Tag Archives: Writing

That missing piece

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This is the start of my 5th week being laid off. It’s really quite odd. I know there is anxiety floating in the background, but it hasn’t transformed into full fledged fear yet. I believe that part of the reason is that I don’t tie myself to my work. My day job is not who I am, so the loss of it hasn’t caused me to lose some part of myself. There are other people out there that are tied much more directly to their work and without it they seem lost. I strive to keep a balance in my life and so far it seems to be holding. I have kept to my regular schedule and work through the day just as if I had to be at some office doing things. Better to stay on track – don’t want to crash when going back to work.

The up side to this whole mess? I’m actually getting work done for me. I’ve been able to be creative with a couple of projects, get some things done around the house and work on my writing. I’ve gotten 2 submissions out and I’m waiting to hear back. I’ve got another couple on the burner – they’re scheduled to be edited and submitted this week. I’ve even had the chance to get out and take some photos. It was a gorgeous afternoon last Wednesday and I had the chance to walk and snap with a friend. It was very relaxing. Hopefully I’ll get to do some more of this kind of thing before I get back to the grind (but not too many more – I do need to pay the bills after all).

Vine

Goals and Membership

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I’ve posted before about having goals, so I’m not going to go into that again. Something I read recently was an article talking about how writer’s associations are taking up the question of allowing members who are self published. Essentially, change the rules of who can belong to the club (I’m picturing an old childhood tree fort with the “no girls allowed” sign posted out front). Is this is a good idea?

Yes, it’s a good idea. That statement is regarding the idea of changing, not necessarily the particular change in question. Any organization that doesn’t recognize the world around it and adapt to those changes will fade and die. It’s really that simple. So, repeating, yes it’s a good idea to change.

Is it a good idea to try to get in? That’s the real question.

I know a number of folks that are right at the edge of the membership (as the rules stand now). I know a couple of folks that are in and a couple of folks that really couldn’t care less if they tried. Some writer’s I’ve talked to really want in – and it’s not been stated directly, it’s been implied by particular choices made in what contests to enter and what publications to submit to more than anything. Others I’ve seen posts from have taken the attitude of reacting from a place of hurt feelings, “you didn’t want me before… why should I want you now that you’re willing to recognize me”. I’m not sure either view is quite right.

I don’t know if I want to be a member of any of these groups or not. What I do know is that I want to make good stories and get them out there for people to enjoy. I don’t know if that will ever be a full time thing for me or not. I don’t know if I’ll ever meet the requirements, adjusted or not, to get into a professional association. You know what? I’m not worried about it. Over time I’ve come to discover that these things generally work themselves out *after* there’s been a lot of work put in – and not work toward gaining entrance. It’s the creativity that matters – make something awesome. The rest of it follows.

Still Working

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So, I’ve been working when I can to get my writing out there. I have a flash fiction piece I really like. I submitted it to a contest and I really thought I had a shot.

As it turns out there were only 750 entrants to the contest – odds were better than I thought.

Didn’t even crack the top 10.

So, I’ll tweak it and send it to somebody else.

In the mean time, if you’d like to be disturbed listen to the second place story here: http://www.ttbook.org/book/3-minute-futures-our-favorites

Time Delay

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It’s a challenge to keep things up to date here at the site lately. The new video card for the computer arrived today. The last piece to finish fixing / updating the computer. Soon we should have additional RAM, new video and TWO new wide screens up and running. Being able to actually work on the home computer again as opposed to being limited to the work system should help things considerably!

As far as the actual work – still getting the rejections piling up. Just got another one, this time from Wicked Words Quarterly. One of these days something is going to stick.

More Soon.

Advertising via Logarithm

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So, I get these e-mails filled with “things I might like” generated by some computer code frequently. I’ve adjusted my line of thinking – these are the same as flyers and other junk mail I used to get by way of the post office only with more chance of something I’d actually be interested in. Sometimes I get amusing results based on random crap I’ve searched for. I’ve almost never had something leap out and fill me with the desire to spend money.

I got this from Amazon the other day – and it proves to me beyond a shadow of a doubt that computers have a long way to go before they replace people and the things people can do.

AZ

 

YES oh great and powerful Amazon – I might just be interested in a book that contains one of my stories. NO, I don’t think I’m going to purchase another copy through you.

I will however suggest to anyone reading that doesn’t have a copy – that’s a great price, you should pick one up and read it!

Speed of the Net (and other things)

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It never ceases to amaze me when I sign on and realize that another week has shot past. There are days when I wish I could just write (things like this, and other things) all the time. I’m not certain I’m ready to make that leap. The business of writing is quite volatile these days. There are fewer or rather newer gate keepers and a chance to rocket to unbelievable heights. Mostly there is the same chance there has always been – to toil in obscurity never going beyond the current point.

I am endeavoring to change that. In my stolen moments I am writing, and submitting stories. To that end, I submitted a story to Interzone just this past weekend. I am grateful for the connectivity of the internet that allowed me to make a connection where I had been unwilling to attempt before. So – time flies and so do the e-submissions! I will definitely keep everyone posted on this as I know more.

I’d say I was crossing my fingers, but it’s really difficult to type that way.