good luck on getting yours submitted. I can tell you from my experience, there is a looooooooong wait at AHMM. Their website said 2 months. Then — you have to submit electronically — the submission for says 3-4 months. Then, when I got a confirmation email, it said EIGHT MONTHS! I’m afraid to nudge them or they’ll tell me two years.
LOL–thanks for the tip, John, and the encouragement. I don’t know if I’ll write a story a month, but I certainly want to start writing more short stories. It’s not as easy as it sounds, though–at least for me. I’ve written novels, and I’ve written flash fiction. So far, the shorts I’ve written have either ended up as novellas, or I’ve had to edit them down so much, there’s barely anything coherent left! The one I’ve just written, however, works quite well. Not too ambitious, but hopefully interesting. A little reminiscent of some of my flash fiction. I’ll probably submit to AHMM, but I want to write more and try some other magazines, or e-zines–whatever will accept submissions and perhaps pay me for them. 🙂
On top of this, I need to press on with my novel. It’s all go, here. 😀
THOU ROCKEST MIGHTILY WITH THY BAD SELF! *High fives*
I don’t have quantifiable achievements in the writing, but I’m back into the WIP after family and workplace deaths, illness, and lassitude. I’ve been exercising again as well.
Short list. But sweet.
Thank thee kindly, Diane, fair maiden warrior of words! *High five back*
Ah, life. And death, which is part of life. The illness bit particularly sucks. I’m glad you’re through with that. Congrats on getting back to writing and exercise. That takes some will power when you’ve been out of it for a while.
I’ma have to start signing like EVERYTHING in my life
–Fair Maiden Warrior of Words
Because that. is. OSUM. Even if I’m not a fair maiden. 🙂 😛
Why, thank you, and you are welcome. May it serve thee well! 😀