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April 29, 2006
Today’s Tally
I had the day almost completely to myself, so I got a lot done even though my afternoon nap went on much longer than I intended. (I reset the alarm but forgot to switch the a.m. to p.m. Grrr.)
This morning I published a new story at DKA, “The Baptism of Johnny Ferocious.” It’s one of my favorites. You should check it out, if you haven’t already.
I also made an editing pass through the new story, which took 2-1/2 hours. The story is currently clocking in at 12,600. I did notice though that I had accidentally changed the name of one of the species towards the end of the story. Haha. Ooops. I wondered why Word thought it was misspelled. :rolling my eyes:
In addition, I proofed my upcoming essay at Haruah.
I have to say…I recommend Haruah as a market to submit to. The staff is lovely. They very graciously agreed to make the last minute fix I had been agonizing over. I mean, how embarrassing is that? To have to say, “oh you know that essay you’ve accepted, there’s a little problem.” It was dreadful, but they were very kind about it and I am very grateful. I don’t know when the essay will appear but I will let you know when it is up.
I got a decline in the mail today. So, I plan to take another look at the story. (The editor took the time to make notes on the manuscript, which is nice.) Then see if I can find another market it might be suitable for.
Now, if only I can get the cat in my lap to stop putting his paws on the table, then on the keyboard of my laptop—I swear he must think writing looks like so much fun he wants to try it too—then I will be able to get some more work done. Maybe if I go ahead and give him his dinner, he will forget about that shiny, silver keyboard and just settle down for a nap. Here’s hoping.
Posted by Selena at 06:21 PM | Comments (0)
New at DKA: “The Baptism of Johnny Ferocious”
Closing out DKA's April issue is an imaginative and action-packed story by Guy James Stewart.
“The Baptism of Johnny Ferocious”
Tease: "In the clouds of a gas giant planet, a former special agent and black marketeer finally receives the baptism he's longed for while under attack by pirates and as he's trying to rescue an old friend."
Plus it's got cool creatures called cloudwhales. Don't miss it!
Posted by Selena at 08:12 AM | Comments (0)
April 28, 2006
Today’s Tally, plus a Yes!
Today has been more productive. Thankfully.
So far, I have…
proofed the next story for DKA (look for it on Tuesday, May 2),
drafted a new column (it still needs work though), and
read a couple DKA subs (always a good time).
But today’s real excitement was receiving a “yes” from Haruah.
Yippee! Oh, how I love a yes.
Posted by Selena at 06:05 PM | Comments (0)
April 27, 2006
Today’s Tally
Sadly, it was another unproductive day – too full of drama to get much of anything done.
At least I finally finished the first draft of that story. It’s clocking in at 12,501 words right now. I am sure that will change in editing. I need to let it sit for a day, then I can start fixing it.
Hopefully tomorrow will be a better day. (Pray for me if you’re the sort. If not, good thoughts help too.) I plan to get up extra early in the hopes that I can get a few hours work done before my day slides off the rails.
And maybe, just maybe, if I am very, very careful I can get through the day without doing anything wrong. Then maybe I can have a peaceful, productive day.
Maybe.
For now I will just hold on as best I can until the tide shifts in my favor.
Posted by Selena at 06:45 PM | Comments (0)
April 26, 2006
Today’s Tally
It was a busy, crazy day and I didn’t get as much done as I wanted.
Still, I managed to…
spend an hour on the new story (which STILL isn’t finished!)
proof the next story to be published in DKA (Look for it on Saturday, if all goes well)
and
write and submit a new column for SR.
That’s not too bad I guess. 4 hours so far.
I’ll try to make it up tomorrow or maybe later tonight. But right now, I’m fried and need a break.
Posted by Selena at 06:43 PM | Comments (0)
“It came to me in a dream…”
Well, I did dream up an ending to the story last night as I was falling asleep. (See previous post) Can’t say yet whether or not it’s particularly good. Gotta get it typed in first, then assess it.
I better get to it.
More later...
Posted by Selena at 07:47 AM | Comments (0)
April 25, 2006
In Today’s News…
Today was a good day.
I got the copies of “Distant Passages” that I ordered. They look great. And I can’t tell you how cool it is to hold in your hands a book that includes one of your stories. It is fabulous beyond words.
You can buy your own copy at Lulu.com.
(You know you want one. Don’t try to play it off like you don’t want one.)
And I’m not just encouraging you to buy one because I get royalties. The book really is jam-packed with good stuff, including a certain favorite story of mine called “The Choosing.” ;)
Also making it a good day is the fact that I worked on my latest story for nearly four hours. That, in truth, was most of the work I got done today. It’s over the 10,000 word mark now, but even as I’m writing it I’m noticing the flab. Oh well, first I’ve got to get the whole thing down on paper (or encoded in binary, actually). Then I can go back and prune the dross and polish the prose.
If only I knew how to end the darned thing! This is one of those stories that I have just been following in whatever direction it wants to go. I haven’t planned out a single piece of it.
I guess I’ll sleep on it. Maybe I’ll dream a fitting end to the story. I’ll wake up tomorrow, sit down at my keyboard and it’ll just flow. (Don’t laugh. It’s happened. It could happen again.)
I got a little bit of other work done.
I put together a follow-up letter to the market that has had my book proposal for over six months now. My fear is that they sent it back already and it got lost in the mail, which would mean I have been wasting my time with all this waiting. My hope is that they will send the letter back with the “it’s still under consideration” option checked.
I also declined a couple DKA subs, which I have to tell you is not nearly as much fun as accepting them. I always hope though that the feedback is useful to the authors anyway.
Good night, everyone. I gotta get my subconscious to work on that ending. Plus, I’m kind of tired. It was a long day. Good, but long.
Posted by Selena at 09:58 PM | Comments (0)
April 24, 2006
Today’s Tally
It’s day three of the full-time writing and editing plan, and things are going pretty well.
Saturday was productive but Sunday morning I felt like I wasn’t going to be able to get anything done. So, I took a nap. When I woke, I felt better and promptly put in six hours of work in the afternoon and evening.
I’ve been averaging about 5-6 hours a day so far. I think that’s pretty good. If I average 6 hours a day, 7 days a week, that’s 42 hours, which is full-time. I should be able to accomplish something with that much time and effort, right?
Some days it’s more editing; some days more writing. Yesterday was a writing day. I worked on four stories and was able to finalize, print and package them all by the end of the day. Obviously, they weren’t stories I started from scratch yesterday. They just needed a little more polishing and to be matched up with the right market before being sent out into the world.
I mailed all four of them this morning. (That’s such a great feeling!) Then I was able to finalize and submit another one today--an essay, not a story. (That one was tougher. I worked some on it yesterday but it needed a good bit more work today.)
That’s five submissions out in one day. That’s not bad. Actually that’s pretty good.
I haven’t gotten much else done today though. (Too many errands and running around and such to do today.) But the day’s not over yet. I hope to get more writing in tonight, and maybe read a DKA submission or two.
This is what today’s tally looks like, so far:
5 subs away
published a new story at DKA (“The White Spider” – see previous post)
posted re: new story in all the usual places (wouldn’t want anyone to miss it!)
accepted a poem for DKA (you’ll love it, we did)
read one DKA sub
did a little writing
miscellaneous emails and posts
Now comes the part of submitting that I hate--the waiting and wondering. Well, waiting and obsessing would be more accurate. But I am working on that “obsessing” thing. Must let go, must let go, must…
Uggh! I better distract myself with a whole lot of writing.
Posted by Selena at 07:31 PM | Comments (0)
New at DKA: “The White Spider” by C. Le Mroch
As promised in my last post, C. Le Mroch’s story is now available in DKA’s April issue.
“The White Spider” by C. Le Mroch.
You won’t want to miss this suspenseful tale!
Tease:
"My name is Maggie and I grew up in Herlong, a small, quiet town in Florida. The kind of place that lends itself to raising families. The kind of place where nothing bad happens—or didn’t, until the spring of 1974. That was when people started disappearing. It became known as the Vanishing Spring. My baby brother Will was one of the victims. But there was another weird phenomena around that time, the appearance of a white spider. I often dream of Will and wonder if that white spider didn’t have something to do with him going missing –and if it didn’t take him to a better place."
.
Posted by Selena at 12:41 PM | Comments (0)
April 22, 2006
Good Reading: Flash Edition
I subscribe to Flashshots so I get microfiction in my email everyday. (To subscribe for yourself, go here.)
Today, I happened to get one that I particularly liked.
It’s called “Before My Eyes.”
I even recognized the author’s name (C. Le Mroch) because she has a story coming up at DKA next week.
I encourage you to head over to Flashshots and check out her flash piece “Before Her Eyes” while it is still listed on their “last 10 flashshots” page. Then visit DKA on Monday to see her story “The White Spider.”
Posted by Selena at 11:18 AM | Comments (0)
Negative Talk
I particularly enjoyed this recent column at Sword Review:
Sar-caustic Venom: the Enemy Within” by Cameron Walker.
I have been known to be grumpy and to fall into the habit of negative talk and sarcasm. I am trying to do better. I try to only speak what is both true and helpful. But it’s not easy.
Our culture seems infatuated with criticism. It’s commonplace for us to try to show how witty and intelligent we are by degrading others, by pointing out everyone else’s flaws. I suppose we do it so people won’t notice our own failures.
Cameron mentions this verse from the Bible:
"Let no unwholesome speech come out of your mouth but only what is useful for the edification of others.” (Ephesians 4:29)
I am going to try to remember that as I go through my day.
Posted by Selena at 09:08 AM | Comments (0)
April 21, 2006
New at DKA: “The Dragon Keepers...” by Candy Taylor Tutt
DKA’s third story for April is a light-hearted tale by Candy Taylor Tutt.
”The Dragon Keepers, or How the Dragon Spits Fire”
Tease:
"Shades of Rudyard Kipling's Just So Stories color this tale of Indigenous People and the Boss...and the dragon."
Posted by Selena at 07:02 AM | Comments (0)
April 18, 2006
Anthology Available!
Finally, the “Best of 2005” anthology that I have a story in is available for purchase.
Click here for the listing on Lulu.com.
It’s only $13.99 (that includes regular shipping) and is chockfull of good stuff! Trust me, I know, I read each and every one of the stories and poems. My recommendation not good enough for you? Then use the “preview this book” button to read some for yourself before purchasing.
You know you want one. Really, you should buy two – one to keep and one to share. Trust me.
Posted by Selena at 08:25 PM | Comments (0)
April 15, 2006
New at DKA: “The Last Stand” by Robert Barlow
DKA’s April issue continues with “The Last Stand” by Robert Barlow.
I love how this story blends fantasy, action, and Scripture.
Tease:
"Captain Yero must lead his small band of Knights Templar against a fiendish horde. Strength of arms and armor will not suffice unless Yero can exhort them to victory. Does this Knight have the faith to endure his greatest trial?"
Hop on over to DKA and check it out!
Posted by Selena at 07:55 PM | Comments (0)
Today Misc.
Lots of random bits to blog about today…
It’s been a successful day for me so far. I have managed to get a lot done in addition to succeeding (so far) at a couple things I am not good at.
For instance, exercise. I hate it. But I need it for good health. I’m just not young enough anymore to get away with that “eat whatever I want and never exercise” plan. (Oh, how I miss those days!) Usually I tell myself I don’t have time. But I had today off so that excuse didn’t play. Instead I managed to not only crunch my way through that stupid exercise video, but also stretch through the yoga DVD and walk about two hours. (The walking was in two separate sessions. I’m not crazy!). The beautiful weather helped with the walking, I admit.
Also, I managed to eat right -something else I hate and am terrible at. I have eaten healthy and light so far today. Well, except for that Cadbury Caramel Egg. Which was delicious, by the way. I figure it’s a holiday treat. I mean, it can’t be Easter without a Cadbury Egg, right?
Of course, the real test will be how much writing I get done. Not much so far today. But it’s next on my list.
More bits:
I’ve been meaning to share this “quote of the day” because I found it amusing. I saw it on a guy’s T-shirt: “I am out of my mind. Please leave a message.”
Yeah, I feel that way sometimes.
Upcoming at DKA: Later today I’ll be publishing a new story at DKA. Check it out if you have a chance.
Also, there’s a magnet giveaway happening at DKA. To find out how to get yours visit the forums.
Are you a fan of limericks? Then you will want to bunny hop on over to Ray Gun Revival and check out this thread. It’s hilarious.
More later. Hopefully. Hopefully after a very productive writing session.
Have a good Easter weekend, everyone!
Posted by Selena at 04:40 PM | Comments (0)
April 11, 2006
New at DKA: “Bibliotheca Temporis” by Karen A. Romanko
DKA’s April issue continues with a fanciful poem by Karen A. Romanko
Tease:
“Which works are most important in the Library of Time?”
Personally, I think you gotta love a poem that can work in pi to the fifth decimal place!
Enjoy.
Posted by Selena at 10:18 PM | Comments (0)
April 09, 2006
Proof
I watched the movie “Proof” last night. It was fantastic—moving, thought-provoking and well-done.
(I realized recently that well-done is not enough for me, that if a piece of art—movie, play, story etc.—is merely technically proficient, pretty, and well-done, then it doesn’t appeal to me. I want to be moved by things, not just impressed by their loveliness or difficulty. It can be emotionally moved or intellectually moved. I just want to be affected somehow. I am starting to think I am out of sync with most people on that score.)
After seeing the movie “Proof,” I want to see the play it was based on even more than I did before. There were so many wonderful writing touches in the movie, and I suspect in the play as well—little details packed with significance, threads of meaning that move through the story, moments of truth and clarity and specificity that draw you in and make it all feel real.
The movie brings up questions that I have wondered about before. For instance, why is it that madness and brilliance are so often linked? Why is it that so many great minds are also the most fragile? Why do creative people seem to be more susceptible to mental problems than the general population? Is it merely the price they pay for their gifts? Or is it that the things that make them creative and brilliant are also the things that make them more susceptible to mental problems? It’s a sad mystery.
“Proof” reminded me of other great movies on the topic, like “A Beautiful Mind” and “Rain Man.” I heartily recommend all three of those movies.
Posted by Selena at 08:22 AM | Comments (0)
April 08, 2006
Getting Stuff Done/A Writing Miracle
I am having a surprisingly productive day so far. I got a good bit of SR proofing done this morning, plus some exercise (which I hate to do), and even a little housework (shocking, I know). But most surprisingly, I got a lot of writing done.
I’ve been avoiding writing lately. I guess I’m afraid I don’t have anything to say. Or that I don’t know where to go with the story. Or that it wouldn’t be any good. Blah, blah. Who knows? It’s just excuses and more excuses.
So, today I decided to sit down and try to work on a story that seemed to have promise but was so far just a 400 word summary of a story - all telling, no showing, no dialogue, really just bare bones, just an idea. Not very good at all.
That was a couple hours ago. Now that story is over 3,000 words long, with three different scenes, three new characters (not counting a handful of unnamed guards along the edges), and lots of places to go. How did that happen? How did I manage to sit in this chair for two solid hours and type out a story I had no idea what to do with when I sat down?
That’s a writing miracle of sorts, I guess. I wish it happened everyday.
The truth is, it might happen everyday if I would just make myself put in the time everyday.
Hmm…something to think about.
Posted by Selena at 01:00 PM | Comments (0)
April 06, 2006
New at DKA: “Ensorcelled” by Debbie Mumford
DKA’s April issue begins with Debbie Mumford’s “Ensorcelled.”
Tease: Kaitlyn, an impetuous teenager who just happens to be a wizard’s apprentice, schemes to find the legendary Firestone in order to stop Darius, the evil wizard-king who threatens her country. She dreams of saving her beloved brother, Gavin, by placing the powerful talisman in her mentor’s hands. Surely Aelfric will be able to defeat Darius once she produces the Firestone. Unfortunately for all, the Firestone appears to have chosen another master, Kaitlyn!
Pop on over to DKA and check it out!
Posted by Selena at 08:19 AM | Comments (0)
Story at Alien Skin
My story, “Meeting of the Mages,” is now available online as part of Alien Skin’s April/May issue. It’s a light, fun piece of flash fiction.
Check it out, if you have a chance, and let me know what you think.
While you’re there, look for Keesa’s story too. It’s called “To Dance with a Hurricane.”
Posted by Selena at 07:44 AM | Comments (0)