Writer Update: Submissions, writing, and planning

Time for a quick reality check on the writer.

I haven't reported on submissions for a while, so here goes:

May: 2 submissions

June: 1 submission

2 rejections, one outstanding.
I need to do a reality check on one story, which has about 6 rejections. Might be fine, might be deluding myself. It's SF--if anyone wants to take a read, let me know and I'll appreciate your feedback.

I also need to write some more stories just for submission and stop sharing everything here on the blog! Lately the only short stories I've written have been for blog-hop prompts.

Writing and planning/plotting:
Progress on the new book/series is finally starting to happen, though much of what I'm doing now may just be exercises to get the juices flowing, or even pure procrastination. But the plot/"outline" for the new book is taking shape at least a little. To help matters along (and/or to feel like I'm writing even if I'm not), I've been writing an extensive biography of my main character, Seffi Wardwell. I'm learning a lot about her, and have just about reached the point where the books begins.

In addition to all this, I've written two flash fiction pieces in June and am up to Part 5 on the Grand Canyon raft trip report. 

Since I'm currently visiting my mom and other Seattle area friends, any writing at all is to be considered a bonus, shoehorned in between hikes and gab-fests.

At this point the plan is to start drafting the novel the 1st of July, a totally arbitrary date that I hope will help me stop spinning my wheels and start producing bad prose and a mess of a plot.

 

A fine distraction

IWSG: Writing Season?

Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds! Posting: The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. Visit others in the group and connect with your fellow writer - aim for a dozen new people each time - and return comments. This group is all about connecting! Be sure to link to the IWSG page and display the badge in your post. And please be sure your avatar links back to your blog! If it links to Google+, be sure your blog is listed there. Otherwise, when you leave a comment, people can't find you to comment back.

Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!

Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG

Every month, we announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG post. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience or story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say.

 

OPTIONAL IWSG Day Question: It's spring! Does this season inspire you to write more than others, or not?

Fanstastic Co-Hosts:
JQ Rose, C. Lee McKenzie, Raimey Gallant, & E.M.A Timar!

It's that time--how's the writing going? Can I just say here that I really like the monthly IWSG check-in, and I find everyone's posts inspirational? 

My own writing is having a bit of a vacation. Despite the question of the day, though, I don't think it's the season--some years I do a lot in the spring (summer, however, is pretty consistently bad, as we usually travel, have our kids home, have guests, and the garden needs to be weeded when I am home). No, this time I'm just having to scale back the writing in order to deal with life, as we prepare our home of 20 years for sale! You start looking around your house with the eyes of a potential buyer--and suddenly you realize you need to hang up the word processor and get out the paintbrush!

Due to this infusion of reality I've not really tried to do anything big in the way of writing since my book came out March 28. I've managed to pull off a couple of pieces of flash fiction, and I'm shifting my attention to short stories, with a resolution to make at least some submissions each month (I'd like to say "4" or something, but that would probably be unrealistic). Those of you who follow this blog know I've been saying that for a while, and I do struggle with matching up my stories with the calls for submission, and in a timely fashion.

So: my good news for this month is that I succeeded in making three submissions!

Of course, those were followed by three rejections, but that's not the point. The point is that this insecure writer managed to complete a story and send it out three times! I also got some feedback that I may be able to use to make the story stronger. A second story that I think might have more potential *if* I can finish it is giving me trouble, but I'm hoping maybe inspiration will come while I'm pulling weeds and slopping paint around. Wish me luck, because I think I should manage a couple of submissions each month. 

So tell me how the seasons affect your writing, or if you've managed to meet any resolutions this month!