New Address

You can find this blog at its new address — forawritersgrowth.com.

Rebounding

“Start writing, no matter what. The water does not flow until the water is turned on.”
-Louis L’Amour

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This blog has been sitting in idle for almost a decade. I could write thousands of words about what’s transpired these past 8 years, why I let writing fall away for so long, and how I’d even stopped reading fiction. Simply put, let me just say that I had other priorities and writing wasn’t one of them. Those other priorities are still in the forefront, but upon recent reflection, and some encouragement from a couple friends, I think it’s time I pick up the torch I had laid down and commit my writing craft to being a priority.

I’ve begun sifting through my old work and the creative juices started flowing again. Granted, some of the stuff I wrote was cringeworthy (a lot of rough/first drafts), but in my mind I was imagining how it could be better. I was literally rewriting it in my head and then taking notes so I wouldn’t forget it.

Amazing feeling! I even was reading some short stories last night from different authors, and I began having ideas of my own for scenes in something that I could write.

Writing has been part of my life since I was a kid. As I grew and honed the gift I was given, people cheered me on, saying how much they enjoyed what I wrote — family, friends, strangers. How do I get back into the writing scene? I’ve been out of the game for so long. Writing connections I made those years ago, how many would even remember me? It’s like starting brand new. I noticed some of the blogs I had linked to are no longer even around.

But as my pastor has said, “if you don’t start where you are, you’ll stay where you are”. So the key to getting back into it is to do what I know to do. I’ll blog, I’ll read, I’ll write, I’ll make connections. The purpose of this blog was to help other writers grow, and that’s still my heart. Writers are people, and I enjoy helping people. That’s why I reviewed Daily Science Fiction’s stories so much and I may pick that back up again (I’m STOKED that they’re still around!) It gave some exposure to those authors. Not that I had a very big sphere of influence, but it was doing what I could. And I got to read some great stories by really talented authors.

This blog may transform and be reworked as I settle back into the groove of things. Right now it’s just a matter of taking action. I don’t need to give the blog a facelift. I just need to do. Consistently. So that’s what I’m doing.

Welcome back.

Apology // Interviewed by J.M. Blackman

“A sentence should contain no unnecessary words, a paragraph no unnecessary sentences, for the same reason that a drawing should have no unnecessary lines and a machine no unnecessary parts.”
–Williams Strunk Jr.

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For those who came by the blog this past Friday in anticipation of my reviews of Daily Science Fiction‘s stories, I do apologize for not having a post for you. I had taken on a freelance writing gig that’s taking up some of my free time, and since I do have two jobs and I also volunteer, my reading fell by the wayside… I don’t think I’ll be posting a DSF Reviews post this upcoming Friday either. I do plan to get back to it. But I’m sure some of you know how it is with new things and finding the right groove for everything.

Also, I haven’t posted a snippet for Science Fiction & Fantasy Saturday for two weeks in a row. I plan to get back to that as well!

And speaking of SFFS, I met J.M. Blackman through that webring of authors, and she so graciously asked me for an interview. It was posted last week and we discuss my take on the diversity in speculative fiction today. You can check out the interview here.

New Publication // The Glass Parachute Reviewed

“You can’t edit a blank page.”
–Nora Roberts

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Well, it’s been a while since I’d gotten a short story acceptance letter in my e-mail (the last ones being when “For Zanna” and “Acts” were accepted into The Glass Parachute anthology, and that was early 2012) but I received one today! It was quite a surprise, because I’m expecting to receive e-mails from new freelance clients and I get an e-mail of a story acceptance instead… Works for me!

The market is Red Fez. It’s not a paying market, but it’s a publication and I’m stoked. The story that was accepted is “What Are Friends For,” which is a story I wrote a while ago (at least 2 years ago)… I reread it today and there are several things I would like to alter and/or add, lol, but I think it’s because I’ve grown since I wrote it (and last read it too, apparently, or else I would’ve changed some things 😛 ). But I don’t think any writer can write something, have time pass, and then see perfection in their previous work. At some point you have to stop editing anyway in order to get it out into the world.

But this story was a fun story, which is basically everything I say I don’t write, lol. I’ll be the first to admit that it’s fluff. There is no deep character development, no real point to the story. It really serves absolutely no purpose, but I drew from my life to write it, and it amused me. I had fun writing it. Even rereading it today I found myself still chuckling at the words on the page. And I don’t write humor, so hopefully I’m not the only one who’s chuckling… lol.

With that said, the story is already published online! It is Red Fez’s 56th issue. A direct link to the story is here.

And in The Glass Parachute news, Fanboy Comics has reviewed the anthology! It is The Glass Parachute‘s first review, so I know we are all excited about it! Even more excited that it is a good review! You can check out the review here. And if you’ve purchased the anthology, feel free to write your own review on Amazon.com.