When Projects Overlap

Since I have trained myself to follow through with goals, I am currently in the position of having a number of writing projects on the go.  I am used to this, but I don't necessarily think it is the most productive option.  So I am enjoying the revelation that they can overlap.  So my short story collection, written by John Updike, that I am using as a model for my own short stories has now become a resource for my novel project.  I've discovered that writers, including me, make connection between random ideas and that the mind holds many surprises.  Love it. 

Reports are that the Robins are back!

New Project Growth

It hasn't been as productive a week as I'd hoped but while I wasn't sitting at home writing, I was catching up with friends and family.  Today, however, I am back at the keyboard.  And I have taken my little seed of an idea and now there are a couple of green leaves coming out of the soil.  That particular metaphor was easy as I have started some plants this year and that is exactly the stage my gardening project is at. 

This seed sprouting metaphor should tell you that I'm not the type of writer that does a lot of pre-plotting.  I have called my style of composition to be discovery and development.  So I have discovered the 'first thing' that happens.  I will develop that as I write.  But the good news is that the 'first thing' is large enough to carry the weight of a novel. 

Excitement

I am pretty excited about a new project.  It's too soon to share, but I have begun and the idea meets all my criteria.  First it will be a challenge, second it will incorporate many elements that interest me, and third -it's a novel approach.  I'm ready.  It's started.  Stay tuned. 

Prairie Journal - Forty Pounds

Just a note to anyone that wishes to read my short story 'Forty Pounds' at Prairie Journal.  You have to wait for the site to fully load before you will be able to get to my story.  So if you click on my name, and all you see is a blue menu with {title} then check to be sure that the whirling circle still isn't spinning.  But if the site is fully available it should read Forty Pounds and Bio.  As I said, sometimes it seems there are technical difficulties. 

97, 98, 99.....

I'm about to hit 100 submissions that have gone through the Submittable manager website.  Not every market that I submit to uses Submittable but a large percentage do.  It's pretty cool, actually.  It keeps track of things for the writer.  I can see whether my stories are marked as 'received' or 'in progress' at the active page, which lists my stories that are in the market place waiting for the editors to make up their minds.  My accepted list is rather short, my rejected list sincerely long, but just for kicks, I checked out the All page.  And there it was ...99.  That's the number of submissions I have made through this site since 2010.  I would have to dig into my records at home to add in the submissions made to other markets but for now, I think 99 is a pretty awesome record. 

In The Mail

I have mailed my entry to Alberta Views, with a kiss for luck and a stamp that cost me $1.90.  I'm tempted to add up the hours that I've worked on this particular story, but I think that's rather a bad idea. There were lots, but if I ever had any doubts about 'caring' for a piece of writing, this story proved that I care lots.  It features a World War 11 veteran in the year of 1999 and was inspired my Uncle Ralph's comment about money not being allowed in the extended care.  The rest of the story...well who really knows where stories come from. 
I certainly gave it my best efforts, including vetting it with my two writer friends, (thank you again Cheryl and Linda) and even letting my husband read it.  He's really excellent at finding the tiny spelling errors and sure enough, page 10 had one.  Nice catch.  So it's the best I could make it and it's sent.  On to the next thing.