Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Story four
I also finished my fourth story of the year, the 4,400-word story of a contract killer I mentioned a few days ago. I don't know where I'm sending this one, either, but it's finished and ready to submit.
Story Three
I finished writing my third story of the year earlier this evening. It's a 1,600-worder that straddles the line between dark crime and horror fiction. I haven't yet submitted it anywhere because I'm not up to speed on my dark crime/horror markets and will need to do a bit of market research before this one goes out.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Interviewed
I was just interviewed by Jeff Rutherford for readingandwritingpodcast.com. The interview won't be posted for a month or so. In the meantime, why not drop by and listen to some of the other interviews.
Another story I probably won't write: "The Vampire Umpire"
He only works night games, and every time he turns into a bat he gets hit with fastballs.
Published 2x
My stories "Lucky Clover" and "Spring Fling" appear in the March issue of True Confessions.
Tracking stories
Scott D Parker is tracking his short story production this year. His goal is 12 new short stories in 2010. Will he make it? Follow his blog to find out.
7
I received my seventh acceptance of the year this morning, for a short romance I submitted last July.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Stories without markets
Friday morning I woke with an idea for a short story, mostly an image and brief series of events that I knew would make a strong opening scene. I roughed out that opening scene before my morning shower, went about my day, and returned to the story around six that night. I worked on it until midnight, woke at seven the next morning and continued writing until I had a 4,400-word draft around three Saturday afternoon.
The story is complete, though I have to proofread/edit it and make make a few changes before I have a final draft to count as a completed story for the year.
My dilemma is that I have no clue where to submit the story. It doesn't fit any of my usual markets--too violent, too sexual, too long, too male--and the few Web zines that it might fit don't pay. (I'm not opposed to placing work with non-paying markets; I just can't put food on the table that way.) What to do, what to do?
Some of my best stories are like this. The ideas come unbidden, they don't fit any particular market, and they take bloody all forever to place.
Still, I'm not one to look a gift muse in the mouth. In a day or two I'll pick this story up again, give it a good going over and then submit the manuscript somewhere...because it'll never sell if it sits in my filing cabinet.
The story is complete, though I have to proofread/edit it and make make a few changes before I have a final draft to count as a completed story for the year.
My dilemma is that I have no clue where to submit the story. It doesn't fit any of my usual markets--too violent, too sexual, too long, too male--and the few Web zines that it might fit don't pay. (I'm not opposed to placing work with non-paying markets; I just can't put food on the table that way.) What to do, what to do?
Some of my best stories are like this. The ideas come unbidden, they don't fit any particular market, and they take bloody all forever to place.
Still, I'm not one to look a gift muse in the mouth. In a day or two I'll pick this story up again, give it a good going over and then submit the manuscript somewhere...because it'll never sell if it sits in my filing cabinet.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
6
I received my sixth acceptance of the year earlier today, this time for a bit of crime fiction featuring a guy who collects debts for the mob. This will be in an anthology that wasn't specifically looking for crime fiction, but was looking for stories about "muscle men."
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Published & 5
My story "St. Patrick's Day Romance" is the lead story in the March True Love.
And today's mail also brought my fifth acceptance of the year in the form of a contract for another confession, an Easter-themed confession I submitted on December 27.
And today's mail also brought my fifth acceptance of the year in the form of a contract for another confession, an Easter-themed confession I submitted on December 27.
Monday, January 18, 2010
Hack House
A totally new writing environment.
An old hotel converted into individual "writing rooms." Each room comes with a private bathroom, a mini-fridge, a desk, and a couch. Writers are encouraged to decorate or outfit their private rooms as they wish.
The cafe on the main floor is open to the public, and is ideal for those writers who need to work in a busy environment, yet need to be close to their writing room for when they want/need privacy.
The lounge, also open to the public, is open in the evenings for writers who like to mingle. And drink.
The entire facility has wi-fi, a maid service, and other amenities. Once each quarter, Hack House sponsors a two-day writing conference for wanna-be and would-be writers not yet ready to have their own room at Hack House. Once a month, Hack House sponsors readings or open mic nights. Hack House writers-in-residence are encouraged to participate or to isolate themselves as appropriate to their needs.
To the extent possible, staff consists of college students majoring in English, Journalism, Creative Writing, and other related programs.
Hack House.
Where the words are.
An old hotel converted into individual "writing rooms." Each room comes with a private bathroom, a mini-fridge, a desk, and a couch. Writers are encouraged to decorate or outfit their private rooms as they wish.
The cafe on the main floor is open to the public, and is ideal for those writers who need to work in a busy environment, yet need to be close to their writing room for when they want/need privacy.
The lounge, also open to the public, is open in the evenings for writers who like to mingle. And drink.
The entire facility has wi-fi, a maid service, and other amenities. Once each quarter, Hack House sponsors a two-day writing conference for wanna-be and would-be writers not yet ready to have their own room at Hack House. Once a month, Hack House sponsors readings or open mic nights. Hack House writers-in-residence are encouraged to participate or to isolate themselves as appropriate to their needs.
To the extent possible, staff consists of college students majoring in English, Journalism, Creative Writing, and other related programs.
Hack House.
Where the words are.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
4
I received my fourth acceptance of the year a few minutes ago, this for the private eye short story I submitted yesterday.
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Published
My short romance "Putting the Kart Before Love" was published this week at The Long and Short of It.
Story Two
I finished writing my second short story of the year a few minutes ago. This time it's a 4,200-word private eye story written in response to an open anthology call. I started work on the story on July 19 of last year, wrote it in fits-and-starts, and then had to do some heavy editing of the last draft because I had put in too many dead-end clues and had to remove them for the story to make sense.
The editor of this anthology likes to see queries, so I queried him and am waiting to learn if he wants to see the full ms.
Update: The editor asked to see the full ms.
The editor of this anthology likes to see queries, so I queried him and am waiting to learn if he wants to see the full ms.
Update: The editor asked to see the full ms.
Friday, January 15, 2010
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Non-fiction
Though I'm not actively seeking non-fiction assignments, I did pick one up late last year. I just finished the 2,000-word article and submitted it to the editor. Because the article was assigned, and because it's already on the editorial calendar for the March/April issue of the magazine, an acceptance is highly probable. Still, it's never wise to count unhatched chickens...
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Looking ahead at 2010
I have a single writing goal, and it's been the same each year for several years: To receive an average of one acceptance per week over the course of the year.
Some years I achieve or exceed my goal, some years I don't.
Some years I alter my approach, in part to see what impact a new approach might have on my ability to write and sell, and sometimes simply as a reaction to changes in the marketplace. For example, last year I saw the demise or scaling back of several publications where I had previously placed multiple short stories, publications I could count on for several acceptances over the course of any given year.
Last year I made three changes:
1. I targeted one high-paying publication to which I had never sold anything and wrote several stories targeted specifically for that publication. The result: 12 rejections. (One of those stories sold this year, without revision, to a much lower-paying publication.)
2. I targeted a genre in which I had only a handful of sales over the previous 30+ years. The result: Nine acceptances, two rejections, and one editor who likes my stuff so much he asked to include my name as a probable contributor in an anthology proposal he's currently pitching.
3. I wrote and submitted more to a group of publications where I'm a long-established contributor. The result: 23 acceptances, 17 rejections.
(Of course, several stories that I submitted last year under points 2 and 3 above have not yet generated responses.)
One other thing I started doing late last year and hope to continue this year is an attempt to write and sell at least one short story tied to each month of the year. As I mentioned in a previous post, I've often done well with Christmas and Valentine's Day stories, but there are many other holidays and events throughout the year that might generate story ideas and story themes.
So far I've had three January stories published (all tied to New Year's) and two February stories published (both tied to Valentine's Day). I've placed three March stories (two tied to St. Patrick's Day, the other tied to Spring Break), and I've submitted two more Spring Break stories. I've also submitted two April stories (both tied to Easter) and two May stories (one tied to Mother's Day, the other to Memorial Day). This is an interesting challenge and it's going to be fun to see if I can actually do it.
Beyond that, I plan to use my uncommitted writing time for fiction and don't anticipate actively seeking additional editing, non-fiction, advertising or public relations assignments because my current clients keep me busy with these kinds of projects.
In the end, though, while my approach may have shifted a bit, my goal remains the same as each previous year: 52 acceptances.
I have two already; only 50 to go!
Some years I achieve or exceed my goal, some years I don't.
Some years I alter my approach, in part to see what impact a new approach might have on my ability to write and sell, and sometimes simply as a reaction to changes in the marketplace. For example, last year I saw the demise or scaling back of several publications where I had previously placed multiple short stories, publications I could count on for several acceptances over the course of any given year.
Last year I made three changes:
1. I targeted one high-paying publication to which I had never sold anything and wrote several stories targeted specifically for that publication. The result: 12 rejections. (One of those stories sold this year, without revision, to a much lower-paying publication.)
2. I targeted a genre in which I had only a handful of sales over the previous 30+ years. The result: Nine acceptances, two rejections, and one editor who likes my stuff so much he asked to include my name as a probable contributor in an anthology proposal he's currently pitching.
3. I wrote and submitted more to a group of publications where I'm a long-established contributor. The result: 23 acceptances, 17 rejections.
(Of course, several stories that I submitted last year under points 2 and 3 above have not yet generated responses.)
One other thing I started doing late last year and hope to continue this year is an attempt to write and sell at least one short story tied to each month of the year. As I mentioned in a previous post, I've often done well with Christmas and Valentine's Day stories, but there are many other holidays and events throughout the year that might generate story ideas and story themes.
So far I've had three January stories published (all tied to New Year's) and two February stories published (both tied to Valentine's Day). I've placed three March stories (two tied to St. Patrick's Day, the other tied to Spring Break), and I've submitted two more Spring Break stories. I've also submitted two April stories (both tied to Easter) and two May stories (one tied to Mother's Day, the other to Memorial Day). This is an interesting challenge and it's going to be fun to see if I can actually do it.
Beyond that, I plan to use my uncommitted writing time for fiction and don't anticipate actively seeking additional editing, non-fiction, advertising or public relations assignments because my current clients keep me busy with these kinds of projects.
In the end, though, while my approach may have shifted a bit, my goal remains the same as each previous year: 52 acceptances.
I have two already; only 50 to go!
Saturday, January 09, 2010
Story One
I finished and submitted my first short story of the year, a 4,500-word confession tied to Mother's Day. I started writing this on January 7, finished writing it late last night, and let it sit until this morning for a final proofread/edit before submitting it.
Sunday, January 03, 2010
2
Editors have been taking advantage of the holiday weekend. I just received my 2nd acceptance of the year, this time for a 3,100-word story about a skateboarder who thwarts a purse snatching, by an anthology of stories about skateboarders.
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