Groovin'

The writing gods and goddesses have been good to me lately. The only reason why I can figure is that pound of flesh I left at the dermatologist's office when he whittled away at my finger with a razor blade. I guess that qualified as a human sacrifice.

I hardly miss the finger, by the way...

...kidding.

I've kept busy on three short works that have a real shot at being in print. I re-named them and am currently at work on expanding them. The feedback has been positive and couldn't have made me feel better. Joining a critique group was also a good idea. All their criticisms were legit and insightful.

Even better, the trilogy has inspired a spin-off that could be as equally promising.

I'm still vacillating on whether to enter the Siren contest. I don't want to split the trilogy and feel that the editor at Liquid Silver was right about expanding the stories.

I'll probably pass Siren up as well as Liquid's Zodiac contest and just submit them at a later date when they're all they can be rather than squeeze them into strict guidelines and parameters.

Phaze has a September contest I'm considering but the word count limit is 12K. That's awful short but I may shoot for it anyway. Worst I can do is miss.

Bite Me

Feedback is nice. Nice feedback is really nice. And today I got an unexpected bit of nice feedback. Liquid Silver e-mailed me to inform me that while I didn't win the short story contest, that I was in fact a finalist and that she really liked my story "Scorpio Sweetheart" and wants to read more of my work. Sweet!

While on a bit of a high, I sat down immediately and re-read and edited the aforementioned story. Hours later, it was another thousand or so words thicker (but still within the word limit) and worlds better. And it was good before.

Now I'm in the final edit phase of the next short story "Horns a Plenty" for the same publisher. This story is stronger than the first, so I expect to do even better the second time around. But if not, I've got other contests I can enter this month and next month and the month after that.

Somebody's bound to bite.

It's Like a Heat Wave

To borrow a phrase, it's hot. But no hotter than it usually is down here in Hades--I mean Texas. I'm belly button deep in contests. I joined an online support group and haven't posted yet really. I got some good scores on my January submission. With a little polish, I think that sucker will shine. So that's encouraging. And if you knew about my personal life, well--I take what I can get!
Two more contests to enter with one e-publisher then onto another. It's not about the winning at this stage as it is about the feedback. I got confirmation that I'm good. I'll just be a praise junkie for a while and feed off that.

Fever

I have been 'bitten' by the contest bug. Maybe it's the ambitious 'Capricorn' in me, (I'll explain the kooky quotes later) but I have two contests I am entering. It's a good way to give me focus and keep my enthusiasm going.

As far as Blade Dancer goes, I struggled for weeks with it and decided it's not its time. I put it in the tray on my desk and let the whims of creativity steer me in the right direction. I feel good about these contests--well, not exactly good, but...better. And compared to how Blade Dancer was making me feel, I'll take better.

Submission Pt. 2

Well, I submitted a sample of my erotic science fiction novel, Kalynth Sun, to Ellora's Cave for a writing contest. I had already sent it in mid-January and I was advised to re-send it so I did. They technically have 120 days to consider it before they have to reply. The 120th day is the eve of the contest deadline. So it works out I guess. I wish I had more to send in to better my chances. I feel pretty good about it. I just hope what I sent was indicative of a compelling story and the judges like my character. I guess we'll find out on when the first of three winners and a finalist is announced on May 22nd.

Wish me luck.