Working on Two Stories

The current stories I'm working on are "The Work of Their Hands" and "Katie Carrefour."

Working on "The Work of Their Hands"

Today I began the planning work for a new story to be called, "The Work of Their Hands."

Submission: "Choosing Chains"

Today I submitted "Choosing Chains" to Liminal Stories.

Submission: "Not for One Piece of Fireworks"

Today I submitted a 100-word story called, "Not for One Piece of Fireworks" to Morgen Bailey's monthly 100-word story competition. 

The title of the story is taken from a quote by Neil Armstrong:  "I guess we all like to be recognized not for one piece of fireworks, but for the ledger of our daily work."

A Question - Dark Fantasy vs Horror

I would like your opinions: What defines dark fantasy, and what defines horror fiction? What differentiates them?

Announcement: Publication Date - One Thousand Words for War

The CBAY Books anthology in which my short story, "Strands of Grass" will appear, is now listed on Amazon for pre-order. It will come out May 1, 2016. The anthology is called, One Thousand Words for War.

http://www.amazon.com/Thousand-Words-Hope-Eri…/…/ref=sr_1_2…

Book Commentary: Finding Him

I'm reading a gay romance novel called Finding Him for research. Already, I don't like it--for these reasons.

1. Wealthy boss + impoverished secretary romance. First, it's boss/subordinate, which is never a good idea in real life. Second, successful people in real life tend to not date or to have romantic relationships with unsuccessful people. When I have seen this in real life, it has tended to be abusive or to have at least held the potential for abuse. I have only seen it work well in real life, where there was truly mutual love and respect, once. The Biblical concept of being 'equally yoked' is a valid thing.
2. Obviously gay co-worker is obvious. In and of itself, this is not really a problem. Yes, it annoys me, but it also annoys the two main characters.
3. Every single female character so far has been a bitch. (Except for the IVF specialist, who was entirely professional. I appreciated that.)
4. Adult, married character who doesn't know he is bi. Maybe that's possible in real life, but I'm having a hard time believing it as a plot point. And when the character literally thinks, "Yep, I am 100 percent straight," that just makes me cringe even more.
5. Really pathetically cliched physical descriptions.
6. Wife who screeches during an argument, "My parents warned me you were gay, but I didn't listen!" Really? Seriously? Can it get more pat than this?

Dad's Best Friend?!

'Dad's Best Friend' romances. :P So not my kink. I didn't even realize that was a genre that could be sold on Amazon.

Link to Freelance Writing Job Leads

Freelance Writing Jobs listed at allindiewriters.com:
http://allindiewriters.com/freelance-writing-jobs/

The Wonderfulness of Writing

"A Change of Heart" desperately needs a change of title. *sigh* But at least I finished it and submitted it.

Some things I learned about writing last night:

1. It is scary and wonderful how a story can suddenly come together so that it not only makes sense, but all the parts of it fit together in ways you never imagined they would.
2. It's good to make giants grumpy and inelegant. They are so much more fun, that way!
3. Giants and witches have a sense of humor. It's hilarious when they use it.
4. Fall in love with your setting as well as your characters.
5. One of my favorite plot points for this story was used as the result of reading about real gigantism.

Current project now is beta-reading a story for a friend.

Update on "A Change of Heart"

Today I worked on my current story, "A Change of Heart," which I will submit to CBAY Books in September for their Giants and Ogres anthology. I also spent a lot of time researching thatched-roof blackhouse cottages and mythology surrounding the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides.

A Giant Story and a Miniscule Post

In the works:  a story about a giant!  I am writing this for CBAY Books.

On the Legalization of Gay Marriage

Congratulations to all of the men and women in this country who have waited too long to be granted the simple freedom to marry. I am so happy for you!

Update on "Weight"

So I'm working on "Weight," and the big question I'm asking myself is, "Seriously, why does Merka climb up to the dragon's cave? The reason you give in this story is not good enough."

As if "Because it's a dragon. In a cave. Filled with gold." is not reason enough. *sigh*

But it isn't.

Back from Vacation!

Last week I went on a family vacation to Colorado and used some of the time to improve parts of "Weight" that I felt needed fixing.

Books, a Review, and the Day-Job

Tonight I took out some of what I wrote in the Ghost Hunter story last night and revised it.
I also reviewed a book called Witch-Finders by Vanessa Knipe, which I thought was very good--go read it!--and I'm eagerly awaiting The Mist Gate Crossings: Bascom's Revenge by Susan Bianculli.

Work has been very hectic because we've had to squeeze five days worth of work into three, right before two major events we're putting on. The one I'm involved with will last only a few hours, but the one some of my co-workers are involved in will last several days. We're going crazy at the office this week.

Horrified Press

Tonight I wrote 624 words in my Ghost Hunter story that I'm working on for Horrified Press.

Publication Status - "Weight"

Edits for my CBAY Books short story have been turned in, and I received word that the publication date has been moved to April 2016 to allow for advance reader copies and a full sales season.

Comicpalooza!

Heading to Comicpalooza this weekend!  I'll bet it will be beastly hot outside, and I am not looking forward to the walk from the train station.  On the plus side, I will be meeting my editor, Madeline Smoot, there.

Rejection - "Weight"

"Weight" was rejected by Sword and Sorceress, so I will submit it to a different place today.  That was depressingly fast.

"Weight" Submitted

I have submitted "Weight" to Sword and Sorceress #30. It topped out at 6003 words. Keeping my fingers crossed now..

Update on "Weight"

I am reading over "Weight" this evening in preparation for sending it off to Sword & Sorceress Friday night.

Music Video: Emil and Dariel - "Nothing Else Matters"

Two cellos.  What more do you need?  This is sublime music.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEul3Opl-40

Poem - "Civil War"

Tonight I submitted a poem, "Civil War," to 'A Quiet Courage.' It is a non-paying market, but I thought the poem might work well for it.

Update on 'Last Dance'

I didn't add any words to "Last Dance" tonight. Instead, I worked on the outline. I need to do still more work on the outline. *sigh*

Podcastle Link

Hm! This would be an interesting place to submit my current finished first draft to:

http://podcastle.org/guidelines/

Working on "Weight"

Well, I've written the ending of "Weight." Now I have to go back and finish the climax. Working on the revised outline was a definite help. The current running word count for "Weight" is 4779 words.

EDIT:  "Weigh" is now at 5841 words.

Update on "Weight"

Total words for "Weight," so far: 4537.

I was going to use a crossbow and a carriage in this story and then realized that neither would work in a scene dependent on speed.

This means the story is now off the rails, as far as the planned outline goes. So I'll have to spend some time rethinking and revising the outline. Lovely.

Progress on "Weight"

"Weight" is now at 4048 words, and I am in the home stretch. It should come in at just around 5000 words. I will submit it to Sword & Sorceress after it's had a few days to rest.  That makes it sound like a cake, but it's the same principle.

'Last Dance' Story - Update

I got home early today because I was working at a job fair that let out about 2:30pm. Off to work on stories now.

Update: 'Last Dance' is now at 766 words.

Writing "Last Dance to the Ancient Gods"

Tonight I will be working on a short story called "Last Dance to the Ancient Gods."
As of 10:10pm, I've written 318 words for it. I'm waiting to find out if I have until Thursday evening or until May 30 to submit the rough draft.

Writing "Weight"

Today I have been working on "Weight," a short story involving a young woman, a greedy moneylender, and a dragon.  Total word count for "Weight," so far:  2730 words.

"Strands of Grass" to be Published

My short story, "Strands of Grass," has been accepted for publication in the upcoming CBAY Books anthology, One Thousand Words for War. The expected publication date is October 2015.
'Strands' uses a Japanese poem form called kishotenketsu for its plot structure. The idea was to create a story about some aspect of war, with no actual conflict in the story.