Writing Wednesday: Writing tools...trying to kickstart the muse!

I've been working on gathering my stories for the upcoming short story collection - all the previously published ones - check, all the previously unpublished ones to beta readers - check, writing a new short story.... no check yet.

But I'm working on it.

I've been tidying up my office after it was painted earlier in the year. In the clean up I collated all my hand written notes for story ideas - and would guess not one of them appealed to me! Gahhhh!

I just couldn't seem to start a story and stick with it. After a few false starts, I have started on a short story. I know already know it needs changes but it's started and I now have 8 A5 pages.

I used the Wacom Bamboo Folio to write these pages. Basically it's an electronic pad and pen that work together so that the text can be then scanned electronically by using the app. The app can then convert it to text or Word, which helps with the retyping.

Retyping a short story - not so bad, but I plan to work on my current novel long hand so typing up all those pages wasn't something I was looking forward to especially with the arm and shoulder pain I have been having lately.

Of course, I need to have legible writing so it can then convert it but even if 80% of it is correct and I need to correct the rest, that is better than retyping the whole thing.

One of the reasons I love this product is that I can use my own paper and since I'm a stationery nut, I can use the A5 pads and notebooks I have purchased over the years. I just have to place them on the folio pad and use the pen (which is lovely to work with). How cool is that?

The muse has responded some but not as much as I would like because of low energy. Some pages is better than no pages, so I'm taking this as a good start.


~
Yia,
Eleni 

Writing Wednesday: Rejection

I've finished my study for the year and it feels good to have done so. I've learned so much in design, but I do feel that my actual writing has suffered because of the time I need to study. Studying is something I went into with my eyes wide open, but it still has been a difficult year time-wise.

Another thing about being a writer is the difficulty in getting rejections. I try not to talk about that side on the blog too much - mainly because I want to be positive and upbeat here. But it IS a reality of this business. It makes you stop and think 'is this something not for this person, or is there something more I could do do this manuscript better?' I'm in a bit of this state at the moment. I've worked long and hard on the manuscript and maybe I need longer to let it sit and look at it with fresh eyes. I last worked on it in March. And with so much to do with study and conference, I don't think I've really let it go in my mind. Because it was the large big project I worked on.

Yes, I've had releases (and therefore edits) since then, but it is a long novel and one that I've worked on over the years. I need another 'big' project to concentrate on. Though, I do enjoy my shorter works which has kept me balanced and in the writing game this year.

So what did I do to help with the feeling of rejection?  I submitted a short story. One I really enjoyed writing. Yep, I put on my big girl pants on. And as I wait for that?

I'm going to work on the next Warder Tale - I've started the opening scene, and it is completely different to what I though it'll be. Surprise already.

I also have more editing/rewriting to do on other short stories I wrote long ago.

For the bigger project, I'm going to turn my attention back to my Dragon book. I've missed my dragon, she's a scream. Though I need to decide how much romance there will be in this book. Or if I'm trying to force the romance. A read from the beginning should help me find my way in that.

I've got a couple of months before school starts again, so I'm hoping to get some projects well on their way or near finished so I can then submit them.

~yia~

Writing Wednesday

Today it's about me. :)

Before I go on - good news:

My flash fiction story, Minion, has been accepted by Antipodean SF. It will be in the January 2013 edition, so yay, January starts off with a bang.

I loved writing this story - it's fun and very tongue-in-cheek. But you can decide in January.

I've done a plan for what I want to achieve with my writing in the next 6 months. I like reviewing these plans every so often to see how realistic I'm being. I think I need to do these plans when I'm tired because I would be more realistic with what i would be able to achieve.

But I did try to keep it balanced. Basically I've lined up the goals with my monthly writer meetings. So far I'm on track with my submissions, but I need to get into some editing and writing - design work and school have taken over a bit as has my bad back.... lots of rest needed.

So what goals do I have planned for mid-October to mid-November?

Edit two short stories
Continue writing a  Warder 2 Tale, and a new fun story which I'm not sure what length it will be. I'm just going to let that one go with the flow.

So it should be achievable, right?

Well, it should but things don't always work out that way.

Wish me luck!


~yia~

Writing Wednesday - Musa Publishing

Technically, Musa Publishing is not a buddy, hence whey the buddy is left out of the title of the post. They are the publishing company who will publish my short story.

I'm now part of the Musa family and so I think this a good spot to give a shout out to them.

Another reason is that Musa has a Twelve Days of Christmas promotion of free reads for 12 days. Who doesn't love a freebie? You can find them here.

Also, do you have a reader in your life but don't know what book to get them? Well, Musa has Gift Certificates (I think that's brilliant). Click here.

And finally, they have a buy one, get one free offer. Pretty good, eh? See the titles here.

I'm most impressed and am glad to be part of the family.


Why don't you check out the Musa website for some authors and titles to read.

~yia~