At the same time, I must have sent the piece to Indie Ink.  IndieInk.org is an online writer and artist collective. It’s a great place to shake off the extra and just read some writing and look at some art.  I got notification this morning that my piece Try to Say No will be featured at Indie Ink. THIS IS EXCITING, OMG. It should be up first thing in the morning at Indieink.org!  I will of course post tomorrow and send everyone to the live link. YAY!

I have to admit, I’ve had a bit of the jealousies lately. I see so many people who haven’t been “working on their writing” getting writing jobs. It’s really been sticking in my craw, lately. But it’s my own fault, because I don’t submit my work or writing samples to even see if I could write for an online magazine or sell my stories.

Things like this are so, so encouraging to me. I will definitely be writing more and submitting more!

And also, I will get to put this fantastic badge on my blog!

So YAY! \o/

Try To Say No

I forgot to mention this is a rewrite of a piece I did last year called Calm Waves and Smooth Moon, so if it sounds familiar, it is. :)

I have submitted this story to two archives. Because if I didn’t do it tonight I would obsessively edit more until it was worse and I really think, after getting some thoughts from a friend, that it’s at its best. *breathes sigh of relief*

One of the archives, I didn’t realize they hadn’t posted a story since fall of ’09. That doesn’t bode well. The other is just one of those internet archives… don’t think I’ll have any trouble being accepted but we shall see. Other sites require first right of publishing or… whatever it is they call it, so I can’t submit until I have something I haven’t submitted elsewhere.

I also am reading some advice on being published and submitting your work… I guess I need to prep a couple of different stories, in case an editor wants to read more. Guess I’d better get moving! I’m kind of thinking of digging into my archive and adding to the one about the girl that doesn’t like light. I want to get away from romance for a minute.

Feels good to have something done, though. Really good.

I joined My Writer’s Circle, finally. Read a couple of great pieces, offered some opinions and such. Overall, though I find a lot of older US writers who write fantasy, or young writers looking for help with speeches and English assignments, and writers from the U.K. *shoulders sag*  Believe me, I’m kind of annoying myself, with this. I told Green Eyes that when I ask someone to read something, and they don’t have anything to say, it ticks me off. But if they pick it apart, that hurts my feelings. I’m not sure, exactly, what I want. Maybe I should try to define that, first.

In the meantime I have successfully not made any more edits to Try To Say No. I think that’s a good sign.  Maybe I should upload it so  people can read it and offer thoughts?

Heard about a new writing contest. Due April 1. HMMMMM. It seems to me that the winner’s of these contests have a distinct style. The subject matter is fantasty, futuristic, or historical. I don’t feel like I have skillz in those areas.

Well.

We’ll see…

**

Have been up since 6ish. First thing I did was open the laptop and take a fresh look at ‘Try To Say No’. I got some good feedback overnight, over some parts that were niggling at me but I didn’t know WHAT was exactly wrong. Thanks to that person that went beyond a cursory glance and actually read the piece and had something to say besides ‘it’s good, now read mine’. Not sure I will hang out there, much. I know I am much more interested in hearing what people have to say about my piece than sorting through every 17 year old’s 122 lines of poetry. I can’t imagine how many people there want to read other people’s stuff, either. We shall see. I’ll do my best to return the favor when I can.

I think I am coming much, much closer to  final draft. Taking a long, overnight break did a great deal of good, as did that critique. I do need to come to a point, eventually, where I decide I am done and call it good and finished and move on to something new. Not sure I’ve reached that point, yet.

Hopefully more writing today and a trip to Barnes & Noble this afternoon. Looking forward to that. Books!