I really hate doing it…

I’m currently waiting on two relatively major events. First, my due date is rapidly approaching (about 11 days) so I am at the stage of pregnancy where labor could literally begin at any moment.

*Pauses hopefully waiting for a contraction to start….*

*Sigh*

Anyway, the second event is I am still waiting to hear back about the AW Spec Fic Anthology and my submitted story. My story made it through the first round of rejections, and the rest of us are now waiting on the edge of our chairs to find out who made it into the final volume and who didn’t. Again, we could literally hear any day at this point.

*Checks email in-box for millionth time.*
continue reading "Waiting"

Stories!

Today I sent out my first story submission in well over a year. A few weeks ago I saw the announcement of the Absolute Write Speculative Fiction Anthology over on the AW Forums, and a day or two later had a story idea to go with it. I wrote, edited and submitted it faster than I’ve ever written anything else. Now it’s just about the waiting. And that’s scary. If I was a nail-chewer, I’d be down to the second knuckle already. As it is, I think I’ll probably just give up on sleeping instead.

On the other hand, it’s also terribly exciting. I feel better about myself, both in general and as a writer than I have in weeks, or even months. I finished something, and I had a lot of fun doing it too! Even if the story doesn’t make it into the AW Anthology, that’s a big accomplishment. I will be utterly thrilled if my first story published for pay is from AW because that site has become my favorite internet hang-out and a source of some very good friends. But I won’t be heart-broken if I get a rejection from them either, since there are always other places to send stories.

Most importantly, this has me excited to be writing again, and already laying plans for polishing other completed stories and starting new ones. It may even lead me back to finishing a novel, polishing it, and sending it out.

Meanwhile, I think I’ll sit over here and work out how to train my dog to monitor my email while I sleep.

I’m embarrassed to share sometimes.

Generally speaking, I’m never shy about sharing what I’ve written with anyone and everyone. I’m a writer, and I like to have people read what I write. I’m not even afraid to share first drafts, so long as the people I’m sharing with understand that it is not (yet) my best work. Sometimes, however, I am embarrassed about something I’ve written. These bits of embarrassing writing are not stories that I consider terrible (those can be made better, after all) or eviscerated first drafts still in need of a tune-up.

Dear Reader, I’m ashamed of my poetry and songs. I’m not a poet. I don’t write poetry. That just isn’t me. Except of course, when it the urge comes upon me, and I find myself jotting down a verse or six in my Magic Writer Notebook(tm). Afterwards, I’m usually fairly happy with the result, despite it never being particularly technically correct. Nevertheless, I’m almost always afraid to share it afterwards.
continue reading "Shy Writer"

Always a difficult prospect.

Hello loyal Readers! So, remember several months ago when I said I was going to take a blogging hiatus? Well, it turns out it was a writing hiatus as well. This came about for several reasons, primarily the fact that I had gotten pregnant and was going through a rather difficult first trimester (it’s a boy, in case you were wondering). That’s all behind me now though, and I’m ready to dive back into writing as much as possible. I’ll be returning to blogging as well, but I’m not sure that I’ll be sticking to any sort of regular schedule this time. As much as I enjoy writing for the blog and interacting with those of you who leave comments, I think I’d like to concentrate a little harder on my fiction for a while. On top of that, in a few short months there will be a Baby Bookewyrme to look after and keep up with (he’s already pretty active) so my free time will become unspeakably precious.

So! What this means! There will be occasional blog posts, some with adorable baby pictures, there will be writing thoughts, and there may be published stories soon! Stay tuned, dear Readers.

Currently Reading: Sanctuary by Mercedes Lackey

It’s not the size, but what you do with it that counts.

Alright you lot, get your minds out of the gutter. I don’t want to talk about that today, but rather story length. Stories come in all shapes and sizes; long ones, short ones, medium ones and zig-zaggy ones. Some people prefer short stories, others would rather read a full length novel instead. No size is particularly better than any of the others, but as with all things in life everyone has their own opinions and preferences. Even writers. Some of us only want to write short stories and would get bored trying to write an entire novel. Others only write novels and consider a short story a waste of their time and talents. Many of us write both in unequal measure.
continue reading "Not All About Length"

No one is as unruly as Bugs and Daffy.

I was recently reminded of this clip on AbsoluteWrite.

I’ve seen that particular Bugs Bunny/Daffy Duck skit before, but I had never considered it in the context of being a writer. The relationship between Bugs and Daffy in this Warner Brother’s Short almost perfectly exemplifies the relationship between authors and characters in my experience. The ones who come to life fight back, and good authors are real stinkers to their characters. And sometimes the author can’t make up their mind where or when to place the story until the characters tell them.

My most disobedient and demanding character to date is Zona from Through Brass Goggles. She is probably my second-favorite character because of it. Zona would be first, but my dragon Aurelia is not just a character but almost my muse as well. Who is yours? Are they your favorite?

Currently Reading: Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss