Sunday, 10 May 2020
Sunday, 27 July 2014
An acceptance along with those dreaded knockbacks
At last an acceptance has arrived on my inbox this morning. Of course it's stands to follow that two rejections came hot on the heels of this wondrous news but it did give me some cheer. My pursuit of 100 published poems/stories continues and it's nice to get a shot in the arm.
I've begun a new short story set to the theme of disappeared. So far I've knocked out a mere 600 words or so and should be back on that tomorrow. I started with no plot to speak of when I began the story but my muse has kindly shown me the way with this tale. I'm looking for about 1500 to 2000 on this piece before the editing process and the deadline for this is only a week or so away so I must press on.
Other stories under the editor's microscope are Funnelweb (an odd v.r. story originally penned a few years ago), Run (my zombie tale), Cash in hand (resubbed today), Awakening - horror western (also resubbed today), Orc (working title- another ancient piece) - where orcs and elves are at each others throats but in a novel way and dare I say controversial way, Prohibition - A quirky story which I love (resubbed) oh and of course my continuing edit of The Furze.
Next week I'll be looking at some of my poetry sitting under the idle tree and will get that out there. I'll also start looking at what to do with memory in a poem. Hopefully there'll be some news on what's happening with this venture and I'll have an inspiration piece to work with.
No doubt next time I type I'll be drowning under a flood of acceptances but until that happy event...adieu
I've begun a new short story set to the theme of disappeared. So far I've knocked out a mere 600 words or so and should be back on that tomorrow. I started with no plot to speak of when I began the story but my muse has kindly shown me the way with this tale. I'm looking for about 1500 to 2000 on this piece before the editing process and the deadline for this is only a week or so away so I must press on.
Other stories under the editor's microscope are Funnelweb (an odd v.r. story originally penned a few years ago), Run (my zombie tale), Cash in hand (resubbed today), Awakening - horror western (also resubbed today), Orc (working title- another ancient piece) - where orcs and elves are at each others throats but in a novel way and dare I say controversial way, Prohibition - A quirky story which I love (resubbed) oh and of course my continuing edit of The Furze.
Next week I'll be looking at some of my poetry sitting under the idle tree and will get that out there. I'll also start looking at what to do with memory in a poem. Hopefully there'll be some news on what's happening with this venture and I'll have an inspiration piece to work with.
No doubt next time I type I'll be drowning under a flood of acceptances but until that happy event...adieu
Tuesday, 22 July 2014
Part two
Here I sit listening to a spot of Radiohead after putting together an odd little flash regarding entomology. Not the sort of thing I would normally consider but after coming across this site I thought I'd give it a go. Hell, why not, costs me nothing except a bit of time after all. For those wishing to join me in this odd challenge here is the link : http://www.unlikely-story.com/fiction-submissions/
I figured its about time I had a good way of approaching my writing. There is always a mix of editing, creating and subbing. It's an awkward balance and for about the last year and a half I've been beavering away on my folders and transforming a lot of old toot into something half decent. I think I've almost caught up (except for the two novels which will go on and on no doubt) and at last I can really dedicate myself to scribing.
I find a simple way to get through the whole process. One day write, the next edit and sub anything ready or rejected. It's so easy yet it is all too simple to get bogged down. I recommend this method to anyone who struggles to get organised and believe me I am the king of chaos and excuses!
This month has been a bit flat on the acceptances front. Rejections are part of any writer's life but they do seem to be breeding this month. The good thing is though occasionally you get some feedback as to where the piece is going wrong. These are nuggets of gold and you should take note especially if the advice gets repeated. However, I did get a pdf copy of blood moon rising with my sinister poem disintegration sitting nicely at the end. I quite like the end, it's the last thing you remember...
Talking of poetry we had a great little session at the Hazlitt Arts Centre last night. It really looks like we're going places. There is almost certainly going to be a collaboration between the poets and some local artists which will culminate in an exhibition at the museum. I have worked on an online venture before and the results are great. Here's a little taste of what can happen and if you search the archives you'll find a few more of my efforts :) http://www.getsparked.org/spark11/cat-ross-and-gary-hewitt
There is also talk of a trip to Dover for a reading set and it certainly appeals to me. Last nights poetry session centred around memory and we certainly rattled our brain boxes to discover some good source material. This will all tie in nicely for the exhibition work we are looking at. Like I said exciting times and watch this space for more developments as they happen.
Adieu for now :)
I figured its about time I had a good way of approaching my writing. There is always a mix of editing, creating and subbing. It's an awkward balance and for about the last year and a half I've been beavering away on my folders and transforming a lot of old toot into something half decent. I think I've almost caught up (except for the two novels which will go on and on no doubt) and at last I can really dedicate myself to scribing.
I find a simple way to get through the whole process. One day write, the next edit and sub anything ready or rejected. It's so easy yet it is all too simple to get bogged down. I recommend this method to anyone who struggles to get organised and believe me I am the king of chaos and excuses!
This month has been a bit flat on the acceptances front. Rejections are part of any writer's life but they do seem to be breeding this month. The good thing is though occasionally you get some feedback as to where the piece is going wrong. These are nuggets of gold and you should take note especially if the advice gets repeated. However, I did get a pdf copy of blood moon rising with my sinister poem disintegration sitting nicely at the end. I quite like the end, it's the last thing you remember...
Talking of poetry we had a great little session at the Hazlitt Arts Centre last night. It really looks like we're going places. There is almost certainly going to be a collaboration between the poets and some local artists which will culminate in an exhibition at the museum. I have worked on an online venture before and the results are great. Here's a little taste of what can happen and if you search the archives you'll find a few more of my efforts :) http://www.getsparked.org/spark11/cat-ross-and-gary-hewitt
There is also talk of a trip to Dover for a reading set and it certainly appeals to me. Last nights poetry session centred around memory and we certainly rattled our brain boxes to discover some good source material. This will all tie in nicely for the exhibition work we are looking at. Like I said exciting times and watch this space for more developments as they happen.
Adieu for now :)
Sunday, 13 July 2014
first outing
Hello there
I figured I'd give the blogging route a run out. Hell, why not as it gives you readers a little insight as to what's in the pipeline.
This place will be about writing. Sorry to bore you with a lack of salacious gossip but this is not a tabloid newspaper. Instead, I would hope you may find what I've got lined up of some interest to you all. Circumstances have allowed me of late to dedicate more time to my writing and I know when I look back I've improved a hell of a lot.
That's not to say I'm perfect. No chance. There are still lessons to be learned, mistakes to be made and rejections to turn into acceptances. Anyways, instead of wittering away I shall let you know what I'm working on.
I had an e-mail from Allen on Garden Gnome publishing asking work for his flim-flam games and anthology. I have a lot of time for Allen as he has been kind enough to have published a few stories of mine and for this deluge anthology I've upped my word limit by a considerable degree. I've subbed pretty much flash fiction to him in the past but my latest short story is already at 4000 words with some way to go. Yes there's a lot of editing that will need to be done (I've already decided to delete one character scene) and a bit of trimming to do to but I'm happy with the direction its taken. I won't tell you what the plot is but shrinking universe by muse might give you a clue...
An effort of mine on TWI weekly challenge has garnered a few votes which is nice as I wasn't sure how it would be received. Needless to say it's already out there waiting to be accepted by a publisher now.
What else have I worked on. There's a biopunk story at around 3000 words subbed this week. I've also subbed off a flash to my friends at Smokebox, I've subbed off a horror western off and I'm working on a couple of old stories of mine. I'm also over half way now on editing my Nanowrimo effort from a few years back. It'll probably end up around 40k words which will probably be classified as a novella.
On the horizon we've got a poetry anthology from the Hazlitt which is very close to being published and we'll probably do a bit of publicity here and there which will involve 'readings'. There's also open mic at the end of the year which is always fun, maybe one day I'll be one of the featured guests...
Rather than bombard you once a day I shall look to run this blog weekly to let you know what's going on. Note, I will look to, doesn't mean I will as I can be a lazy sod when the mood takes me. I do have a degree in procrastination after all.
On that note I wish you good night and enjoy the football.
I figured I'd give the blogging route a run out. Hell, why not as it gives you readers a little insight as to what's in the pipeline.
This place will be about writing. Sorry to bore you with a lack of salacious gossip but this is not a tabloid newspaper. Instead, I would hope you may find what I've got lined up of some interest to you all. Circumstances have allowed me of late to dedicate more time to my writing and I know when I look back I've improved a hell of a lot.
That's not to say I'm perfect. No chance. There are still lessons to be learned, mistakes to be made and rejections to turn into acceptances. Anyways, instead of wittering away I shall let you know what I'm working on.
I had an e-mail from Allen on Garden Gnome publishing asking work for his flim-flam games and anthology. I have a lot of time for Allen as he has been kind enough to have published a few stories of mine and for this deluge anthology I've upped my word limit by a considerable degree. I've subbed pretty much flash fiction to him in the past but my latest short story is already at 4000 words with some way to go. Yes there's a lot of editing that will need to be done (I've already decided to delete one character scene) and a bit of trimming to do to but I'm happy with the direction its taken. I won't tell you what the plot is but shrinking universe by muse might give you a clue...
An effort of mine on TWI weekly challenge has garnered a few votes which is nice as I wasn't sure how it would be received. Needless to say it's already out there waiting to be accepted by a publisher now.
What else have I worked on. There's a biopunk story at around 3000 words subbed this week. I've also subbed off a flash to my friends at Smokebox, I've subbed off a horror western off and I'm working on a couple of old stories of mine. I'm also over half way now on editing my Nanowrimo effort from a few years back. It'll probably end up around 40k words which will probably be classified as a novella.
On the horizon we've got a poetry anthology from the Hazlitt which is very close to being published and we'll probably do a bit of publicity here and there which will involve 'readings'. There's also open mic at the end of the year which is always fun, maybe one day I'll be one of the featured guests...
Rather than bombard you once a day I shall look to run this blog weekly to let you know what's going on. Note, I will look to, doesn't mean I will as I can be a lazy sod when the mood takes me. I do have a degree in procrastination after all.
On that note I wish you good night and enjoy the football.
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