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Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Reading, Reading, Reading
Hello fellow writers! No, I haven't fallen in a hole. I'm still here,
but I'm busy reading. With the Novel Beginnings 1st Chapter Contest comes a great deal of reading. We place no word limitations
on the opening chapter, so I'm finding these chapters are ranging from 2 - 43 pages! The average length seems to be around
22 pages. Not sure what the magical formula is for that, but I've gotten several that end there.
As to the
judging, I'm enjoying myself as usual. It's fun to be a part of the process. And I always learn from you and your
writing. Iron sharpens iron, as they say.
At any rate, I will be extending the results date. May has been extra
busy for me, with my daughter graduating from high school, an influx in editing projects, and the occasional sunny day popping
through a long and dreary series of rainy ones--which calls me to the garden to quickly stick plants in the soil so that I'll
have veggies in the near future.
So please be patient, novelists. I should have results by June 7.
2:50 pm cdt
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Write Anyway
Lately things have been getting in the way of
writing. Whereas the past month it's been a challenge to find writing time, this past week my schedule has opened wider
than the Grand Canyon. Problem is, personal stuff has taken center stage. Oh, nothing overly dramatic, just a pile of low-grade
stressors and problems getting along with others. Angry words and hurt feelings. For me, when my emotions are running
high, it's difficult to put those feelings aside and write. My writing has a great deal to do with my emotional state,
and it's hard to separate the two.
But as a writer, a professional writer, I know that I need to press on,
work through the clutter of my personal life and write anyway. The reason I share this with you is because I believe it's
important to be honest about the writing process. We're all learning, growing, striving to be the best writers we
can be.
If you find yourself distracted by personal problems and situations beyond your control, write anyway.
Even if it's only a paragraph. Press on to the be the writer you were destined to be.
8:31 am cdt
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Amazing Story Fiction Contest is closed. Results announced September 13.
Check
out our Past Winners for more great reads!
Need an editor?
Have
you written a story but are unsure what to do next? Do you find grammar and punctuation confusing? Let us fuss over your writing!
We will polish your work so that you communicate effectively, accurately, and creatively. For
more information, see our competitive rates.
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“I’m at the
end of my rope with you, boy, I am. The Dark One toys with you. He will consume you.” A slow, dire shake of his massive
head. “We’re gonna send you on up to that primary school. I reckon you still gotta come home at the end of the
day. You remember who you are, boy. You’re smugglin’ the Lord in. You’re my David, mm? Fightin’ Goliath?
David wins, yes? Always puts a great rock…”—as his fat, tusk-like index finger pressed a smudge into the
boy’s forehead—“right through Goliath’s skull.” He put his hand down. “You shall not reflect
poorly on your family.” A grin lifted the craterous sag of his cheeks. “Supper is soon. Join us, mm?” He
turned to Papa, who nodded, and the two men left, their groaning footfalls and low chatting in the hall.
Creighton hiccupped in relief. Who had Goliath killed as a boy?
Read an
excerpt from Good Gravity by Brian Lott, winner of our 2010 Novel Beginnings 1st Chapter Contest.
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So why get a critique?
Every day we pay for small, trivial things, like a soda out of the vending machine at work or
a candy bar in line at the grocery store. A magazine or a manicure. A cup of coffee through the drive-thru.
But how much do we invest in enriching our lives?
Developing a talent that's been dormant for a long time? Realizing a dream, like seeing our name in print?
Why
get a critique? I say, why not?
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