Je Sui Charlie - For the Writers of Charlie Hebdo

Unfortunately we find that tragedy can sometimes bring out the best in us. When gunmen burst into the offices of a satirical magazine yesterday in France and killed 12 of their employees, they probably had no idea that the world would rally together and cry out, "Je Sui Charlie (I am Charlie)" in support of Charlie Hebdo.

Among the twelve French citizens murdered was an officer who was there to protect the editors and cartoonists from just such an attack. Eleven others were wounded. All of this from a difference of opinion.

It is one thing to have a piece of paper say that we are protected. That we can say and print whatever we want. That freedom of speech is a right that is granted to all citizens. And yes, France grants that right to all its citizens in the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen just as the First Amendment of the Constitution protects our right to freedom of the press. But nowhere does it say that someone can take that right away from us. Not the government, not the people and certainly not masked gunmen.

I admit that I am not well versed on satire. But here is what I do understand.

Satire is using humor, irony, exaggeration or ridicule to expose someone or criticize their weaknesses. Especially political or contemporary figures. Right? (http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/american_english/satire)

Ok, well irony is the expression of one's meaning to signify the opposite for an emphatic effect. (http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/american_english/irony#irony)

Granted, I'm not a language scholar, or even a master of the written word. But the terrorists (and that's what they are, I don't care how you slice it) may have been prompted to kill the people of Charlie Hebdo for drawing a picture of the prophet Mohamed as the editor-in-chief of their magazine. So, in a way, they killed their own prophet by killing the editors and the cartoonists who created him.

Therefore, Je Sui Charlie for all the cartoonists and writers of Charlie Hebdo. The whole world is standing with you.

http://www

.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/je-suis-charlie-trends-people-4935086

End of Year Review - 2014

And so, as all good things tend to do, we come to the end. Thank you so much for joining me on this journey. Writing 12 in 12 has been an experience I am so very grateful I put myself through. In the first six months I learned a lot about myself and about my limitations. What I liked, what I didn't like, what I thought I was good at, what I realized I was terrible at... And so forth.

I got my very first rejection letter this year. That was both the most exciting and horrifying moment in my career thus far. I have cried at each and every subsequent letter I have gotten. I have also printed each one out and placed them very carefully in a bright yellow folder labeled "One Step Closer". One day I will get one that says, "Congratulations, Laura!" and I will cry and have to create a brand new folder to start filling up. I haven't decided what to label that folder or what color it will be.

The last six months were more difficult than the first, though they only proved to strengthen my decision to be a full time writer. I ended up not getting very much done this summer. I had two heart catheter procedures. One was exploratory and the other was to fix an abnormality that was causing severe chest pain. So between the doctor's visits, hospital stays, bed rest, pain, side effects, and kids' summer vacation I never got around to finishing anything I started. 

In September I took some time off to do research for an idea I couldn't get out of my head. I did try my hand one more time at sci-fi/fantasy writing but still couldn't wrap my head around it. I envy you sci-fi and fantasy writers. I guess I just don't have the chops for it. I always end up writing a horror story. 

Which is exactly what I did in October. The short story I created for this particular contest earned me the last rejection letter of 2014. I'm not sad about it. It has strengthened my resolve to be a better writer. And also to recognize that just because I like something, doesn't mean the entire world is going to. There will be a place for me one day. Seriously though, my short story just wasn't ready for the world. 

But it soon will be, thanks to the fantastic writing group I joined. 

NaNoWriMo was almost a success in November. My husband told me to look at it this way; I was closer this year than I was last year. If it hadn't been for a killer migraine and really nasty chest cold (which I don't suggest if you've had previous open heart surgery, I don't care how long it has been) than I honestly think I could have made it to 50,000 words. 

I'm still working on my December challenge. The due date isn't until January, so I hope you won't think that makes me a cheater. Writing is still writing, right? And I'll let you know if I add to my collection of rejection slips or start 2015 off with a brand new folder.

What are your New Year's resolutions about writing?  Share them in the comments below. 

I am going to finish the first draft of my first novel. 

I am going to write something a minimum of five days a week. It is my (low paying) job, after all.

Happy New Year from Writing 12 in 12.

December Writing

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.

Writing Hurdles

Sometimes situations arise that prevent you from being able to write. Be it family, illness, other obligations or even something that is just plain more fun than writer's block, we can't always commit to our daily dose of screen time.

What do you do to get caught up?

Recently I found myself bed bound with what was quite possibly the worst migraine I have had in recent years. I literally stayed on the couch for day one, in bed for days two and three and made it back to the couch for day four. And nothing was making a dent in the pain. So you can forget about even thinking about the story I was writing for NaNoWriMo.

I had started the month off two days behind because we celebrated my birthday with a Monster Movie Marathon during Halloween weekend. The rest of the month of November, I had managed to get caught up on my words. The goal is to average about 1,667 words a day in order to meet the 50,000 word goal at the end of November. The ultimate goal, of course, is to have the first draft of a novel done at the end of the month and the 50,000 word count is the average length of the average novel.

You can imagine my added frustration when I lost so many days to a freakin' headache!

How do you get caught up when you fall behind on your writing goals? I am having to start my days earlier and end them later until I get caught up. And I find that I am adding a lot more trivial details to my novel that will probably get cut in the editing process, but that's okay. This is just the first draft and a little stream-of-consciousness writing never hurt anybody. Leave me your comments below. I would love to hear from you.

NaNoWriMo

After taking September off to do research for a future story, it was good to get back to work in October. November will be it's own challenge with 50,000 words looming over my head.

I successfully wrote and submitted a story to international literary journal, The Flexible Persona, before the October 31st deadline, which was a first. Granted I waited till the 30th, but getting the story in one day early was still an improvement considering I have even missed the date before. I was pleased with what I wrote, but like all writers, I know it can always be improved upon. So we shall see.

November is National Novel Writing Month or NaNoWriMo. I think it's a bit of a cruel joke considering we are shorted one day and have a major holiday to contend with, but I have never been one to back down from a challenge. I attempted this last year with only a vague idea of what I wanted to write. That, and a family illness, kept me from reaching the 50,000 word goal of my first novel. This year I am much more prepared. I am basing my novel on a previously written short story, so no guess work involved. Bring it on, November!

If you need a writing buddy for NaNoWriMo, look me up. My name is DizzyDiaries.

What do you do to keep yourself motivated to write everyday? I have to set myself up on a routine. I start and end at set times daily, otherwise it doesn't get done. Leave your comments below!

Wish me luck and I'll do the same for you.

Writing is a Process

This morning as I was getting to work I was beating myself up for not having written a new blog in the last few weeks. The reason being that I have been unusually busy. You would think that would give me more things to write about but oddly enough, it doesn't. I have been concentrating on finishing up this month's writing challenge, preparing for next month's, going to various children's school functions, doctor's appointments, and being laid up with the odd migraine. Boo.

This month's horror short story is going very well, if I do say so myself. I chose a theme and I kind of just ran with it. I'm not entirely sure it will live up to the theme that The Flexible Persona has laid out, but I am happy with my writing and, to me, my horror story deals with everyday life. Plus, I am writing every day and that was the point of creating Writing 12 in 12. 

Chilling Tales for Nights, where my last horror story made it to the voting phase (thanks again to those that voted), is hosting a flash fiction horror writing contest. Stories of 1,000 words or less, based on one of the photo prompts, are due by October 30. I do love my Flash Fiction... Visit the site for more information.

I made the decision today to enlist some help with my projects. In November I will be participating in National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) and most of my time will be spent trying to write a 50,000 word rough draft of my first novel in 30 days. But that doesn't mean that I have to totally shelve all my other projects. I have another story I have been working since last year's NaNoWriMo (no I was not successful last year). I have enlisted the help of a research assistant, AKA my Mom, to help me answer some questions about history, real historical people, folk lore and geography so I can write a convincing historical fiction about our local area. 

So my question to all my writers today is, what kind of outside help have you enlisted when doing research for your writing? I'm just starting out and I have no shame. So I have totally sucked my mom into my world. Right, mom?

Leave your comments below. I look forward to hearing from you. 

October is for Spooky Tales

It was great to be able to take some time off in September to do research for a side project for a book I would like to write. I made numerous trips to my local library (old fashioned, I know), started to put together short character bios, a timeline for my story and sketched out a rough outline. Not having a deadline looming over my head gave me one less thing to worry about during a much anticipated heart procedure I had done last week as well. (It went smoothly and I am recuperating comfortably at home.)

After all the rest and relaxation, I am ready to get down to brass tacks. October is one of my very favorite months. #1: It's my birthday month. #2: It finally starts to cool down here in the South. #3: Halloween. Need I say more?

For October I have found an international literary journal that is accepting submissions on the theme of horror. What could be more perfect? The Flexible Persona is asking for nonfiction and fiction pieces that will produce terror, anxiety and horror in their editors and readers. This themed issue is free to enter and the deadline is (what else?) October 31st. Selected pieces will be chosen for an on-line audio format as well as a special e-reader edition in February 2015. Please visit their site for more information.

After the mild success I had in the Chilling Tales for Dark Nights contest in June, I am really excited to write another horror story. I hope you won't think that I am cheating since I will be writing another scary story. I found the link to my short story if you missed the voting stage this summer or would just like to read my short story again, typos and all.

Something interesting I ran across was Paul Jenny's site, Stories are the Wildest Things: Writing and Reading With Paul Jenny. He is an author based out of New York City that has taken an interest in telling other writer's stories, both fiction and nonfiction. He hosts a podcast, Stories are the Wildest Things, in which he reads aloud his readers' stories and shares writing tips.

My question for you today is, if you were to write a horror story, would it be something inspired by something in your real life or something created by your imagination? I look forward to hearing from you in the comment section below.

Wish me luck and I'll do the same for you.