Wednesday's Writing Update: July Stats, August Goals, and more!

Happy Wednesday!

Is it just me or does it seem like August has come way too early this year?

Since July ended on Sunday, I have July's stats.

Submissions: 1

Rejections: 0

Acceptances: 0

Stories Short Listed: 2

Total Word Count: 10,951

Total Pages Edited: 269

The pages edited number was a bit lower than it should've been, but I wrote more words last month and read more too.

For August, my main focus is on Virtuoso rewrites. My goal is to rewrite/edit a chapter every two days. I still haven't finished my dragon short story, so I'll work on it when I have time. I do have a few flash pieces to write, but this month shouldn't be too bad. Of course, I have editing too. I'm trying to write in the mornings and edit in the afternoons. It's working out so far.

On Raven and the Writing Desk, our theme this month is deserted islands. I continued Mer's journey in my flash piece "Washed Upon the Shore" in today's short story "Cursed Isle." You can read it here.

Today I have announced my "Favorite Summer Reads" blogfest on my Surrounded byBooks Reviews blog in honor of its one year blogoversary month. Stop by, read the details, and consider signing up. It should be fun and a great way to learn about new books.

So does anyone have any new news?

Wednesday's Writing Update: New Review of Once Upon a December Nightmare, Google+ and Short Stories

Happy Wednesday!

At the bottom of the page, I have my total pageviews which reached over 10,000 yesterday. Wow!

I also was invited to Google+ last night. It's pretty nifty so far. If you need an invite, let me know. 

I meant to blog about this last week, but the holiday weekend fried my brain. I would like to thank Cher Green for her review of Once Upon a December Nightmare on Goodreads. She gave it 5 stars! Thank you so much, Cher! Here is her review: “Once Upon a December Nightmare is a rare breed. Very scary, well written, a page turner. It begins as an innocent outing for four friends, but becomes much more. We all wonder if urban legends are true, but what happens when you are face to face with one. Can you count on your friends, or will you stand alone. Read this book to find out how James, Mary, Denise, and Cassie stand up against a legend. A must read!” And, don’t forget to check out Cher’s new novella Escape to Love that’s now available here. 

I finished writing a couple short stories this week. “The Diary of James Smithland” is at Raven and the Writing Desk today. Our theme this month is wagon trails, and my story was Oregon Trail (the game) inspired. My second short story I’m planning to submit is to the Machine of Death 2 anthology. I wanted to submit something last year, but I ran out of time to write it, so I’m glad I’ll get something submitted this year.

The balance is getting better between reading, writing, and editing. I’m a little heavy into reading this month, but it’s getting there. This balancing act is tricky.

I can’t believe Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II is almost here! *fan girl squeal* I took off Thursday and Friday, so I can go to it. Can’t wait!

So, does anyone have news they’d like to share? How’s your writing going?

Wednesday's Writing Update: A Death, a belated birthday, and more!

On Saturday, best-selling author Lilian Jackson Braun of the “Cat Who” series died at the age of 97. You can read her obituary here. I didn’t hear about her death until late Monday, and it really has saddened me. I believe I read my first “Cat Who” book she wrote in fourth grade. Throughout the years, my mom and I loved her books. There are few things better than cats in mystery novels, so she will be missed.

I realized this week that I missed my two-year blogger anniversary. I started this blog on May 29, 2009. Happy Belated Birthday, blog!

If you follow things over at my review blog Surrounded by Books Reviews, I have an announcement there. You might be interested in checking it out.

My short story “A Killer Rose Garden” is featured on Raven and the Writing Desk today.

My mind has been stuck in edits. Unfortunately, none of them are edits on Virtuoso. That’s what I get for being a freelance editor. *laughs* I hope to get back to my novel work after June 15^th. *crosses fingers*

And, if you haven’t heard – where have you been if you haven’t? – Elana Johnson’s Possession made its debut yesterday! I even found it at B&N when I stopped by there, although I’m waiting for my copy to come from Amazon.com.

So what’s been going on with everyone else this week?

Wednesday's Writing Update

Happy Wednesday, everyone!

Don't forget about the giveaways I'm having. You have a chance to win Nicole Zoltack's Woman of Honor and other prizes here and Aubrie Dionne's Nebula's Music here.

My short story "Soul Drinker" is featured on Raven and the Writing Desk today. Our theme this month is renewal.

Since April has come and gone, I have my stats. Here they are:
Submissions: 1
Rejections: 0
Acceptances: 0
Stories Written: 2
Total Word Count: 14,861
Submissions Still Out There: 4 

I received my first May rejection for "Sweet Vengeance." I plan to submit it to a contest in the next few weeks.

I submitted "Mage Game" to Sword & Sorceress XXVI yesterday. I think it might've been short listed because a few hours later I got an email saying that they were holding it for further consideration (last year the only email I got back from them was a rejection). I'm really trying not to get my hopes up because I know that market is nearly impossible to get into, though.

I'm behind on Virtuoso rewrites and edits. *sighs* I hope to get back to them at least by next week.

I have my first editing assignment as a Hazard Editing freelance editor. I already started working on it, and it's a good read.

I have some short stories to write and some other things here and there.

We're about to start our summer schedule at the library, so I'm looking forward to having weekends off and getting home between 5:30-6:30 most nights. Downside means I have to get up earlier, but it shouldn't be too bad. I hope to get a chance to get more writing done in the evenings. *crosses fingers*

So what is everyone else doing? How is writing going for you?