November has come and gone and what a month it was. It was a whirlwind of activity in our household! From birthday highs to illness lows, I feel like we were run through an obstacle course but we came out of it (somewhat) healthy, (not at all) wealthy, and a little more wise.
We began the month celebrating my birthday with a Monster Movie Marathon with our closest friends. Then I tried my hand a second time at NaNoWriMo. I had the worst migraine I have had in years somewhere in the middle of the month. Then we had a quiet family celebration for my husband's birthday. My son and I caught a ruthless head cold just before Thanksgiving, but that didn't stop us from enjoying some quality family time and turkey (but we kept our germs to ourselves). And now I have a lovely Christmas tree to look at for the rest of the season.
So, how did I fare in NaNoWriMo? Well, thanks to the migraine and the head cold, I never truly got caught up after I fell behind. I started off strong, reaching 25,000 words by the middle of the month; right on target. But by the end of NaNoWriMo, I had written only about 30,000. Am I disappointed? Of course I am. But 30,000 is still about 20,000 more than I wrote last year. And I still plan on finishing my book and (hopefully) going on to the publishing phase . Now, whether that will be going the traditional route or self publishing remains to be seen. Perhaps that will be a topic one month for next year's Writing 12 in 12...
Speaking of next year, just because this is the last month of my challenge, doesn't mean that Writing 12 in 12 is going away. I have plenty of surprises in store for next year, so stay tuned!
For December I have narrowed my choices down to three things:
Great Old Ones Publishing is accepting submissions for stories about cryptids. They are looking for original stories between 3,000 and 8,000 words to include in an anthology. Be creative and be unique are their top requirements. Visit their site for information on how to submit.
Highlights Magazine is looking for mystery stories up to 750 words. This is a children's magazine so the stories can't include crime, violence or derogatory humor. Visit their site for more information.
Litro Magazine's February issue will be centered around 'Diaries'. What do diaries mean to you? They accept short fiction, flash fiction and nonfiction. Visit their site if you are interested in writing about 'Diaries'.
I'm not sure what will inspire me this month, or any month, so I have learned to keep my options open. December is always busy, what with the holidays and all. At least I still have a few weeks until the kids get out of school to get to work.
How do you plan on balancing your writing and your holiday celebrations this year?
For me? I'm hoping to get rid of this nagging cough. And also to get as much done as possible before the kids are out for their winter break.
Showing posts with label National Poetry Month. Show all posts
Showing posts with label National Poetry Month. Show all posts
Tuesday, December 2, 2014
Thursday, May 1, 2014
Happy May Day!
A late season cool front has left us Texans feeling refreshed and (almost) ready for summer. I know that once the temperatures start reaching triple digits, we'll miss these sweater weather mornings. I, for one am ready to start anew. I have been feeling a little down after a set back with my health, but I am hoping to be back on track soon and ready to tackle this month's challenge. First let's take a look back and see how the last few months have stacked up.
In February I participated in the We Said Go Travel Inspiration Travel Writing Contest. They are going to be announcing their Independence Travel Writing Contest sometime this month so check their site often if you are interested. I know I will! If you are interested in reading the piece I submitted you can click the link here.
In March I was excited to work on a short story for Three Cheers and a Tiger's mystery writing contest sponsored by Literary Journal, Toasted Cheese. Congratulations to the winners! I am looking forward to the June publication so I can read your wonderful stories. Three Cheers and a Tiger will have a science fiction/fantasy writing contest in September. I have never written anything in this genre, but this is the year to expand my horizons, right? So why not give it a go?
April was National Poetry Month. My personal goal was to write a poem a day with Writer's Digest blogger and poet, Robert Lee Brewer on his Poetic Asides blog. I started off strong, writing sometimes multiple poems a day. They weren't always very good, but that wasn't the point of the challenge. The point, for me, was to write every day. Something I am very bad about. Almost halfway through the month I thought I was going to make it, then I had a very bad bout of dizziness and vertigo and couldn't stand to look and the computer screen. C'est la vie; especially around here.
And that brings us full circle to May. I searched and searched for something new to work on in May, but ended up finding another short story. Haunted Waters Press is calling for open submissions for their June publication. They are looking for works of prose, creative nonfiction and poetry for their quarterly literary journal, From the Depths. I can write a short story of 3500 words or less, flash fiction of any length, or creative nonfiction of 1500 words or less. They want a story that revolves around the ordinary objects in our lives. It can be any type of story and any type of object; let your imagination go wild.
Wish me luck and I'll do the same for you.
In February I participated in the We Said Go Travel Inspiration Travel Writing Contest. They are going to be announcing their Independence Travel Writing Contest sometime this month so check their site often if you are interested. I know I will! If you are interested in reading the piece I submitted you can click the link here.
In March I was excited to work on a short story for Three Cheers and a Tiger's mystery writing contest sponsored by Literary Journal, Toasted Cheese. Congratulations to the winners! I am looking forward to the June publication so I can read your wonderful stories. Three Cheers and a Tiger will have a science fiction/fantasy writing contest in September. I have never written anything in this genre, but this is the year to expand my horizons, right? So why not give it a go?
April was National Poetry Month. My personal goal was to write a poem a day with Writer's Digest blogger and poet, Robert Lee Brewer on his Poetic Asides blog. I started off strong, writing sometimes multiple poems a day. They weren't always very good, but that wasn't the point of the challenge. The point, for me, was to write every day. Something I am very bad about. Almost halfway through the month I thought I was going to make it, then I had a very bad bout of dizziness and vertigo and couldn't stand to look and the computer screen. C'est la vie; especially around here.
And that brings us full circle to May. I searched and searched for something new to work on in May, but ended up finding another short story. Haunted Waters Press is calling for open submissions for their June publication. They are looking for works of prose, creative nonfiction and poetry for their quarterly literary journal, From the Depths. I can write a short story of 3500 words or less, flash fiction of any length, or creative nonfiction of 1500 words or less. They want a story that revolves around the ordinary objects in our lives. It can be any type of story and any type of object; let your imagination go wild.
Wish me luck and I'll do the same for you.
Tuesday, April 22, 2014
April Update
I had a small hiccup meeting my goal for my Poem-a-Day challenge. I had a little bump in the road with my health, but I am starting to feel a little better so even though I missed a few days I am ready to get back on the proverbial horse and get back to writing. I had a bout of dizziness that was preventing me from being able to even look at a computer screen for several days. I have resolved to do what I can when I can do it. It's not quantity it's quality.
Speaking of quality, I am no poet! I liken my poetry to the attempts of a junior high schooler, but at least it has been fun doing it. I have experimented with different styles and different patterns and imagery that probably was only apparent to me, but it was fun writing it nonetheless. All in all I think it will make me a better writer by making me slow down and think more about which words have more impact or paint a better picture. And it's not too late to get in on the action! Go to Writer's Digest and join in on the fun!
Speaking of fun, my travel article from February's challenge is now live on the internet! How cool is that? In February, the challenge was to write about a place that inspires you to spend your time wisely and without regrets. The challenge was hosted by We Said Go Travel and the winners will announced in May.
I have prospects for my May challenge. I'll let you know next week what I decide. Till then...
Wish me luck and I'll do the same for you.
Speaking of quality, I am no poet! I liken my poetry to the attempts of a junior high schooler, but at least it has been fun doing it. I have experimented with different styles and different patterns and imagery that probably was only apparent to me, but it was fun writing it nonetheless. All in all I think it will make me a better writer by making me slow down and think more about which words have more impact or paint a better picture. And it's not too late to get in on the action! Go to Writer's Digest and join in on the fun!
Speaking of fun, my travel article from February's challenge is now live on the internet! How cool is that? In February, the challenge was to write about a place that inspires you to spend your time wisely and without regrets. The challenge was hosted by We Said Go Travel and the winners will announced in May.
I have prospects for my May challenge. I'll let you know next week what I decide. Till then...
Wish me luck and I'll do the same for you.
Monday, March 31, 2014
Marching Right Along... (Get It??)
I consider March a success. And it was a fun challenge. Three Cheers and a Tiger hosted a short story mystery writing contest toward the end of the month. The rest of the month I practiced writing monologues and I read. I read a lot. I read The Shining, Misery and Christine by Stephen King and am two thirds of the way through A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin.
There are days when I would rather read than eat, write, watch tv, walk the dog, anything. Having done only one short challenge this month was a welcome break and I was happy to reacquaint myself with the authors and genres I love best. I have always been enthralled with mystery, suspense, dark humor, the supernatural, history, fantasy, love, relationships, violence, murder and death. Movies and television have nothing on the written word. That's a bit hypocritical from someone whose repertoire consists mostly of scripts, shorts and monologues, but I envy those who can envision their worlds so completely and vividly and then recreate them for an audience on a blank page. That's why I read. Not out of jealousy, but out of awe. And to escape and be inspired. I may not be able to be onstage anymore, but I can still be anyone I want to be when I crack the spine of a new book or share a favorite old one with my children.
Anyway, that's my feelings on the importance of literacy. As for the March challenge, it couldn't have gone better. A writing prompt was announced on Just the Place for a Snark on Friday, March 21. We had 48 hours to write a mystery story between 2450 and 2550 words. The prompt was, and this is an abbreviation so as not to plagiarize, write a story about something that appears in a pile of snow.
I don't know what made me this, but I decided to go to my 13 year old son for advice and together we came up with a story that if I "ever made it into a book" he would "definitely want to read". Of course that just be because he was the main character. The mystery we made up was that a group of kids found a flash drive in the snow and just had to know what was on it. There were a few hurdles to overcome before they could finally get it plugged it and working. Things like meddling parents, chores, and bedtime. Not to mention they had to dry it out in a cup full of rice. Oh, but just imagining what was hidden on the drive was maddening. Then finally success! And then, when they open it up... The end.
Actually I just ran out of words. I tend to be wordy. In truth, it was fun writing something with my son. Now my daughters are jealous and want a story inspired by them. Guess I'll have to write a sequel.
For April I have decided on a different sort of challenge. April is National Poetry Month. To honor that I have chosen to join the challenge to write a poem every day for the month of April. Now, I am no poet, but that is okay. You don't have to be. I believe, as many writers (and wanna be writers like me) do, that it's not what you write, it's that you write. Robert Lee Brewer is hosting his 7th annual April PAD Challenge on his Poetic Asides blog. All the rules and guidelines are laid very nicely and neatly. He will post a writing prompt everyday and everyday a new guest judge will choose their favorite. What is different this year is that the favorites that are chosen will be published in an anthology, giving the publishers a one-time right to publish but the poems will still belong to the writers and are still able to be reprinted elsewhere. I think that's the most important information, but if you are interested go check it out.
Wish me luck and I'll do the same for you...
There are days when I would rather read than eat, write, watch tv, walk the dog, anything. Having done only one short challenge this month was a welcome break and I was happy to reacquaint myself with the authors and genres I love best. I have always been enthralled with mystery, suspense, dark humor, the supernatural, history, fantasy, love, relationships, violence, murder and death. Movies and television have nothing on the written word. That's a bit hypocritical from someone whose repertoire consists mostly of scripts, shorts and monologues, but I envy those who can envision their worlds so completely and vividly and then recreate them for an audience on a blank page. That's why I read. Not out of jealousy, but out of awe. And to escape and be inspired. I may not be able to be onstage anymore, but I can still be anyone I want to be when I crack the spine of a new book or share a favorite old one with my children.
Anyway, that's my feelings on the importance of literacy. As for the March challenge, it couldn't have gone better. A writing prompt was announced on Just the Place for a Snark on Friday, March 21. We had 48 hours to write a mystery story between 2450 and 2550 words. The prompt was, and this is an abbreviation so as not to plagiarize, write a story about something that appears in a pile of snow.
I don't know what made me this, but I decided to go to my 13 year old son for advice and together we came up with a story that if I "ever made it into a book" he would "definitely want to read". Of course that just be because he was the main character. The mystery we made up was that a group of kids found a flash drive in the snow and just had to know what was on it. There were a few hurdles to overcome before they could finally get it plugged it and working. Things like meddling parents, chores, and bedtime. Not to mention they had to dry it out in a cup full of rice. Oh, but just imagining what was hidden on the drive was maddening. Then finally success! And then, when they open it up... The end.
Actually I just ran out of words. I tend to be wordy. In truth, it was fun writing something with my son. Now my daughters are jealous and want a story inspired by them. Guess I'll have to write a sequel.
For April I have decided on a different sort of challenge. April is National Poetry Month. To honor that I have chosen to join the challenge to write a poem every day for the month of April. Now, I am no poet, but that is okay. You don't have to be. I believe, as many writers (and wanna be writers like me) do, that it's not what you write, it's that you write. Robert Lee Brewer is hosting his 7th annual April PAD Challenge on his Poetic Asides blog. All the rules and guidelines are laid very nicely and neatly. He will post a writing prompt everyday and everyday a new guest judge will choose their favorite. What is different this year is that the favorites that are chosen will be published in an anthology, giving the publishers a one-time right to publish but the poems will still belong to the writers and are still able to be reprinted elsewhere. I think that's the most important information, but if you are interested go check it out.
Wish me luck and I'll do the same for you...
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