Wednesday's Writing Update

It's Wednesday, so by now, you should know what time it is. I have a lot to update, so I hope I remember everything that happened since last Wednesday.

Since October ended on Sunday, I have my October stats.

Submissions: 1 ("Melek Katili")

Rejections: 3 ("Lady Death," "Melek Katili," and "Magna's Plea")

Acceptances: 0

Word Count: 5,293

Submissions Still in Submission World: 2 ("Soul Survivor" and "Defying Gravity")

Yes, I received a rejection for "Magna's Plea" from Pill Hill Press's Shadows & Light, Vol. II on Saturday. It was a nice rejection letter, even if it was a little disappointing. I was told that they received 50 to a 100 submissions since December and my story was one of only 30 short listed, but in the end, my story didn't quite fit with the other stories they were accepting. They also said it was a very good story and wished me luck finding another home for it. As I said, a nice rejection letter.

As for my other two submissions still out there, I should know something about them in December/January. I have plans on writing and submitting one more short story in December for Wyvern Publications' Fangtales, but otherwise, I'm not going to submit anything else the rest of the year, I think. I want to be able to take time and go back over my previously written short stories, fix them up, and send them on submission in 2011.

As for November goals, I have only one: write and complete first draft of Sarah's Nightmare. I tell you I am the most prepared to write this novel than any novel I've previously written, and it is paying off. Since Monday, I've written over 6,000 words and I'm on chapter six in the novel. I don't feel like I'm just writing any word down either to up my word count. I'm taking it as I go, making certain to limit adverbs, adjectives, cliches (sometimes), and other things that are not too good for a manuscript. I feel very much in the head of these characters, and I'm enjoying writing them and the story. I missed writing a novel and focusing solely on it. By the end of today, I hope to have at least chapter six written and be close to 8,000 words.

And, if you haven't read Flash Fiction Fridays yet, hope over and read "Possession" here.

I've been thinking a lot about the end of the year and next year. I want to do things differently. I want to have my previously written novels ready to submit to agents and my old short stories fixed and find homes for them.  I likely won't be writing many new short stories for anthologies in 2011. I'll still write my short stories for Raven and the Writing Desk and my flash fiction for the blog, but I need to fix my old work. By the end of this year, I'll have three completed novels in basically first draft form. In 2011, I hope to have all three, or at least two, polished to query agents. And, of course, I'll do NaNoWriMo next year too. I even have an idea for it based off a character named Grim Reeper. If I can figure out the rest of the novel, then it'll be an Middle Grade Urban Fantasy. I never tried to write one of those, so it might be fun and a challenge. For now, I must focus on Sarah's Nightmare. Shut up, Grim. Seriously, dude.

And, last but not least, we have cover art for Oil and Water...and Other Things That Don't Mix charity anthology. My story "Tradition" will be in it, and the publisher is just finalizing the charities, so I'll keep you updated on a release date. The great thing about this anthology is all the proceeds go to help Gulf oil spill victims. I'm so pleased to be a part of it.