From the Great Beyond

Do you ever run up against day job deadlines, procrastinated a bit too long, or had family demands that made it impossible to get a story finished in time for your critique group? Me too. 

The past few months have been beyond busy. (I've even gotten super behind on this blog.)

So this month, I pulled a story from my files that I wrote several years ago to see why it had been relegated to the great beyond (beyond me caring about it anymore). 

Hmm...the structure was okay. The premise was simple. It wasn't too long, but still had lots of illustration opportunities. I even had a record of the publishers I had sent it to and been rejected by (some with personal replies!) 

The answer is simple. I lost confidence in the story and gave up too soon. Now in hind sight (and with more experience), I believe it deserves a second chance. 

So, I'll submit it to my critique group to make sure I'm not kidding myself, then if it gets a thumbs up, I'll send it out again.

Maybe this time...

Quinn

Shards or Puzzle Pieces?

The summer's heat is receding and waves of fresh-faced school children are rolling toward the start of school. If you're like me, you have been dutifully working on your latest writing project(s) all summer only to realize that your writing, family, and social workload will explode exponentially as the school schedule kicks in. 

The question is: Will the pieces of your writing life look like fractured shards of a dropped vase or scattered puzzle pieces coming together into a satisfying whole? Both begin in disarray, but one has a greater chance of forming the intended pattern.

Now you're probably thinking I've fallen into a zen ditch and can't get up, but here's a late summer tip that thousands have followed successfully. Keep Calm and Carry On. Attend the writer's conference, keep participating in your critique group, research that agency or editor's needs and submit. Even if you have to do your editing and researching in the after school pickup line, the bank line, or waiting for the casserole to cook. Keep Calm and Carry On. Let me know how you are doing and I'll do the same. 

-Q